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Review: Solid State Logic Duende Native Plug-in Suite 3.6.6

If you are looking for a collection of audio processing tools that bring professional audio quality, sophistication and benchmark performance within reach of your DAW, you might want to check out the Solid State Logic Duende Native Plug-in Suite 3.6.6. This suite is a set of VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins that emulate the sound and features of SSL console products, such as the EQ & Dynamics Channel, the Stereo Bus Compressor, the Drumstrip, the Vocalstrip, the X-EQ, the X-Comp, the X-ValveComp, and the X-Saturator.

The Duende Native Plug-in Suite 3.6.6 is an updated version of the acclaimed Duende Native plug-in collection, with completely re-written versions that offer new higher resolution user interfaces, improved Preset management, expanded purchase and subscription options, and underlying framework changes that ensure compatibility and support for many years to come[^1^]. The plug-ins retain the fundamental audio characteristics of their predecessors, but with improved workflow and usability.

The EQ & Dynamics Channel plug-in provides an EQ & Dynamics processing solution with all the power, precision, flexibility and signature tone of an SSL console channel strip. It features a four-band parametric EQ with switchable E/G curves, a variable low-pass and high-pass filter section, an expander/gate section with a fast attack option and sidechain filters, a compressor/limiter section with a peak sensing option and sidechain filters, and an output gain and metering section[^2^]. The plug-in also has factory presets designed by SSL studio engineers and producers for quick and easy access to professional sounds.

The Stereo Bus Compressor plug-in gives you the classic SSL stereo master bus compressor that brings power and punch to your mix without compromising clarity. It features a fixed 2:1 ratio with variable threshold and make-up gain controls, a fast attack time of 0.1 ms to 10 ms and a release time of 0.1 s to 4 s with auto-release option, and a sidechain high-pass filter at 60 Hz or 120 Hz[^2^]. The plug-in also has factory presets designed by SSL studio engineers and producers for quick and easy access to professional sounds.

The Drumstrip and Vocalstrip plug-ins are task specific plug-ins that each gather together a set of carefully selected and lovingly crafted processing tools to get you straight to outstanding Drum and Vocal sounds quickly and easily. The Drumstrip plug-in features a transient shaper, a gate/expander with key input option, a high frequency enhancer, an SSL E-Series EQ section with two fully parametric bands and two shelving bands, an SSL E-Series Dynamics section with soft-knee compressor/limiter and expander/gate modes, a listen mic compressor emulation with fixed attack and release times and variable threshold and make-up gain controls, and an output section with wet/dry mix control[^2^]. The Vocalstrip plug-in features a de-esser with variable frequency range and threshold controls, a compander with variable ratio range and threshold controls, an SSL E-Series EQ section with two fully parametric bands and two shelving bands, an SSL E-Series Dynamics section with soft-knee compressor/limiter and expander/gate modes, a harmonic distortion generator with variable drive control, and an output section with wet/dry mix control[^2^]. Both plug-ins also have factory presets designed by SSL studio engineers and producers for quick and easy access to professional sounds.

The X-EQ and X-Comp plug-ins are both mastering grade processors that deliver superb balance of precision and tonal character. The X-EQ plug-in is a 10-band parametric equalizer that offers five different filter types per band (bell curve, shelving high/low cut filters with selectable slopes from 6 dB/octave to 36 dB/octave), variable Q settings from 0.1 to 1000 for bell curves or from 0.1 to 10 for shelving filters), phase invert switch per band, global input/output gain controls with peak hold meters[^2^]. The X-Comp plug-in is a broadband stereo compressor that offers variable ratio from 1:1 to infinity:1 (limiter