• Uad Ssl 4000 G Bus Compressor Review
• Best Uad Compressor
• Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 60
• Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 80
• Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 27

Overview

Built in 1978 by the legendary Townhouse studio engineers, this unique compressor was created using console components supplied by Solid State Logic (SSL). The only hardware unit ever made was now perfectly recreated by Brainworx.

The bx_townhouse Buss Compressor is the ultimate companion for your mix buss, offering just a touch more vibe and mojo than a standard British console buss compressor.

The original unit was built in a time when there simply wasn't an external console buss compressor available for sale, and was used heavily during the 80s and beyond by some of the biggest names in rock, including Queen, Sting, Muse, and many more.

Features

FG-Grey came across like a hybrid of the UAD SSL G-Series and Precision Buss Compressor plug-ins, combining the particular SSL vibe of the former with the more modern features of the latter. I'd still prefer the UAD Precision Buss compressor whenever sonic transparency is paramount, such as for predominantly acoustic music and mastering purposes. Versus a 500 Series SSL G Series Compressor, UAD wins. I cannot tell the difference sonically between an 500 series SSL G Series Bus Compressor and the UAD plugin version. Price wise there is a big difference, UAD Wins. The flexibility of the UAD version can't be beat. The SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor is a favorite 2-bus compressor for many engineers. Operation is simple, and it doesn’t require much finesse to be used effectively. The UAD emulation includes all of the original controls found on the hardware version, with an accurate GUI presentation.

• Unique Buss Compressor built using SSL console parts
• Hand-built by the technical staff at London's Townhouse Studios
• Smooth, cohesive compression for you master buss and subgroups / stems
• Plugin-only features by Brainworx include internal sidechain and Dry/Wet mix control

Audio Examples

Industry Reviews

• This Townhouse compressor sounds great.

• The BX Townhouse Buss Compressor is my go-to mix buss compressor to glue the mix together before I add saturation, refinement, & final limiting.

Customer Reviews

• Go to comp for overheads and drumbusses

  My go-to comp plugin for not only drums, but pretty much everything. It is super fast and squashing something with it does not sound bad at all. I love the way it performs on a drumbus and on… Read More

• Overwhelmed

  Without going into all the geeky technical details, this unit simply does something to our buses that no other plugin does. Everyone who's wants that SSL character plus some little extra and then… Read More

• bx_townhouse Buss Compressor

  I just exchange my Wave SSL Comp for the bx_townhouse Buss Compressor and loaded a 2 BUS preset and WOW You can ear the AIR around the piece. And I got that for Freaking 19.99$

• That snap you're missing

  Well what can i say..demoed it, put this on a drum buss, bought in 5 minutes of use..if you know what to hear for in a compressor, you'll lose your money to this beast..yes it's an ssl bus compressor… Read More

• Indispensable

  This is one of those perfect compressors. Super versatile and it works its mojo on a vast array of sounds, but where it truely shines to me, is on my drum overheads. I could not picture doing a drum… Read More

Specification

Uad Ssl 4000 G Bus Compressor Review

Supported Plugin Formats
AAX DSP, AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, VST3

Supported Operating Systems
macOS 10.9 through 11.0.1
Windows 7 through 10

Mac
Intel CPU only (minimum 2 GHz recommended)

PC
x64-compatible CPU

System Requirements
Display resolution: 1440 × 900px or 1280 × 960px or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM

Downloads

With the Installation Manager, you can select, download and install just the Plugin Alliance products and formats you need for your system.

ChangeLog

Brainworx bx_townhouse Buss Compressor - Changelog
Version 1.5 (May 27, 2020)
- General: Qualified for use with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update
- General: VST3: Fixed potential hangs in a DAW upon loading
- General: Fixed logical issues in undo / redo behavior
- General: Fixed UI resizing issues in Ableton Live on Windows
- General: Fixed audio processing initialization issues on amp and delay products
- Added scalable UI feature
Version 1.4 (Nov 06, 2019)
- General: Qualified for use with macOS 10.15 Catalina
- General: Qualified for use with Windows 10 November 2019 Update
- General: Fixed plugin validation in Logic under macOS Catalina
- General: Fixed preset name restore in Logic when reopening a session
- General: Fixed opening authorization dialog triggering automation
- General: Improved instantiation times for plugins
- General: Improved license functionality and branding for subscription
- General: Removed 32-bit support on macOS and Windows
Version 1.3 (Jul 10, 2019)
- General: macOS 10.14.5 Update compatibility
- General: Windows 10 1903 Update compatibility
- General: Fixed activation issue in Windows hosts set to non-English language (e.g. Cakewalk)
- General: AU: Fixed issue with increased CPU and memory on reopening UI
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with adapting to host knob mode, and now prioritizing linear
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with VST3 preset permissions
- General: VST3: Improved synchronization between parameter states and some UI functions, e.g. toolbar reset
- Fixed various usability issues with Auto Fade
Version 1.2 (Mar 29, 2019)
- Fixed Auto Fade not working in VST3
- Fixed Fade Time callout display
- Fixed Reset/Bank Change/Undo-Redo/Power On-Off/Playback Start-Stop behaviour when AutoFade involved
Version 1.1 (Nov 16, 2018)
- General: macOS Mojave compatibility
- General: Windows October 2018 update compatibility
- General: adding Windows High DPI support for VST2/3 plugins
- General: Fixed potential crashes in Cubase and other VST2 / VST3 DAWs
- General: Fixed potential CPU spikes and audio dropouts
- General: Fixed rendering in Pro Tools on the start of a session
- General: Fixed missing presets in Wavelab and other VST3 DAWs
- General: Improving keyboard control, fixing issues with catched keys preventing it from passing through to DAW
- General: Fixed parallel use of host sessions (e.g. with Live)
- Fixed Mono to Stereo AAX DSP instance not loading in Pro Tools
Version 1.0 (Jul 9, 2018)
- Release version

Try for Free

To start a 14-day fully functional trial: Simply download and run the installer on this page, then activate the plugin from within your DAW using your Plugin Alliance account information. No dongle required.

4.9 out of 5 stars

78 total reviews

• Go to comp for overheads and drumbusses

  My go-to comp plugin for not only drums, but pretty much everything. It is super fast and squashing something with it does not sound bad at all. I love the way it performs on a drumbus and on… Read More

Brainworx

Since 2006, Brainworx Germany has developed a reputation for creating sonically-advanced plugin tools as well as a multi-platform development framework that is second to none. Brainworx highlights…

Emulations from the famous SSL 4000 G+ Mixing console

by TweakHeadz Lab

You know you have found a processor you like when you want to remix and remaster all your songs. You know, I have a lot of plugin processors here and its probably next to impossible for a salesperson to hype anything and have me believe it. I've heard it all, 'will turn an ordinary mix into a diamond studded work of audio jewelry!'. Right. 'Will enhance your bass using secret psychoacoustic principles hidden in the primordial brain. LOL.

No hype. You got it. Now lets talk about the 4k bundle from UAD. There are two plugins in the bundle. The UAD 4k Buss Compressor and the UAD 4k Channel strip. Both are emulations taken from the Solid State Logic 4000 console, which is said (get ready for hype) to be the famous console behind more platinum records than any other. That is a claim made by SSL, not UAD. The SSL 4000 is a console that goes back to the late 70's. The 4000 G, which the UAD plugins emulate came around year 2000 and was seen and the most advanced version of the 4000 series.

Here is a pic of the original SL4000G+

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Best Uad Compressor

SL4000G+-TownHouse-London
Uploaded by shoulder-synth
Author Jon Gos from Kampala, Unites States

The 4000G+ came in 48, 56 and 64 channel frames and had options which included moving fader and snapshot 'total recall' automation. Each channel module could be used simultaneously for tracking, as a bus, or for multi track monitoring, which allowed the mix engineer great flexibility. The components were of high quality, with 4 band parametric EQ and dynamics processing on every channel.

Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 60

The UAD 4k Channel strip emulates the sonic detail. As you see below, the strips 4 band EQ and dynamics, which includes both a compressor and an expander/gate, as well as hi/low pass filters.

Using the Channel Strip Plugin

You can use the channel strip as an insert on any audio fader in your sequencer, including on software synths if the sequencer allows it. It is best used during the mix process as like many powerful UAD plugins, there is a hit on your system's CPU. You turn the knobs by placing your mouse over the control and clicking and dragging. If your sequencer allows for automation, you can automate nearly all of the parameters you see in the pic. If you have sequencer automation, you probably have the ability to tweak with a control surface as well.

The EQ on the UAD 4k Chanel Strip is so sweet I actually used it for mastering. I was so impressed by the Hi-Mid and Hi Frequency sweetening and new level of clarity I was able to achieve I just had to have it. It tweaks like an analog dream. The big 'In' button you see allows for fast A/B comparison. I would not think twice about using it on any important track in a composition. Lead vocal, guitar, bass, drums.

UAD 4k Channel strip

UAD 4K Channel Strip emulates hit-making sound of SSL 4000*
Circuit emulation of the 4000 G+* with Type E “black knob” EQ & Filters
Flexible Compressor range from transparent to “in your face”
Highly responsive Gate including “no-chatter” mode
DYN-SC put EQ or Filters in Dynamics Sidechain

UAD 4k Buss Compressor

UAD 4K Buss Compressor emulates hit-making sound of SSL 4000*
UAD circuit emulation of the 4000 G* compressor
Specially tailored dynamics ideal for compressing the full mix
Fixed Attack, Release and Ratio settings
Continuous Threshold and Make-Up Gain settings

Using the Buss Compressor

The UAD buss compressor is what you use when you want to 'glue' several tracks feeding a bus with a single, transparent, compressor. I tried many different settings from extreme to mild. One of the more effective uses i found was to raise the overall perceived volume without very little increase in actual volume. When strapped across the entire mix, it provided a nice alternative to limiting and worked well with a final brick wall limiter like the UAD Precision limiter that I use. While there are only 5 controls on the buss compressor, they are all you need to do the job. Because there are only 5 controls, its easy to get a good idea of the range of possibilities by going through presets, listening for gold, then tweaking it home.

I think the buss compressor is the perfect tool for keeping your vocal bus over the rest of the band in the mix without imparting a squashed sound many compressors will do. Also here is a tool to help tame a live drum mix from several mics. The fast acting attack and release controls will give you the ability to 'shape' the overall drum sound from a nervous sound where the drums just jump out at you to a smooth subdued control where they just sit in the mix where you want them like an unmovable rock holding everything in place.

Summing up

Probably the fun is all in the mind, or is it? When you play around with the UAD 4k and think of what it must have been like to have 64 channels of this eq and compression its some spooky magic. On my tests using the demo before I bought the plugs, I went back and forth over and over and convinced myself I was actually hearing improvement. Enhancement was not subtle overall, but dramatic. I was left with the idea wondering if i could make all my music sound better with a post production session just adding the UAD 4k! Perhaps it is a bit unconventional to use a channel strip plugin as a mastering processor, but hey, no one has to know and if I can get the audio result I want, there is no one in the world who can tell me I am wrong.

If you have the UAD1 or 2 system, download the demo and try it. Listen for yourself.

I use the SSL 4000 bundle on a single UAD2 Solo card (below). Note that the SSL plugins do not come with this card, you have to buy them from the UAD online shop. If you want to use a lot of channel strips in a production, you may need more than the Solo card. UAD also offers Dual and Quad cards, which double and quadruple the power of the Solo card. There are also 'Flexi' paks. These include vouchers for buying plugins at the UAD store. These can be good deals. For example, if you get the Solo 'Flexi' pak you get the solo card and $500 worth of plugins for $300 more than the solo card by itself. UAD also runs bundle deals and gives away free vouchers by email. I go the UAD bundle from the UAD store for $299, or $50 off the $349 usual price.

Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 80

Waves also has a SSL 4000 bundle which costs about the same as the UAD solo card and the 4000 bundle. Except with Waves, you don't need a host card. Instead waves uses iLok or an alternate disk based authorization system.

Uad Ssl G Buss Compressor Review 27

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