Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
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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
E. Hasselberg
July 4, 2021
A handy tool
This one is useful where ever there is low end. It really make bass and drums shine! This one is a go to for my drum bus!
Read MoreD. Murphy
July 1, 2021
Just great.
Amazing mastering compressor, this and my Fairchilds are the full set, don't think I'll ever need anything more.
Read MoreM. van Biesen
June 19, 2021
Unbeatable for Master Buss
Superb Mastering Compressor, even replaced my beloved SSL 4000G. Highly recommended; perfect glue for your tracks.
Read Morem. alexander
May 19, 2021
Best compressor I’ve ever used
There is nothing on the market that compares to the richness this compressor can add. It’s the Rolls Royce of compressors.
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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
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Customer Reviews
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
E. Hasselberg
A handy tool
This one is useful where ever there is low end. It really make bass and drums shine! This one is a go to for my drum bus!
D. Murphy
Just great.
Amazing mastering compressor, this and my Fairchilds are the full set, don't think I'll ever need anything more.
M. van Biesen
Unbeatable for Master Buss
Superb Mastering Compressor, even replaced my beloved SSL 4000G. Highly recommended; perfect glue for your tracks.
G. Perez
Mastering
Use it for my mix and mastering still learning
m. alexander
Best compressor I’ve ever used
There is nothing on the market that compares to the richness this compressor can add. It’s the Rolls Royce of compressors.
s. jun
I really like this
I really like this
J. Richard
Digital Gravestone
Love it!!
G. Wolin
Money well spent.
To anyone mixing in the box, I highly recommend the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug in. It seams to glues everything together and gives the mix a nice polished sheen. Definitely money well spent.
G. Wolin
Money well spent.
To anyone mixing in the box, I highly recommend the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug in. It seams to glues everything together and gives the mix a nice polished sheen. Definitely money well spent.
A. Smirnov
The one
Makes the sound alive. Great pump. Love playing my elektron drum machines though it. Instant buy.
R. Tulloch
Best Plugin For My Vocal Buss (Deciphered Audio)
Honestly I just use Plugins by feel, been feeling this compressor on my vocal buss its between it and my Fairchild Comp plugin on vocal busses
M. Vejar
Shadow Hills Mastering
Hello, my name is Mario Vejar from the city of Chillan Chile, almost at the end of the world. I decided on Shadow Hills Mastering, it really produces something magical in the final result ... I use it in the Master bus and it is very good ... I am very happy with the purchase of this add-on ... and I am in this pandemic ... .regards
Hola mi nombre es Mario Vejar de la cuidad de Chillan Chile, casi al fin del mundo. Me decidí por Shadow Hills Mastering, realmente produce algo mágico en el resultado final... lo uso en el bus Master y es muy bueno...estoy muy conforme con la compra de este complemento...y a cuidarse en esta pandemia...saludos A&M Studio CHillan Chilet. moore
The game changer "Shadow hills"
run to the hills where the shadows dance, where the pigs lay golden eggs where salamanders serve chicken tetrazzini and tell me that doesn't sound like salvation. My brothers, this plugin is great success. Check out my music "Troy Moore" on Spotify my music is the best. Go on n getya some and use Shadow hills master and compressor today
s. phothirath
Best
Best plugin
J. Rendl
Nice Glue!
I spent some hours to fully understand how to get it to sound how I wanted it. It is a very nice mastering compressor. Now I use it all the time. It is worth the investment.
S. Cozzi
State of the Art
This plugin in unbeleivable! I use on the drum busses and on the master track. It's a game changer!
J. Parnell
Boom! (Mic drop)
This plugin is amazing on instrument buses, and for mastering. Total game changer for pro mixing.
h. hyakkoku
Discrete section is great
It is wonderful that you can choose 3 types of characters according to the atmosphere of the song.
A. Grigoriadis
Pultec type compressor
When you put this on master buss the track takes a nice round shape . It's sound reminds my of pultec style eq's and compressors . Be careful tho , you don't have to push things too much . 90 % of the times i put it on master the needle is hardly moving . You get what you want especially on bassy types of music .
R. KURIAN
Sound amazing
What a brilliant compressor. The best compressor for mastering .
