Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
-
The world’s most remarkable and revered audio compressor — available as a UAD plug-in.
The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in for UAD hardware and UA Audio Interfaces provides everything from a velvet touch to an iron fist — making it a go-to on records by Muse, Green Day, Gnarls Barkley, and more. Designed by Brainworx, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in is a thorough emulation of the high-end hardware.
Few pieces of audio hardware are as revered as the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor. Created by enigmatic mastermind, Peter Reardon, this five-rackspace behemoth tempers dynamics and tames transients like no other compressor in history. With its serial, two-stage dynamics control and switchable output transformer matrix.Mix and master with an emulation of the legendary Shadow Hills Compressor, endorsed by Peter Reardon
Harness Nickel, Iron, and Steel transformer types for a wide range of distortion characteristics and transient limiting
Use separate Optical and Discrete (VCA) dynamics sections for two-stage serial dynamics control
Employ 90 Hz sidechain filtering for musical compression of low-frequency program material
Three Majestic Compressors in One
The genius of the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in is its ability to control dynamics in two stages — an Optical and Discrete (VCA). Both sections can be bypassed, effectively providing three compression sounds (Optical, Discrete, and combined) in a single unit.
The Optical section is highly program dependent, with basic Threshold and Gain settings, and a two-stage release time akin to the classic LA-2A — perfect for gently taming dynamic range. The Discrete section takes over where the Optical section leaves off, provides precise control over gain, threshold, ratio, attack, and release.Switchable Output Transformers — Nickel, Iron, and Steel
The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in’s tonal palette is enhanced by a unique matrix which allows selection between three output transformers — Nickel, Iron, and Steel. By switching the selected transformer type in and out of the signal path, you can hear the different frequency response, distortion characteristics, and transient limiting of each transformer — going from “clean” (Nickel), to “colored” (Iron), to “dirty” (Steel).
“The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in is the ultimate last-stop in a mixing chain. It’s punchy, hi-fi, and has lots of options. ”
– Joe Chiccarelli (Jason Mraz, Beck, The Strokes, Morrissey)“The UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in sounds incredibly accurate and gives me the tone I need — especially on the drum bus!”
– Dean Coleman“The UAD Shadow Hills plug-in is replacing my 670 on the stereo buss. The two sides allow me to accomplish what I was using multiple compressors to achieve.”
– Mark Needham (The Killers, Neon Trees, P!nk)“The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in has character and punch that no other plug-in can duplicate! ”
– Adam Hawkins (Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot, Keith Urban)Customer Reviews
D. Whittington
October 18, 2016
Phenomenal Compressor!!!
Absolutely love the way this pulls my music together. Very smooth compressor! Using this after Ampex Tape Recorder and before Manley Massive Passive EQ, Precision Maximizer and Precision...
Read MoreL. Varini
October 15, 2016
My master bus workhorse!
I have to admit that this plugin is a little intimidating, at least at the beginning, with all the parameters you can set. After some time I get used to it and now it's my preferred plugin...
Read MoreB. Clark
October 12, 2016
awesome!
sounds like the real unit! the stereo width isn't as great as it is on the real thing (another reviewer said that as well and I agree), but hey, small trade off to have an virtual...
Read MoreR. Blum
September 22, 2016
Wow, I'm overwhelmed!
I am a great fan of UA plugins. I own about 50% of all their available plugins and can't wait to purchase more. As with all other UA plugins, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor is a...
Read MoreD. Keen
September 15, 2016
Shadow Hill comp
This might just be the best plugin compressor on the market!!!! Do yourself a favor and at least demo it to see for yourself!!!
Read MoreJ. Roy
September 3, 2016
Great compressor
It adds a lot of mojo to your mix. Love the color. Great buy!
Read More -
Key Features
Meticulous emulation of the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, licensed and endorsed by Peter Reardon
Created by Brainworx, developed exclusively for the UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform
Separate Optical and Discrete (VCA) dynamics sections for two-stage serial dynamics control
Separate Threshold and makeup Gain for each dynamics section
Fixed Ratio, Attack and Recover settings within the Discrete section
Transformer matrix switches between Nickel, Iron, and Steel output transformers — like selecting between 3 distinct vintage console outputs
90 Hz sidechain filtering for musical compression of low-frequency program material
Large, accurate VU meters provide Optical, Discrete, or Output gain views
Custom presets created by Shadow Hills founder and designer Peter Reardon
Requires UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface, available from authorized dealers worldwide
-
Customer Reviews
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
D. Whittington
Phenomenal Compressor!!!
Absolutely love the way this pulls my music together. Very smooth compressor! Using this after Ampex Tape Recorder and before Manley Massive Passive EQ, Precision Maximizer and Precision Limiter. Such a healthy chain.
Thank you guys!L. Varini
My master bus workhorse!
I have to admit that this plugin is a little intimidating, at least at the beginning, with all the parameters you can set. After some time I get used to it and now it's my preferred plugin for the master bus. Even with factory presets' is wonderful and gives that push to dynamics that is awesome.
B. Clark
awesome!
sounds like the real unit! the stereo width isn't as great as it is on the real thing (another reviewer said that as well and I agree), but hey, small trade off to have an virtual limitless amount of them and portable! woohoo!!!
R. Blum
Wow, I'm overwhelmed!
I am a great fan of UA plugins. I own about 50% of all their available plugins and can't wait to purchase more. As with all other UA plugins, the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor is a great tool and brings the advantage of being able to use several instances at the same time - as opposed to a hardware unit with mostly just one possible instance. The SHMC is very versatile and the limit in its application is just your imagination. Amazing how, nowadays, you can setup your studio with gear that would have been unaffordable in the days of my youth! I just love producing professionally sounding music with these tools. THANKS!!!
D. Keen
Shadow Hill comp
This might just be the best plugin compressor on the market!!!!
Do yourself a favor and at least demo it to see for yourself!!!J. Roy
Great compressor
It adds a lot of mojo to your mix. Love the color. Great buy!
L. seungbu
Discount please~!!!
Discount please~!!!!!!! please~~
M. Fletcher
Well worth the significant cost
Well, it's going to take a special type of compressor to make me break out the wallet from its hiding place but this is it.
Currently I'm remixing and remastering 70s soul tracks for a specialist label and the SHC became completely essential over the demo period. It smooths brilliantly, adds dignity, and bestows a solid feel. It is one of those compressors that are termed musical and rightly so. It also works wonders on some modern house stuff I've been doing too. The 90Hz sidechain is where some of the magic occurs, find myself wishing other compressors having this feature. Use both halves of compression gently for beautiful results. Thanks UAD.M. Sims
Get for getting that analog color
Really love the the transformer selections. Great for getting just the right color in your mix. The compressor does exactly what it says it should. Could not be happier!
R. Sudduth II
Not just for mastering
This bad boy is suitable for many mixing/production needs as well as being the perfect addition to your mastering chain.
B. Simon
Never heard like this before
I tried out the 14 days version for mastering, and I never heard like this before.
It was like... WOW...
I was in a dilemma to buy it... Because the half year sale is ended on July 4th, and I didn't buy it.
But luck was on my side, I bought it on July 5th in the morning with the reduced price... :)))
This is the No.1 tool on my mastering chain.
It sounds amazing. It's doing its job very good.
MIB has reached a new level.
Highly recommended.P. Larose
Big up for Shadow Hills
Honestly , I never had the original one in my hands so I can't compare but , the work of this plug is really amazing. The possibilities are infinite and whatever could be the sound you look for, you just can find it ( with a bit of patience if you're not really good at using compressions). The very good point is that fine compressions are really powerful and transparent and fat compressions are always with an esthetic point really interesting which is rarely the case with plugs . Clearly , if I had to choose one compressor for my uad system, it would be this one.
.
Shadow Hills
This really is a musical compressor. I use it sparingly on particular tracks and the result is always musical beautiful and warm. It adds rather than subtracts to a track. I love it.
M. Diaz Velez
The Fool on the Hills
This sounds stunning... If you wanna to make some experiments between the three amazing transformers...you will find some differences on the sound taste. This compressor is not aggressive a it gives you the sound that you need without the harmonic changes that other compressors does. In few words...if you are going to master some tracks...this guy is your best pal.
D. Gillis
Tweakable
I first used this plugin as a 14-day demo on something I was mixing. Tired of the gluey SSL compressor I'm used to, I needed something that would waken up the mix of an incredibly sad song. I stumbled across the nickel transformer feature – it offered a gentle presence in the mix that I was missing. I kept putting off the purchase of this plugin to test within myself if I really would miss it. And as we we all know, time is a teller, (and so is the lady at the bank) so time told me to buy this. I learned that I couldn't live without this plugin so I bought the damed thing and I'm glad I did.
My next goal is to get the real hardware version.P. Womack
Sounds the way records should!
I've had my eye on the Shadow Hills comp for some time and it surpassed all expectations! Smooth, clean, detailed and plenty of color if you want it. The dual compressor circuits and Nickel/Iron/Steel selection allow for an amazing range of sounds.
I know this is a faithful model of the hardware, but I do miss the inclusion of a Wet/Dry control and M/S processing.
All in all though, these are small lackings in an otherwise fantastic sounding compressor.
Paul "Willie Green" Womacks. shu
何よりも美しい質感
プラグインとなったいまマスタリングのみのしようではもったいない
最高の質感を表現してくれる最強のコンプレッサーですM. Robinson
Awesome
This plug in has breathed new energy into my drums as well as the master bus in multiple sessions. Fantastic sound.
L. Breanza
A true analog compressor inside my computer!
Surprising and very realistic, the sound seems to be being processed by a real analog compressor. my masters won presence, battery channels, bass, etc., has a truly vintage sound.
.
Serious bit of kit..
Really happy with this compressor, never heard the real thing but love what this brings to the table.. 5 stars.