Post by: leonardo valvassori on July 23, 2009, 12:48:27 PM
I didn't track with it, but I did run some familiar sources through it and had a listen.
I thought it sounded great.
Anyone here used any Shadow Hills stuff?
Post by: J.J. Blair on July 24, 2009, 04:33:44 PM
Post by: Berolzheimer on July 25, 2009, 04:25:22 PM
Oh, and my cs-40m LOVES the DI input. I've never heard it sound so good.
Post by: leonardo valvassori on July 27, 2009, 01:39:49 PM
| J.J. Blair wrote on Fri, 24 July 2009 16:33 |
Leonardo, since this is a review forum, would you mind writing something beyond "it sounded great"? |
Sorry for the delay:--been bizzy.
Well, my opportunity was basically while I was switching over from recording a bass track, (my self with my very familiar Wal Custom II) to a Wunder Audio CM7 that was out of the box new and I didn't know intimately. I had about 2 minutes to hear each source, bass first.
With the bass:
-it instantly sounded appealing.
-very wide banwidth
-round, full and natural, firm mid, no hype in the high mid or highs.
-felt a lot of headroom-the Wal can be hot for some pre's.
-stepped attenuation (which I love BTW) and solid build.
the mic (which I had been using patched through API 512c/LA2A) already sounded very good was straight in, no EQ or comp.
-as above, very 'there' but not in your face with female vocal.
-does "Britishy" convey a sound to you:--think EMI.
I did not have the time to play with the transformer switching (what the heck is that?), and as I said it was very brief:--it wasn't the type of session that left a lot of time for auditioning unknown gear.
All in all, it was one of the first new things I've heard in a long time that I wouldn't mind having in our studio for a week or two.
Post by: Adam Dowling on July 28, 2009, 12:30:01 AM
The first thing I do with the pre is switch through the transformer options for the "less-than-subtle" options. I have found on occasion, that even the discrete (Jensen) path is more colourful than required, but that is rare indeed. Nickle transformer is often the end result for most occasions - it has a sweet saturation, not terribly aggressive, but adds a real sweetness and forward quality. Steel is quite aggressive and adds thicker harmonics but is never really ugly, just the right thing for wimpy sources or making anything rock harder. Sometimes I miss an output attenuator, but that's an easy fix in a chain.
The comp is relatively new to us and really hasn't spent much time off of the master buss! It's so refined, so ... something, that it is very difficult to make it sound bad. The first opto stage is somewhat "LA3A" but faster and is often the only stage used here. The second, discreet stage is apparently inspired by the 33609 (though I haven't had the pleasure) and is very versatile over a predetermined set of attack/release choices from 1.2 to limiting.
The routing switch options cover absolutely everything (except opto/discrete chain flip), allowing independent bypass of each comp, sidechain filter, stereo link, and a hardwire bypass of the entire unit.
The transformer options are again a pleasure to switch through and, on the master buss of an ITB mix, almost gives the impression of an analogue summing mixer (Shadow Hills makes a summing mixer too, the "Equinox", which I'm eager to hear). Sometimes the magic lies in routing signal through the transformers only.
The real joy using the comp or pre, is in the HUGE rotary switches. Beyond being able to recall settings exactly, there is a rewarding "mad scientist" feel to each unit.
Post by: Deuce 225 on August 30, 2009, 09:31:33 PM
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=987036
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on September 01, 2009, 07:39:57 AM
I was very impressed how good and solid it sounded next to the vintage Neves- In fact I recommended them to someone this evening..
I did like the 1073's better- They have more Harmonic interest though I would be hard pressed to think anyone would care about the difference..
and also the transformer switch was fun for 2 seconds. and they can just use the best one.. Nickel? if I remember-
Or have that and a transformerless switch as switches are cheap enough..
Criticism aside one of the best new pres I have heard- hung in there with the best of them
-j
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on September 25, 2009, 08:13:02 AM
I just saw on Vintageking.com that they have a four channel one- I would rather have this than "other" "popular" 4 channel mic pres that are usually reccomended--
This is the one:
http://vintageking.com/Shadow-Hills-Quad-GAMA-4-Channel-Mic- Pre?sc=18&category=533
-j
Post by: JGauthier on September 27, 2009, 07:18:21 PM
| seedyunderbelly.com wrote on Fri, 25 September 2009 05:13 |
The more I think about it - When people do ask that "What Mic pre" or "What First mic pre" etc. type questions- I think this is proabably the best they could do-- It is exactly what I would assume most are looking for-- |
Looks included! Ive never heard one but even I admit I had a moment of "thats pretty f'ing cool looking"...
I cant say a thing about the sound but they have some of the best visual designs out there for sure!
Im not so hot for the pres as I am for the mastering comp...
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on September 29, 2009, 07:33:29 PM
j
Post by: JGauthier on October 02, 2009, 02:06:07 PM
BAE 1073s
API 312s
GMLs
Quad Eight MM71s
JoeMeek Bricks
Its funny I dont want anything thats got tranny switches and such- too much to think about! And of all those listed its the BAE 1073 80% of the time... I love that pre! And its HP filter is KILLER... (I know pre AND eq but...)
Where would Shadow hills fit in? (really asking, not a rhetorical pot shot) I always stayed away BECAUSE I was afraid my ears would be swayed by my eyes... And Im not a 500 series guy at all (just the pair of APIs).
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on October 02, 2009, 05:36:41 PM
Who knows I thought they were not as interesting sounding in organic saturation characteristics But they were making up for it in a forward fast top that was clean and cool..
-j
Post by: Berolzheimer on October 02, 2009, 09:06:51 PM
| JGauthier wrote on Fri, 02 October 2009 11:06 |
I have stereo everything- BAE 1073s API 312s GMLs Quad Eight MM71s JoeMeek Bricks Its funny I dont want anything thats got tranny switches and such- too much to think about! And of all those listed its the BAE 1073 80% of the time... I love that pre! And its HP filter is KILLER... (I know pre AND eq but...) Where would Shadow hills fit in? (really asking, not a rhetorical pot shot) I always stayed away BECAUSE I was afraid my ears would be swayed by my eyes... And Im not a 500 series guy at all (just the pair of APIs). |
The transformer switch really requires no thought at all. Just flip it one way, then the other & your ears will tell you which is more appropriate for the track. I use nIckel & steel about equally, & discrete every once in a while when I want it super clean & don't mind a few dB less gain.
Post by: piedpiper on May 24, 2010, 11:27:22 PM