SSL® 4000 E Channel Strip
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Turn your DAW into a classic SSL console.
Unlock the sound of the SSL 4000 E, the famous British-made console that has added unmistakable clarity and punch to albums from Nirvana to Tupac, Dr. Dre, and Bruno Mars.
Add punch to vocals and instruments with our end-to-end emulation of the SSL 4000’s Jensen transformer-based preamp, then use precise EQ and classic VCA compression to hear your session come to life through one of the most revered analog channel strips ever made.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- Track and mix through a stunning emulation of a vintage SSL analog channel
- NEW! Get external side-chaining with UAD Native plug-in version — no Apollo required
- Get the full character of SSL’s Jensen transformer-based preamps
- Sculpt your sources with both Type E “black” and “brown” knob EQ and filters
- Harness the famous SSL VCA Compressor and Gate for incredible dynamics control
- Mix with artist presets from Just Blaze (Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar), Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers), Ian Boxill (Prince, Tupac), and more
Take a Listen
Deep-dive with Drew
SSL 4000 E Channel Strip
Turn Your DAW into a Classic SSL Console
In crafting the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection, our team of engineers dug deep into the SSL 4000 E hardware, faithfully modeling the original preamp’s Jensen input transformers and dbx "gold-can" VCA output section. This gives you all the punchy, assertive SSL tone that has become a hallmark of modern music.
Get Famed British EQ in Spades
The SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection plug-in features both the Type E 242 “black knob” and 001 “brown knob” four-band EQ and filters. The “brown” EQ is easy to dial in and musical, while the “black” is more surgical and clean. Both offer iconic SSL band interactions and amp modeling, adding punch to drums, presence to vocals, and heft to bass.
Expansion, Compression & More
From subtle dynamics control to in-your-face smack, the E Series’ compressor gives guitars presence, makes vocals “pop,” and can add clarity, punch, and depth to your drum bus. PRE-DYN controls let you place the EQ or filters before the dynamics section for tons of different timbres, while the DYN-SC buttons provide frequency-dependent compression using the EQ filters, cut filters, or both.
Add Depth and Openness with any UAD hardware
Of course, the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection isn’t just for Apollo owners. UAD-2 owners can use the SSL E Channel Strip on any source, without going outside the box. With the SSL E Channel Strip's complete console channel emulation, plus the included DSP-lite SSL E Channel Strip Legacy plug-in, you can craft your projects with Platinum‑selling sound.
Unison Technology for Apollo
Harnessing UA’s groundbreaking Unison technology, the new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip plug-in gives you the hardware’s mic/line preamp impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and exact circuit behaviors. Just insert the plug-in into the Apollo’s Unison preamp slot to track in real time through a perfect SSL modeled preamp.
“The new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip is a remarkable reincarnation of the classic console that introduced me to the world of SSL. Meticulously reproduced including its amazing idiosyncrasies, this plug-in has all the character, grit, and spank you'd expect and more.”
– Richard Chycki (Rush, Aerosmith, Dream Theater)
“The new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection is by far the most authentic emulation of my favorite console.”
– Chuck Zwicky (Prince, Soul Asylum, Reggie Watts)
“I can treat the UAD SSL 4000 E exactly like the hardware. The channels are perfectly recreated along with the mic and line amps — the gain staging is so realistic, it's eerie!”
– Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House, Future Islands)
“My vocal chain is an LA-2A, SSL E Series Channel Strip, an 1176LN, and a Precision De-Esser. They're amazing plug-ins.”
– Hector Delgado (A$AP Rocky, Selena Gomez, Jay-Z)
“The UAD SSL plug-ins are pretty amazing! I use the compressor just as I would on an analog desk, attaining the same results.”
– Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers)
“I've been looking for that perfect SSL sound since I started mixing in-the-box. I've finally found it with the UAD SSL 4000 E Series Channel Strip!”
– Ariel Borujow (Chromeo, Mac Miller, Madonna)
“I learned to mix on an SSL E Console. This plug-in takes me right back to that familiar sound with uncanny realism. It will be living on my mixes from now on.”
– Ian Boxill (Lenny White, Prince, 2Pac)
“With the UAD SSL 4000 E Channel Strip and Unison technology, I can create amazing chains on-the-go and not worry about anything other than capturing a great performance. ”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
A. Husaini
October 16, 2024
The Greatest of All Time
I owned Brainworx SSL 4000 E Console. I owned Waves SSL E Channel Strip. I also owned Waves CLA Mixhub and Waves SSL EV2. I have used Solid State Logic's channel strips and Slate Digital...
Read MoreG. Girard
October 15, 2024
great channel strip
best ssl channel strip, very faithful, now in native
Read MoreU. Sabiniewicz
October 13, 2024
Better than SSL
In comparison with the SSL Plugin version, very good. How can a 3rd party emulation be better than the Original manufacturer? I cancelled my SSL subscription finally because all the...
Read MoreA. Lau
October 10, 2024
Still the best SSL 4K in the box
UA's DSP plugin has always been the best way to mix with the classic SSL 4000 E channel strip in the box. Now the plugin is also available natively and even with external sidechain. The...
Read MoreJ. Davy
October 10, 2024
The best SSL Channel Strip plugin
The SSL 4000 E Channel Strip is hands down the best SSL 4kE plugin! The iconic sound is there, and now the flexibility of Native is off the charts! The biggest win for me is that you no...
Read MoreC. LAURENT
October 10, 2024
I love this channel strip
Excellent slice, I like the sound of the SSL, the Channel strip is superb, much better than some developers. The native version now lets you put more in mixes. That's great, thanks UAD...
Read More -
Customer Reviews
SSL 4000 E Channel Strip
A. Husaini
The Greatest of All Time
I owned Brainworx SSL 4000 E Console. I owned Waves SSL E Channel Strip. I also owned Waves CLA Mixhub and Waves SSL EV2. I have used Solid State Logic's channel strips and Slate Digital VMR.
Still, nothing beats this.G. Girard
great channel strip
best ssl channel strip, very faithful, now in native
B. Gardiner
What happened to " you will get perpetual UADx licenses for the UAD titles that you already own. "
Terrible experience as the FAQs for spark stated clearly the following.
"Is there any discount on UAD Spark if I already own some of the plug-in titles?
While there is no discount available, you will get perpetual UADx licenses for the UAD titles that you already own. "
Except for now that does not seem to apply.U. Sabiniewicz
Better than SSL
In comparison with the SSL Plugin version, very good. How can a 3rd party emulation be better than the Original manufacturer? I cancelled my SSL subscription finally because all the Plugins sounds so bad, and, since I listen to the UA version, yes nearly perfect.
A. Lau
Still the best SSL 4K in the box
UA's DSP plugin has always been the best way to mix with the classic SSL 4000 E channel strip in the box. Now the plugin is also available natively and even with external sidechain. The seamless switching between native and DSP-based plugin in LUNA also works flawlessly - a dream come true.
J. Davy
The best SSL Channel Strip plugin
The SSL 4000 E Channel Strip is hands down the best SSL 4kE plugin! The iconic sound is there, and now the flexibility of Native is off the charts! The biggest win for me is that you no longer need a ton of DSP power to run just a few instances. You can have as many as your CPU can handle, opening up a world of possibilities for larger sessions and more complex mixes. Highly recommended
C. LAURENT
I love this channel strip
Excellent slice, I like the sound of the SSL, the Channel strip is superb, much better than some developers.
The native version now lets you put more in mixes. That's great, thanks UADa. toth
THE BEST SSL 4000
It’s my favorite Plugin. The sound is incredible. I Have All ssl 4K Plugin and this is the Best emulation.
K. Kouchian
Milking the cow until it dries out
Asking to pay for something we own is not a right move, especially when you announced before that the porting of the UAD2 to native would be free for the hardware users. What is next? you are gonna put some new function that should already have been there to all plugin porting so you can milk everyone more? You could also change the color and say it is brand new and redesigned. What a joke LOL
