Universal Audio SHADOW HILLS MASTERING COMPRESSOR - Manual (Page 4)

The Mastering Compressor
p. 4
TRANSFORMER CHOICES
TOP
POSITION
–
NICKEL
The
cleanest
position
with
the
least
distortion.
This
position
has
a
subtle
accentuation
of
ultra-­‐high
frequencies.
MIDDLE
POSITION
–
IRON
This
position
has
an
additional
Class-­‐A
amplifier
section
adding
even-­‐ordered
harmonic
distortion,
resulting
in
a
very
musical
upper
low
frequency
boost.
BOTTOM
POSITION
–
STEEL
The
most
distorted
selection
with
an
extremely
tight
boost
in
the
low
frequencies.
Mastering
the
Transformer
Switching
Matrix
involves
a
certain
learning
curve
and
the
sonic
differences
between
the
three
transformers
can
be
more
or
less
obvious
depending
on
the
audio
signal
running
through.
In
general,
differences
are
most
easily
heard
on
“busy”
mixes
with
rich
low
end
and
sizzling
high
frequencies
–
like
a
real
drum
kit
with
open
hi
hats
or
dance
mixes.
Listening
through
a
big
speaker
system
will
also
help
to
get
a
feel
for
each
transformer
as
they
primarily
affect
the
very
low
end
of
the
frequency
spectrum.
SIDE CHAIN FILTER
The
Side
Chain
Filter
switch
engages
a
high-­‐pass
filter
on
the
side
chains
of
both
the
optical
and
discrete
compressors.
No
signal
below
90Hz
will
affect
the
amount
of
compression
applied.
Thus
the
Side
Chain
Filter
can
help
to
reduce
unwanted
“pumping”
artifacts,
as
the
compressors
will
react
less
to
low
frequency
content
such
as
bass
drum
hits.