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

Introduced in the late 70s and being available on EVERY channel of the most popular studio mixing consoles of all time, the venerable E and B series dynamics modules from Solid State Logic are very likely the most used/heard compressor of the last 40+ years. Let's take a deep dive into the sound of these modules and find out why our heroes love them so much.
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Gear Used In This Video
SSL E Dyn sweetwater.sjv...
SSL B Dyn sweetwater.sjv...
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[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 👊🏼

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@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!!

[@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!

[@rodpyle4241]

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

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@rodpyle4241 thank you Rod!

[@LoveMeBack]

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

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Nice! Enjoy 🎉🎉

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@othelloproductions1]

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

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you very much!!

[@robbiedunham2280]

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

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!!

[@jacksonnieland2057]

Awesome stuff! Love the classic SSL compressors!

[@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

[@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

[@DONKEYFORRENT]

Fantastic info as always. Thank you for doing these.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@DONKEYFORRENT thank you for watching!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@haleyjuleen]

Awesome video, Joe!! 🎉

[@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 👊🏼

[@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.

[@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 ❤

[@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

[@SlimCreep]

great job joe

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@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.

[@rinosphere]

legend. great working methods.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you sir ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

[@LeahSchattschneider-id4dw]

Great video!

[@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

[@willyecharte]

great video

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@willyecharte thank you Willy!

[@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.

[@teashea1]

good video - well done

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@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 😁🤘🤘

[@itsaminhossein]

Great vid

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@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.

[@user-qb5ni3cn5l]

big like from "ISRAEL" !!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@user-qb5ni3cn5l thank you!

[@christophersmith2904]

Big fan of Joe

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you very much, Christopher!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@mannysmiclocker]

Love it❤😊

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you!

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Did someone say “check it out!” ?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Probably 25 times knowing me 😂

[@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

[@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!

[@marcubale]

15:38 you have different ratio set on those

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Quite possible

[@MULOVOLUM]

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

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

🎉🎉🎉

[@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

[@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 ✌🏼

[@georgewoolf6300]

Alas, less than 1 minute into your video and you have an error... the first console SSL made was the 5000 series, later followed by the 4000 series. It's best to research first before making videos on KZbin with inaccurate info, becuase while your glasses make you look smart, there are some of us out here that can see when the blind are leading the blind. Also the channel comps had ZERO to do with the bus comp, again best to research first. The channel comps were designs close to the agressive DBX 160 type compressors based around That amps, while the bus comps were gold can based and designed differently. Outside of your inaccurate items, good job demonstrating the 500 series channel comps.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Definitely nothing to argue about George, but I assure you You’re incorrect. Aside from two desks labeled “A” that they made while “finding themselves”, The SSL 4KB series was the first genuine console they made. I don’t remember the exact number, but there were something like only a dozen made. And they did find themselves in some very successful notorious rooms. And they did include channel strip compression on every channel for the first time ever in a desk. And yes it was much more akin in workflow to the bus compressor than it was to what became the standard SSL channel compression we now know. With fixed ratios and an automatic . Maybe watch some SSL marketing videos about the 4K B software that they have brought back along with this hardware compressor to capture the sound of some of those albums. They will give you the facts so you also have that information. You can probably find these facts easily on their website. Best wishes

[@alex-r-t]

Yep! 4000's were introduced in the 70's, 5000's in the 80's. Looks like George might be the blind one here. Might be worth getting some glasses of your own 😉 Thanks for the informative video Joe!

[@lmrecordings]

Someone made themselves look like a 🤡 (george)

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@lmrecordings hahahah. We ALL make mistakes. Brother George just reminded us why it’s best to initiate a conversation from a better spot 😂. I forgive ya George. We share the same passions so let’s just start over and be buds 👊🏼

[@raal007]

Excellent video, thanks!! Have an SSL Origin so i'm thinking of getting these. Will get some demo units to compare with the plugins. Thanks again!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@raal007 very nice! Thank you for watching.