SSL Native VST Bundle – Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip

You have a vocal take that needs to sit in a dense mix without getting buried. A drum bus that lacks punch and clarity. Before you stack five different plugins trying to get that console sound, consider this: Solid State Logic spent decades engineering the signal chains found in their 4000 E/G+ and 9000 K series consoles, and they condensed that knowledge into two focused channel strip plugins. The SSL Native VST Bundle — pairing Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip — gives you console-grade processing for the two most critical elements in any mix: voices and drums.

These are not emulations that approximate a console sound. The SSL Native VST Bundle is built using the same component models, circuit topologies, and gain staging as SSL hardware. If you have worked on an SSL console, these plugins feel familiar from the first insert. If you have not, they will show you why engineers still route signals through desks that cost more than most home studios. For detailed specifications on each plugin, visit the SSL Vocalstrip 2 product page and the SSL Drumstrip product page.

Each plugin in the SSL Native VST Bundle targets a specific source — vocals and drums — with tools that go far beyond EQ and compression. The result is a mixing workflow that sounds finished rather than processed.

SSL Native VST Bundle — Vocalstrip 2 Channel Strip Processing for Vocals

Vocalstrip 2 is built around the signal path of an SSL console channel, but it adds processing tailored specifically for vocal production. The plugin combines five processor sections in a linear flow: preamp saturation, expander/gate, de-esser, compressor, and a four-band EQ with a high-pass filter.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 — Preamp and Saturation

The preamp section models the analogue input stage of an SSL console. It adds harmonic coloration at the very front of the chain, before any dynamics processing, which means the compressor and EQ react to a signal that already has analog character. Drive the input lightly for warmth, or push it harder for the kind of saturated vocal tone that sits forward in a mix without needing aggressive EQ boosts.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 — Expander and Gate

The expander/gate section tightens vocal performances by reducing background noise, room bleed, and breath sounds between phrases. Unlike a standard gate that cuts everything below a threshold, the expander applies gradual attenuation — natural-sounding, with adjustable range and release. This is particularly useful for vocal takes recorded in untreated rooms where noise builds up between lines.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 — De-esser

SSL’s de-esser uses split-band processing to target sibilance without dulling the rest of the vocal. The frequency sweep lets you dial in exactly where the sibilance lives — usually between 5 kHz and 8 kHz — and the reduction control sets how much to cut. Because it operates before the compressor in the chain, the de-esser prevents sibilant peaks from triggering unnecessary compression, which is a common problem with post-compression de-essing.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 — Compressor

The compressor section models the SSL bus compressor character with added flexibility. It offers variable attack and release times, a choice of hard or soft knee, and a high-pass filter on the sidechain that prevents the low end from triggering compression on the rest of the signal. The result is a compressor that smooths vocal dynamics while preserving natural transient detail — exactly what you need to make a vocal sit consistently in a mix without sounding over-processed.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 — Four-Band EQ

The EQ section provides low-shelf, two mid-band peaking filters, and a high-shelf, plus a variable high-pass filter. The frequency points and Q values are selected to cover the range of vocal production — low-shelf for body, mids for presence and nasality control, high-shelf for air. The high-pass filter is essential for clearing low-end rumble from vocal takes before the signal hits your mix bus.

SSL Native VST Bundle — Drumstrip Console Processing for Drums

Drumstrip applies the same SSL console modeling philosophy to drum and percussion processing. As part of the SSL Native VST Bundle, it combines five processor sections designed specifically for the transient-heavy, high-impact nature of drum sounds: a transient shaper, a multiband compressor based on the SSL G-Series bus compressor, a drum-specific EQ, a punch control, and a harmonic distortion section.

SSL Drumstrip — Transient Shaper

The transient shaper gives you independent control over attack and sustain. Increase the attack to make a kick or snare cut through a dense mix. Reduce it to soften aggressive hi-hats or tame roomy overheads. Unlike a compressor, the transient shaper does not affect the overall level — it reshapes the envelope without gain changes. This is one of the most used features in Drumstrip for a reason: it solves the “hit or get lost” problem faster than any compressor can.

SSL Drumstrip — Multiband Compressor

The multiband compressor splits the drum signal into three bands — low, mid, high — and applies independent compression to each. This means you can compress the kick and snare body in the low band without affecting the cymbal presence in the high band. The crossover points are adjustable, so you can target exactly the frequency ranges that need dynamic control. The G-Series modeling gives the compression that characteristic SSL glue that drum buses benefit from.

SSL Drumstrip — Drum EQ

The EQ section is voiced specifically for drums. The low band adds punch without boom. The mid band controls snap and boxiness. The high band adds air and sizzle without harshness. A dedicated sub control lets you add or cut the lowest frequencies — useful for tightening kick drums or adding weight to toms.

SSL Drumstrip — Punch Control

The punch section is not a standard compressor. It applies a frequency-dependent envelope that emphasizes the initial transient while controlling the sustain. This is different from the transient shaper — punch control works on the balance between attack and body, adding a focused, forward quality that makes drums sound tighter without additional processing.

SSL Drumstrip — Harmonic Distortion

The harmonic section adds even and odd-order harmonics based on SSL console saturation characteristics. Used subtly, it adds weight and presence. Driven harder, it introduces analog-style crunch that works well on electronic drums, percussion loops, and parallel drum processing.

Why the SSL Native VST Bundle’s Two Plugins Work Together

Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip cover the two sources that define how a mix translates: the voice and the rhythm section. Get those right, and the rest of the arrangement locks into place naturally. The SSL Native VST Bundle gives you both processors with a consistent interface, consistent gain staging, and the same console modeling philosophy driving them.

In a typical mix workflow, you would insert Vocalstrip 2 on your vocal bus — processing lead and backing vocals through the expander, de-esser, compressor, and EQ chain. Drumstrip goes on your drum bus — sub-grouping kick, snare, and overheads through the transient shaper, multiband compressor, and punch control. The combination means your two most important groups share the same console-derived character, which creates cohesion across the mix without forcing you to match settings between different plugin brands.

SSL Native VST Bundle — Workflow Scenarios

SSL Native VST Bundle for Pop and Rock Vocals

Insert Vocalstrip 2 on a lead vocal track. Set the preamp to add light saturation. Use the expander to tighten the performance between phrases. Set the de-esser around 6 kHz with moderate reduction. Apply the compressor with a 10 ms attack, 40 ms release, and 3:1 ratio. Boost the high-shelf EQ by 2 dB for air. The vocal sits forward, consistent through the verse and chorus, without harshness or pumping. The SSL Native VST Bundle makes the SSL modeling accessible in any DAW — the difference is immediate.

SSL Native VST Bundle for Hip-Hop and Electronic Drums

Insert Drumstrip on a drum bus. Increase the transient shaper attack on the kick and snare by 4–6 dB. Engage the multiband compressor with moderate compression on the low band and lighter settings on the mid and high bands. Add 2 dB of punch control. The drums hit harder, sit wider, and maintain clarity across the frequency spectrum. The harmonic section adds a subtle analog sheen that makes programmed drums sound like they were tracked through a console.

SSL Native VST Bundle — Purchase & License Delivery

SSL Native VST Bundle — Technical Specifications

• Plugin formats: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
• Operating systems: Windows 10/11 (64-bit), macOS 10.12+ through Sequoia (Intel & Apple Silicon native)
• DAW compatibility: Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper, Pro Tools, Nuendo, and any host supporting VST/AU/AAX
• Authorization: iLok account required (machine-based or iLok USB authorization supported — physical dongle optional)
• Disk Space: 300 MB
• RAM: 1 GB minimum (4 GB+ recommended)
• Includes: SSL Native Vocalstrip 2 v1.2+ and SSL Native Drumstrip v1.2+

Why the SSL Native VST Bundle Belongs in Your Chain

SSL has been the standard in professional studios for over four decades. The reason is not brand recognition — it is that SSL consoles deliver a specific combination of headroom, EQ character, and compression behavior that engineers have learned to trust across genres. When SSL brought those circuits to Native format with Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip, they did not simplify the processing for software. They modeled it faithfully enough that engineers who work on the hardware every day feel at home in the plugin version. The SSL Native VST Bundle brings that console-grade processing directly into your DAW.

For producers working entirely in-the-box, the SSL Native VST Bundle is one of the most direct ways to get console-derived processing on the two sources that define a mix. The vocal chain in Vocalstrip 2 is comprehensive enough to handle everything from raw tracking to final mix processing. The drum processing in Drumstrip is specific enough to replace three or four individual plugins on a drum bus.

If you have been layering EQs, compressors, and saturators trying to match an SSL sound, stop guessing and start using the actual circuits. Pick up the Vocalstrip 2 + Drumstrip bundle here and put console-grade processing on your vocal and drum buses today.