SSL bus COMP CLONES!!

[AMIEL]

Hi! I saw that are certain guys that clone SSL bus compressors!! many say that the circuit is very simple for somebody with experience in electronics!

My question is: they really can sound as good as a real SSL Bus Comps?
anybody here compared that clones at the same time with a Reall SSL Bus comp?
I am very curious about it.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

Hi! I saw that are certain guys that clone SSL bus compressors!! many say that the circuit is very simple for somebody with experience in electronics!

My question is: they really can sound as good as a real SSL Bus Comps?
anybody here compared that clones at the same time with a Reall SSL Bus comp?
I am very curious about it.

The answer to the first question is yes its not as complicated as you might think.
There are 2 versions you can do...either the GSSL one(which is the one on the DIY site by Gyraf) or the Oxford version which was put together by SSLtech and is a closer design to the one in the console. They each sonically are useful in the studio. The GSSL sounds great on side processing and the Oxford version has the more SSL buss comp centered image grab. You can actually build a version that can switch between both which gives you the best of both worlds.

And does it sound as good? Well it depends. The outboard SSL FXG 384 comp sounds clearer than the one in the console. That's because you pull it out of the console and everything before it is gone. So its gonna sound more open. The clones(which i built one) sounds good period. Not exactly the same but it is very useful.

[indie]

Hey Thrill,
I'm familiar with the Gyraf DIY design, but what's the Oxford version put together by SSLtech you speak of??
Thanks

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by indie

Hey Thrill,
I'm familiar with the Gyraf DIY design, but what's the Oxford version put together by SSLtech you speak of??
Thanks

Micah,

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/vie...uss+compressor

[indie]

[AMIEL]

Hey Thrill! thanks for your reply!

But my question is: that clones sound as good as the SSL bus Comp(grey Face) o the SSL Xlogic bus comp? and which version?

which clone version would give you a better sound as a 2bus comp?

[morpheuzrecords]

I am building two of the GSSL versions rigth now, one is already finished but I have just done checks if signal is passing through and if it's compressing, sofar everything seems OK. now I will have to do the calibration and more testing

it's a very well documented project and easy to build

[AMIEL]

MORPHE..D o u have experience with electronics?

Which desig are u using? Gyraf?

[morpheuzrecords]

Hi,

when I was a kid I did build some small stuff
I have decent theoretical knowledge and soldering skills and all the rest can be found over the net (prodigy-pro.com for example).

I am building the gyraf versions (PCB's from audiokitchen), I managed to get it working on the first shot (no smoke ) so it's should be pretty easy to build

david

[idylldon]

I've built two GSSL, six 1176 (with different input/output transformer configurations), and one LA2A. All work flawlessly and sound great. With the PCBs and the excellent support available at the Prodigy DIY forum, almost everyone who tries ends up with a working unit.

The only caveat is that DIY gear building is addictive!

Cheers,
--
Don

[morpheuzrecords]

tell me something about that, I have six eisen 500 apish modules on the way

[lpkyer]

Originally Posted by morpheuzrecords

tell me something about that, I have six eisen 500 apish modules on the way

lucky you !!! what are they based on?

[morpheuzrecords]

after the classic API 512C. I was after punch and color, I will use the seventh circle opamps. I wanted a lunchbox for mainly drum recordings

[adrianex]

Hey Rueven!!

Well, you already Know that I love mine. I've never done a shout out with the real thing....But, even though I'm 99% sure that it won't sound the same....Still a really powerfull and usefull buss comp.

As it was already mention before, not even the SSL rack version sound like the "real deal" but still really good (talking quality here). That how I see the clones too.

Doesn't the Roll buss comp on design under the ssl design or concept (please, correct me if I'm wrong, that what I heard)

Anyway...my offer still stand for you want to try mine and if you can get your hand on a SSl one, I think it would be cool to do a shout out and just post the samples here...

Talk ya soon man...

Cheers

[filthyrich]

I've been reading all over groupdiy and I can't find a kit. Is there a new one that I am missing? I know the purple kit was around for sometime for the 1176. How much to put one of these (or an 1176) together on your own??

Should I just order all of the parts individually?
Is that what most of you do?

Thanks,
Rich

[JRE Productions]

Order the boards from one person and go to Mouser.com and order the parts seperate.

The GSSL was based on the console version with an adaptation to the side chain. This was (from what Jacob said...pharaphrasing) to feed a single side chain VCA to keep the mix from going lop-sided.

I think it sounds pretty close to the real thing. It certainly gets that SSL sound and punch. I don't think you can go wrong with a clone....especially for the price. Let's face it, if you had the money, you would buy the real thing. Most of us don't, so we are willing to trade "pretty darn close" and "equally as good" for the $2000 savings.

JD

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

Hey Thrill! thanks for your reply!

But my question is: that clones sound as good as the SSL bus Comp(grey Face) o the SSL Xlogic bus comp? and which version?

which clone version would give you a better sound as a 2bus comp?

Do the clones sound the same as the E mixbuss compressor(which its cloned after) in a 4K/6K? In my opinion taken very lightly the answer is no. It doesn't sound like any E mixbuss compressor i've ever heard. But this actually is a good thing because sometimes the E mixbuss compressor could really close in your mix and make it sound grainy. That's why you see 33609 in SSL rooms(and later Focusrite Red 3's). To me it sounds closer to a Smart actually.

Then does it sound better? In some ways yes. The GSSL to my ears handles sides processing way better than the original. To my ears it makes an excellent sides buss compressor basically anything that you have panned hard right and left(electric guitars or overheads for example) and you want to compress. It also works better on individual sounds. The Oxford mode is closest in the way it handles the center of the mix in the SSL way. It also to my ears works better as drumbuss compressor. Where the original does better is when you are using it in conjunction with the console working as a whole. It can bring the entire mix together in a way where to the ear its that instantaneous "radio sound".

One last thing to add is i built one with 2181's. The original used 202's. This does affect the sound as well. The reason i didn't build it out of 202's(which i may in the future) is that i had a love/hate relationship with SSL's laden with 202's. Basically i did everything possible to avoid them.

I would return the tracks i cared most on the tape returns or inserts and on the lines only the tracks i needed the channel dynamics(drums +percussion) or automation i wasn't doing ITB. In the worst case scenario i did the old school manual rides as to not compromise the quality. The mixbuss comp i patched externally and the SSL E mixbuss comp i patched over to the drumsub. This helped the overall sound tremendously.
(Anyone that's mixed on SSL's with 202's through out can probably relate).

[soundeq]

I'm building the GSSL version....
Even SSL have differnt versions of the compressors some have DBX's, some have THAT's. Some have 8!!!!! THAT's in paralell!!!

You can try different VCA's THAT 2180's, 2181's Original DBX 2150's or replace the whole vca part of the PCB with a DBX 202...
Each has a different sound.

I'm guessing for less than $500 you can have a compressor that will sound cool in some situations, and sucky in others (JUST LIKE NEARLY EVERY OTHER COMRESSOR on the face of this planet)

I'm sure I'll find it usefull for somthing, and for less than $500 and a few hours here and there of my time, it ain't so bad.. plus I'm sure it'll sound better to me since I "made" it...

FYI, this is not at "KIT" like the seventh circle audio pre's
You can order a PCB already printed, and there are a few BOM's (Bill of Materials) floating out there on the web, but you WILL spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time on the build finding the damn parts! Usually one order to mouser.com and digikey.com will do it...
A big pain in the A$$ is the metalwork (case) you can get coustom front pannels at frontpannelexpress, but they ain't cheap... $100+ for a coustom design.

You WILL have to figure out torroid PSU's, star grounding stuff, and a bunch of other small things that get you bogged down... It's easy, but not paint by numbers.

[AMIEL]

Thanks JREG ,The THRILL, SOUNDEQ and all of you guys! very interesting and cool that you share this valuable info!!

[Barish]

Originally Posted by soundeq

A big pain in the A$$ is the metalwork (case) you can get coustom front pannels at frontpannelexpress, but they ain't cheap... $100+ for a coustom design.

You WILL have to figure out torroid PSU's, star grounding stuff, and a bunch of other small things that get you bogged down... It's easy, but not paint by numbers.

A Slovenian dude named Purusha over there in Prodigy pro forum is custom-making fantastic cases for all GroupDIY stuff: GSSL, G1176, Pultec etc. and shipping them worldwide for a pretty decent price. You don't need to take that hassle of drilling and filing if you don't want to. Soldering work is enough to fulfill the commitment to DIY already

also if you buy the PCB mount version of the transformer you wouldn't have to worry about star grounding etc. (the RS Components and Farnell order numbers printed on the PCB so you can track them from their website and find equivalents from US suppliers. They are all standard anyhow.)

B.

[juniorhifikit]

I have two Gyrafs that I built for around $500. As Thrill said they sound close, but cleaner. More like a C2. I prefer this most of the time. I mix through it and adjust everything accordingly (duh). Many mixes I start at home (tuning/comping/editing/programming...) and finish with clients present in a large SSL room. Since, at this point, the mixes are already about 75% done, I keep my Gyrafs inline and never use the SSL's - the mix would change too much. Same goes for plugin models of real compressors (1176 anyone). If I've built the mix around THAT sound, swapping in a real 1176 would really change the mix.


Sometimes that can be a good thing though...

Anyway, Gyraf SSL - best $500 I ever spent on gear.

[morpheuzrecords]

Originally Posted by lpkyer

lucky you !!! what are they based on?

they arrived today looks like it's soldering time

[electric]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

The answer to the first question is yes its not as complicated as you might think.
There are 2 versions you can do...either the GSSL one(which is the one on the DIY site by Gyraf) or the Oxford version which was put together by SSLtech and is a closer design to the one in the console. They each sonically are useful in the studio. The GSSL sounds great on side processing and the Oxford version has the more SSL buss comp centered image grab. You can actually build a version that can switch between both which gives you the best of both worlds.

And does it sound as good? Well it depends. The outboard SSL FXG 384 comp sounds clearer than the one in the console. That's because you pull it out of the console and everything before it is gone. So its gonna sound more open. The clones(which i built one) sounds good period. Not exactly the same but it is very useful.

hey thrill,
have you heard the rolls studio super stereo in action on the 2buss yet?if so how would you compare it to the gyraf and the gyraf/oxford? i have the gyraf with the "thrust filter" circuit and i dig it. just wondering if you have heard the rolls.

also - anyone know what vca's are in the rolls?
regards,
electric

[obostic]

Yep,

Sounds more like my Smart C2, but more meat to the sound. In fact, I prefer the clone over my C2.

Believe me as others have mentioned, it's easy to build, but it will take longer than a few hours if you start adding options. Also, the grounding scheme was a bitch to figure out for unbalance connection to my console. But hey, that's part of the fun!!!

[electric]

Originally Posted by obostic

Yep,

Sounds more like my Smart C2, but more meat to the sound. In fact, I prefer the clone over my C2.

Believe me as others have mentioned, it's easy to build, but it will take longer than a few hours if you start adding options. Also, the grounding scheme was a bitch to figure out for unbalance connection to my console. But hey, that's part of the fun!!!

obostic -
did you build standard gyraf or the oxford version? thrill got me thinking about building an oxford now....

[adrianex]

WOW, They look really cool, Well Done...