UC1

SSL Plug-in Controller

UC1 is a hardware plug-in controller like no other. It features dedicated knob-per-function controls for EQ and Dynamics, a centre section with full Bus Compressor controls, and an authentic moving-coil gain reduction meter. This combination provides the most creative, intuitive, and effective means of controlling plug-ins within your DAW session. In addition to controlling 360°-enabled plug-ins such as Channel Strip 2, 4K E,4K B and Bus Compressor 2 UC1 also includes SSL 360 Link, a ground-breaking plug-in that allows you to control any 3rd party plug-in from the UC1 surface.

Console ergonomics and workflow

SSL production tools are the benchmark for studio ergonomics and workflow. UC1 draws on decades of analogue and digital console design to develop an intelligent and deeply integrated SSL plug-in control surface that lets you focus on your production goals and not the process.  

UC1’s layout of encoders, switches, and colour groupings offers professional SSL console ergonomics seamlessly integrated with our 360°-enabled plug-ins. Multiple parameters can be controlled simultaneously and precisely, equipping you with a production tool that nurtures muscle memory, provides unmatched sonic flexibility and inspires operator confidence. To expand your hybrid workflow further, accompany with the UF8 and UF1 Advanced DAW Controllers.  

360 Link Plug-in 

360 Link takes your SSL hybrid workflow to the next level, allowing you to control any 3rd party plug-in from the UC1 surface. Delivered through a streamlined user interface and designed with intuitive setup features, SSL 360 Link lets you effortlessly start dropping 3rd party plug-ins into your session and control them with the advanced ‘console-style’ workflow that UC1 offers. Whilst UC1 is optimized for Channel Strip layout plug-ins, SSL 360 Link can be mapped to any plug-in, from a parametric EQ to a reverb, anything can be mapped to UC1 using 360 Link.

SSL 360° Plug-in Mixer

At the heart of the UC1 system is the SSL 360° Plug-in Mixer, a place to view and control all of your 360°-enabled plug-ins. The 360° Plug-in Mixer offers an efficient way of interacting with multiple plug-ins simultaneously, further bridging the gap between console and in-the-box workflow. Thanks to 360 Link, 3rd party plug-ins are also shown in the plug-in mixer alongside Channel Strip 2, 4K E, and 4K B.

Highly Customisable for any plug-in 

SSL 360 Link comes with a selection of customisable factory maps for popular SSL channel strip plug-ins from the likes of Slate Digital®, Universal Audio®, Waves® and Brainworx®. While UC1 is optimised for a typical Channel Strip layout, any plug-in can be quickly mapped from scratch using the user-friendly mapping tool. The mapping tool is super simple to use and offers a variety of mapping methods such as drag and drop or click and turn, allowing you to map your favourite plug-ins in no time at all. 

Channel Strip and Bus Compressor

Developed from our digital modelling of the renowned XL 9000 console, the SSL Native Channel Strip plug-ins give you everything
you need to get that radio-ready, modern SSL sound in your DAW. SSL Native plug-ins are the only plug-ins designed by the team of SSL engineers at HQ in Oxford, with exclusive access to the original data sheets and specifications from which the consoles were
made. For UC1, we decided to lift the lid once more on the original code, updating it to include our proprietary anti-cramping algorithms, which prevent any form of phase and amplitude wrapping. The result, is quite simply the best sounding SSL Channel Strip ever-full of punch, free of distortion and ready for anything you throw at it.

UC1 provides dedicated controls of all key Channel Strip 2 plug-in parameters. EQ, Filters, Compressor and Gate/Expander controls offer the same configuration and visual feedback as found on large-format SSL consoles, allowing you to quickly home in on your channel processing sweet spot.

At the heart of UC1 are Bus Compressor controls. Its authentic layout and metering feels like you’re controlling a hardware bus comp built into the centre section of an SSL console. With a classic moving coil gain reduction meter as found on SSL consoles since the 1970’s, it represents the Bus Compressors time constants and gain reduction characteristics perfectly for producers and engineers to know exactly how it’s reacting with their instruments, sub groups and of course mix bus.

SSL Native Channel Strip 2 & Bus Compressor 2 Plug-ins

Full licenses of SSL Native Channel Strip 2 and Bus Compressor 2 plug-ins are included with UC1. Channel Strip 2 is a a fully-featured Channel Strip, based on digital modelling of the EQ and Dynamics curves from the legendary XL 9000 K SuperAnalogue console. V2 adds SSL’s proprietary anti-cramping algorithms and the ability to trigger the dynamics sidechain externally. Bus Compressor 2 adds a tonne of user requests, with additional Ratio, Attack and Release options, the ability to trigger the sidechain externally, as well as x2 and x4 oversampling.