Solid State Logic Revival 4000: The Immortal 4000 Series Console in a 19" Rack

The Solid State Logic Revival 4000 is an all-analog channel strip that delivers the unmistakable sound of the early 1980s SL 4000 Series consoles. This legendary sound set the industry standard and helped shape the music of iconic artists like Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, U2, and Metallica. Drawing on the revered circuitry of both the B and E Series consoles, the Revival 4000 offers the signature tone and sonic flexibility that form the very foundation of SSL’s legacy.

The 4000 Series Legacy: The Most Influential Console of All Time

Originally launched in 1976, the SSL 4000 Series consoles revolutionized music production. It began with the rare SL 4000 B console, which produced groundbreaking hits like Peter Gabriel’s "Intruder" and the seminal gated-drum sensation, "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. This success paved the way for the most influential mixing console of all time—the SL 4000 E.

Introduced in 1979, the 4000 E became the heartbeat of legendary studios like Abbey Road and Electric Lady, empowering engineers like Hugh Padgham, Chris and Tom Lord-Alge, and Andy Wallace to craft their signature sound.

Meet the Revival 4000: A Signature Analogue Channel Strip

The Revival 4000 encapsulates the sonic excellence and standout features of the legendary 4000 Series in a compact 1U format.

• 4000 E Series Mic Preamp: Features the classic E Series JT-115K-E Jensen transformer-balanced preamp to deliver richness and pristine clarity to recordings.
• 4000 B Series De-Esser: The De-Esser section deploys the original circuit from the iconic 4000 B compressor/limiter. It delivers a 10:1 ratio and 7 kHz high-pass filtered side-chain, perfect for taming harsh vocals or other aggressive sources.
• Ultimate 4000 E Series Dynamics: The iconic compressor/gate design stays true to the original E Series channel strip, meticulously replicating the circuitry and components that gave it its legendary character. It includes a true RMS sidechain detector and an all-discrete Class A VCA gain reduction stage. Flexible controls allow for soft-knee bypass, a fast attack mode, and your choice of logarithmic or linear release curves.
• Classic 4-Band E Series EQ: The celebrated 4-band parametric EQ that helped shape modern music. The Revival 4000 features two iconic EQ options: the classic 'Brown Knob' (02) and the legendary 'Black Knob' (242). The 'Brown Knob' offers two fully parametric mid bands with SSL’s signature symmetrical design. The 'Black Knob' was developed in conjunction with George Martin for AIR Studios, introducing wider cut/boost ranges and a steeper 18 dB/octave high-pass filter for greater tonal flexibility and tighter low-end control.

Key Features for Modern Workflows

The Revival 4000 is the foundational legacy channel strip, bringing SSL’s analog heritage into any modern studio with powerful features like:

• Balanced Insert Point: Connect external devices into the signal path.
• Extensive Sidechain Functionality: Route filters and EQ to the Dynamics sidechain.
• Flexible Process-Order Routing: Choose your signal flow with options for filters at the input, Dynamics and De-Esser post-EQ, and Insert at the output.
• Dynamics Sidechain Link: Link two Revival 4000 compressors to work as a stereo pair.

The Solid State Logic Revival 4000 provides flexible routing, balanced insert points, and sidechain linking, offering a complete solution for achieving that legendary SSL sound in a modern rack format.