Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
Customer Reviews
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
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H. Cullen
OK for the money
I bought this because the Plug In Alliance version I was using has some problems with Ozone. I do like the plug in a lot especially the Sidechain Filter control, but I found the UAD version to be quite vicious, and its missing the stereo width adjustment of the Class A version. It's good in general and I'm glad I bought it but I don't think I'd buy it again on reflection.
T. Franklyn
Meh
I tried the demo in my mix chain on a couple different mixes over the trial period. While it's not "bad" sounding, it isn't really amazing, not worth $299. I would pay $75, maybe $100. The UAD emulations are usually amazing, I've compared the Rev A directly to my own real unit and it's very close. The Fairchild is amazing! This is just missing some of that magic character. In several blind on/off shootouts it lost, even if it had the edge on loudness. Just not what I'm looking for.
j. Blanchard
Eh
Nothing special. Kind of confusing at first and is overpriced for what it is.
.
Good effect.
At least this effect is useable. I was very disappointed with the fatso and ocean ways! Could have spent the cash on a hardware piece that is useable.
.
Good plug in, nothing special
It's a good plugin but after reading many rewievs and heard talk about it I was expecting much more...
However an interesting plug in in some situations.
C. Cederberg
A/B'd with my hardware unit. Didn't cut it.
A/B'd with my hardware unit. Didn't cut it. Unfortunately.. Would have been nice to sell the hardware, but I'll keep it for now. Maybe V2 will be closer.
J. Carroll
?????
For a novice that is experimenting with mastering, this is not the plug in for you. It has no presets for mastering use at all. It's nice to have a few presets to see how each control is being utilized,especially for mastering.
A. Cenerini
A shade on the real thing… but still killer.
A friend has the real deal, and I use a Shadow Hills QUAD GAMA on every recording I do, so I am familiar with the manufacturer's products. The plugin lacks much of the character that makes the hardware unit so killer, but is so friendly on DSP resources that I find myself using it a ton regardless… just not in the same way I would use the hardware unit.
B. Busch
Good, not great.
The SHMC didn't blow me away for its intended 2-buss / mastering use. IMHO, this is the least impressive model of the real thing in the UA catalog.
HOWEVER, I did buy it, and after using it a while now on other things, this plug is pretty good in its own right, and I'm finding it more useful to shape and color individual busses and tracks than to use across a whole mix or for mastering. Its a unique compressor, and the Trans options are great for giving different subtle textures to individual tracks.
- 1 star for not being the best emulation. - 1 star for no dig only features like control link or ability to switch the signal path order of the compressors. (I often like fast before slow) And where's Brainworx's signature MS feature??
G. Bucci
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
The hardware does sound better than the plug in. With that being said, does the Shadow Hills plug in improve the overall sound of your mixes? If used right, the answer is a clear yes. The presets offer great options to start with, and then you can fine tune things. The opto can generally smooth things a little while the 2nd comp adds some punch. At the mastering stage I like a compressor that can gently control the transients while still letting the music breathe. I use the Samplitude Ammuntion opto compressor plug in for mastering which I love. It offers more control over the Shadow Hills opto comp. However the dual comp Shadow can do some things the Ammuntion cannot. The Shadow Hills won't replace Amm, but it can be a second tool to use.
E. Biagini
SH Mastering Compressor
Niece piece. Sounds musical and transparent. Nice-Good to have to have. Very openly speaking, the look is more amazing than the sound. Overall, too expensive in my opinion.
P. Lemos
Well presented, sound not quite there, expensive.
This compressor sounds so different to the original that I can hear it on my iMac speakers - not a good sign. It is for this reason that I find it too expensive. I don't mind paying a premium when I know I am getting "the authentic sound of analog" or "the world's finest analog hardware emulation". Take that away and I start wondering what I am getting this for. I hope that UA will improve on it in further releases.
Meanwhile, it is still worth something as it does have a pleasant effect on the mix, albeit grainier than the hardware, and the UI is good.
J. Chaney
My take in this guy
I demo'd it on a live kit i recorded recently, i tested all settings, it seems as if your not going to get anything too magical here, Just a subtle sweeting. it not an artistic statement kind of compression. But for what it does in the subtle since is very nice, sometime thats all you need. most of the time in fact. But yeah not a big wow factor here. Maybe that's why its considered mastering compressor.
In a strange way it sort of reminds me of Bomb Factory's Fairchild plugin
Also this video will tell you a lot as well. minus the hype, take a gut level listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeAieR536yU
K. Richards
Another Disappointment
Whats going on here?! What happened to the great emulations that you guys are known for?! Even in the demo it doesn't sound like the hardware. Very Disappointing....
L. Kruijssen
As all in their own way VERY USABLE!
Owning plenty of UAD plug-ins using them each extensively on each project I wanted this time to contribute with a little more than just words.
No saturation prior fooling whatsoever http://youtu.be/xTAf9gs4XjI
Does it sound 100% like the original hardware? I don't own this specific piece of hardware, nor have I ever used it but based on the official promotion video from UA itself I clearly say no and agree there. The hardware briefly heard contains an overall different response within the lows to it, more depth, openness and for that has also accordingly a clear price tag to it. The mid and highs coming way closer, from a mix perspective yes great bang for buck. All known!
Than is for these reasons this plug-in not useful? Hell no!
J. Miguel
surprised
I am surprised here. I do not have the hardware but ... from the video UA post comparing hardware and software ... by no means they sound the same. It is too obvious!! I mean with that comparison you could trick someone with untrained ears ... but not a decent set of ears. How can UA claim they sound the same. I am surprised here, very surprised because that is a bad indication of quality ... UA has to clear this mess up, they cannot make such claims and then show clearly they are not true. The plug-in is great, but I don´t buy UA just for a great plugin, I buy UA to get the best there is ... and this is not it.
R. Masters
Not better or worse then the Neve 3309
I'm not going to buy this compressor because I already have the Neve 3309. Did a A&B and I was able to achieve the same results with the neve 3309. How many compressors do we need by the way? If you already have the 3309 there's no need for this comp. Very subtle differences between the Neve 3309, but not better or worse. I would say the both of them are equivalent.
Try and A&B the Neve 3309 next to this. Then ask your self if you should blow $300 on another compressor.
N. Parfitt
the A / B comparison doesn't sound the same..
The tone is completely different on the plugin version. The hardware example sounds better immediately... even on a the web video.