Introduction
SSL autoEQ combines the time-honoured EQ processing from SSL’s 4K E channel strip with the sonible AI engine. The sonible engine will analyse your input audio, then give a recommended equalisation curve for the selected audio type (Profile) and target Style. It allows for quick creative choices, and the parameters in each of the four EQ bands can then be tweaked to dial in your perfect sound.
Key Features
- Provides the signature and sought-after sound of the SSL 4K E Channel Strip plug-in
- AI Assistance leveraged from sonible’s industry leading machine-learning research and development, proven in many other AI-assisted plug-ins from the sonible team
- No compromise in functionality—you always have direct access to all of the original EQ controls, just like the real thing; you can take over steering the ship at any point
Release Notes
Version 1.0.41 (January 2026)
- First release.
Supported Platforms & Hosts
For compatibility information about plug-ins, visit the Plug-in Operating System and DAW Compatibility FAQ.
When we release an SSL plug-in, we test it on all currently supported Windows and macOS operating systems that aren't End-of-Life (EOL) at the time of release. We test the plug-ins on a range of DAWs, using the latest version publicly available version of each one. It is possible our products may work on platforms outside of this list. However, if you are using a DAW not listed in the linked article, or an older DAW version (perhaps several years old), we recommend you demo the product before purchase to confirm that it works correctly. For 360°-enabled channel strip plug-ins, refer to the UC1 User Guide for tested DAWs and their integration capabilities.
Apple Silicon Support
This plug-in is provided as a universal binary for macOS and features native support for Apple Silicon.
Operating Systems
Please refer to the Plug-in OS Compatibility FAQ.
Hosts
- Logic Pro 10.7
- Pro Tools 2023
- Ableton Live 11
- Studio One 6
- Cubase 12
- REAPER 6
- FL Studio 21
- LUNA v1.5
Demo / Trial
To demo this plug-in, you can simply download it from the product page and run it up in your host - the software will guide you through the rest of the process.
- Download and install the plug-in.
- Open your DAW/host.
- Insert the plug-in to commence activation (sometimes this will happen when the plug-in is scanned on startup, depending on your DAW/host).
- When you see 'Activation is required', click 'Try'.
- Log into your iLok account and click 'Next'.
- Select a location to activate the license to, and click 'Next'.
Installation & Download
If you own perpetual licenses for your products, we recommend using the SSL Download Manager application to to easily manage all SSL plug-in installations all from one place, on both macOS and Windows. In addition to easily installing, uninstalling or reinstalling individual or every SSL plug-in at the click of a button, the SSL Download Manager also provides you with detailed release notes and lets you know when updates are available.
You can also download offline installers for a plug-in from here.
If you are a subscriber to Complete Access, we recommend using Complete Access Hub to download, install, and activate all of the plug-ins (SSL, Harrison, and Slate Digital) that are included in the subscription.
All SSL plug-ins are supplied in VST3, AU (macOS only) and AAX (Pro Tools) formats.
The installers provided (macOS Intel .dmg and Windows .exe) copy the plug-in binaries to the common VST3, AU and AAX directories. After this, the host DAW should recognise the plug-in automatically in most cases. Simply run the installer and you should be good to go. You can find more information about how to authorise your plug-ins below.
Licensing
Visit iLok, Licensing and Activation for guidance in activating your SSL plug-in.
EQ Controls & Functions
SSL autoEQ features a fully functional and identical version of the SSL 4K E EQ, including the two filter units. You can just tweak these settings like the normal 4K E channel strip, or you can make use of the sonible AI engine to make a suggested setting based upon incoming audio (see next section about sonible AI Controls & Functions).
1. EQ IN
Toggles the EQ processing in or out.
2. BLK
The 4000 E had several design iterations and has included different EQ and filters over its lifetime. By default, SSL autoEQ uses the "02 Brown" EQ and filters. The BLK button engages the "242 Black" EQ and filters.
3. Filter section
This section contains two filters, separate to the main EQ. These filters are not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations applied via the LEARN function. The behavior of the high-pass filter is determined by the BLK button (see above section).
- High-pass filter (top): 18 dB/oct (Black mode) or 12dB/oct (Brown mode). Engaged when moved from the OUT position, with a cutoff down to 3kHz.
- Low-pass filter (bottom): 12 dB/oct (both Black and Brown mode). Engaged when moved from the OUT position, with a cutoff up to 350Hz.
4. LF Band
Low frequency shelf with ±15 dB gain from 30 Hz to 450 Hz, with optional bell curve modifier.
5. LMF Band
Low-mid frequency bell filter with variable Q width and ±15 dB gain control from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz.
6. HMF Band
High-mid frequency bell filter with variable Q width and ±15 dB gain control from 600 Hz to 7 kHz.
7. HF Band
High frequency shelf with ±15 dB gain between 1.5 kHz to 16 kHz, with optional bell curve modifier.
8. Gain section
Controls the gain applied to the signal at the input and output stages. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.
9. Intensity
Controls the strength of the recommended EQ curve. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.
10. EQ Graph
Shows a graphical representation of the combined processing applied by the EQ and Filters. It will also show the recommended processing curve of the EQ parameters.
sonible AI Controls & Functions
At the top of SSL autoEQ are the controls and settings for the sonible AI engine. This is where you instruct SSL autoEQ on the type of instrument you're processing and the target style.
1. Bypass
Toggles plug-in processing in or out.
2. LEARN
Analyses ten seconds of input audio and stores this analysis, which can then be used to apply recommended processing with AUTO or SET.
3. AUTO
When AUTO is enabled, the recommended processing will be applied as soon as the source audio has been analysed.
4. SET
Manually applies the recommended processing. SET is only available when the current settings are different to the recommended settings.
5. STYLE
Selects the character of the applied processing. STYLE uses the stored analysis to tweak the parameter values, so material does not have to be re-learned for the STYLE to be changed.
6. PROFILE
Calibrates the processing to a specific sound source. Like STYLE, this can be changed after the input audio has been analysed.
7. RESET
Resets the parameters to their values of least effect. With EQ bands, for instance, this means a flat response.
8. Audition
Temporarily auditions the recommended settings. Can be used to preview the changes that pressing SET would make to the processing.
9. Meters
• Input meter (left): Meters the input signal.
• Output meter (right): Meters the output signal
Suggestion Indicators
When the sonible AI engine sets the various parameters, you still have the freedom to change them as you wish. When changing the buttons or knobs from their suggested positions, indicators will be shown to guide you back to the original suggestion from the sonible AI engine if you find yourself wandering too far away.
Switches which are in the position opposite of the suggestion will have a green ring around them:
Knobs which are set to values other than their recommendations will have a green ring appear around them with an indicator of the suggested direction:
SSL Plug-in Engine
The 'SSL Plug-in Engine' has several features that are available across our entire plug-in range.
NOTE: the available features in a plug-in might be or look different depending on what plug-in you are using, or when the plug-in was most recently updated.
Undo/Redo
SSL plug-ins come with a built-in undo/redo stack, in case your DAW doesn't handle this.
- Undo (left arrow) undoes the current action in the history stack.
- Redo (right arrow) re-does the next action in the history stack.
Presets
All of our plug-ins ship with carefully designed presets to aid your workflow.
Factory presets are included in the plug-in installation, installed in the following locations:
macOS: /Library/Application Support/Solid State Logic/PlugIns/Presets/[Plug-in Name]
Windows: C:\ProgramData\Solid State Logic\PlugIns\Presets\[Plug-in Name]
Switching between presets can be achieved by clicking the left/right arrows in the preset management section of the plug-in GUI, and by clicking on the preset name which will open the preset management display.
The Preset Management menu reflects the folder structure of the preset folder.
Revert Changes and Delete
- Revert Changes discards any changes to the current preset.
- Delete removes the current preset from the filesystem. Factory and Producer presets cannot be deleted from the plug-in GUI, although they can be manually deleted using the filesystem (Windows Explorer or Finder).
A/B and Copy
- A/B allows you to toggle quickly between two presets. This is useful for comparing between two parameter settings.
-
COPY A TO B is used to copy presets between A/B.
Version Number
Click the version number to display more information about the plug-in.
When logging a bug to our support team, always include the full version number e.g. v1.0.13.
Advanced Settings (not all plug-ins)
Some plug-ins have advanced functionality. Click the 'Advanced Settings' button to access advanced plug-in functionality.
This will drop the plug-in into 'Advanced Mode', exposing more settings, and allowing you to tweak the 'under-the-hood' behaviour of the plug-in.
Scale/Zoom
The scale/zoom menu allows you to resize your plug-in from 50% up to 200%.
Note that if resizing would cause the plug-in to go offscreen, then this option will be disabled. This is designed to prevent DAW resizing bugs that exist in some DAWs.
You can also right-click anywhere on the background of the plug-in to change the scale.
HQ or ECO Mode
Some plug-ins come with a HQ or ECO mode button. When in HQ mode, we introduce extra processing such as oversampling for higher quality, at the expense of more CPU. When in ECO mode, a plug-in will drop into a lower, less CPU intensive and low-latency mode (if possible).
Built-in Help
This plug-in features built-in contextual help. To turn this feature on, click the '?' in the bottom right-hand corner. Mouse over elements of the GUI to see some information about the feature.
Click the tooltip to cycle through the pages.