We are giving away a mouthwatering collection of premium analogue and digital studio tools from SSL, worth a combined £3600$5900!
Solid State Logic started out making sophisticated control systems for church organs, but it’s for their iconic recording studio consoles that they are best known. In 1979, SSL released what would become one of the most influential production tools ever, the 4000 E console. The 4000 E revolutionised studio production and was one of the first consoles to come with automation as standard. That combination of cutting‑edge analogue and digital technology remains at the core of SSL’s products today.
The Prize Bundle
For this month’s exclusive SOS competition, we’ve teamed up with SSL to offer a collection of their latest premium analogue and digital studio tools. First up is THE BUS+ — a stereo processor designed to offer the sound of their classic VCA mix-bus compressors, while offering a number of extra features for the modern studio.
In addition to its comprehensive compression controls, THE BUS+ offers a wet/dry blend for parallel compression, plus a range of stereo processing modes including dual mono and Mid-Sides. There are also extensive side-chain filtering options, plus the ability to use an external key signal, and even a side-chain send, allowing you to patch another processor into the side-chain path. It also lets you switch from the classic SSL feed-forward sound to Feedback Mode, for gentler compression. A button marked 4K introduces some even‑order harmonics to evoke the sound of SSL’s classic mixers, and some clever use of the front‑panel buttons lets you adjust dirt levels from super‑clean to heavily coloured. Then there’s the inclusion of a two‑band dynamic EQ, which features adjustable filter types, time constants and frequencies, and which can be placed before or after the compressor in the signal chain, as needed.
The lucky winner will also receive an SSL Fusion— a powerful, stereo analogue colouration processor for the mix bus that has no fewer than five processing stages. Vintage Drive is a thickening saturation effect, Violet is a two-band EQ, HF Compressor tames the high end and features an adjustable crossover, Stereo Image is a Mid-Sides processor, and there’s an output transformer for additional coloration too.
SSL are also supplying a year’s access to their complete software collection, which includes faithful emulations of SSL’s own consoles and outboard, a number of innovative plug-ins from sister company Harrison, plus cutting-edge processors like SSL’s X‑Delay, X‑Saturator, FlexVerb, and many, many more.
Finally, the winner will also receive an SSL UC1: an advanced plug-in controller that offers a true console-like experience when working with software — it even includes a genuine moving‑coil VU meter to help you set up your compression! Naturally it offers seamless integration with SSL plug‑ins, but it also, thanks to the new SSL 360 Link system, provides a completely open ecosystem for controlling any third‑party channel strip or bus compressor plug‑in in your DAW.
The 4000 E revolutionised studio production and was one of the first consoles to come with automation. That combination of cutting‑edge analogue and digital technology remains at the core of SSL’s products today.
How To Enter
To be in with a chance of winning this incredible studio hardware and software bundle, simply answer all the questions on this page and submit your entry by Friday 6th June 2025. Good luck!
Prizes kindly donated by Solid State Logic.
Competition Rules
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Only one entry per person is permitted.
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In entering this competition, you confirm that you are aged 18 years or older.
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By submitting your entry, you agree to supply Sound On Sound and the Prize Donors with a photograph of you and the prize(s) plus some words about what it means to you to win the great prizes. You give your permission for this to be used on each company's website, in email newsletter announcements and/or on their social media channels. Your name will be abbreviated to first name, last initial plus your town/city/country, eg. WINNER: Katy F, Leeds, UK.
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In submitting your entry, if you win you agree NOT TO RESELL the Prize(s) within 12 months.
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Please DO NOT ENTER if you do not agree to these terms.
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Employees of SOS Publications Group, SSL and their immediate families are not permitted to take part.
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No cash alternative is available in lieu of the stated prize(s).
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The competition organisers reserve the right to change the specification of the prize(s) on offer; or offer you an alternative prize of similar value.
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The SOS judges' decision is final and legally binding, and no correspondence will be entered into.
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No other correspondence is to be included with competition entries.
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Please ensure that you give your DAYTIME telephone number on your entry form.
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Prize winners must be prepared to make themselves available in the event that the Prize Donors wish to make a personal presentation [this rarely happens].
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The winning entrant(s) name and country will be made available upon request.