Solid State Logic THE BUS+, User Manual

Tutorial

8

THE BUS+ User Guide

Tutorial

MODE Selection

The Bus+ has four different modes of operation to choose from. 
Pressing the 

MODE

 switch will move you through the options.

CLASSIC STEREO

 - This is the classic mode of operation for the SSL 

Bus Compressor. Designed to be used on stereo sources, the controls 
on the left-hand side of the unit determine the settings of both left 
and right channels. The right hand controls are disabled and have no 
function associated to them in this mode (with the exception of the 

LF

/

HF GAIN

 D-EQ control).

�

S/C STEREO

 - An alternative stereo mode of operation. The controls on the left-hand side of the unit determine the settings 

of both left and right channels. In this mode, the left and right side-chain signals are summed together, as opposed to being 
individually rectified. The effect of this is that the Bus Compressor becomes 'more sensitive' towards mono content in a stereo 
source - typically instruments like kick, snare, bass. Have a go at switching between 

CLASSIC STEREO 

and 

�

S/C STEREO 

to 

see which you prefer on the material you're compressing.

A short press and hold on the MODE switch allows you to 'go backwards' through the modes, useful for A/B'ing 

between two adjacent options.

DUAL MONO

 - This mode configures the Bus Compressor as two entirely independent mono processing engines. The controls 

on the left-hand side determine the settings for channel 1 and the right-hand side controls determine the settings for channel 2.

MID SIDE

 - The Bus+ has built-in Mid-Side encode-decode circuitry that allows the left-hand side of the unit to process the 'Mid' 

signal and the right side of the unit to process the 'Side' signal. This mode is a great tool for Mastering engineers.

CH 1 IN and CH 2 IN Switches

These switches allow you to bypass all Bus Compressor and D-EQ 
processing. In stereo modes, the 

CH 2

 switch is disabled as 

CH 1

 controls 

both left and right channels.

In CLASSIC STEREO or �S/C STEREO, the right-hand side LF/HF GAIN control functions as the 

High Frequency

 Gain control 

for both left and right (linked) channels. This is indicated by the red LED that accompanies the control (see illustration above). 

In DUAL MONO or MID SIDE mode, the right-hand side LF/HF GAIN control functions as the 

Low Frequency

 Gain control for 

Channel 2. This means that HF GAIN is only accessible in CLASSIC STEREO or �S/C STEREO modes.