Solid State Logic SSL 4K B & 360 1.4 | A First Look At The 4000 B Series Plug-In With Benni Dumville

[@DRUMVILLE]

If you're thinking about purchasing any of the SSL controllers, please consider using the affiliate links that my friends at KMR have provided, below. If you use these links to access the KMR store, I will receive some commission on your purchase, at no cost to you. Thanks! SSL UC1: kmraudio.com/products/solid-state-logic-uc1?ref=BENNIDUMVILLE SSL UF8: kmraudio.com/products/solid-state-logic-uf8?ref=BENNIDUMVILLE SSL UF1: kmraudio.com/products/ssl-uf-1-daw-control-centre?ref=BENNIDUMVILLE

[@teashea1]

Very good video - it is actually better than SSL's video on the same subject. Props to you.

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thank you very much!

[@eds4754]

You’re so good at this Benni, great video!

[@DRUMVILLE]

ah thanks so much mate, very kind!

[@MrConnorPatrick]

Hilarious but also just really informative. Keep it coming! Now I need to go and update…

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thanks! Hopefully the website is back working again…

[@trent.langley]

Excellent video!

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thanks Trent!

[@djsilent01]

They (SSL) told me two months ago something was coming for the UC1 in the fall because I reached out to them and expressed my displeasure of only having one plugin for the UC1. So now we have 2. I just really wish they would stop playing and make the 360 a mixing DAW.

[@DRUMVILLE]

Well they were extremely open and transparent when UC1 first launched and did say that more channel strips would be coming. They even sent out a survey to UC1 owners asking them if they would prefer to wait a bit longer to have fully modelled console plugins, or have simpler plugins that release quicker. I don’t think 360 will become its own DAW tbh.

[@johnnymandez]

Benni your first UC1 video was the reason I purchased mine. I’m not going to lie I found my self not inspired by the UC1 as of late and was ready to sell the unit. But today’s release is just too good. Especially if SSL is going to continue putting out more stuff for the UC1. I can’t wait to check out your presents. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@DRUMVILLE]

Ah thank you so much Johnny, what a nice comment! I think the release today should give some indication that SSL are committed to UC1 and the overall 360 environment they are creating. I know sometimes a lot of time goes by without hearing much, but honestly all of the dev team are always working so hard on new ideas and improvements behind the scenes. I can’t really say anything, but there is definitely more coming and if you look at 4K B and how they’ve gone right back to the start of their console lineage, I think you can probably take an educated guess as to where things will likely go next 😃 Cheers for you dropping by! 🎉

[@TheMixClub]

Your Studio Looks So Cool. Great work on your demo. I learned allot.

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thank you, thank you, too kind 🙏

[@sweetspotstudio4546]

Awesome vid thanks for the update Bennie 😎

[@DRUMVILLE]

My pleasure!

[@Harrysound]

Ha I’ll have to give your presets a go

[@DRUMVILLE]

if you have enjoyed my previous content, and would like to support the production of the "The History & Legacy of the SL 4000 Series" - a 6 episode documentary series charting the rise of Solid State Logic, and their eventual domination of the music industry - then please visit the DRUMVILLE Original Turbo Productions MEGASTORE, where I have a range of Signature Series merchandise available for purchase, as well as a DONATIONS PORTAL for if you are not into the merch, or outside of the UK, but would still like to support the project. Thanks! www.drumville.co.uk

[@thecoastCoverband]

Hi Benni I already have the UF8. If I buy the UC1, do I get the 4k B plugin or do I have to buy the plugin separately? thank you for this great video.

[@DRUMVILLE]

Hey dude, so if you buy the UC1 you will get the 4K B, Channel Strip 2 and Bus Compressor 2 plug-ins all included for free 🙂 it’s a pretty good deal if you don’t have any of those already!

[@thecoastCoverband]

Yes I've had the UF8 from the start and the channel strip and bus compressor super and today the UC1 comes I'm happy. Have a great day man.Gr.Ness

[@DRUMVILLE]

@@thecoastCoverband I’m happy for you, enjoy! Should you have any questions, feel free to hit me up 🤙

[@DRUMVILLE]

360 1.4 & SSL 4K B is out now, and 4K B is free if you own a UC1! Log into your account by heading here: account.solidstatelogic.com/login To download the updated 360, CS2, BC2 or to get a free demo of 4K B, head here: www.solidstatelogic.com/support-page/downloads Enjoy!

[@MonsterGamingFTW]

is it possible to use the faders from the UF8 to control the fader from the channel strip plugins? or is it locked to only DAW faders?

[@DRUMVILLE]

Yes UF8 can control the channel strip plug-ins faders! You need to set UF8 up with the Plug-In Mixer as one of its three DAW layers, switch to that DAW layer and UF8 will act as a fader controller for all SSL channel strip plug-ins. You can also use the soft keys to control all other parameters of the plug-ins too.

[@joewalsh3810]

Great stuff Benni Boy

[@DRUMVILLE]

big love my stumble guy 💜

[@TouchToneDSG]

Hey great video man. Looks like I have to do an update on my channel now ty

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thanks bro, appreciate the kind words. I’ve seen some of your videos before, always a good watch 🙌 cool studio too man!

[@TonyAndersonMusic]

Loved this video - thank you. Looks like the SSL website is down and has been now for some time. Apparently they weren't prepared for the demand?

[@DRUMVILLE]

Thank you very much Tony, I do appreciate the kind words! Yeah I’m not sure the exact issue they are experiencing but I’d imagine the servers have just been totally overwhelmed and it’s brought the whole site down! It’s a shame, I think everyone knew this was going to be a big flagship type plugin launch, but yeah I guess maybe they didn’t realise just how big haha! Hopefully it’s resolved over the next few hours or tomorrow and everyone can try the new updates and 4K B.

[@musicman2047]

Does it integrate well with the UC1 hardware? How does the 'in trim' / 'mic' / 'width' / 'pan' knobs work on the hardware (UC1), are they taken in place of the original master bus compressor knobs on the UC1?

[@DRUMVILLE]

Yo musicman2047, yes the integration is done extremely well - if you actually watch the video, I do explain and show everything you have just asked :)

[@musicman2047]

@@DRUMVILLE I got ahead of myself!! :) Thank you :)

[@DRUMVILLE]

@@musicman2047 haha all good!

[@Johnnybananass-_]

how can yopu midi map the mic pre knob to an unused one on the uc1

[@DRUMVILLE]

You can’t, nor do you need to - the mic pre has its own assignment via the extended functions menu. Watch the vid, I show you how to do it

[@Trubaster]

you are funny guy man :D with that said, awesome review!!!

[@DRUMVILLE]

haha thank you, and thanks for checking out the video!

[@Trubaster]

@@DRUMVILLE yeah, been trying to download the plugin since I own UC1 it is a no brainer but the web side has been down for at least an hour now so probably high demand :D anyway you have new subscriber :D I like the content and the humor of course :D

[@DRUMVILLE]

@@Trubaster yeah I’ve heard there has been a few issues with the website sadly, but it should calm down soon hopefully. I try not to put too much opinion into these videos, but I do really like this plugin, probably my favourite channel strip I own, so am excited for you to try it 🙂 thanks for the sub!

[@Trubaster]

@@DRUMVILLE I love it already too my friend, can't wait to get my hands on it...keep up the great work, hope to see another one from you soon...rock on

[@zxcvbnmmification]

B channel is a great tonal channel strip.. and i am still not giving it the full dues

[@DRUMVILLE]

Glad you are enjoying it Jeff! I really like it too, I think it might be my favourite… until we get the next one 😂

[@dna598]

Haha Reaper? Yep. The thinking man's daw,

[@DRUMVILLE]

I have heard many things said about Reaper before, but not that 😂

[@dna598]

@@DRUMVILLE 😉

[@learnerslikeus]

< subscriber 1000

[@DRUMVILLE]

Wow thanks so much!

[@svenisaksson3970]

Well, I can't speak for Live and Reaper, but following the channel selection have been working for Studsio One, since day One!?! So nothing new there. It's a serious issue that it doesn't work in the three major DAWs: Cubase, Logic and ProTools! I can't tell how many times I've been twiddling with the wrong channel (in Cubase Pro) just because I've forgotten to select the right channel on the UC1. That being said, I've seen it working correctly in Logic. First selecting the channel on the DAW (or controller) and THEN MANUALLY select the channel on the UC1 is ridicusly unintuitive. It's NOT worthy a professional piece of gear. Fixing this issue for ALL (at least ALL THE MAJOR) DAWs must be a TOP priority for SSL! Far more important that other unnecessities like transport controls, etc. I've been nagging at SSL since I bought the UC1,. I would like to urge all UC1 users to join in in the nagging. Nagging at developers DO sometimes work. I also hope that SSL doesn't fall in the trap of having multiple functions per control. The fact that when I reach for a specific control, say the threshold, I control that function and nothing else just because a shift button happened to be pressed. If, not only, I could feel safe that I control the correct function, but on the correct channel as well, everything would be great. About the 4k B strip. It's brilliant! And I feel very grateful that SSL has chosen to provide it for free to UC1 users. 'nuff said!

[@DRUMVILLE]

Are you sure? Track select follow was definitely added for Studio One in 360 1.4. I say that with confidence having been part of the product team on this release and the devs themselves telling me... Either way, I agree it needs to come to other DAWs and if you watch through the video, you'll see I drop some info about 360 1.5 and upcoming Cubase support. Curious as to where you have seen it working in Logic, because currently Logic cannot do track select follow. When you say you've been nagging at SSL, do you mean you've been complaining online, or actually contacted them with issues you are having and feature requests? Because they are very different things 😂 I don't see why SSL would make the UC1 multiple functions per control. If you look at the UC1 and the way it is designed, the entire thing is based around it being singular controls that represent singular parameters in the plugin. In fact it becomes even clearer with this update - they added an extended functions menu from where you can select the extra controls added to UC1. So I'm not sure what you're worried about there really! Glad you are enjoying 4K B - I can't wait for the next channel strip 👀

[@svenisaksson3970]

@@DRUMVILLE There are KZbin videos that show track/channel following in Logic and Studio One, that are month's old. I believe there is a setting in Logic that is required. I use the term "nagging" humoristicly. What I mean is discussing the problem, repeatedly, with SSL's support. I wonder if my "nagging", in some small way, influenced SSL to look into the issue. I am of the opinion that this is such an impotant issue for a professional product, that it should have been solved before the products initial releease! The UC1 doesn't use multiple or burried controls? No? You give an example in your video! The "mic pre" on the 4k B plugin. Don't get me wrong. I love that SSL included it, but the very fact that the physical controls limits what controls are availabe, forces SSL to be "creative" when new features are added. The transport controls, is a case in point. There are no dedicated buttons, so they have to be buried in the center section of the UC1. Actually, the UC1 has always had a multi-function button. Ther is a button in the EQ section, that detemines if the EQ shuold have E-series or G-series characteristics. This is, in essance, a "shift" button, that shifta the caracteristcs of the EQ section. It not far to have other controls shift function. For example, SSL could have elected to have a button shift a couple of knobs in the Bus Compressor section shift to contol the Mic Pre. I don't know what's worse, this or the soution they choose. This is a dilemma with adding software features to hardware controller, that is virtally impossibe (or at least very hard) to achieve. Once again. I love my UC1. I'd like to add a UF8 as well, but unfotyunately there is a major flaw with it, that makes it virtally useless. I guess I'll have something else to "nag" about ;) If you had asked me 3 years ago, if I could afford anything made by SSL, I'd told you that you were mad.

[@DRUMVILLE]

@@svenisaksson3970 Cool, well if you’ve spoken to SSL support, then your comments will have been noted. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t one of those people shouting into the vast internet void and wondering why nobody heard you 😂 Regarding Logic, there is no channel select follow. There are weird “hacky” ways of doing something similar, but it is not available natively with 360 / UC1. I’ve seen people using the plugin link button, and in fact I spent a long time using this when beta testing UC1 before its release. I found it can be buggy at times when moving around large sessions, and the one obvious flaw is that you have to permanently have the channel strip plugin open on your screen - thus defeating the point of UC1. Native implementation would mean when you select a track - even with zero intention of adjusting an SSL channel strip plugin - UC1 mirrors the plugin on that track. I just checked with the devs and SSL 360 1.4 added this functionality for Studio One 😊 I’m hoping Logic will be soon 🤞 And no, to me the UC1 always has per function controls. The Extended Functions menu introduced in 1.4 is a menu on an LCD screen that clearly displays what you are selecting and scrolling through. It’s extremely intuitive and there are not really any other things to get it confused with. I do get what you mean - it’s multifunctional and hidden behind a single button press so it’s not immediately there in the surface - but it is far, far better than having multiple features shared on one knob. That would be ridiculous trying to remember what is what, and what is currently being displayed. Not sure what you’re saying about the E button to be honest. It’s not multifunctional, it’s function is to swap the EQ characterises - a very common feature found on SSL consoles and channel strips and I suspect we will see it used to do the same thing on a future console, to change between the different types of EQ. If it were multifunctional, it would do switch EQ curves, but also be able to control mic amp gain - or something like that. That’s what multifunctional means to me. I get your point about adding software features to hardware. I think SSL have done it really well. Everything they’ve added is literally behind one button and is fully displayed visually on a colour screen, it’s very easy to use. No holding down shift commands or remembering patterns of buttons to press. It could be much worse. Obviously the ideal solution would have been to design all of the console plugins first and then make a controller that covers them all - but that’s not how business works! What’s the flaw with the UF8?

[@svenisaksson3970]

@@DRUMVILLE I just remember another thing about having the UC1 follow the selected track in Logic and studio one. The plugin had to be in the first insert slot, for it to work! Do you know if this limitation have been fixed? "Not sure what you’re saying about the E button to be honest. It’s not multifunctional, it’s function is to swap the EQ characterises." Interesting. You give an exelent of a "shift" button, while arguing that it isn't. Quite a feat. The button SHIFTS between E-series and G-series characteristcs! It is therefore, by definition, a "Shift" button. The fact that it's on the hardware channel strip is inconsequential. As I said, it's hard to add features to hardware. It's to late now but, with a little foresight, SSL could have added a couple of "soft" buttons when they designed the harware UC1, for future expansion. Such as the mic pre in the 4k B plugin (or a SSL mic pre in the Channel Strip 2 plugin). "What's flaw with the UF8?" There are several: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHumhn6MprZgoqM but the dealbreaker is that it doesn't follow the selected channel/track in the DAW (Déjà vu?). This could be the consequence of SSL choosing MackieContol as protocol. I had expected better from a company like SSL. This has been an issue with SSL contol surfaces, that made me decide NOT to buy the Nucleus. Mind you, Mackie Contol is a MIDI based protocol, that was designed for budget controllers. Not for professional use! I fully agre with Dom, that SSL should develop their own PROFESSIONAL protocol. And also begin with concentating on supporting the main DAWs (Cubase, Logic, Pro Tools and maybe Live). That way they would be the "master of some", instead of "jack of all". I choose to go with Avids Artist Mix and their EUCON based protocol, which has a much more "professional" feel to it. It actually is only supported by a few DAWs, but works much better with them. Oh, and my EUCON based contol surface DOES follow the selected channel/track in my DAW (Cubase Pro)! Perhaps some "nagging" is in order. One could only wish.

[@DRUMVILLE]

@@svenisaksson3970 - “Do you know if this limitation have been fixed?” 

So like I said, it’s not exactly a limitation, if you are using it in that way it’s like a hacky workaround the core issue. Implementing DAW track select follow, like they just did for Reaper, Live and Studio One is how you fix and get around this issue. In Logic, no we still don’t have track select follow, but I am sure SSL will be working on it.
 - “The button SHIFTS between E-series and G-series characteristcs! It is therefore, by definition, a "Shift" button.”

 Sorry dude, I just think you are wrong here. The feature of the E button is to swap between two modes. That IS the feature, it’s not shifting or swapping to another feature - that is it’s one singular purpose. Toggle bewteen A and B. The same as a bypass button that goes from on to off - you wouldn’t argue that the IN switch is a multifunctional button. Being able to go from ON or OFF, IS the function.

 Unlike what you are saying, a shift key or button, is an additional button that when held down and used in combination with another control or button, will then let you control a secondary function. Literally like the shift key on a keyboard. Thankfully SSL is not taking this approach with UC1. 

So if you could hold down shift and then press the E button, and it controlled a completely different feature - I would agree with you, that would then be a multifunctional control and not “per knob control”.

 - “SSL could have added a couple of "soft" buttons when they designed the harware UC1, for future expansion.”

 How is this any different to what they have actually done though? Because the buttons aren’t soft..?

 You literally press ONE button to open the Extended Functions menu. That button has no other use unless you are in the presets menu. You can then see all 7 extra controls on the screen. ONE button press and you go back to the main view. It is extremely simple and easy to use and hardly difficult to remember or interact with, AND it doesn’t clash or compromise with any other feature.
Same for the transport controls… the knob / button you press has no other use unless you are in the presets menu.

 Also if they had soft controls like on the UF8 - these would then not be “per knob controls”. You would be able to change their function and flip through banks… multifunctional controls… exactly what you are saying they didn’t want.

 Also worth noting that SSL did indeed have a little foresight - in fact, quite a lot of foresight… early designs for UC1 began over 10 years ago 👀 - it’s just that their foresight led to the simple Extended Functions menu and not your own personal idea. So with UF8. It certainly does follow the selected track in the DAW… I’m literally sat here now in a Logic session with over 100 tracks. I can select any track via mouse and UF8 will also show that selection. Works the other way around too - scroll through tracks on UF8 and make a selection, and it’s reflected in Logic. UF8 has always done this, and it’s a core feature of the Mackie MCU protocol. 

I agree with you on the sentiment that the MCU protocol is hardly ideal for modern use though. It definitely does show it’s age and you kind of have to just accept the limitations of it’s features in order to use it effectively. What I like about the UF8 though, is how easy it makes using the MCU protocol. I’ve had many previous controllers and it’s always a clunky mess trying to navigate MCU. 
UF8 makes it so simple. I always know exactly what I am looking at and which menu I’m in.

 It’s worth noting though that it’s not really a case of SSL choosing MCU. It’s more of a case of Avid choosing not license out the EUCON protocol to third parties. They do not allow other companies to make EUCON controllers, therefore SSL, and every other company making controllers, only choice is Mackie MCU. 

Interesting idea for them to create their own protocol, I don’t know how feasible that is though really. It would require industry wide change and cooperation, which you don’t really see a lot of these days.
What could be more likely, would be SSL develop a way of translating MCU protocol, into their own thing, which is then displayed on UF8. We shall see! 

Anyway, no more nagging needed! I have forwarded all of your comments onto the product team for UC1, UF8 and the plugins. 

Best, 
Benni

[@jacobelliott7890]

Pᵣₒmₒˢᵐ ❤️