Shadow Hills Industries “Mastering Compressor” Modern / Vintage

The input stage is transformer balanced, followed by our fully discrete optical compressor. This section utilizes the same T4B optical attenuator as the LA2A and LA3A, but is optimized for mastering. The second stage is our discrete Class-A VCA compressor. There are no electrolytic caps or IC chips in the audio path. There are six ratios: 1.2 to 1, 2 to 1, 3 to 1, 4 to 1, 6 to 1, and 10 to 1. There is six attack settings: .1, .5, 1, 5, 10, and 30 milliseconds. And there are six release times selectable: .1, .25, .5,8, 1.2, and Auto. There is an insertable filter in the side chain to limit pumping with bass heavy material. Lastly the signal goes through our new Shadow Hills custom transformer-switching network.

The first position is Nickel, which is our custom version of a famous L. A. custom console. Next is Iron. In this mode the signal goes through our op-amp and into a Class-A output stage then to our custom Iron transformers, the last transformer position is Steel. These selections allow you to choose between different output transformers that are in effect: clean, colored, and dirty, respectively. Audio transformers are the best way to impart analog flavor to your audio.

The optical section has a hard-wired bypass that completely removes it from the signal path, and the Class-A VCA compressor is also hardwire bypassable, completely removing it from the chain. It is possible to independently bypass both compression sections and have your signal go through the input transformer and transformer selector only. There is also a hardwire bypass for the entire compressor, effectively a strait wire in and out of the box. So besides being a mastering grade, and highly functional buss compressor, it serves as an excellent tracking compressor.

For instance, you might call up the chain of the optical compressor, then to the Class-A output and Iron transformer, for vocals, or select just the Class-A VCA compressor with a 10:1 plus the Steel transformer for crushing some room mics…

Metering can reflect, optical gain reduction, discrete gain reduction, or output level. The Magic eye tube follows the output meter to act as a peak meter. All 17 of the rotary switches are detented. The front panel is engraved, knobs are bake-lite.

Published in Sep 2012: Peter Reardon “Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor” by Vintage King Audio. Peter Reardon of Shadow Hills Industries stops by VKLA and gives an overview of the Mastering Compressor.

Published in July 2014: Doctor Mix “Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor In Action” Produced by Doctor Mix. On this video we spring this “cult” piece of gear into action: demonstrating the incredible Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor on drums, bass, guitar, loops and master bus.

About Shadow Hills via Vintage King Audio: The world of Shadow Hills Industries takes high quality discrete audio paths with versatile controls to meet the demands of modern recording and wraps them with striking antique military aesthetics. The vintage-inspired knobs and heavy-duty mechanical switches inspire users to explore all tonal options Shadow Hills units can offer. With rugged construction and superior components, they will serve for years to come. UAD released a plug-in that captures the essence of these machines.

From GAMA mic preamps, Dual Vandergraph and Mono Optograph compressors, innovative summing / monitor controllers like the Equinox, and all the way up to the top of the line Mastering Compressor, Shadow Hills manufactures hardware that lets engineers really grab ahold of their recordings.