Solid State Logic the debut of the new 4000 B Dynamics (B-DYN) 500 Series module that’s outfitted with compressor/limiter and gate/expander sections and a dedicated de-ess mode.
SSL’s latest recreation from the SL 4000B console, the B-DYN module is modelled on the original circuit design found in the console’s channel strip to bring it’s dynamics section to the 500 series format.
Released in 1976, the 4000 B was the first console ever manufactured by SSL and was famously used in ‘The Stone Room’ at Virgin’s Townhouse Studio (London), Le Studio (Montreal) and Record Plant (LA). It was at the heart of numerous iconic records, including Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” and Peter Gabriel’s “Intruder.” The B-DYN module is designed to allow users to add heavily coloured, saturated compression from one of the rarest studio consoles ever made to their production toolkits.
The dynamics section in the SL 4000 B channel strip was unlike any other SSL channel dynamics module that followed, using the fader VCA as its gain element rather than a dedicated VCA. It had a design similar to the topology of the SSL Bus Compressor. This VCA “feedback” design has been inherited by the B-DYN module, offering characterful and coloured compression with its own unique sonic signature, different from the later E and 9000 Series. These similarities are also evident from B-DYN’s “Auto” release setting, which offers a program-dependent release time as found on the Bus Compressor.
B-DYN’s dynamics processing is divided into two sections, compressor/limiter and gate/expander. The compressor offers fixed compression ratios 2:1, 4:1, and limiting ratio 10:1. Release times are also fixed at .2, .4, .8, 1.6, and program-dependant “Auto.” Setting B-DYN’s compressor ratio and release controls to ‘DS’ the module optimised for reducing sibilance or, de-essing.
The de-ess ratio is 10:1 with filtered S/C input signal, delivering broadband compression triggered by sibilance typically in vocal sources. The “DS” release is automatically varied in response to the program signal between release rates of 30 and 50 milliseconds, which the company states is much faster than one would normally expect from an SSL dynamics section.
When the “Out” ratio is selected, the compressor is bypassed. Compressor ratio and release in “DS” mode work independently, allowing B-DYN to be used in unique ways. For example, the fast “DS” release can be used without using the “DS” ratio for more aggressive compression effects.
B-DYN’s gate/expander section is activated when “In” is selected, acting as a 20:1 gate or as a 2:1 expander when “Exp” is selected. B-DYN’s gate/expander can be used independently of its compressor/limiter.
www.solidstatelogic.com
Australian Distributor: Amber Technology www.ambertech.com.au
