Shadow Hills comparable...

[UrbanKlass]

Hey, I know a thread like this probably belongs on gearslutz, but I wanted to find out on a neutral base where people wont get lemon about their gear not being mentioned or whatever.

I mix soley in-the-box. I use mainly Nomad Factory, Waves and a couple of UAD plugins on my quad. But I'm looking to get something that adds character to my sound at the mastering stage. UAD doesn't quite cut it with the warm/alive feel, they're great plugs in terms of plugins - definitely some of the best, but they aren't the original units!

So instead of using a plug compressor, I was looking to actually purchase a mastering compressor such as the Shadow Hills Industries unit. I feel that signals running through an all-analog system often sound over-coloured, which is not what I want for urban and pop artists which make up most of my clientele. So I think just having one compressor outside of the box would add a touch of colour that isn't overdone.

I'd like to know how many of you have tried the SHills one or maybe you've got a different brand, if so, how does it sound? I'd appreciate any info or thoughts you guys have. It's a lot of money to invest, but I'm pretty sure that my plan will work to blend and expand my musics sound nicely.

If you want to hear some of my recent masters here's a couple of multi-tracks I remixed, and mastered, from the oringinal stems.

MarvinGaye-Grapevine(2010mix)

BobMarley-NoWoman(2010mix)

*you may have to 'Save Target As...' to listen.

 

[Waltz Mastering]

If you can afford it, I think it's a good move, although there are a few other options in that price range to consider.

The best thing would be to demo the unit for your self in your own room.
From well respected people I've heard and read that it is a very good unit.

The other thing to consider before a purchase of this magnitude is that your da-ad conversion will be paramount, so it would be good to make sure that that is up to par beforehand.

 

[UrbanKlass]

aaahh yes, also what i need to upgrade, i'm currently looking for finance options on the Aurora 8. Would you say that's up to par a/d d/a wise?

Also, how would the Aurora be connected with the rest of my system? I'm not familiar with AES connections. I'm running a PC with XP, I use 3 pairs of monitors, and I'm getting the firewire installed on the Aurora so that it connects to the pc via that. But I'm unaware as to where my monitors and my preamps etc are to connect....

If you know the answers that'd help my brain a hell of a lot.

I'll keep snooping around for other mastering compressors in the mean time!

 

[guitar zero]

The aurora 8 is a very capable converter. Although I have not used it (I use apogee and metric halo) I have read and listened to enough comparisons to know that it is on par with those.

I'f you've got three sets of monitors, I'd suggest you get some type of monitor controller that lets you switch back and forth.

The signal should come out of your DAW through firewire to the aurora, and out from two analog outputs to your monitors.