The SSL bus compressor in the center of the console can be used as a patchable outboard piece of gear, but does require some careful patching

In the lower left of the patchbay you’ll see labels for “pre VCA insert” and “post VCA insert”

These are effectively pre-compressor or post compressor insert points

For example, if you wanted to insert an EQ before the bus compressor, you’d patch from the pre VCA insert to the EQ and then back to the row below the pre VCA compressor label

Likewise, you if you wanted an EQ after the bus compressor you’d use the post VCA insert and row beneath

Keep in mind that the SSL 4000 is a Quad console and you need to use LF and RF, ignore LB and RB

 While tracking or mixing, you could use the bus compressor just like you would an outboard compressor.

The compressor inputs are the row BELOW the pre VCA insert

The compressor outputs are the post VCA insert row

As an example, you could patch the outputs of two channels of API preamps into the row below the pre VCA inserts, and then patch the post VCA insert outs directly into Pro Tools or to a console channel and you’d have the bus compressor in use.

There are two important additional things to do! You MUST patch from the pre-VCA insert row to the row below the post VCA insert row. This bypasses the master section, without doing this you would not be able to hear the console outputs.

The master fader is part of the master VCA, so when you are using the bus compressor as an outboard piece of gear, the master fader WILL adjust the output level of the compressor and, importantly, no longer adjust the output level of the console