A master processor designed for today's hybrid studio, Fusion delivers five powerful analog coloration tools — Vintage Drive, Violet EQ, HF Compressor, Stereo Image enhancer, and SSL Transformer — from the legendary console company Solid State Logic. Fusion provides the finishing touches for your productions with compelling tonal and spatial enhancement, adding a touch of analog magic to your mix bus or stereo stems. Key features include a highpass filter with three selectable cutoff frequencies, stereo/mid-side insert sends and returns, peak hold metering, and more. Fusion's five analog processors can be used discretely or combined for maximum creative flexibility.
A unique harmonic enhancement tool that infuses your mix with analog cohesion and punch. The Vintage Drive nonlinear saturation circuit delivers gradual analog overload characteristics reminiscent of cherished vintage consoles and outboard gear. The Drive and Density controls interact to produce harmonics, soft-clipping, and natural compression. A tri-color LED indicates how hard the circuit is being driven, from subtle green-zone coloration to aggressive red-zone distortion suitable for individual stems.
The Violet EQ is a minimum-phase-shift 2-band shelving EQ designed for mix bus deployment. It draws on SSL's legacy of meticulous frequency selection and response curves, allowing you to quickly dial in low-end heft and high-end shimmer. The low-frequency band offers 30Hz, 50Hz, 70Hz, or 90Hz, and the high-frequency band offers 8kHz, 12kHz, 16kHz, and 20kHz, with ±9dB gain adjustment. Perfect for adding air, sheen, or weight to full mixes.
Fusion's HF Compressor provides analog high-frequency rounding, smooth harshness reduction, and tape-like roll-off. Optimized with fixed ratio, attack, and release for transparency, it can subtly tame harshness in mixes or aggressively shape individual stems. A hidden LMC (Listen Mic Compressor) can be accessed by holding the HF Compressor "In" button for five seconds, providing a “smashed” sound for drums, vocals, guitars, and more, with the X-Over control acting as a wet/dry knob.
The Stereo Image enhancer is a true-analog mid-side (M-S) circuit for spatial manipulation of the stereo field. The Width control adjusts the side signal to narrow or widen the stereo image, while the Space control adds bass-frequency enhancement or cut to the sides, inspired by Alan Blumlein’s stereo shuffling concept. Settings between +2dB and +4dB are ideal for subtle depth effects.
The switchable SSL Transformer circuit introduces gentle low-frequency harmonic saturation and high-frequency phase shift, thickening the low end and adding sheen to the high end. The 600-ohm, 1:1-wound transformer is under-damped, providing subtle tonal heft, and can be engaged at any point during mixdown to enhance the sound.
Fusion is smartly designed for seamless integration into modern studios with ±12dB Input and Output Trim pots, input overload status LED, large peak hold metering, front-end highpass filter with selectable cutoffs, and tri-color status indicators for Vintage Drive and HF Compressor. XLR stereo sends and returns function as a Stereo Insert for external processing or mid-side (M-S) operation. The insert point can be switched to pre Violet EQ in Stereo Insert mode or pre Stereo Image in M-S mode. Stereo I/O is via XLR, offering complete flexibility for professional mix bus processing.
Fusion is an all-analogue 2U stereo outboard processor created for the modern hybrid studio. It introduces six completely new analogue colouration tools designed to bring tonal character, weight, and space to your mix bus or stereo stems, delivering the warmth, detail, and finesse that only real analogue circuits can provide. Fusion builds on SSL’s legendary sonic legacy, which includes pristine mic preamps, classic Channel EQ & Dynamics, the Stereo Bus Compressor, Listen Mic Compressor, and unique SSL summing bus. This new suite of analogue processing tools expands the sonic palette for hybrid studio owners and complements the SSL Stereo Bus Compressor perfectly.
SSL Fusion is designed with professional workflow in mind. It includes +/-12dB Input and Output Trim controls, an Input overload LED, large peak-hold metering, and a front-end 3rd order High Pass Filter with three selectable cutoff frequencies. Tri-colour status indicators provide visual feedback for the Vintage Drive and HF Comp/LMC sections.
XLR connections serve as a Stereo Insert for external stereo mix bus processing or can be switched to function as a Mid-Side (M-S) circuit, enabling separate compression or EQ on the center and sides of a stereo signal. In Stereo Insert mode, the insert point can be switched pre-Violet EQ, while in M-S mode, it can be switched pre-Stereo Image. Input and Output connections are via XLR, offering seamless integration into any hybrid studio setup.
| Processor Type | SSL Analog Coloration |
|---|---|
| Number of Channels | Stereo |
| Analog Inputs | 2 x XLR (Main L/R), 2 x XLR (Insert Return) |
| Analog Outputs | 2 x XLR (Main L/R), 2 x XLR (Insert Send) |
| EQ | Low Semi-parametric, High Semi-parametric, High Pass Filter |
| Features | Vintage Drive, Stereo Enhancer, Mid-Side Circuit, HF Compressor |
| Rack Spaces | 2U |
| Power Supply | Standard IEC AC cable |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 729740X2 UPC: 878076001333 |
