The latest arrival to Universal Audio’s UAD line-up delivers new and improved versions of two of their popular plug-ins. Available following the launch of the company’s Apollo & UAD v11.8.1 software update, Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A and Maag EQ4 MS offer some improvements in both sonic performance and user experience.
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A
The Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A plug‑in is a meticulous emulation of the legendary ‘Red’ version of the hardware — of which only 50 units were ever built. It delivers the coveted dual‑stage optical and discrete compression stages and offers a choice of three switchable output transformers that provide everything from “open and airy detail” to “thick, saturated tones”.
Sonically enhanced thanks to Brainworx’s Tolerance Modeling Technology (TMT), the updated Shadow Hills UAD plug‑in recreates the subtle channel‑to‑channel variations present in the hardware, enhancing the emulation’s depth and realism. It also comes equipped with some powerful features including Mid-Side processing, along with Stereo Width, Mono Maker and Parallel Mix controls.
Key Features
- Updated version of rare Class-A dual‑stage optical and discrete compressor plug‑in.
- TMT technology by Brainworx adds subtle channel‑to‑channel variations for greater analogue realism.
- Switchable Nickel, Iron and Steel output transformer settings for unique tone shaping.
- Enhanced Class-A circuit modelling with 1–3 dB more presence than the original UAD plug‑in.
- Plug‑in-only features: Mid-Side, Parallel Mix, Stereo Width, Mono Maker & Sidechain Filter controls.
Maag EQ4 MS
Maag EQ4 MS offers a fresh new emulation of Maag’s popular EQ design. Like the Shadow Hills offering, the new plug-in benefits from Brainworx’s TMT technology, and also includes Mid-Side support, an extended set of frequency options and selectable Q values.
Key Features
- Updated edition of the legendary EQ4 plug‑in with expanded sonics and flexibility.
- TMT technology by Brainworx captures natural channel‑to‑channel differences for extra width and dimension.
- Iconic Air Band delivers transparent, musical high‑end sheen for vocals and instruments.
- Mid-Side processing tools for precise control of stereo image and depth.
- Expanded frequency options and selectable Q values for refined tone shaping.
“Shadow Hills Class A and Maag EQ4 MS give music creators access to two rare and unique sounds in the UAD catalogue. Beyond the updated UI, they add entirely new sonics and workflow capabilities, expanding what’s possible for customers working with Apollo interfaces and UAD hardware.” - Lev Perrey, VP of Product, Universal Audio
MIDI Learn
As of the UAD v11.8.1 update, MIDI Learn is now available for all UAD DSP plug‑ins, providing users with hands‑on control of their plug‑in parameters from any compatible MIDI controller. With a simple click, touch, move workflow, music producers working in Apollo studios with UAD plug‑ins can now map knobs and faders in seconds with no menu-diving.
Compatibility
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A and Maag EQ4 MS are supported on PCs running Windows 10 or higher, and Macs running macOS 11 and above. Both plug-ins are DSP-based, and require an Apollo interface or UAD Accelerator hardware to run.
Pricing & Availability
The new Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A and Maag EQ4 MS plug-ins are available now, priced at $169 and $129 respectively. Upgrade prices of $39 each are available to those who own the previous versions.
