SSL brings its bus compressor back into production as the Bus Comp Classic

SSL has released the Bus Comp Classic, a new hardware version of its VCA bus compressor, according to Gearnews. The unit is aimed at producers and engineers who compress groups of tracks, such as a drum bus, or the main stereo mix.

Most of the controls are unchanged from the original design: the ratios, the attack and release times and the sidechain high-pass filter settings. What is new is a set of stereo sidechain inputs, giving more flexible control over the detection circuit, and a VCA Drive control. It pushes the unit's THAT 2181 VCAs and lets users dial in the character of different eras of the compressor, from the 4000 series and the FX384 to SSL's modern SuperAnalogue designs.

Gearnews reports the Bus Comp Classic is available now, including from Thomann and Sweetwater. The article lists prices of $1,399, £1,290 and 1,499 euros at one retailer and $1,799 at another.