The Revival 4000 is a high-performance analog console channel strip from Solid State Logic that recreates the unmistakable sound of early-1980s SSL 4000 Series consoles.
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Delivery policy 2 to 3 business days in France, 2 to 5 business days in Europe
Return policy 30 days in case of issues
Launched in 1976, SSL’s 4000 Series consoles revolutionized music production, setting a new industry benchmark that would shape music history. It all began with one of the rare SL 4000 B consoles, installed at The Townhouse Studios in London. The 4000 B console was used to create breakthrough hits such as Peter Gabriel’s Intruder and the unprecedented depth of the drums on Phil Collins’ 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 heart of legendary studios such as Abbey Road, Electric Lady, and The Hit Factory. It empowered engineers like 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 craft their own sonic signatures.
Introducing the Revival 4000, an analog console channel strip that embodies the brand’s signature sonic excellence.
Key features:
SSL 4000 E Mic Preamp with classic Jensen transformer
Featuring a transformer-balanced Jensen JT-115K-E preamp, the Revival 4000 brings richness and clarity to your recordings. This circuit incorporates the same Jensen component used in the original E Series console channel strips.
4000 B De-Esser
The Revival 4000’s De-Esser is derived from the original compressor/limiter design of the iconic 4000 B console, offering a 10:1 ratio and a 7 kHz sidechain filter. This configuration delivers wideband compression precisely triggered by sibilance, making it ideal for taming vocal sizzle, troublesome cymbal resonances, or other aggressive sources. Its musicality is further enhanced by a circuit topology that mirrors the legendary SSL bus compressor, adding familiar clarity and character to any signal.
Ultimate 4000 E Series Dynamics Section
The emblematic dynamics section that defined the sound of the 1980s is fully present and faithfully recreated. The compressor/gate design stays true to the original E Series console strip, meticulously reproducing the circuits and components that gave it its legendary character. It includes an RMS sidechain detector and a fully discrete gain-reduction stage, identical to the Class A discrete VCA chip used in the original console.
Switches let you bypass the soft-knee curve, engage a fast attack mode, and choose between logarithmic or linear release curves. Together, these functions offer a wide palette of tone-shaping options, recreating the distinctive characters that helped craft countless classic records with the E Series consoles.
Classic 4-band SSL 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 features two fully parametric mid bands with SSL’s signature symmetrical design, ensuring musically consistent 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 curve. This EQ became a staple of early 80s tracking and mixing.
Developed in 1983, the “242” EQ circuit was created in collaboration with the legendary George Martin for the first SSL console installed at AIR Studios. Known as the “Black Knob EQ,” it introduced wider boost/cut ranges (±18 dB vs ±15 dB), a refined control response, and a steeper 18 dB/octave high-pass filter, delivering tighter low-end control and greater tonal versatility.
Flexible processing and routing
The Revival 4000 includes a dedicated balanced insert point, allowing you to seamlessly integrate external hardware into the signal path. It also features a dedicated external sidechain (key) input, flexible processing order, and a sidechain link—ideal for pairing two units in a stereo configuration.
Specifications:
- Classic SSL 4000 E mic preamp with transformer-balanced Jensen.
- Musical single-knob 4000 B De-Esser section.
- 48V phantom power, polarity inversion, pad, and line input.
- Ultimate 4000 E Series Dynamics Section:
Class A discrete VCA compressor.
Soft or Hard Knee modes.
Fast attack on/off.
Logarithmic or linear release modes.
Classic Gate/Expander section:
With fast attack on/off.
- Classic 4-band SSL EQ:
Fully parametric mid bands.
Switchable Brown Knob “02” and Black Knob “242” EQ circuits.
- High-pass 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 insert point for connecting external devices in the signal path.
- Extended “to sidechain” functionality:
Filters to Dynamics sidechain.
EQ to Dynamics sidechain.
- Flexible processing order routing:
Filters at input, Dynamics and De-Esser post-EQ options, Insert at output.
- Line output trim.
- Switchable input/output metering.
- External sidechain (key) input.
- Dynamics sidechain link – allows two Revival 4000 compressors to operate as a stereo pair.
- Phantom power: 48V
- Category: mic preamp
- Compressor: Yes
- Color: Black
- Dimensions (mm): 360 x 630 x 110
- EQ: 4-band with parametric high and low mids
- Gain: 70 dB
- Insert: Yes
- Tubes: No
- Number of channels: 1
- Number of mic inputs: 1
- Phase invert: Yes
- Weight: 6 kg
- Remote: No
- Impedance selector: No
- Audio outputs: XLR
- Rack unit: 1U
- VU meter: LED level indicator
Specific References
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SOLID STATE LOGIC REVIVAL4KCS Console Channel Strip - Revival 4000 Channel Strip
Console Channel Strip - Revival 4000 Channel StripThe Revival 4000 is a high-performance analog console channel strip from Solid State Logic that recreates the unmistakable sound of early-1980s SSL 4000 Series consoles.
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