Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Plug-In for the UAD

[Franco]

I just wrote this over at the (non-official) UAD forum:

I want to hear a shootout between this and the LA2A+Precision Bus Comp (or any other Optical/VCA compressor combo!)

[bcgood]

Kind of strange though since I consider the SHMC to be just the hardware to breath life into flat, digital, itb mixes.

[Liam Judah]

Oh my.

[mmarra]

Didn't really see this coming....

We have a SHMC in the studio where I freelance out of and it would be interesting to hear how the UAD compares with the real thing.

[Huntley Miller]

Originally Posted by mmarra

Didn't really see this coming....

We have a SHMC in the studio where I freelance out of and it would be interesting to hear how the UAD compares with the real thing.

Probably like most plugin emulations, they sound like plugins.

[Kindred]

Originally Posted by Huntley Miller

Probably like most plugin emulations, they sound like plugins.

that didn't take long...

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by Kindred

that didn't take long...

The truth stings...

[TanTan]

Originally Posted by Huntley Miller

Probably like most plugin emulations, they sound like plugins.

+1


If not I'd love to be surprised

[Twerk]

I saw it at AES but that's a terrible place to try and audition gear/plug-ins.

But I can confirm it's just as ugly as the real thing.

[manman]

Its OUT TODAY !!!! YES!

Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Plug-In - Mastering - Store

So far wow, dont judge my opinion but
i believe it does truly emulates shadow hills hardware.
It has exact characteristics and transient behavior of real thing.
Opto/Descrete sounds exactly the same as real hardware.

Plus++:
Exact settings and sound quality
Transient behavior is the same
Nickel/steel/iron settings are very subtle may be its a plus !

[J_Flux]

So has anyone given it a whirl yet? I know compressors are harder to emulate accurately than EQs but the UAD Manley MP was pretty damn close to the hardware.

[zsaezsaespeck]

phew, don't need the octo for this... 17 instances on a single processor card.

[Liam Judah]

Good discussion going on over here as well: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ompressor.html

[BT Mastering]

I listened to audio demo of SH -MasterComp UAD plugin in my studio, Adam S3-X..
IMO there are better compressor plugin on the market..I don't know, I have the sensation that some brands think about making easy money over sound engineers, studios, audio professionals, musicians..etc (I'm not talking about UAD in particular, they make great plugins and great emulations)

My personal idea is that a compressor, like an EQ, MUST have his personal character/color/attitude..Why I have to pay k$ for a flawless, sterile unit?

Listen to the Shadow Hill comp demo on UAD site, or listen to the original unit demo on the web.
Yes great compressor, but nothing you can't achieve using other stuff, and maybe spending less money..
The price of Shadow Hill Master Comp is $6,995.00 (vintage king.com)

I know...everyone has his favourite/perfect sound in mind..but the concept I would explane is that:

"Trust your hears and your personal taste, NOT the brand".

Ever try to listen a demo unit/plugin before you decide to buy.

my personal opinion.

Francis

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by BT Mastering

I listened to audio demo of SH -MasterComp UAD plugin in my studio, Adam S3-X..
IMO there are better compressor plugin on the market..I don't know, I have the sensation that some brands think about making easy money over sound engineers, studios, audio professionals, musicians..etc (I'm not talking about UAD in particular, they make great plugins and great emulations)

My personal idea is that a compressor, like an EQ, MUST have his personal character/color/attitude..Why I have to pay k$ for a flawless, sterile unit?

Listen to the Shadow Hill comp demo on UAD site, or listen to the original unit demo on the web.
Yes great compressor, but nothing you can't achieve using other stuff, and maybe spending less money..
The price of Shadow Hill Master Comp is $6,995.00 (vintage king.com)

I know...everyone has his favourite/perfect sound in mind..but the concept I would explane is that:

"Trust your hears and your personal taste, NOT the brand".

Ever try to listen a demo unit/plugin before you decide to buy.

my personal opinion.

Francis

Why not actually DEMO the plugin instead of listening to someone else's demo and forming an opinion?

I own the hardware and have been demoing the plugin for the last few days.

Although from some quick a/b's it doesn't react exactly like my hardware, it is still an amazing plugin and one that I will definitely be buying.

[BT Mastering]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

Why not actually DEMO the plugin instead of listening to someone else's demo and forming an opinion?

Exactly what I said in the last sentence..

"Ever try to listen a demo unit/plugin before you decide to buy."

I tried, I don't like it (my personal taste).
Someone else gonna like it and buy it.

peace

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by BT Mastering

Exactly what I said in the last sentence..

"Ever try to listen a demo unit/plugin before you decide to buy."

I tried, I don't like it (my personal taste).
Someone else gonna like it and buy it.

peace

From what I read, and maybe I'm misunderstanding your English, you said you listened to a demo from the web. I was just suggesting if that is the case, to actually download the trial from UA and form your opinion based on your own demo.

[Franco]

Finally had a chance to demo this earlier today, at a buddy's studio (I'm not upgrading past the 6.0 UAD software, long story, leave me alone).

Anyway, I wasn't sold on it. I didn't get the same "WOW" factor as when I demo'd the UAD 33609, or dbx 160; heck, even the Fairchild sounds nicer to my ears. There's a "weight" that these compressors had when I first ran signal through them that was simply impressive (I guess you can call it "more close to analog") that I did NOT get from this compressor. It kind of reminded me of the 33609SE (light version).

You're basically getting two compressors in one. The idea of using two comps in series isn't new, especially when the UAD 33609 has much, much more depth. As far as the Opto flavor, the LA2A fills in (if that's the sort of flavor needed).

Big miss, IMHO, from UA on this (and I say that as someone who owns all of their UAD compressors). I wish THEY would have modeled this, with the same effort they put towards things like the 33609, LA3A and dbx 160.

[Solidtrax]

Originally Posted by Huntley Miller

Probably like most plugin emulations, they sound like plugins.

Like the Massive Passive vs the UAD Massive Passive thread? Before it was revealed what the real Massive Passive was, The UAD version was picked roughly 50% of the time as being the hardware..

Sure there is a difference between hardware/software but most of the time when you can hear the difference, it is because you already know the difference. When it's a blind test.. somehow people start to have trouble hearing the difference a lot of times.

Somehow knowing beforehand what you are about to listen to makes you biased. I experienced this myself and I'm not embarrassed to tell you this. I was testing an EQ and did some little tweaks at some frequencies and I believed I did hear those little tweaks, only later finding out I had it on bypass for at least 5 minutes while tweaking. Yes.. I was like.. am I crazy? I probably are, but this is so common..
Thinking/seeing that you do something to a sound can make you believe you hear this change, while actually, there was no change at all!

So, imho, a plugin doesn't "sound" like a plugin by default. Maybe in 2001.. but in 2012? I'm not so sure.

disclaimer: I'm talking about plugins in general, not specific about this new UAD offering.

[Liam Judah]

Originally Posted by Solidtrax

Sure there is a difference between hardware/software but most of the time when you can hear the difference, it is because you already know the difference. When it's a blind test.. somehow people start to have trouble hearing the difference a lot of times.

So true. I must admit that I was excited about the SHMC Plug based on the reputation of the hardware unit (which is waaaaaay out of my justifiable budget), but given the fact that I've never heard the hardware in my room... I won't know the difference when evaluating it. Which I will. At the end of the 14 day demo period the decision to buy (or not) will be based upon how it feels and sounds in my room compared that which I already use, and the other "Mastering Compressor" plug I plan to evaluate beginning this weekend (Elysia Alpha).

I know it's not the slutty thing to say in these parts, but I only have budget for one (or none if I like neither) right now. So it really needs to move me regardless of name. Otherwise - on to the next one.