Price: $39.99 (Normally $399.98)
Compatibility: macOS (incl. M1 Native), Windows
Formats: VST, AU, AAX
Trial Available: Yes (14-day free trial)
When Solid State Logic (SSL) puts its name on a plugin, expectations run high. With a legacy stretching back to their game-changing mixing consoles and studio gear, SSL continues to tap into its analog roots with modern precision. The latest example? The SSL X-Delay and X-Echo plug-in bundle — a nostalgic-yet-powerful duo that brings the sonic flavors of the ’60s through the ’80s into your DAW, and all at a ridiculously low price of $39.99 (down from $399.98).
Let’s take a deep dive into each plug-in and see if this time-warp bundle lives up to the SSL pedigree.
X-Delay: An ’80s Digital Delay with Modern Mojo
X-Delay is a love letter to the era of massive gated snares, slap-back vocal delays, and epic stereo guitar tracks. It’s modeled on the digital rack units that defined the ’80s, and it shows — both in tone and flexibility.
Key Features:
- 4 independent delay taps with level, pan, ping-pong, and sync options
- Global MULTIPLIER lets you scale all delay times — perfect for automation tricks
- SSL-style saturation and modulation add tasteful grit and shimmer
- Built-in HP/LP filters, de-esser, mix control, and diffusion for near-reverb effects
- Freeze and Kill buttons for creative risers, drop-outs, and breakdown builds
The plugin’s GUI is clean, intuitive, and surprisingly inviting. You’ll be experimenting within seconds — syncing taps, dialing in triplets, or pushing the DIFFUSE knob to bloom your delays into lush ambient washes. Add the SSL modulation engine and you’re suddenly in shoegaze, synthwave, or indie-rock territory.
From surgical vocal doublers to massive stereo guitars that feel lifted from a Tears for Fears record, X-Delay delivers a polished digital delay sound — not clinical, but distinctively “SSL Clean.” And for producers working in modern pop or retro-leaning genres, this is pure gold.
X-Echo: That Sweet, Smoky Tape Delay Flavor
If X-Delay is the neon future of the past, X-Echo is its warm, dusty, analog cousin. Inspired by vintage tape delay units from the ’60s and ’70s — think Roland Space Echo and Maestro Echoplex — X-Echo captures the warmth, wobble, and character that only aging tape can bring.
Key Features:
- 4 tape heads for rhythmic variety
- Wow & Flutter and Saturation to emulate mechanical wear and sonic degradation
- Built-in reverb via the DIFFUSION control, for everything from slap plates to canyon-sized tails
- Real-time waveform visualisation for intuitive delay shaping
- Stereo enhancement tools to “widen” even mono sources
- DE-ESSER tailored for tape echoes’ common high-frequency buildup
- Freeze and Kill options for EDM-style build-ups or experimental layering
This plug-in isn’t just about replicating vintage gear — it expands on it. The interface gives you powerful visual feedback, allowing for surgical editing or wild experimentation. SSL’s tape modeling feels authentic — warm but never muddy, responsive but never sterile.
And the DIFFUSION knob? Possibly the most fun you’ll have with one control this week. At lower values, it subtly enhances the delay trail; crank it and your tape delay morphs into a vintage-flavored reverb unit.
Workflow & Performance
Both plug-ins are impressively light on CPU, support Apple Silicon natively, and integrate smoothly with major DAWs (Logic, Live, Pro Tools, etc). They’re quick to load, and SSL’s Plug-in Engine ensures low latency and reliability. Automation fans will love the modifiable controls (particularly MULTIPLIER and FREEZE), opening the door for some truly cinematic transitions and FX moments.
The design ethos here is clear: vintage sound without vintage limitations.
Verdict: SSL’s Vintage Bundle is a No-Brainer at This Price
At the original price of nearly $400, this bundle would be a serious investment. At $39.99, it’s a steal. Whether you’re a retro-leaning producer, a film composer craving vintage textures, or a modern beatmaker looking to spice up your vocal chains — the SSL X-Delay and X-Echo bundle is an invaluable toolkit.
These are not throwaway emulations or half-baked imitations. They’re legit SSL-quality tools that feel polished, musical, and creatively inspiring. From Prince to Pink Floyd to Portishead — if it echoes, delays, or warbles, this bundle covers it.
Score: 9.2/10
🔥 An essential buy for any producer seeking retro delay tones with pro-grade control.
✅ Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Authentic vintage sound with modern workflow
- Superb UI and visual feedback
- Deep creative control with Freeze/Kill/Diffuse options
- Light on CPU and Apple M1 native
❌ Cons
– No tempo-synced reverb in X-Echo (minor gripe)
– No dual-view for delay/reverb simultaneously
Try the 14-Day Free Trial before you commit — but we’d bet you’ll grab it before the timer’s up. Offer ends April 14, 2025.
🛒 Get the SSL X-Delay and X-Echo Bundle – $39.99 (was $399.98)
Want more retro plug-in reviews like this? Let’s keep the echo rolling.
