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SSL autoBUS - User Guide

Introduction

SSL autoBUS models the ubiquitous SSL Bus Compressor, utilising the sonible AI engine to give the recommended processing for full mixes or instrument buses. Featuring the gain reduction graph seen on SSL autoDYN and the usual, well-known parameters, autoBUS gives a quick workflow for a classic sound.

 

Key Features

  • Provides the signature and sought-after sound of the SSL 4K G Bus Compressor
  • 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 dynamics controls, just like the real thing; you can take over steering the ship at any point

 

Release Notes

Version 1.0.17 (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.

  1. Download and install the plug-in.
  2. Open your DAW/host.
  3. Insert the plug-in to commence activation (sometimes this will happen when the plug-in is scanned on startup, depending on your DAW/host).
  4. When you see 'Activation is required', click 'Try'.
  5. Log into your iLok account and click 'Next'.
  6. 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

 

1. INPUT

The gain applied to the input signal. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.

2. RATIO

Controls the strength of the gain reduction applied to the input signal when the sidechain* signal’s level exceeds the Threshold.

*The sidechain signal is the same as the input signal while EXT S/C is disabled.

3. THRESH

Sets the compressor threshold from +10 to -20 dB. The Threshold determines the level above which compression occurs.

4. MAKEUP

The gain applied after the input signal has been compressed. Used to bring the output level up after the peaks have been reduced.

5. ATTACK

Controls how quickly the gain reduction is applied when the sidechain signal level exceeds the Threshold.

6. RELEASE

Controls how quickly the signal level returns to normal after the sidechain signal level has dropped below the Threshold.

7. EXT S/C

Enables the external sidechain input to the gate and compressor. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.

8. S/C HPF

A high-pass filter applied to the sidechain signal. Can be used to attenuate low frequencies which would otherwise trigger a high amount of gain reduction. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.

9. MIX

Determines the mix between the compressed signal and the dry/pre-compressed signal. 100% means the signal is entirely passed through the compressor, and 0% is an entirely dry signal. Using a blend between 0 and 100% is commonly referred to as "parallel compression". Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.

10. OUTPUT

The gain applied to the output signal. Not included in the sonible AI engine recommendations.

11. Gain Reduction Meter

The meter shows how much gain reduction is being applied, in the style of the classic moving-coil meter found on SSL consoles.

12. Gain Reduction Graph

This displays the input signal and gain reduction over time.

 

sonible AI Controls & Functions

At the top of SSL autoBUS are the controls and settings for the sonible AI engine. This is where you instruct SSL autoBUS on the type of mix or bus you're processing and the target style. The image below shows the top of SSL autoEQ as these controls are exactly the same on SSL autoBUS.

 

 

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. 

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

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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.