Its sonic quality is, however, undeniable. Retailing at $1,100, it is definitely not on the inexpensive end of the plug-in spectrum. The SSL Duende Native Studio Pack I tested includes the SSL Bus Compressor, the SSL Duende Channel Strip, X-EQ, X-Comp, Drumstrip, Vocalstrip, and X-Verb. THE PLUG-INS: DESIGN PHILOSOPHY & THE SSL SOUND Regardless, I got it running, and it’s since been functioning without problems. Better documentation for how this transference process is supposed to work would have been a big help. The process of installing the dongle was actually a bit more frustrating than using an iLok, especially if you already have the SSL licenses installed via software dongle. SSL only allows you to do this a few times, so if you are planning on taking these plug-ins with you, as I have been, you need to get the Codemeter USB dongle. In using it with just the Codemeter software, transferring the licenses from desktop to laptop was a more time consuming process than plugging or unplugging a USB dongle, but it worked fine. It was chosen by SSL because of its ability to transfer licenses from one machine to another with or without using an external dongle. SSL uses the included WIBU Codemeter software protection scheme. I initially installed/tested the SSL Duende Native line in Pro Tools 9 on a MacBook Pro Intel Duo Core 2.2 GHz laptop, and on an 8-core Mac Pro 2.4 GHz desktop via Pro Tools HD Native. I’ve been using these plug-ins almost daily since I got them in September – earlier on in Pro Tools 9, and now in Pro Tools 10. The Duende Native Studio Pack bundles all of seven plug-ins reviewed here.ĭuende Native works within most major recording software platforms including Logic, Cubase, Ableton Live, Reaper and PreSonus’ Studio One.

Ssl duende drumstrip demo