SSL Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip VST Bundle

Description

Vocals that refuse to sit in the mix. Drums that hit but never quite lock in. A mix that sounds promising in headphones yet falls apart on speakers. These are problems every engineer faces, and the most trusted solution for decades has been Solid State Logic’s console architecture — the same processing that shaped countless hit records.

The SSL Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip VST Bundle puts two of SSL’s most refined tools directly into your DAW. You get the console-grade EQ, dynamics, and saturation that SSL hardware is known for, without needing a six-figure desk.

SSL Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip VST Bundle: What’s Inside

SSL Native Vocalstrip 2 — A Complete Vocal Channel

Vocalstrip 2 isn’t just five plugins stacked in a row. It’s an integrated vocal processor where each stage feeds the next the way it would in a hardware console. A four-band EQ modelled after SSL’s G-Series, a compressor with auto-gain makeup, an expander/gate, a de-esser with sidechain-aware detection, and a harmonic saturator based on SSL’s preamp stages all work together in one window.

The real advantage is the signal flow. The compressor responds to your EQ moves. The de-esser sits after compression, catching sibilance that softer settings might have missed. You simply cannot replicate this integrated behaviour by chaining separate plugins. For a deeper look at how compressor topologies interact with programme material, Sound On Sound is worth a read.

SSL Native Drumstrip — Transient Control & Low-End Shaping

Drumstrip tackles four common drum mixing problems with dedicated modules. The Transient Shaper gives independent control over attack and sustain — dial in click on a kick, or soften an aggressive snare. The Low-Frequency Compressor tightens sub information without muddying the mids. The Width Knob adjusts stereo image from mono to wide, ideal for overheads and room mics. And the Auto Pan module adds rhythmic movement that follows your track tempo.

On a kick and 808 bus, the Transient Shaper adds attack while the Low-Frequency Compressor keeps the bottom end consistent across notes. On a drum buss, the Width Knob spreads room mics before compression hits, giving you a stereo image that stays intact under heavy gain reduction.

Drumstrip pairs naturally with other tools in our VST plugins collection for building a full mixing toolkit.

Who This Bundle Suits

Mixing engineers working with vocal-heavy genres — pop, R&B, hip-hop, gospel — will find Vocalstrip 2’s integrated chain saves considerable setup time. Electronic producers who process drums extensively benefit from Drumstrip’s all-in-one transient and low-end control. Engineers running hybrid ITB/analogue setups can use these plugins to add SSL console character to individual tracks before summing.

Vocal Workflow

A typical chain starts with the EQ: roll off subsonic rumble with the high-pass filter, address low-mid muddiness around 250–400 Hz, add presence at 5–8 kHz. The compressor then catches peaks with ratios from 2:1 to 10:1. The expander/gate handles background noise between phrases. The de-esser targets sibilance above 6 kHz. Meanwhile, the harmonic saturator adds density that makes the vocal feel present without raising its level.

Drum Workflow

Apply the Transient Shaper to individual drum tracks first. Increase attack on kicks for beater definition. Reduce sustain on snares that ring too long. Use the Low-Frequency Compressor on 808s and sub elements to tighten the low end without losing weight. On drum busses, the Width Knob adds stereo spread to overheads before bus compression, preserving width even under heavy processing.

Technical Details

• Plugin Formats: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
• macOS: 10.12+ (Intel & Apple Silicon native)
• Windows: 10+ (64-bit)
• Supported DAWs: Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Studio One, Pro Tools, Reaper, Bitwig, Nuendo
• Disk Space: 300 MB
• RAM: 1 GB minimum (4 GB+ recommended)
• Activation: iLok account required (machine-based authorization available — physical dongle optional)

Why SSL Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip Stand Out

You can mix vocals and drums with stock plugins. Many engineers do, and some get solid results. But the reason SSL’s console processing has remained a studio standard is not nostalgia — it’s how the EQ, dynamics, and saturation work together as one system. Vocalstrip 2 and Drumstrip bring that behaviour into your DAW with DSP algorithms that model the original hardware circuits rather than approximating them.

Browse our full VST plugin range for additional mixing and production tools to round out your setup.