Let’s discuss some of the best SSL compressor plugins that you can find online including one lovely free plugin!
If you are anything like me, you are spending hours and hours trying to find the perfect mix balance. We all need that magical glue to turn the tracks collection into a polished song. That is exactly where SSL bus compressors take the scene, as they add cohesion, glue, and dynamic control to a mix, subtly tightening and enhancing the overall sound without sacrificing energy or clarity.
Originating from the legendary Solid State Logic (SSL) consoles, these compressors are the secrets behind a good mix for many producers. But, to be honest, not all plugins are the same. Some offer more punch, while others fail you like a soggy handshake, which I found out by trying many of them through the years, and today, I will share my experiences with you guys.
There are so many compressors today that finding the Mr. Right guy might be hard. Some have their interfaces quite complex, while others have bad-sounding presets. Well, that is what the process is about, right? Experimenting, exploring, and sometimes just yelling at your DAW when things don’t sound as you like. So, let’s start looking at some of the great SSL bus compressors out there!
1. Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
Let’s be honest; we all love the analog vibe when we hear or see in a plugin. SSL G-Master Buss Compressor is one of those plugins that became a go-to for mix bus compression as it brilliantly applies that glue effect without sacrificing the punch of the mix..
I love this plugin as it combines the magic of a classic analog compressor with the convenience of a modern digital tool. As its main responsibility, it greatly controls the dynamics while creating a cohesive, polished sound.
One of my favorite features is the straightforward interface with the attack and release times, striking a good balance between musicality and control. The GUI has analog vibes from the first moments and comes with Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Rate, and Makeup Gain controls along with the original’s sidechain and fade features.
When I tried the plugin for mix buses, I found out that the 30 ms attack is a great spot for transients to breathe while still reigning in the peaks, while the 0.3-second release gives you the tightness without sacrificing the natural feel. I adjusted the ratio to 4:1, and the gain reduction to 2-3 dB, and the mix popped like a charm.
I also appreciated the addition of sidechain input and analog buttons to turn on or off the harmonic distortion and the pleasant noise in the original circuit.
While this is a great ssl compressor, it does not always have rainbows and butterflies, as some users indicated they would have liked more of the analog vibe in the sound. I think it has the right amount of mojo to add to the tracks while staying transparent for the most part.
While this is a great choice for a mix bus, I also recommend trying it out in a drum bus for some extra glue or on a vocal group for that polished tone. The only thing you have to be careful about is not to lose the subtlety, as overdoing it risks losing the dynamics that make the mixes breathe.
In the end, I think the SSL G-Master Buss Compressor is a good tool for classic mix bus sounds, which gets you out of the hassle and offers a simple workflow to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
SSL G-Master Buss Compressor is available in AU, AAX, and VST3 formats for Windows 10 or higher and macOS 12 or higher.
2. SSL Native Bus Compressor 2
This is what this article is actually all about – to find the best SSL compressor plugin – and that’s what you got! If you are after the iconic glue effect, it is hard to find any plugin better than Native Bus Compressor 2 in that sense. Coming with some clever modern touches, the unit offers everything we love about the SSL G-Series console’s bus compressor for those who want the punch and polished sound in their mixes.
With smooth dynamics control for enhanced cohesion without sacrificing the mix’s presence and life, the unit offers the classic compression character. What I really like about this plugin is the sidechain high-pass filter, which allows you to focus on the compression of mid- and high-end zones while isolating the lows to leave them natural. I love to use this function with bass-heavy tracks, as it blocks the low-end sound from overwhelming the compression.
The interface offers Attack, Release, and Compression ratios for added flexibility along with wet-dry mix and S-C HPF control, switchable 2x and 4x Oversampling, as well as the classic Threshold and Make-Up Gain controls. It is a pretty straightforward GUI with intuitive controls and a compression meter.
I must highlight the Mix knob as it allows for effortless parallel compression, making it super easy to blend the dry and compressed signals for a more sophisticated, nuanced, and dynamic mix.
I also liked the SSL 360 Plug-in Mixer integration, as it lets users control multiple instances, up to 8, if you pair it with the UC1 hardware controller.
My only complaint about this unit lies in the price tag, as it is a highly pricey unit, which might be a hurdle for casual users. I admit that it is a high-quality plugin that has great sound and features, but the value-for-price ratio makes it hard to obtain for users with medium to small budgets.
However, if you are serious about mix bus compression and value both classic tones and modern flexibility, and if you have the budget to purchase Native Bus Compressor 2, you might stop looking and start using it in your workflow.
Native Bus Compressor 2 is available in VST, VST3 AU, and AAX formats for Mac and Windows users.
3. UAD SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor
The SSL 400 G Bus Compressor stands out with the thoughtful, modern updates it brings on top of the original console’s legacy. With its ability to impart that legendary glue effect for the mix bus or the punch for a drum group, the unit provides an unmistakable cohesion to the projects.
One of the updates I really appreciated was the Sidechain Filter, as it allows you to filter out frequencies up to 500 Hz in order to ensure that low-end focused instruments like bass and kicks overly drive the compression. This way, you can maintain clarity in the mids and highs, which is highly important for modern mixes.
Another modern update to the hardware is the Mix control, which comes in handy when blending compressed and uncompressed signals to create parallel compression and add punch without sacrificing openness. I like to use this on drum buses to make them more punchy.
Finally, there is the Auto Fade and Headroom adjuster, another nice detail to fine-tune input levels, making it easier to find the sweet spots.
The main reason behind my choice of this unit is its intuitive design, as the GUI is pretty straightforward, and there are impressive presets created by top engineers. So, even if you don’t know much about compression, you can basically dial in some presets and make your mix shine. .
I recommend a slow attack and fast release with a ratio of 2:1 or 4:1 for a transparent compression starting point for mix buses. Remember, if you are working with a bass-heavy mix and hear high-frequency ducking when bass and kick hit, it means that you have to raise the SC Filter so that the impact of the low-end gain reduction can be reduced.
The only thing I can say against this unit is that I would have liked to see more ratio options for more versatility to use the unit in different situations. Also, I gotta say it is a bit of a pricey plugin, but there are often discounts that you can catch.
Great free SSL compressor plugin with highly accurate modeling of the original console, and modern updates like mix control and sidechain filter make this unit a very solid choice for any producer.
4. Analog Obsession BUSTERse (FREE)
I love it when I encounter a free high-quality bus compressor plugin, and BUSTERse is definitely one of those. With its fresh take on the iconic SSL bus compression sound, it adds to the iconic design and sound for more control and precision.
You’ve gotta hand it to Analog Obsession here, as BUSTERse does not only emulate the iconic sound, it enhances it. On top of the usual suspect controls such as Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, and Makeup Gain, it adds the Mix, Sidechain High-Pass Filter, as well as Turbo and Xformer modes for more control.
The Mix knob is a great addition for easy parallel compression, while the Sidechain High-Pass Filter lets the low-end frequencies simply pass through without getting affected, which is great for low-frequency instruments.
The unique features here are Turbo mode, which bypasses the filter for full-frequency compression, which I liked for higher flexibility, and Xformer mode for emulating transformer circuitry, which adds a great touch of analog warmth and character to the sound. That is my favorite feature of the unit, as the way it colors your sound is so tasteful.
I think the GUI is pretty well-made with its resizable design from 50% to 200%, which even supports touchscreen use, which makes it really flexible for various workflows. Also, if you are after finer nuances, try to click on the Analog Obsession label to activate 4x oversampling for improved audio fidelity.
To be honest, I don’t really like to complain about any feature when it is a free plugin. I can say that this unit is a bit more niche than others on the list, but it gets the job done and has pretty great features.
So, if you are a producer on a budget looking for an SSL bus compressor, BUSTERse is the way to go. We at Mixing Advice find it hard not to appreciate the quality Analog Obsession delivers here.
BUSTERse comes in VST3, AU, and AAX formats for Mac 10.11 and higher, while it is available in VST3 and AAX for Windows 10 and higher.
5. Cytomic’s The Glue
Considered one of the most convincing digital recreations of the SSL compressor, The Glue offers all the transparency and glue effect along with enhanced control and versatility with modern features for a nice price.
What surprised me about this plugin was its high accuracy and performance, as it is designed from an SSL E-Series bus compressor. I really appreciated its transparency, which tightened up mixes and instruments without adding any character or color to the sound.
On the control panel, you have the familiar controls with Threshold, Ratio (2:1, 4:1, and 10:1), Attack (as fast as 0.01ms), Release (including Auto), and Makeup Gain, making it all accessible to anyone who knows even a little about SSL-style compression.
The standard editions, such as Sidechain High-Pass Filter (up to 2kHz) and the Mix knob, are also present in the unit, which is great for low-ends to bypass triggering the compressor and parallel compression without extra routing.
I have to mention my favorite feature, the Range control, which I found super useful for capping the maximum compression applied in order to achieve bigger consistency.
When I tested The Glue, I was really satisfied with the results as it excelled at mix bus duties with its cohesive and punchy outcomes. It has a highly transparent nature that makes individual instruments like bass and vocals shine through the mix, as even a light touch evened out dynamics without artifacts. Here, I recommend using the Auto-Release mode to maintain natural dynamics across diverse materials.
The biggest drawback for me is the lack of VST3 support for side-chaining, which is a shame as it restricts external signal routing in some DAWs.
Considering its price tag, a high-end performance with natural transparency that can run rings around pricier units makes this unit a no-brainer for musical mix bus compression.
The Glue can be found in AU, AAX, VST2, and VST3 formats for macOS 10.13 or above, along with AAX, VST2, and VST3 formats for Windows 10 or above.
