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
L. Kvapil
January 17, 2025
THE JUICE!
Jaycen Joshua use this plugin and now I know why! With one word “the juice”. Love this one.
Read MoreW. Heath
January 14, 2025
Great compressor
I try different compressors for each application. This one works very well on overall mix. To me it has a clearer sound with...
Read MoreR. Gutowski
January 9, 2025
100% my favorite compressor.
Maybe it's the gorgeous GUI playing tricks on my ears but to me I can swear I can hear real tubes and transformers in it. If you need the vintage vibe this plugin is it. If you apply just...
Read MoreJ. Keen
August 21, 2024
A whole other animal for tracking or mastering.
Trust me when I say, this compressor is the LA-2A, the 1176 and the Fairchild 660, and so much more. Used on individual tracks or for a master mix, there's so many options with the...
Read MoreS. Lenka
July 13, 2024
Best So Far
Jaycen Joshua Made Me Buy This, I Already Have The PluginAlliance Version. And I Would Say Go For It. You Won’t Regret.
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
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Customer Reviews
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
L. Kvapil
THE JUICE!
Jaycen Joshua use this plugin and now I know why! With one word “the juice”. Love this one.
W. Heath
Great compressor
I try different compressors for each application. This one works very well on overall mix. To me it has a clearer sound with fewer tonal artifacts than some of the other UA and Logic compressor plugins. The presets are varied and worth exploring.
R. Gutowski
100% my favorite compressor.
Maybe it's the gorgeous GUI playing tricks on my ears but to me I can swear I can hear real tubes and transformers in it. If you need the vintage vibe this plugin is it. If you apply just a little bit of optical portion of this it makes EVERYTHING sound better. Think of it as plugin that replicates listening to your music though vintage tube amp, hard to describe but it's definitely a thing :). This one you have to own and it grows on you the more you use it. I wish I could afford the real thing.
J. Keen
A whole other animal for tracking or mastering.
Trust me when I say, this compressor is the LA-2A, the 1176 and the Fairchild 660, and so much more. Used on individual tracks or for a master mix, there's so many options with the different transformer models. Trust and believe.
M. Vukcevic
Nice Plugin
I have Plugin Aliance Shadow Hill is nice plugin
S. Lenka
Best So Far
Jaycen Joshua Made Me Buy This, I Already Have The PluginAlliance Version.
And I Would Say Go For It.
You Won’t Regret.t. schaik
classic and must have !
simply works every time! if not compressing the harmonics are still doing the job !
R. Rockenschaub
Good Plugin
Good in parallel Compression with Drums.
R. Rockenschaub
Good Plugin
Good in parallel Compression with Drums.
R. Rockenschaub
Good Plugin
Good in parallel Compression with Drums.
A. Ryan
Shadow Hills Compressor
It's a classic and velvety compressor with a function and sound of it own! High end.
S. Studio
The Best
Best Mastering Compressor
S. Cordingley
A Historical Gem
The manual alone makes me glad I bought it! The mix I tried it on came out clear and smooth.
I look forward to trying out the different modes and applications of this “historical gem.”.T. Don
Shadowhills
It's a nice vst! I like the uad Emulation more!
Thx UAD!L. Pascale
Must Have
This compressor does everything well and is a must in the Mastering Chain...
A. Santana
santana
full comp i love
L. Jáger
Fantastic plugin
Great plugin.
I was able to make a very good sound with it.D. Giovanni
Can’t even rate!!!
Where do I start with this nightmare purchase? I purchased Shadow Hill Mastering Compressor along with the Avalon VT-737. Went through the whole download process on the UA Console. Was only able to download the Avalon plugin and never received the Shadow Hill Compressor although I was charged for both. I reached out to support and still have not receive neither an phone call nor a follow up email going on two weeks now.. Never buying anything from UA what a con job!!!!
d. drula
beat maker et mix
le compresseur gauche est un opto et le coté droit plus polyvalent ,ce qui le rend tres particulier. sur le master faut y aller tres cool car il est tres musical et meme sur les voix ca sonne tres bien
G. Schwab
An excellence soundibg Compressor!
An excellent sounding compressor! This compressor is extremely versatile: it can sound extremely clean, clear or also strongly coloring, saturated. The possibilities that this compressor opens up are remarkable and extraordinary! One of the best-sounding compressors currently available. Highly recommended!
