REVIEW Solid State Logic UC1 Plug-in Controller Take control of your SSL plugins with an elegant knob-per-function desktop controller REVIEW BY ALEX HAWLEY Solid State Logic (SSL) continues to expand its studio-centric products. On the heels of the UF8 DAW controller (reviewed September 2021), the new UC1 can be used as a standalone controller or in conjunction with the UF8 for even more hands-on control of your mixes. Hardware SSL designed the UC1 to give users complete control of the SSL Native Channel Strip 2 and Bus Compressor 2 plugins. The UC1 offers an analog-style workflow while keeping the processing entirely in the box. A dedicated knob-per-function layout means you'll never have to dig through menu layers to access any functions of these plugins. Each encoder and button on the plugin user interface (created in the image of its actual SSL hardware counterparts) has a corresponding physical encoder or button on the UC1 controller. The UC1 even uses classic SSL-style encoders and buttons. This makes for an easy learning curve. Bus Comp As someone who mixes daily on an SSL AWS 900+ console, the look and feel of the UC1 was immediately familiar. The Bus Compressor section is front and center on the controller, including the mix and HPF sidechain encoders (which I wish I had on the full console). The authentic SSL moving-coil gain reduction meter gives the Bus Compressor section a true analog feel with immediate feedback. 52 RECORDING July 2022 Channel Strip The Channel Strip controls are split across the left and right sides of the Bus Compressor, with the EQ controls on the left and the dynamics (channel compression and gate/expander) on the right. The UC1 also includes input and output LED metering, gain reduction LEDs and a few extra controls beyond plugin-specific functionality.