Solid State Logic SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 plug-in: features and spec-based rating

SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 is a plug-in designed by SSL that recreates the stereo bus compressor in the center section of SSL’s G-series analog console. It has new attack, release and ratio options, an external sidechain, a sidechain high-pass, a Mix knob and 2x and 4x oversampling.

A compressor holds down sounds that are too loud and evens out differences in volume. For vocals it keeps the level stable and easy to hear, and it can also add punch to a sound.

In this article we compare SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 with 16 compressor plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 16 compressor plug-ins, SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.0.

Strengths

• Mix applications (4 points): it has wide mix uses, such as reacting to other sounds and mixing with the original sound.

Things to keep in mind

• Speed (2 points): you have to set the values yourself.

Who it suits: people who want to bring a mix or a subgroup together in a “record-like” way.

Main features of SSL Native Bus Compressor 2

A recreation of the G-series bus compressor

SSL itself recreated the bus compressor in the center of the SSL G-series consoles of the 1980s as a plug-in. The manufacturer explains that it brings a whole mix together “like glue” and adds power, punch and cohesion.

Attack, release, ratio, and auto release

The manufacturer explains that new options for attack, release and ratio were added, making it easier to use on individual sounds and subgroups. There is also an auto-release setting that optimizes the release automatically to match the signal.

A sidechain high-pass and Mix

A high-pass filter on the sidechain reduces pumping on kick and bass. It also supports an external sidechain, and the Mix knob makes parallel compression possible. 2x and 4x oversampling can be switched.

Where it is useful

• Inserting it at the end of the whole mix to add cohesion and punch
• Using it on a drum group to tidy the sound while keeping its drive
• Using it on the vocal bus to blend the vocals with the other sounds

Rating by criterion

Compression character: 3 / 5

We check whether you can choose the character of the compression, from transparent and natural to colored and vintage-style.

It is a recreation of the SSL G-series bus compressor. New attack, release and ratio options were added, and 2x and 4x oversampling can be switched.

Speed: 2 / 5

We check whether it has features that get you to a good setting quickly, such as automatic settings and easy presets.

It has auto release, but otherwise the controls are standard. There is no AI suggestion function.

If “speed” matters most to you, smart:comp 3 (5 points) is a better fit.

Mix applications: 4 / 5

We check whether it supports mix applications such as reacting to another sound (sidechain) and mixing with the original sound (parallel).

It has an external sidechain, a sidechain high-pass filter, and parallel processing with a dry/wet Mix.

How we score (Compressor plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Compression character	Whether you can choose the character of the compression to suit the material and your taste	Many compression styles and coloration to choose from, plus fine controls such as look-ahead	Several styles plus either coloration or spectral processing	Either several styles or a recreation of vintage hardware	One type, but with coloration or compression-curve adjustment	One type
Speed	How quickly you can reach a good setting	AI analyzes the sound and suggests settings	Several automatic aids, such as auto gain and auto release	Few knobs; almost everything is set with one	Standard controls	—
Mix applications	Uses such as sidechain, parallel and M/S	External sidechain, sidechain EQ, and M/S or parallel are all included	External sidechain plus either parallel or M/S	One of external sidechain, M/S or parallel	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: evening out the volume of a vocal and blending it into the backing track. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Compression character" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) / Mac (Apple silicon supported)
Plug-in formats	Windows: VST2, VST3, AAX / Mac: AU, VST2, VST3, AAX (as listed by the retailer)
Other	A free iLok account is required
Trial	14-day free trial available
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.

Compared with other compressor plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• MJUC: features and rating (rank B)
• 1176 Classic Limiter Collection: features and rating (rank B)
• Pro-C 3: features and rating (rank S)
• smart:comp 3: features and rating (rank S)