New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Anybody here get an email from Plugin Alliance about their new Fakebook group called Plugin Alliance Audiophiles? Something about a chance to win a new plugin before it comes out. Part of the gui in the email looks like one of the current SSL channels

I don't do FB anymore but I think there may be one or two here that do and if so could you check this out and see what's up and let us in on it?

Thanks much.

Here's a blurry grab from the email I got. The layout is a bit different than the current E & G channels. 3 knobs each in the compressor & gate sections and lines between the eq sections. 9000?

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Update:
Checking over in the new products section on GearSlutz there's this thread: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-...1#post13404714
where they have some clearer pictures and a comment from Dirk. Apparently it's an 'officially licensed' from SSL E channel with some changes from the existing one PA has. I can see already they dropped the hysterisis control in the expansion; no mention of whether there's also a gate. Couple of other gui changes and according to Dirk some changes in the modeling of the circuitry.

I wonder what will be offered to those of us that own the current E & G channels, especially those of us that just purchased it in June?

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Wow! Maybe Brainworx finally got the endorsement from SSL to put the "Solid State Logic" name on it. I personally like the existing Channel E and G but since SSL has released the Native 6.0 Channelstrip, I know the sound quality and plugin sound cannot be beat. I wonder how much different this new Brainworx SSL E will sound from their Channel E? and hopefully they offer it free of charge to recent owners of the E or G. I couldn't see anyone paying 299.00 for it, when its probably not a super big change.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Thanks for posting this thread, MusicMan. I was curious as well, and stay clear of FB.

I just got the E-Channel console last weekend. I, too, wonder now if they are going to look at these as totally separate plugs pricing-wise or if he will give the current owners some sort of break on the new one. I doubt I would expect free as being realistic. I'm not really sure what would be fair in this situation. There is an additional licensing factor at play here, too. Has to affect $$ in some way. No idea how much.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

I'm hoping (as are a lot of others) that the 'new/official' E channel will be free for those of us that purchased it the last weekend in June. If purchased earlier than that I could see a small upgrade charge similar like what they did when Dent2/Indent2 dropped for owners of the original version/s.

Something I have to bring up is will the official SSL branded version take over seamlessly for the original? IOW if there's a session with the original version would that session see the new one as a replacement without the end user doing anything? I'm going on the assumption here that both versions won't or can't coexist.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

It seems like this SSL approval version is a totally different plugin and will not just replace the Channel E say for example on an insert. Acc to Dirk on Gearslut he mentioned they worked hard with SSL engineers to "improve" the sound of the Channel E?!? you mean to tell me that wasn't achieved on the Channel E, Like I said earlier the SSL Native Channelstrip sounds the best out of any SSL style plugins out there...

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Email came in - here's some more info. Many discount options. I may be alone on this, but I'm fine with this. $50 each if already owning, and even a new heavy hitters discount if you own bunch of other plugs, but not in that console set. Sweet! I hope they do it on others in the future.

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/p...sl_4000_e.html

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

It would only make sense that Brainworx gets Neve’s branding for the Console N......maybe even work in the code from the 88R console.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

The new bx SSL E Channel and Townhouse buss comp are great, added both here. Love Plugin Alliance stuff!

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

With the exception of the guitar stomps and Bassdude I think pretty much everything sold by PA is branded. By the time all the emails went out there's some good deals. I like that the heavy hitter codes are separate for the plugins and not just one code for all three. It's how I'll get the SSL G when my voucher situation gets straightened out.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

I just don't know why Brainworx didn't choose to incorporate the changes into the standard E & G strips. All that had to do was add a "Legacy" mode and it could save us the pain of having the older strips kicking around.

However, it is what it is.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

A guess on my part would be it has something to do with the licensing deal worked out between Dirk and SSL. This would explain why PA is no longer selling the original E & G strips but supposedly will maintain them. For however long that goes is anybody's guess.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

That would have been a more 'elegant' approach. I feel kind of stupid for having bought E, G (and N) and now, barely a year later, I have to pay another fifty bucks for an SSL approved update?

Worse still, all that marketing mojo and the Slutz discussions are giving me the feeling my 'old' E & G are now inferior, outdated and worthless.

I can't go for that. No can do. I'm resisting Slutz syndrome and up-date anxiety! Maybe later, let's see what happens with the next voucher...

I did however buy the Townhouse. I like SSL style bus(s) compression and tried the demo in a couple of mixes. Townhouse brings a lovely, unique kind of flavor to the SSL emulations table. The wet/dry control and especially the SC filter are very useful features.

100 €uro bucks with Heavy Hitter discount...

T

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Speaking of GS have you noticed in one of the threads over there that Dirk has said in this thread in post 719 https://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-...lugins-24.html
"If we decide to change these plugins it will not be a matter of days, but a few months. If product management decides to do so they need to roll this into our release calendar and priority task lists for the dev team.

Just a little feedback for you, to show you how software companies typically work once teams are involved.

That said, I am not even sure this will be done, but if it will, we'll announce any updates via our newsletters and the web sites.

Dirk."

This is in response to those who've posted about miscalibration of the metering and knobs. We're not asking for changes but bug fixes. Isn't that what beta releases are for? Seems like PA is ignoring what people are finding.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

As I understand it the discrepancies between the numbers and the actual frequencies affected with the EQ are an aspect of the modelling and a feature rather than a bug.
In a way I kind of like that approach as it forces me to use my ears rather than my eyes. I think that's one of the inherent properties of the whole channelstrip emulation thing.

The metering is another thing altogether but it doesn't really bother me that much, I don't really use them anyway to keep an eye (sic) on my levels.
More importantly the GR meter seems to be pretty accurate.

I can certainly see how 'fixing' the calibration/metering would involve a major revision of the code which will take some time.

All that being said, maybe Dirk is not the best person to handle customer communications for Bx... ;)

T

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

That last statement - you got that right.

I have to disagree with your understanding regarding the discrepancy between the knob numbers and actual frequency affected. I see it as a bug; there's slavishly modelling something and then there's accuracy of reading.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

It's like a company making a soda that tastes almost exactly like Coke then getting Coca Cola to say it's the closest thing to it and there you go......if you haven't already bought the real SSL brand channelstrip, you should make the investment, they sound so much better than the brainworx emulation.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

I don't think the SSL branded strips sound better but different. Depends on what one likes.

One of the biggest issues with the new strips is miscalibration of metering and knobs. And Dirk has effectively said that fixes (if any) won't be for a long time. Between this and the other bugs that have been long known to PA programmers and haven't been fixed I'm not holding out any hope we'll see a resolution soon. Slate soon maybe :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

I went for the new "G". Minor quibbles aside, I do like the way this sounds.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

I own most of PA stuff and like it very much.
But this "new" SSL is a little bit a joke IMO, because BX modeled the SSL not very long ago very exactly and now they modeled it again and sell the same plug in for a second time and Cannel E owner have to pay again 50$ for the "SSL" brand.
ok, may be they modeled it in some other way, but the plug in and all functions are very, very similar.
I think they only did it because people (like you and me) believe that plug ins sounds better when they show the original brand on it. :)
UAD has shown that in the past and can sell there Plug ins much higher than other companies.
but anyway I like the BX channel E very much. the possibility to make ever channel sounding a little bit different with the TDT is also a cool idea.
I make some tests and comparison between the E and the SSL and the E sounds a little bit fatter (it has more bottom end, especially with higher compressed settings) but this is not so important because you can compensate it with some adjustments.
so IMO this new plug in don't bring really something new and don't sound better than the old E. its more the feeling to have an original SSL :)

btw, it would be so cool to use this channels in the Softube console, but i think this will never happen :-/

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

This is the best SSL emulation to date for me, as it works AAX DSP, which is massive as having two HDX cards, things are really packing a punch!!!!!

I'm a 20 year SSL user, and have a 4000 G+ in my studio, so not short of reference points.

Also own Softube Console 1 with 4k and 9k, the workflow is better, but sonically doesn't touch the Brainworx.

My only wish is that the three new SSL products were sold as an SSL bundle, as would of bought it that way.

So just E strip for now, ..and will have to use the real thing for G!

Highly recommend.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

That's exactly what happened. Apparently, SSL worked with them to put a few more tweaks into the plugin for a much closer emulation.

What I don't get is why the just didn't update the original and put a Legacy mode in it?? It will actually annoy me having both kicking around on my computer since there are only subtle differences between them.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

They could have fixed the metering (yeah I'm in the GS thread on this) as well as the issue of the 'return' key on the computer sometimes changing the settings on the strips. Tech support verified the latter bug but no idea when it'll get fixed if at all - sort of like Dirk's response over on GS.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Hindsight is 20/20. If only we can see into the future we could make more wise decisions.

Kind of wished I put money on Apple after they released the G5. I was seriously thinking about it then.

Man that’s a regret I won’t ever live down.

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

With the G5 you wouldn't have to have heat in the room in the cold months :p

Re: New Plugin Alliance plugin - SSL?
 

Haha!!

Apple’s big problem was too much faith in open source. It’s a great idea, but it held back the platform from really developing.

At least the finally got around to designing Metal, though and other standards like ProRes RAW.