SSL Solid State Logic B-DYN 500 Series

SL4000B Dynamics Module with Separate Compressor and Gate/Expander

The SSL B Dynamics (B-DYN) 500 series module takes the dynamics processor found in the SL 4000 B console channel strip and brings it to the 500 series format. Introduced in 1976, the SL 4000 B was Solid State Logic's first production console and for years was the nerve center of iconic control rooms such as the "Stone Room" at Townhouse Studios (London), Le Studio (Montreal), and Record Plant (Los Angeles). Productions such as Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and Peter Gabriel's "Intruder" were made with this console, both characterized by characterful compression on drums and vocals. The B-DYN allows you to add the saturated and colored compression of one of the most important and rare studio consoles ever made to your production toolkit.

Specifications

• Authentic replica of the SL 4000 B console dynamics section
• Design based on the SSL Bus Compressor
• Includes a Compressor/Limiter section and a Gate/Expander section
• Feedback design with Peak sensing for an aggressive and decisive character
• Fixed ratio values, 2:1, 4:1, and 10:1 with additional 'DS' mode
• Fixed release times, DS, .2, .4, .8, 1.6 plus the famous 'Auto'
• Automatic make-up gain
• Sidechain High Pass filter
• Stereo Link mode
• New (classic) SSL sounds
• Compressor/Limiter:
• RATIO - Step compression ratios 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 and 'ds'. The 'ds' setting is fixed 10:1 with an additional sidechain filter. In the 'out' position, the compressor is bypassed.
• THRESH - Whenever a signal exceeds the level set by this control, the compressor begins to act with the ratio set by Ratio. The Threshold and Ratio controls also provide automatic make-up gain.
• HPF – A 6dB/Oct high-pass filter tuned to 185 Hz in the compressor's sidechain circuit to reduce "pumping" on the lows.
• RELEASE – Fixed step release values range from .2 ms to 1.6 ms or between the two 'DS' and 'Auto' options.
• DS – De-Ess mode changes the attack time from approximately 30 ms to 2 ms.
• De-Ess Mode (DS):
• By setting the Ratio and Release controls to 'DS', the B-DYN module is optimized for de-essing. The ratio in De-Ess mode is 10:1 with the S/C circuit input filtered, so that it compresses when triggered by sibilance. The release is automatically varied based on the processed signal, between 30 and 50 ms. This is a much faster release time than one would normally expect from an SSL dynamics processor. The attack time is also reduced to just 2 ms, even faster than the attack time in Fast mode on the classic E-Series Dynamics module.
• Gate/Expander:
• The B-DYN's Gate/Expander section can act as a Gate with a 20:1 Gate ratio or as an Expander with a 2:1 ratio when the EXP button is pressed. Its attack time is 0.2 ms.
• RANGE - Controls the maximum amount of gain reduction applied by the Gate/Expander. When set to 'out', the gate/expander is bypassed.
• THRESH - Sets the threshold above which the gate/expander opens.
• RELEASE - Sets the time the signal remains audible after the Gate/Expander closes.
• EXP - Switches the gate to expander mode, with a gentler curve, for more subtle level control below the threshold.