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Description
Unlock the sonic prowess of the legendary SSL 4000 G console with the Waves SSL G-Equalizer. This EQ plug-in is your gateway to the iconic sound shaping capabilities favored by top engineers across the globe. Meticulously modeled after the rackmounted version of the 292 EQ, it offers a distinct midrange punch that brings vocals and guitars to the forefront of your mix, ensuring they cut through with clarity and character.
Featuring a four-band parametric equalizer with both high-pass and low-pass filters, the SSL G-Equalizer is engineered for precision. Its pre-boost dip and pre-cut rise functionalities, along with a broader Q, provide an unmatched ability to manipulate frequencies with finesse. Whether you're aiming for subtle enhancement or dramatic tonal shifts, this plug-in delivers the authentic tonal color of the original hardware right into your DAW.
Developed under license from Solid State Logic, the SSL G-Equalizer is more than just an EQ; it's a tool for crafting your sound with the rich heritage of a studio legend.
Key Features:
- Modeled after the rackmounted version of SSL’s 4000 G Series 292 equalizer
- Four-band parametric equalizer with high-pass and low-pass filters
- Offers pre-boost dip, pre-cut rise, and broad Q for enhanced frequency manipulation
- Analog switch to toggle SSL console emulation on or off
- Developed under license from Solid State Logic
Owner's manual
Waves SSL G-Equalizer User ManualProduct specs
| Available since | January 2018 |
| Los artikel / bundelartikel | Los artikel |
| Delay | No |
| Dynamics | No |
| Effect Filter | No |
| Encoder/Decoder | No |
| Equalizer | Yes |
| Guitar amps/-effects | No |
| Channel Strip | No |
| Metering / Analysis / Correction | No |
| Modulation Effects | No |
| Multieffect / Plugin-Host | No |
| Overdrive/Distortion | No |
| Preamp / Saturation | No |
| Psychoacoustic tool / Enhancer / Exciter | No |
| Restauration | No |
| Reverb | No |
| Special FX | No |
| Summer / Mixing Consoles | No |
| Tape Simulation | No |
| Pitch Shifter / Harmonizer / Timestretching | No |
| Transient Processing | No |
| Vocoder / Vocal effect | No |
| Mastering Tools | Yes |
| Hardware Controller | No |
| Download | 1 |
FAQs
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What is the primary use of the Waves SSL G-Equalizer plugin?
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The Waves SSL G-Equalizer is designed for precise tonal shaping in music production, emulating the classic SSL 4000 G Series EQ. It's ideal for enhancing individual tracks or full mixes with its four-band equalization.
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Is the Waves SSL G-Equalizer plugin suitable for mastering?
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Yes, the Waves SSL G-Equalizer is suitable for mastering, offering detailed control over frequency bands to fine-tune the overall sound of a mix.
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What DAWs are compatible with the Waves SSL G-Equalizer plugin?
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The Waves SSL G-Equalizer is compatible with major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Cubase, among others, as long as they support VST, AU, or AAX formats.
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Does the Waves SSL G-Equalizer plugin include dynamics processing?
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No, the Waves SSL G-Equalizer focuses solely on equalization and does not include dynamics processing features like compression or gating.
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Can the Waves SSL G-Equalizer be used for live performances?
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While primarily designed for studio use, the Waves SSL G-Equalizer can be used in live settings if integrated into a digital audio workstation that supports live processing.
Videos
iMixInTheBox
WAVES SSL G-EQUALIZER Part of Waves SSL 4000 on DRUMS BUS
Reviews
PROS
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Precise and transparent sound shaping capabilities
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Excellent for achieving a well-calibrated and crystalline sound
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Encourages ear training due to lack of visual EQ curves
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Allows for more natural and precise adjustments
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Small knob movements have a significant impact on sound
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Highly effective compared to other EQ plugins
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Versatile for equalizing a wide range of audio sources
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Intuitive interface for easy use
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Impressive sound quality compared to similar products
CONS
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waves SSL G-Equalizer.
Features and functionality
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The Waves SSL E-Channel is praised for its minimal CPU usage, allowing for extensive use across multiple channels without performance issues.
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Users appreciate the Brainworx plugin's TMT technology for adding analog "imperfection," offering different signal variations for L and R channels to enhance depth and width in mixes.
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The Waves SSL G-Equalizer is praised for its accurate frequency labeling, unlike Brainworx's random channel tech, which can lead to inconsistent EQ frequency selections.
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The "analog" button on the Waves SSL G-Equalizer adds a subtle noise floor and harmonic distortion, emulating analog console behavior, particularly with multiple instances.
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Comparisons
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SSL Native plugins are based more on digital processing from the C200-300 desks, while Waves focuses on analog emulation, particularly of the 4000 series consoles.
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The Brainworx SSL Channel Strip is noted for having a hyped low end, while users find the Waves version closer to the hardware in terms of sound profile.
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The SSL 9000J plugin is highlighted as exceptionally powerful, capable of mixing an entire song independently, outperforming other plugins like Waves.
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Users pair Waves SSL G-Equalizer with True Iron or Slate VCC for enhanced saturation and tone shaping, due to limitations in Waves’ analog modeling.
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Software and compatibility
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Waves plugins reportedly require periodic updates, especially when upgrading systems like from older Macs to M1 Macs, which can incur additional costs.
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The analog noise floor effect in Waves plugins is similar to 24-bit noise-shaped dither, impacting overall mix cohesion when used across several channels.
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Use cases and applications
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Waves SSL plugins add color and saturation to the sound, making them less transparent than SSL Native plugins, which are preferred for their clarity and UI.
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Achieving noticeable effects from the "analog" button requires multiple plugin instances across a mix, as a single instance may not be audible.
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Value and pricing
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SSL Native bundle at $60 is highlighted as an exceptional deal, especially since these plugins are usually more expensive compared to Waves’ perpetual sales pricing.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Used for J. Cole's feature on 21 Savage's "A Lot", as mentioned by producer Maddmix in this March 2019 Sound on Sound article and visible in a downloadable photo of the "A Lot" Pro Tools session (available in this .zip file).
Of the '21 Lead' aux, Maddox says: "There are four instances of the Pro-Q2 on the signal chain, which is again an example of me working cumulatively. I now use the Pro-Q3 a lot, which is a dynamic EQ, which can do pretty much the same thing as the C6. Then insert 4 is the McDSP MC404 multiband compressor, which I use pretty often, and then I have the Eiosis Air EQ, the C6, the Kush Clariphonic EQ and the SSL G EQ.
(...) "The session was originally a 21 Savage track, and they later decided to add J Cole. His engineer sent me J Cole's vocal session with reverbs and delays already set, so I pretty much imported his vocal auxes, and just matched that to the mix that I had already going. However, the inserts are all mine, and similar to what I used on 21. There also are four Pro-Q2s here, plus two instances of the C6 multiband, and the Clariphonic EQ. The 'Slap' is a send to one of my aux effect tracks, just with a 30-millisecond EchoBoy delay, to widen the vocals a bit. I stripped all the other sends down, to match J Cole's vocals with a track that was more on the dry side, and actually disabled all the sends apart from the 'Slap' on the J Cole aux group track, 'Leads'. Finally, both '21 Leads' and 'Leads' go to the 'Lead All' [40] and parallel 'MadVoxComp' [41] tracks, and the latter has the Waves CLA-76 and L1, both for more presence and volume."
"Then I have a cut at the low end again, and another nice tool is the SSL EQ, I use this quite a lot on this track..." (17:07)
At 17:18, the camera zooms in on an open instance of the aforementioned SSL plugin, revealing it to be the G-Equalizer.
In this photo, 7 Skies is using the Waves SSL G-Equalizer plugin, as shown on their Facebook page.
Used on "A Lot", as mentioned by producer Maddmix in this March 2019 Sound on Sound interview and as visible in a downloadable photo of the "A Lot" Pro Tools session (available in this .zip file).
Although there are relatively few plug-ins on the drums and hardly any on the music, Maddox uses dozens on the vocals. 21 Savage's five vocal aux tracks, for example, all pass through a signal chain comprising Antares Auto-Tune, UAD 1176LN E, Waves Renaissance Vox, FabFilter Pro-DS, Waves C6, another Pro-DS, FabFilter Pro-Q2 and another C6, with only the latter one or two plug-ins dropping out on a couple of tracks.
All these tracks go the '21 Lead' aux (42), which has nine plug-ins, including compressors, de-essers, and four(!) more instances of Pro-Q2, as well as four sends. Both 21 Savage and J Cole's aux group vocal tracks then go to a vocal aux called 'MadVoxComp', and from there to the 'All Vocals' aux, each of which hosts two plug-ins; so in total, every 21 Savage vocal track passes through 19 to 21 insert plug-ins, as well as being sent to up to seven auxes. The situation with J Cole is even more elaborate, though complicated by the fact that some of the sends came with the vocal session that Maddox received from Cole's engineer.
"I guess my thought process behind my mixing is kind of messy!" laughs Maddox. "The thing is that I will start with adding compression and EQ on a vocal, and then if I hear something else that needs correcting, I will just add another compressor or EQ. I never go back and take plug-ins off or reset them, because I don't want to go back on what I already have, because I might mess it up. So I just keep going forward and adding plug-ins until I get the sound I want. That works for me. Some people like mixing with very few plug-ins, but I will mix with whatever I need to get what I want.
"The plug-ins I have on these inserts I use frequently. I guess you could call them my clean-up plug-ins. The 1176LN worked on 21's vocals in this session. I may also use the UAD Tube-Tech CL 1B or the Waves RCompressor. In this session the 1176 made 21's vocals really full and in your face. Next is the RVox, which is also is a good plug-in for bringing the vocals up front and making them really full. It is very subtle, but it makes a big difference. If I feel like the vocal does not sit up front enough I put that on, compress it a little bit, and it usually fixes the problem for me. The 1176 has a similar function, but I use it more for actual compression and the RVox more for tone and to make it sound bigger.
"Next is the Pro-DS, which as a de-esser obviously helps with the sibilance. Some vocals have more sibilance than others, and sometimes I use just one, but in this case I felt I needed two. I love using multiband compressors, and the C6 is here for some general compression, but there always are some frequencies that need adjusting, but that I don't want to take out with an EQ, because you need those frequencies. When I use a multiband, I find the frequency that bugs me, and set a threshold, so the frequency is only dipped when it needs to be dipped. If you look at my C6 plug-ins, they often address harsh frequencies that a de-esser can't take out. I'll have a really tight notch on the C6, and then just compress that frequency a couple of dB."
Of the '21 Lead' aux, Maddox says: "There are four instances of the Pro-Q2 on the signal chain, which is again an example of me working cumulatively. I now use the Pro-Q3 a lot, which is a dynamic EQ, which can do pretty much the same thing as the C6. Then insert 4 is the McDSP MC404 multiband compressor, which I use pretty often, and then I have the Eiosis Air EQ, the C6, the Kush Clariphonic EQ and the SSL G EQ. I use different EQs for different purposes. The Q2 has unlimited bands, so I use that to search and dip frequencies I don't like. I really like the high end on the Air, which opens up the vocal and makes it sound really good. I also often do some scooping in the lower mid-range with the Air, because it does a really good job of that. I use the Clariphonic mainly for the Clarity knob, which widens the vocal just by having that on. I really like that on vocals and use that in almost every session.
"The sends go to several aux effect tracks with delays and reverbs, but for this project they told me that they wanted the keep the vocals pretty dry, so I didn't use much reverb. Mostly just a small room reverb really subtly in the background to give it some space. The main reverbs that I have in my template are the Slate Digital VerbSuite Classics. They have great emulations of popular reverbs like the Bricasti and so on, that sound really good. I also use the UAD Lexicon 480 a lot. Those are my go-to reverbs. I occasionally use the Waves RVerb and TrueVerb. My main delays are the Soundtoys EchoBoy and the Waves H-Delay. For distortion I use the Soundtoys Decapitator and Devil-Loc, sometimes the Dada Life Sausage Fattener, which is fun, and the distortion pedal in the Waves GTR3 Stomps plug-in.
(...) Finally, both '21 Leads' and 'Leads' go to the 'Lead All' [40] and parallel 'MadVoxComp' [41] tracks, and the latter has the Waves CLA-76 and L1, both for more presence and volume."
Album Usage
The Waves SSL G-Equalizer has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Waves SSL G-Equalizer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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