Alas, these are the two most expensive plug-ins of the lot. The sound of X-EQ is particularly impressive, and the X-Comp is great for transparent compression. X-EQ and X-Comp lead Duende off into slightly different territory, offering far more complex processing than you´ll find in the other three. It´s nice to see the Listen Mic Compressor, but sonically we particularly like both the LF enhancement section (great for kicks) and the transient shaper (great for snares). Of the five plug-ins, the Drumstrip feels like the odd one out as it offers a far more creative processing palette. The flexibility of the Channel Strip is well complemented by the glue-like nature of the Stereo Bus Compressor and, although this costs extra, if you´re going to go for the Duende Mini, we would have to recommend this as a ‘must have´. The SSL sound has been well-documented over the years, and the two ‘retro´ plug-ins here deliver plenty of its acclaimed character. The processing order can be easily rearranged to suit your needs and if you´re using it as an insert, the dry/wet option at the output is an excellent way to get the overall blend you desire.
It also features the famous SSL Listen Mic Compressor. As you might imagine, this includes a selection of drum-specific tools ranging from the transient shaper and gate to LF and HF enhancers. Possibly the most innovative plug-in is the Drumstrip. You´ll also note some excellent metering in the form of a gain reduction history and a form of amplitude histogram. Similarly the X-Comp is no slouch, and includes an excellent ‘bleed through´ system for frequency dependent compression. Not only does it offer 10-bands with a multitude of parametric and filter styles, but it even includes a parallel mode where a split signal is processed independently, then summed at the output.
X-EQ, designed with the help of top software developer Algorithmix, really is about as precise and flexible as EQs get. Well, to be fair, these are impressive plug-ins. By our calculations, if you wanted all four extra plug-ins authorised on the Mini you´d be looking at roughly an extra £1100. The other three are the mastering grade X-EQ and X-Comp, and the all-in-one Drumstrip processor. However, SSL provided us with a fully-maxed unit so that we could give you an overview of all five plug-ins. It offers a hugely powerful EQ, peak and RMS style dynamics (with the famous ‘over-easy´ compression) and flexible onboard routing.Īnother crucial part of the SSL sound is the Stereo Bus Compressor, but unfortunately, this is an optional extra for the Mini. Ported from the C200 digital console, this represents one important element of ‘the SSL sound´. This is the EQ and Dynamics Channel, which offers both the famous E and G EQs, filters, compressor/limiter and gate/expander.
However, one of the compromises with the Mini is that it only ships with one as standard. SSL has gradually expanded the range of available Duende plug-ins - there are now five in total.