The Most Popular Compressors of All Time? SSL E and B Series Dynamics Modules // Joe Carrell

[@kevinbatchelor9566]

Your depth of knowledge and ability to help us understand is truly at the pinnacle of this space.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you so much Kevin!

[@Anders01]

I love using SSL channel strip plugins on live recorded tracks. I can see how SSL consoles were designed to deal with this. Amazing that something close to it can now be done in the box.

[@SybrenRoefs]

This has been really helpful in showing how to use these EQs in a quick workflow all over the mix. Thanks so much!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@SybrenRoefs glad you enjoyed it!

[@Gang-25j]

Compressors

[@SybrenRoefs]

Indeed, that's what I meant ;) The EQs are cool too though!

[@Joey-rp5vg]

Joe, a joy as always watching and ,earning from you. Great review and some awesome sounds. Thanks very much

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you very much for watching Joey!

[@maddiejarrell5920]

“It’s a sound, it’s a vibe, it’s a thing” classic Joe Carrell 💯

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Haha. Never at a loss to use too many words.

[@vanmccalister3345]

You're a great teacher, thank you. Using the gear in real time and explaining where and why you do certain things is so helpful! Appreciated and subbed!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@vanmccalister3345 glad you enjoyed it!! Plenty more to come 🎉

[@rodpyle4241]

This video is so great on demonstrating the B dynamics !! Thank you

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@rodpyle4241 thank you Rod!

[@haleyjuleen]

Awesome video, Joe!! 🎉

[@Skkyyyyyyyyyyy]

Amazing video Joe!! What was the threshold at when you tickled the electric guitar at the end????

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@Skkyyyyyyyyyyy I honestly don’t remember. I would’ve just turned it clockwise until it was flickering.

[@artysanmobile]

There’s some great arrangement in this track. Piano and guitars are very nicely played to work together. No fighting allowed 🤲🏽. Great stuff, Joe.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@artysanmobile thank you!

[@gillihansmobilewelding]

It's great that you brought this comp to people's attention. I know it's not the same but I use T-racks White Channel and British Channel on everything. I try to use other comps but almost always end up going back to the SSL comp. I thought I was crazy, but it sounds so good.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@gillihansmobilewelding thank you for watching!

[@guidomartin1017]

Hey Joe, thank you so much for this great video! What a beautiful sound. That's the sound of SSL! Have a great week. 👍

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

You’re very welcome!

[@DONKEYFORRENT]

Fantastic info as always. Thank you for doing these.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@DONKEYFORRENT thank you for watching!!

[@robbiedunham2280]

Awesome comparison and highly educational - as always. You’re getting fantastic sounds out of both units.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!!

[@ohstudiousa]

Good morning from So. Cal. A cup coffee and a great video from Joe Carrell. What a great way to wake up!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I appreciate you!

[@danielburns4483]

Good afternoon from So Cal. I knew there was a reason I couldn't stop thinking about SSL all day lol

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@danielburns4483 I can’t think of many things better to think about about!!

[@leftofcenter4]

Wow! I have several Ssl xrack dynamic modules E series, 9000k, stereo dyn and Ssl Bus compressor.. this was very informative mix training.. very nice

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@leftofcenter4 awesome! Glad to hear it. Best wishes 👊🏼

[@jacksonnieland2057]

Awesome stuff! Love the classic SSL compressors!

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

Great review Joe!!! I really appreciate your knowledge and great videos. You actually convinced me to buy the UF1, UF8, and UC1 along with the SSL subscription. This has really changed my enthusiasm for mixing again. If you don't mind I'd love to know your opinion of the hardware vs what the native plugins offer??? How close has SSL come to emulating their hardware??? Many thanks!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@stevenrayphoto1280 awesome glad to hear it Steven. In the software versus hardware, I think it’s close enough that, if recorded well through high end transformers etc, I can mix in the box and be very happy and it also very analog sounding and feeling.

[@othelloproductions1]

Let's go!!!! Great job and awesome video Joe. 💯

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you very much!!

[@jason.martin]

great demo of these units!!!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank You Jason!!

[@jason.martin]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell just watched this again, you have a preference to use the B series on rooms? great sound!!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@jason.martin they sure can be explosive! I’m still torn because I really like the fast attack setting on the E Dyns as well.

[@hosedog99]

This is super helpful! How would you approach getting the side chain pumping effect that is common in electronic dance music using hardware compressors? Do the 500 series modules work for this?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@hosedog99 Glad you enjoyed it! I have only approached that type of pumping with plug ins.

[@gathobeevens2644]

Great teacher, great content, you are a blessing to the whole world sir !! be abundantly blessed !!!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@gathobeevens2644 thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it

[@seandaniell9380]

Great vid, thanks Joe! When do we get to see a vid on the Harrison 500 series?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I absolutely do want to do a video on those. I haven’t tried that compressor or that specific 3 band EQ module at all so I’m also curious.

[@aleksamrkela831]

If mixing with stuff made or inspired by SSL is 'wrong', then I don't want to be right! Love the video.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Amen and amen brother!! Haha. Have a good one

[@rinosphere]

legend. great working methods.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you sir ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

[@BlackenedNL]

Love my SSL G-Comp and UVEQ! These dynamic modules sound really killer as well, gonna add some of these to the rack in the future

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

You’ll be thrilled with them I guarantee. Best wishes

[@LoveMeBack]

This is exactly the video I was looking for. B-Dyn it is for me.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Nice! Enjoy 🎉🎉

[@Blazerota]

Great video! The question is: Can you accomplish the same with SSL's plugins? Perhaps not exactly the same but maybe to a point where the differences don't matter?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@Blazerota That’s a solid question. I do always feel some extra mojo when I use these comps in hardware form. However that’s also not always practical or possible so I absolutely do use them heavily in software form from SSL and Plug In Alliance. Thanks you for watching!!

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Some time ago I was curious about these, but was not too certain. I just may have to give them another look. They certainly made the source wider, more assertive and preferred. At least through KZbin. I see what you mean about tickling the lights across the board. I have had the pleasure of working with some of your multi tracks and they all send my master bus in the red in Pro Tools, so they are hot off the presses 😂 😅 but sound absolutely amazing and honestly the best I have ever worked with. Now my goal is not just loud, but is it Joe Carrell loud? If not, I go back to the kitchen. But all jokes aside that is one of the massive differences between a professional like yourself and someone like me who is just an apprentice hoping to be a master craftsman one day. Many thanks for all that do and share.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you for following along! It’s taken a lot of years of trial and error along with my training, BUT the journey is amazing fun. And I’m still looking and finding ways to improve my work too! Otherwise it’s time to retire 😂

[@tonis.4235]

The raw recorded sound of these toms is far beyond my capabilities

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Haha. Yeah they do sound great. But that is a super high end shell tuned by a professional Nashville studio player. Lots of credit to go around on why they sound that great. Thanks for watching!

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

Hey Joe, Warren said about that automatic gain in the compressors of SSLs are "intelligent and smart" and it's true. So also easy to use and have that SSL sound. I still love the 9000J style, because I work with a lot of electronic music. Or soul based material. But I have pretty much all their plugins. So I'm also a fan. Even I have a restored API here, that's another beast. And also hifi but totally different tone. With the original transformers. Grtz and great to see you again. Cheers!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Very nice! I love the sound of the make up gain

[@RPMusicStudios]

“If the lights ain’t flickerin the tracks are still bickerin” -Dad

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@RPMusicStudios hahaha. That’s a good one

[@mephiston9]

Great video I have been thinking to get 2 of the e series ones, now I do have the bus +, do you think I can get the vibe of the series b with the bus + ??

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Hmmm That’s hard to say. The Buss+ can get aggressive with some harmonics, so I’m going to say in that regard yes. They may not have the exact same color, but both can be colored and aggressive for sure

[@mephiston9]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell thank you so much. So that’s what I will do … 2 e series. I usually use the shadow hills master buss or the bus + for the different busses. But I really want to have those e series Maybe in the near future an origin would be cool with those dynamics 😁🤘🤘

[@chrisburkhardt4902]

Freaking LOVE your videos! I always pick up new tips and new perspectives...and now new gear! I just finished filling my Neve chassis with pres and my BLA chassis with BLA Bluey 500s, Seventeen 500s, and ELA Pumps. ...Looks like I'm getting another chassis. Lol. Out of curiosity, have you tried the API chassis? I love my BLA...especially for the added patchbay feature. Just wondering what you experiences have been with different chassis.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

We do have an API chassis down in the tracking room. It’s very basic with no bells and whistles, but always works great. Thank you very much for watching!! Best wishes Chris

[@SlimCreep]

great job joe

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@marcushyatt1486]

4064 E/G+ was first console I learned/mixed on. Such great sounding desks Just some stuff you can’t completely recreate ITB

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

They’re still my favorite

[@LeahSchattschneider-id4dw]

Great video!

[@teashea1]

good video - well done

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@doubleaceprod]

I just used the 4k B plug-in from SSL just 2 days ago😅. I wonder how close the plugins are from the hardware. I'm a huge fan of SSL native plugins... They make it to every season. Hopefully one day in the future I can build a 500 series SSL rack

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I have used that plug-in a ton as well. However, since I’ve had the hardware, I have not done any kind of side-by-side.

[@christophersmith2904]

Big fan of Joe

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you very much, Christopher!

[@rome8180]

I've never used any SSL hardware. I'd love to. I use the Brainworx plugin versions on every mix. I love how they sound. For some reason, I gravitate toward the G series, but the E series is cool too.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I love the PA Brainworx versions too 👊🏼

[@1loveMusic2003]

Are you using the Lewitt with the Aura thing? If I did KZbin I would only use that mic I mean there's nothing easier than that .

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Yes sir that was the Ray. I know it’s hard to tell at that angle but yeah, I definitely want that proximity helper.

[@zxcvbnmmification]

Hey Joe thanks for your always top notch videos, for protools in 2024 do you use hdx? I have an m1 pro max with 32 gigs of ram.. havent had too many issues with latency but if i want to run inserts do you use or think its needed? Thanks!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I do have an HDX system and I know, especially during Tracking, It’s every bit worth it for the delay compensation that it provides. It’s flawless. For mixing though I am honestly not sure that it’s a big deal anymore unless you are using hardware inserts. or someone mixing completely in the box I think you are good to go with the modern processors and should be fine. Thank you so much for your support.!!

[@zxcvbnmmification]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell Thanks Joe!

[@raal007]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell Working hybrid, i can confirm HDX makes your life a whole lot easier with hardware inserts.

[@rrrafiel]

Can you confirm that the B-DYN is feedback, and that the E-DYN is feedforward? It would be nice if you could trace the circuits and show the RMS detector chips. It's hard to tell the topology from the audio clips. Also, I don't that CLA ever uses the compressors in the console except sometimes for the kick drum. However, he uses the expanders on almost every channel.

[@TelecasterMod]

I always thought CLA sound was just like Joe explain, compressor use on every channel couple db. That's the sound i ear anyway. How can you confirm that CLA don't use channel compressor on is SSL, im just curious

[@davidmills8354]

I recently bought the ssl six desktop mixer and I am a total ssl nut job now! Thank you for the video

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Very nice. Congrats 🎉

[@kevinlentz7604]

I’m a double nut job I bought the 6 and the big six,one for my solo act ,one for the studio ❤

[@willyecharte]

great video

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@willyecharte thank you Willy!

[@Relayer6a]

I'm not an expert, but did the expanded use of compression in the 80's+ have anything to do with digital? Because with analog living on the edge of breakup was common. With digital you have to NEVER let it breakup.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Yes and no. Those SSL consoles became the standard mixing desk in the 80s because of things like the detailed automation, dynamics on every channel, etc regardless of the format they were recording on or mixing from. People simply wanted those features. Digital tape of course was infiltrating the industry around that same era, but many rooms also stayed with analog tape. So what I have came to understand in my conversations with the era prior to my career, they were simply overjoyed to have access to that many great sounding compressors to get what was quickly becoming the modern and expected BIG sound.

[@Relayer6a]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell Thanks. I was just talking compression in general. I would imagine ease of use, being built into each channel of the boards.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@Relayer6a absolutely. All of a sudden, instead of three or six or seven compressors in the control room you had 48 or more! Haha.

[@douggroulx1525]

I have learned some new things today and I must say I am very impressed with those B series wow they are awesome! I have never heard them before. Joe, thank you!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you for watching Doug!

[@thrillerboyrecords]

How is the rack unit, looks good.? I’m into 500 series as well.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@thrillerboyrecords they’re amazing. A few new features built in that the original didn’t have, but otherwise exactly what you were expecting. Highly recommended

[@itsaminhossein]

Great vid

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@artysanmobile]

I recall my work through the 80s took on a flavor and survived my brutal self-doubt better than what came before. The 4000 was so complete a sonic paintbox it changed everyone’s work to some degree. I also worked a lot on Neve’s 8108, 8128 at the time which people insisted ‘sucked’. Yet some of my favorite, most enduring work was done on them, albeit with outboard 33609 limiters. Those first integrated circuit Neve’s somehow, with ICs, exhibited the same drive action I remember from the 8078’s class A mic amps. In fact I liked those IC head amps better, finding them quieter.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@artysanmobile I did quite a bit of Tracking work on 8100s but never any mixing that I remember. Thank you for watching man

[@FromTheHipp]

Have you ever tried Nebulas software/framework? The AlexB 9k Console ? would love to know your thoughts on it. not alot of ppl use it but the ones that do swear by it.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I have not. I’m unfamiliar with it. For ITB I do the SSL branded, as well as, Brainworx/Plug In Alliance versions

[@FromTheHipp]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell Gotcha. You have your workflow and your affiliations. If you ever do get the time, check it out. The tech is convolution so they 'sampled' the SSL 9K console(as well as 4k, Neve, and API). Different from UAD/PI etc bc they are algo driven. So the 'analog feel' with the plugins engaged is said to be much closer to the real sound than the algo based plugins. you having spent time on those consoles would know whats what. anyway, great video per usual.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@FromTheHipp thank you!

[@victorloya1590]

This compressors need a very high input signal level, and have very high output, how did you manage the gain stagging?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@victorloya1590 I don’t really struggle with it honestly. If I need to clip gain something up or down a little bit I can do that. And then just set the return fader where I need It to be for mix level

[@mannysmiclocker]

Love it❤😊

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@אפיאליאב]

big like from "ISRAEL" !!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@אפיאליאב thank you!

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Did someone say “check it out!” ?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Probably 25 times knowing me 😂

[@marcubale]

15:38 you have different ratio set on those

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Quite possible

[@garyh1296]

I would describe the sonics of SSL mixed music in the 80's as more intelligent and rounded. Good examples are artists like Peter Gabriel and Genesis

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@garyh1296 things definitely became tighter and more “gelled”. Love these things.

[@MULOVOLUM]

Joeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

🎉🎉🎉

[@MarkyGoldstein]

Music was only good until 1984, and that still was tape

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I think most of us music buffs don’t share that opinion and have tons of things we love throughout all decades. But absolutely tape was a huge component of some eras. Have a good one ✌🏼

[@alexanderkhait]

Nice try Joe, but cranking up the volume is always a trick

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

But it’s not in this case. It’s actually part of the analog circuit. This isn’t an intentional…I’m going to turn this little audio clip up in post to fool a viewer situation whatsoever. The analog circuitry itself amplifies the sound to compensate for the gain reduction. And the beauty of it is that it overcompensates a little bit and what comes out on the other side literally sounds better. Everyone who has ever used a real SSL console and knows analog knows this and loves this about the circuits. If it’s a trick…then Sign me up for two baby! Ask the legends…they’ll tell ya

[@Notinserviceij]

​@InTheMixJoeCarrell I agree with you, I have noticed this as I have started my hybrid journey Gain matching is still important, but if you know what a particular bit of gear is gonna do then you'll use it accordingly, like you say it sounds better not just because it is louder Good stuff