4K E
by Solid State Logic · Channel Strip · SSL E-series console channel strip
Not rated yet
SSL's own emulation of a channel from the SL 4000 E console: transformer mic preamp, filters, the E-series EQ in three variants, compressor, gate/expander and the VCA fader.
It is used for the punchy, forward E-series sound on drums, vocals and guitars, one instance per track as on the console.
Best for: Vocals, Drums, Guitars, Bass, Drum Bus. Genres: Rock & Indie, Pop, Hip-Hop & Trap, Metal, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: hardware emulation, drums, VCA, vocals, clean, electric guitar, downward expansion, gritty, transformer, British console, licensed emulation, punchy, 80s, bass, bus processing, circuit-modelled, CPU-light, drag-and-drop routing, drum bus, flat UI, mixing, oversampling, sidechain input, subscription, subtle, vintage.
What it does
4K E is Solid State Logic's own software version of a channel from the SL 4000 E console, released in November 2023. It models the full signal path rather than only the EQ and dynamics.
- Mic preamp: models the Jensen transformer-balanced preamp, which adds more even-order harmonics as you drive it.
- Three EQ circuits: Brown knob (the original '02, known for its grit), Orange knob (the rare passive-based '132) and Black knob (the cleaner '242 with a weightier low end).
- Dynamics: a Revision 4 soft-knee compressor with fast/slow attack and a logarithmic release curve, plus a separate gate/expander.
- VCA fader: models the dbx 202 'gold can' VCA, which adds subtle saturation at the output.
- Extras: HQ oversampling mode, flexible routing and side-chain options, SSL 360° Plug-in Mixer integration and control from SSL's UC1, UF8 and UF1 controllers.
It is also in the SSL Complete subscription, with a 14-day trial.
Source: Solid State Logic product page
When to use it
4K E is the choice when you want the E-series console sound specifically, from the company that built it. It covers the same console as bx_console SSL 4000 E, which adds Brainworx's channel-variation (TMT) system. Compared with Native Channel Strip 2, SSL's cleaner, lighter modern strip, and Waves SSL E-Channel, the older, simpler option, 4K E adds the preamp and VCA colour and the rare Orange EQ.
- Best for: drums, rock guitars and vocals that need to cut, and building a full console-style mix with one instance per track.
- Genres: rock and indie, pop, hip-hop and metal; anything that suits a bright, punchy, slightly aggressive sound.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a transparent, all-purpose strip (Scheps Omni Channel, Neutron 5).
What producers say
Reviews are very positive, with several calling it the most convincing E-series emulation so far.
- MusicTech scored it 9/10 and called it a near-perfect recreation of the SL 4000E channel, with the price the main complaint at launch.
- Production Expert's panel gave it a unanimous Gold Award; one panellist called it "the best emulation I've heard to date", and they found it grittier than UAD's smoother E model.
- Praise: low CPU use, so it can go on every channel, and a clean, modern interface.
Where to buy
- SSL: $149
- Plugin Boutique: $149
- AudioDeluxe: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- SSL X Joe Carrell: Mixing with the 4K E plug-in, SSL 360° and the SSL Complete plug-in catalogue (Solid State Logic)
- SSL 4K E Plug-in - Overview & Tutorial (Solid State Logic)
- SSL 4K E Channel Strip Plugin
- SSL 4K E Plug-in: The Sound of Hit Records
- Solid State Logic SSL 4K E -Revisión en Español-
Similar plugins
- SSL 4000 E Channel Strip by Universal Audio · Console channel strip · $69
- SSL SL 4000 E-Series by Softube · SSL E-series console strip · $199
- SSL E-Channel by Waves · SSL E-series channel · $29.99
- SSL 4K G by Solid State Logic · Console channel strip · $149
- bx_console SSL 4000 G by Brainworx · Console channel strip · $175
- SSL G-Channel by Waves · SSL G-series channel · $32.91
- Native Channel Strip 2 by Solid State Logic · SSL console channel strip · $149
- SSL 4K B by Solid State Logic · Console channel strip · $149
- SSL EV2 Channel by Waves · SSL channel strip · $29.99
- bx_console SSL 9000 J by Brainworx · Console channel strip · $49.99
More from Solid State Logic
- X-Gate by Solid State Logic · Gate · 8.3/10 · $49
- Fusion Stereo Image by Solid State Logic · Imaging · 8.5/10 · $24.99
- Native Channel Strip 2 by Solid State Logic · Channel Strip · 9.4/10 · $149
- SSL 4K G by Solid State Logic · Channel Strip · 8.4/10 · $149
- LMC+ by Solid State Logic · Compressor · $49
- Native Bus Compressor 2 by Solid State Logic · Compressor · $99
- Fusion Vintage Drive by Solid State Logic · Saturation · $24.99
- X-Saturator by Solid State Logic · Saturation · $49