Welcome back to the blog, folks! Today, we’re diving headfirst into part three of our SSL Native Mix series. If you’re jumping in for the first time, don’t worry — you’re absolutely in the right place. This post will get you straight into the action as we mix the pads, keys, and vocals for James D. Cooler's song “Imaginary Fears” using nothing but SSL Native plugins.

Missed the earlier parts?
Check out Part 1 (Drums) and Part 2 (Guitars and Bass) so you won’t miss any of the magic.

So clear your desk, open your DAW, and let’s get these tracks sitting pretty in the mix!

Table of Contents

1. Project Overview & Recap

2. Setting the Stage: The Pads and Keys

   • Choosing the SSL Channel Strip

   • Processing Each Keyboard Layer

3. Lead Vocals: Getting Them Right

   • Channel Strip vs. Vocal Strip 2

   • Compression, De-Essing, and EQ

   • Timing Your Effects

4. Reverb and Delay: What Was Supplied and What We'll Add

5. Background Vocals: Building Layers and Space

   • Processing Each Pair

   • Panning and EQ Tips

6. Mix Bus & Reference Check

7. Quick QA and Tweaks Before Effects

8. Wrap-Up & Freebies!

9. What’s Next: Part Four (Effects & Final Balancing)

Project Overview & Recap

If you’ve been following this series, you know the challenge: Mix an entire song from start to finish using only SSL Native plugins.

• Parts 1 & 2: We locked in the drums, bass, acoustic, and electric guitars.

• Today (Part 3): Pads, keys, lead vocals, and backgrounds step up front.

• Part 4: We'll go deep on effects—reverbs, delays, spatial tricks, final balances.

Our DAW: Presonus Studio One
Song: “Imaginary Fears” by James D. Cooler
Plugin toolbox: SSL Native suite only

Setting the Stage: The Pads and Keys

When listeners hit play, pads and keys are often the unsung glue in a mix. They might not demand attention, but trust me—they lift everything around them.

Choosing the SSL Channel Strip

For each instrument group, we're switching up the SSL channel strip:

• Drums: SSL 4K G

• Bass & Acoustics: SSL 4K

• Electric Guitars: SSL Channel Strip 2

• Pads & Keys: SSL 4KB (the warmest of the SSL strips)

Using different strips isn’t a hard rule, but it helps illustrate the flavors available in SSL’s plugin lineup.

Processing Each Keyboard Layer

Let's kick things off with the three pad/keyboard tracks in this mix.

1. The Main Pad

• Assessment: Already sits nicely—warm, lush, not too bright or muddy.

• Processing Moves:

  • Add just a touch of preamp drive (from the 4KB) for subtle SSL color.

  • Low Cut: Roll off sub-bass (nothing crazy, just cleaning mud).

  • Light Compression: Slight smoothing, no squash.

  • (Optional) Brightening: Tiny bit of top-end lift for air if needed.

**Pro Tip:**Push the channel's input fader until you hit desired analog “mojo,” then use output trim to level match. It’s a subtle thing, but over a whole mix it really adds up.

2. Air FX

A tiny part, more of an ear candy moment than a featured sound.

• Processing Moves:

  • Gentle compression (just to lock it in).

  • Use the Width control (if available) to spread stereo.

  • Blended way under the main pad.

3. Arpeggiated Pad

• Assessment: Pure background lift, won't draw attention.

• Processing:

  • No EQ needed (thanks to a solid recording).

  • Just blend at the right level—don’t let it poke out.

“A lot of times, with well-tracked keys and pads, just coloring with the preamp and blending is all you need. No need to over-process.”

Visual: Studio One session with pads and keys channels highlighted, SSL 4KB GUI open.

Lead Vocals: Getting Them Right

The vocals need to be front and center, powerful but not overbearing, and well-controlled so the performance shines.

Channel Strip vs. Vocal Strip 2

SSL Native’s Vocal Strip 2 stands up as a one-stop plugin for vocals, with:

• Compander (compressor/expander)

• De-esser

• De-plosive tool

• 3-band EQ

• Flexible signal path (re-order modules)

Originally, I considered starting with Channel Strip 2, but the Vocal Strip 2 brings a lot to the table when you need that “radio-ready” vocal sound.

Loading Up Vocal Strip 2

• Start with a preset: “Rock Male Vocal”

• Let’s A/B: Toggle on/off to feel the impact.

Dialing In Compression

• Initial Ratio: 2:1 (preset), but for a dynamic singer you probably want more grip.

• Adjust to 4:1: More consistent peaks and energy.

• Attack/Release: 10ms attack, quick release for punch.

• Drive: Use if you want a bit of saturation/vibe.

Setting the De-Esser

• Find the sibilance frequency and dial until the esses smooth out.

• Feature alert: SSL de-esser has “look ahead,” which catches sibilance before it becomes a problem.

De-Plosives and EQ Order Travel

• By default, de-eser comes before the EQ—sometimes you'll want to move it after, especially if your EQ boosts high-mids/treble.

• You can click and drag to reorder modules in SSL Vocal Strip 2.

• Simple EQ: Low cut around 100 Hz, notch out boxiness at ~340 Hz, maybe slight high shelf for air.

Listen and Tweak!

Solo up the vocal, then check in the mix.

“6-8 dB of gain reduction should keep our vocal glued without stepping on the performance.”

SSL Vocal Strip 2 on lead vocal channel — showing compressor, de-esser, and simple EQ tweaks.

Reverb and Delay: What Was Supplied and What We'll Add

Often, you’ll get “producer effects” baked into stems or as send returns. In this session, the producer gave us:

• A reverb-only channel

• A delay-only channel

But they’re only on select words and phrases—used as spot effects for detail, not the main sense of space.

Using the Supplied Effects

• Solo both returns: hear what’s provided.

• Roll off low end: Cleaning reverb/delay helps avoid mud.

• Brighten up: Helps vocals “lift” over the track.

• Add slight compression: Keeps these FX tamed during louder vocal phrases.

Planning for Our Own FX

The major reverb and delay spacialization will land in the next part of the series. For now, get the producer’s spot FX blended tastefully, but don’t expect them to give the overall mix its sense of space.

SSL channel with reverb/delay returns soloed; band-passed EQ shown on FX channel.

Background Vocals: Building Layers and Space

A track’s depth and polish often comes from how you handle background vocals! In this session, the backgrounds are smartly layered.

Vocal Groups

• BV 1 & 2: Paired, usually singing the same part

• BV 3 & 4: Similar doubling, new phrase

• BV 5–8: Full section, both high and low harmonies, often in choruses and bridge

Processing Approach

For Each Pair

1. SSL 4KB Channel Strip: Chosen for its warmth—perfect for background vocals.

2. Brighten Top End: Add 10–15 dB at around 9–10kHz to give clarity and avoid muddiness.

3. Remove Rumble: Low cut filter up to 80–100 Hz.

4. Control Boxiness: Dip at ~340 Hz and ~450 Hz, as needed.

5. Compression: Often 4:1 ratio, medium-fast attack and release.

6. Preamp Drive: For a bit more SSL flavor.

Layering Technique

• Pan each pair hard left and right for width.

• Copy/paste chain to harmonizing pairs.

• Push input fader up and trim output for true SSL desk color.

“I like to push the desk, push those faders and then trim on the way out. It’s subtle, but across 20 tracks, it adds weight and character.”

Keeping Balance

• Don’t let any one harmony dominate.

• Each background part should support, not lead.

Stack of background vocals panned L/R, each with SSL 4KB channel, EQ/comp settings shown.

Mix Bus & Reference Check

You always want to “zoom out” and check your work. How does it all come together on the stereo mix bus, and how does it stack up with the producer’s own reference mix?

SSL Native Bus Compressor

From the jump we put SSL’s classic bus comp on the master. Early on (just drums), its vibe felt subtle—but once all vocals, keys, and backgrounds are stacked, the glue is undeniable.

• More tracks = More gain staging “mojo”

• You’ll hear accumulated color, subtle punch, stereo width, and sharpness

Reference Mix Comparison

We use Metric AB by Adapted Audio for quick A/B switches. It’s the only non-SSL plugin in this chain — highly recommended!

• Blue waveform: Our current SSL native mix

• Orange waveform: Producer’s mix (in-the-box, likely other plugins)

What you’ll hear:

• Reference mix: lots of reverb, especially on the snare and vocals

• Ours (so far): Cleaner, more up-front; fewer spatial effects

“Don’t panic if the first pass seems ‘thinner’ or ‘closer’ — we haven’t added our main verbs/delays yet! Focus on balances and frequency first, then stretch the soundstage.”

Metric AB side-by-side waveforms: SSL Native vs. Producer Mix. Markers for reverb, vocal, and low end.

Quick QA and Tweaks Before Effects

Before we move on, a few real-talk notes for anyone following along:

• Lead Vocal Needs Editing:

  • You'll hear some breaths and excess sibilance.

  • In a “real” mix, you’d clean these up (manual fades, noise gates, or plugins like iZotope RX or Waves DeBreath).

  • For this SSL-only series, we're leaving in the “warts” for now, but this is not best practice for release mixes.

• Backgrounds May Be a Touch Bright:

  • As we stacked harmonies and boosted 8–10k for clarity, certain phrases got a bit “crispy.”

  • Tweaking individual BV EQs may be needed once all FX and instruments are balanced.

Listening Top-to-Bottom: Where We’re At

Let’s take a pass at the whole song. Listen to these sections and keep a notebook handy:

• Lead vocals:

  • Are they consistently in front?

  • Do you notice breaths or sibilance issues?

• Pads and keys:

  • Can you feel the depth, even if you don’t always “hear” them?

• Backgrounds:

  • Do the harmonies help lift the chorus and bridge?

  • Any pokey frequencies or imbalances?

Remember: We’re still dry—main reverb/delay sends land in the final part!

Labeled Studio One mix window, group channels open, ALL SSL plugins visible to show signal flow.

Wrap-Up & Freebies!

Thanks for sticking with this deep dive into mixing vocals, pads, and keys with SSL Native plugins. Here’s what we covered:

• Picked the right channel strip for each group for maximum color and character

• Processed pads/keys for blend and glue (not flash)

• Used Vocal Strip 2 for fast, pro-level lead vocal control (compression, de-ess, drive)

• Built big, wide background vocals step by step

• Kept our ears honest by checking with the producer’s reference mix

If you follow these steps and really listen, you’ll start to see how analog-modeled plugins like SSL Native can do so much more than “just add EQ and compression.”

🎁 Free Gifts & Special Offers

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• Free Course:
  Head over to HomeRecordingMadeEasy.com and grab my full mixing course on the home page.
  It’s worth $100 but it’s totally free for readers/viewers!

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  Use coupon code YouTube25 for 25% off ANY advanced course—including “Mixing with Analog Style Plugins Made Easy,” where we really go down the technical rabbit hole.

“Beginners, intermediates, advanced mixers — I’ve got something for everyone who wants tighter, more soulful tracks without wasting time or money.”

What’s Next: Part Four (Effects & Final Balancing)

We’re almost at the finish line:

• Adding lush reverbs and rhythmic delays

• Final balance tweaks for width and depth

• Last passes with the reference mix and master bus

• Exporting a finished mix

Stay tuned — Part 4 is where your mix gets that extra 20% of polish.

Bookmark this page, share it with your audio buddies, and keep those creative juices (and faders) moving!

Thanks so much for reading and mixing along!

I’m Dave from HomeRecordingMadeEasy.com.
Drop your questions in the comments, let me know which tracks or techniques you want to see covered in depth, and I’ll see you for Part Four!

Group shot: SSL Native plugin GUIs, HomeRecordingMadeEasy logo, and inspiring mixing desk.