The immortal 4000 series in a 19-inch rack.
Discover the Revival 4000 – an all-analog channel strip from Solid State Logic that brings back the legendary sound of the iconic SL 4000 series consoles from the early 1980s. This is the sound that defined an entire generation of music and set the standard for studios worldwide.
From Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins, Kate Bush to U2 and Metallica – countless greats chose the SSL 4000 to make their music unforgettable.
Built on the acclaimed circuitry of both the B and E series, the Revival 4000 delivers the same signature warmth, punch and sonic flexibility that brings the SSL legacy to life – now in a compact 19-inch rack format.
The Revival 4000: pure SSL, born again.
Meet Revival 4000
A signature analog channel strip that encapsulates the sonic excellence and distinctive features of the legendary 4000 Series in a compact 1U format. Equipped with the classic E-Series JT-115K-E Jensen transformer-balanced microphone preamp, B-Series De-Esser, the discrete Class A VCA Dynamics section of the original E-Series consoles and the iconic four-band parametric E-Series EQ – complete with high pass/low pass filters and switchable ‘Brown/Black knob’ EQ.
With flexible routing, a balanced insert point and sidechain coupling, the Revival 4000 is the fundamental legacy channel strip that brings SSL’s analog heritage to any modern studio.
The legacy of the 4000 series
Originally launched in 1976, the SSL 4000 series of consoles revolutionized music production and became a new industry standard that would define music history. It all began with the rare SL 4000 B console, which was installed at Townhouse Studios in London. The 4000 B was used to create breakthrough hits such as Peter Gabriel’s Intruder and Phil Collins’ groundbreaking song In the Air Tonight. This set the tone for what would become the most influential mixing console of all time: the SL 4000 E.
Introduced in 1979, the 4000 E became the beating heart of such legendary studios as Abbey Road, Electric Lady and The Hit Factory. It enabled engineers such as Hugh Padgham (David Bowie, Paul McCartney, The Police), Chris and Tom Lord-Alge (James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Santana) and Andy Wallace (Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana) to create their sound.
4000 E series microphone preamplifier
Featuring a JT-115K-E Jensen transformer balanced preamp, the Revival 4000 provides rich and crystal clear sound quality to your recordings. This circuit contains the same Jensen component found in the original E-series channel strips.
4000 B series De-Esser
Revival’s De-Esser section uses the original de-esser circuit from the iconic 4000 B compressor/limiter, with a 10:1 ratio and a 7 kHz high-pass filter side-chain, allowing wideband compression that is accurately triggered by hiss tones – ideal for taming harsh vocals, drums or other aggressive sources.
Ultimate 4000 E-series dynamicasection
The iconic dynamics section that defined the sound of the 1980s. The compressor/gate design stays true to the original E Series channel strip and accurately mimics the circuitry and components that gave it its legendary character. It includes a true RMS sidechain detector and a fully discrete gain-reduction stage, identical to the discrete Class A VCA chip used in the original console.
Flexible controls allow you to bypass the soft-knee curve, activate a fast attack mode and choose between logarithmic or linear release curves. Together, these features provide a wide range of tone shaping options, allowing you to capture the distinctive timbres that have helped create countless classic records on various E-Series consoles.
Classic 4-band E-series EQ
The famous 4-band parametric EQ that helped shape modern music. Revival 4000 offers two iconic EQ options: the classic 4000 E ‘Brown Knob’ (02) and the legendary ‘Black Knob’ (242).
The ‘Brown Knob’ EQ includes two fully parametric center bands with SSL’s signature symmetrical design, ensuring consistent musical intervals around the center frequency regardless of gain or frequency settings. The high and low bands are 6 dB/octave shelving filters, with an option to switch to a fixed Q Bell response. This EQ became a regular feature of recordings and mixes from the early 1980s.
Most important features
- Classic SSL 4000 E Jensen transformer-balanced microphone preamplifier.
- Musical 4000 B De-Esser section with one button.
- Ultimate 4000 E-series dynamics section:
- Discrete Class A VCA compressor section.
Soft or Hard Knee modes.
Fast Attack on/off.
Logarithmic or linear release modes. - Classic gate/expander section
- With Fast Attack on/off.
- External sidechain (key) input.
- Dynamics sidechain link – allows two Revival 4000 compressors to work as a stereo pair.
- Classic 4-band SSL EQ:
- Fully parametric center bands.
Switchable ‘Brown Knob’ 02 and ‘Black Knob’ 242 EQ circuits. - High- and low-pass filters:
- Brown 02 mode – 12 dB per octave HPF & LPF.
Black 242 mode – 18 dB per octave HPF & 12 dB per octave LPF. - Balanced insertion point for connecting external devices to the signal path.
- Extended ‘to sidechain’ functionality:
- Filters to Dynamics sidechain.
EQ to Dynamics sidechain. - Flexible process sequence routing:
- Filters to input, Dynamics and De-Ess post-EQ options, Insert to output.
- Line Output Trim.
- Switchable input/output measurement.
