There is also a hardwire bypass for the entire compressor, effectively a strait wire in and out of the box. It is possible to independently bypass both compression sections and have your signal go through the input transformer and transformer selector only. 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. These selections allow you to choose between different output transformers that are in effect: clean, colored, and dirty, respectively. 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. The first position is Nickel, which is our custom version of a famous L. Lastly the signal goes through our new Shadow Hills custom transformer-switching network. There is an insertable filter in the side chain to limit pumping with bass heavy material. And there are six release times selectable.

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 are no electrolytic caps or IC chips in the audio path. The second stage is our discrete Class-A VCA compressor. This section utilizes the same T4B optical attenuator as the LA2A and LA3A, but is optimized for mastering. The input stage is transformer balanced, followed by our fully discrete optical compressor.

There is enough gain in each section to overdrive the hottest tape, or clip your converters, if you're into that sort of thing. Both feed our switchable custom output transformers, Nickel, Iron, and Steel.

First comes our mastering grade electro optical compressor, followed by our discrete Class-A compressor/limiter. Essentially it is two compressors in series, per channel, that can act in stereo, or dual mono.

The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor has extraordinary functionality, and also provides mastering grade compression and limiting for tracking and mixing.

Shadow hills mastering compressor r2r