Gulp

[Empire Prod]

Originally Posted by Greg Wells

The Shadow Hills mastering compressor is something I've avoided since it came out because, cynical Canadian that I am, I figured something that looked that good couldn't sound amazing.

I

was

so

wrong.

It's an instant game changer... put it on the mix bus with a tiny bit of optical compression and more liberal VCA compression with the sidechain engaged keeping all the low end and BLOODY HELL IT'S AMAZING. I'm mixing at least twice as fast as I ever have, and the mixes sound completely on par with the best mixers out there. I know how that reads in text form, but it's really something else. Sorry for the unfiltered gearsluttiness but I can't contain myself. They should rename it the Game Changer.

I am trying to figure out whether or not it truly does save time or not. On one hand when you are mixing it is an extremely useful tool that sounds great, but on the other hand it is so darn cool looking that you can't help but catch yourself wasting time staring at it. It's like having the Batmobile in your outboard rack.

[C Heat]

And here I was thinking that you already were one of "the best mixers out there"

[Greg Wells]

Admitedly pathetic, but I find myself thinking about it at night.... and waking up in the morning dying to use it again.

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by zboy2854

Do we need to do an intervention here Greg?

Hahaha

"step away from the Shadow son"

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by Greg Wells

The Shadow Hills mastering compressor is something I've avoided since it came out because, cynical Canadian that I am, I figured something that looked that good couldn't sound amazing.

I

was

so

wrong.

It's an instant game changer... put it on the mix bus with a tiny bit of optical compression and more liberal VCA compression with the sidechain engaged keeping all the low end and BLOODY HELL IT'S AMAZING. I'm mixing at least twice as fast as I ever have, and the mixes sound completely on par with the best mixers out there. I know how that reads in text form, but it's really something else. Sorry for the unfiltered gearsluttiness but I can't contain myself. They should rename it the Game Changer.

Word.

Tho I haven't used it in my room, I demoed one a couple of yrs back.

It blew my mind - even with standard mixes (Jamiroqui, Nora Jones) this thing showed it's versatility and GIRTH with the different chains available.

What it mostly did was to make me dream harder about getting some well paying gigs...

Incredible piece of kit...

[Greg Wells]

Originally Posted by zboy2854

So Greg, where does this put the RND comp in the new mix bus hierarchy?

Yes yes yes. It frankly boots all compressors out of the mix buss, if one can afford the not so affordable purchase price.
The point of the Portico 5043 is you get a stereo compressor that sounds as good as other compressors worth 2 to 3 times as much. There's nothing like it in its price point. I proudly have several 5043's. I have one permanently patched on my Schimmel grand piano, and two more units on inserts for mixing.

[scoots]

so are you saying you kicked the 5043's out of the mix bus for the shadow hills?

[Greg Wells]

Yes, the $7000 compressor wins.

[scoots]

no matter how great something relatively inexpensive sounds, the more expensive gear always wins in the end. i guess its true what they say, you get what you pay for. (now i prob wont get that 5043 i was looking at recently, thanks greg)

[Greg Wells]

it's absurd to compare these two compressors based on price alone. the shadow hills monstrosity is an entire space station, not just one single tricked out spaceship. it's two independent and completely different compressors in the same unit, plus the option of three different output transformers, etc.

but if price point always wins, why do we all use a shure 57 on snare drums and guitar amps? price is never the determining factor for what's right for the music i work on.

[scoots]

i agree with you. i just forgot to mention that i was going to buy the 5043 for every type of compression application needed from voice to mixbuss, and i figure that the more expensive compressor will have more features and options that will do all those jobs better. i dont have anything against the 5043. i actually think it sounds amazing for the price. just like an sm57 sounds great, i wouldnt use it as a room mic when recording an orchestra, well actually i take that back. i did use it as a room mic once, and it sounded really good actually. so my whole point is totally out the window now. by the way, the last thing i wrote on my last post was meant jokingly (still looking to purchase the 5043). but i realized that jokes dont go through well written in message boards (or as texts as a matter of fact, i learnd that the hard way), so sorry if it may have caused any offense.

[piotr]

Hi,

Two reasons why I am posting here:

Reason 1: I too had the Portico 5043

About two years ago I started researching and shopping around for a great analog 2-bus chain. I have learned from experience that it is better to buy the better gear once, rather than buying cheap first, then selling and upgrading etc. Of course, if someone (like myself) has limited funds, then this approach takes time. SO I took my sweet time doing the research, and decided that if I was going to spend all this money, i was going to audition as much gear as possible until I find the quality I was looking for. Sometime between Manley and Chandler I did get the Portico 5043. And I got it largely on the basis of Greg's enthusiastic review and the massive thread that followed it. Ultimately I have decided that it was not right for me: for the 2-buss. For several reasons, although I do miss it every now and then, especially using it in dual mode for voice processing... that was lovely.

Reason 2: I too have the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

Yes: this is where my search for the ultimate 2-bus compressor ended. I truly feel that I do not need to look any more. SHMC (and my api 2500) has me covered in every conceivable way. It is beautiful to hear, great to work with, and without a doubt it is the kind of thing that makes you want to spend more hours working! It's true, and important thing to me: if a piece of gear has the capacity to excite and encourage greater effort: I know that I found the right kind of equipment for me! It's nice to see that the excitement for this amazing piece of gear isn't mine alone!

regards,
p.

[PlugHead]

Wow.

Congrats on the (new) baby - you guys make my eyes well up with tears of joy AND sadness....

I'm afraid I need my liver/kidneys, and selling my blood weekly will put me in line somewhere around 2020. Dreaming of getting paid what I'm worth, or finding bands with more than 2 nickels to rub together somehow won't finance that piece of kit...

Yet, I can dream...

Originally Posted by piotr

Hi,

Two reasons why I am posting here:

Reason 1: I too had the Portico 5043

About two years ago I started researching and shopping around for a great analog 2-bus chain. I have learned from experience that it is better to buy the better gear once, rather than buying cheap first, then selling and upgrading etc. Of course, if someone (like myself) has limited funds, then this approach takes time. SO I took my sweet time doing the research, and decided that if I was going to spend all this money, i was going to audition as much gear as possible until I find the quality I was looking for. Sometime between Manley and Chandler I did get the Portico 5043. And I got it largely on the basis of Greg's enthusiastic review and the massive thread that followed it. Ultimately I have decided that it was not right for me: for the 2-buss. For several reasons, although I do miss it every now and then, especially using it in dual mode for voice processing... that was lovely.

Reason 2: I too have the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

Yes: this is where my search for the ultimate 2-bus compressor ended. I truly feel that I do not need to look any more. SHMC (and my api 2500) has me covered in every conceivable way. It is beautiful to hear, great to work with, and without a doubt it is the kind of thing that makes you want to spend more hours working! It's true, and important thing to me: if a piece of gear has the capacity to excite and encourage greater effort: I know that I found the right kind of equipment for me! It's nice to see that the excitement for this amazing piece of gear isn't mine alone!

regards,
p.