SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000 E — The Manor Studios, Shipton-on-Cherwell (Virgin Records)
SSL 4000 E — The Manor Studios, Shipton-on-Cherwell (Virgin Records) — JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000-series console — Studio A control room SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000 E — Swanyard Recording Studios control room, London (April 1990) SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000 E — Swanyard Recording Studios, channel strips + master (April 1990) SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000 E — Swanyard Recording Studios, channel section close-up (April 1990) SSL 4000 E Series — SSL 4000 E — Swanyard Recording Studios, master section + meterbridge detail (April 1990)
🇬🇧 SSL

4000 E Series

1979 – 1990

Notable users

Sarm West Studios, London, The Power Station, NYC, Battery Studios, London, Windmill Lane, Dublin, Townhouse Studios, London

Technical specs

Channels24 – 72
LayoutIn-line
Groups24
EQ4-band parametric
EQ flavoursBrown Knob (early), Black Knob (later)
AutomationVCA-based, floppy-disk Total Recall
Bus compCentre-section bus compressor (G384-style)
Era1979 – 1990

Market value

$80,000 – $180,000 (working unit)

Rarity

Moderate (~750 built worldwide)

Black Knob EQ Brown Knob EQ Bus compressor Total Recall VCA automation

The E Series cemented SSL's dominance. Available in two EQ flavours — the Brown Knob (original, more aggressive) and the later Black Knob (smoother, more musical) — it was the Black Knob E that became the signature sound of 1980s commercial recording. Total Recall meant a mixing session could be paused, the studio re-booked a week later, and every parameter restored exactly. The centre-section bus compressor, used at ratios of 2:1 with fast attack, gave those records their density.

Photos: JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · JLuginbill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) · JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) · JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) · JacoTen (Jun Tendo) / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Vintage Advertisements

SSL 4000 spread — "...edge of recording technology" — Recording 1979-04 (page 1)
SSL 4000 spread — "...edge of recording technology" — Recording 1979-04 (page 1) (1979)
SSL 4000 Master Recording Console spread — international distributor list — Recording 1979-04 (page 2)
SSL 4000 Master Recording Console spread — international distributor list — Recording 1979-04 (page 2) (1979)
SSL 4000 Series — customer list (CBS Rome, Kendun Recorders, Larrabee Sound, Le Studio Morin Heights, The Manor, Nidaros, Record Plant LA, Producers Sound Services, Splash) — Recording 1979-08
SSL 4000 Series — customer list (CBS Rome, Kendun Recorders, Larrabee Sound, Le Studio Morin Heights, The Manor, Nidaros, Record Plant LA, Producers Sound Services, Splash) — Recording 1979-08 (1979)
SSL ad — REP 1983 Spring
SSL ad — REP 1983 Spring (1983)
SSL ad — REP 1985-04
SSL ad — REP 1985-04 (1985)
SSL ad — Recording 1989-10
SSL ad — Recording 1989-10 (1989)

Notable Recordings

  • Phil Collins — No Jacket Required (1985, Townhouse)
  • Peter Gabriel — So (1985, SSL 4048E at Ashcombe House)
  • Def Leppard — Hysteria (1987, mixed at Battery Studios)
  • Kate Bush — Hounds of Love (1985, SSL desk added during overdub/mix phase at East Wickham Farm)

Studios

  • Sarm Studios, London
  • The Power Station, New York
  • Battery Studios, London
  • Windmill Lane, Dublin

Service Manuals & Schematics

82E01 channel amp schematic 82E02 mic pre schematic 82E05 line amp schematic 82E10 EQ schematic 82E26 dynamics schematic 82E27 dynamics schematic 82E132 module schematic 82E149 module schematic 82E195 module schematic 82E242 module schematic 82E242 ECO revision 82E26 module (image) 82E27 module (image) I/O module schematic Generic 4000 schematic (image) EQ + Line module wiring SSL service notes
Schematics & service docs courtesy of Wojtek SP7WK's pro-audio archive