Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor is a huge 5U compressor that provides you with extraordinary functionality mastering grade compression and limiting for both tracking and mixing. The Mastering Compressor uses the same T4B optical attenuator as the LA2A and LA3A and Class-A hardware. The first position is Nickel, which is Shadow Hills custom version of a famous L. A. custom console. Next is Iron. In this mode the signal goes through an op-amp and into a Class-A output stage then to a Shadow Hills custom Iron transformers, the last transformer position is Steel. These selections allow you to choose between different output transformers that are in effect: clean, coloured, and dirty, respectively. 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 bi-passable, 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 straight 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.
