Plugin Alliance Shadow Hills OptoMax 1.0.0

With the Shadow Hills OptoMax, Brainworx Audio and Shadow Hills Industries proudly introduce a new generation of optical compression, designed from the ground up to meet the needs of today’s producers, mixers, and mastering engineers.

Beyond an emulation
Building on the official partnership that produced the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor and Class A version plugins that have become staples with top engineers, the OptoMax takes the much-loved Optical section from the Mastering Compressor as a starting point and reworks it into a whole new and exciting beast.

Utilising their industry-leading analog modeling expertise to capture every nuance of the Shadow Hills optical hardware circuits, OptoMax sees the Brainworx team this time go far beyond mere recreation, introducing new functions and tonal options only possible in the digital domain.

The result is a musical, characterful, and highly versatile new optical compressor plugin, simultaneously streamlined in operation and expanded in functionality, with a raft of clever enhancements that truly “maxes out” what the original analog opto compression module is capable of.

Versatility redefined
OptoMax represents an evolution in optical compression, delivering unmistakable Shadow Hills analog warmth, punch and musicality, combined with features for working with new levels of modern precision. From subtle leveling to dirty, aggressive tones, this plugin is designed to adapt naturally to any material or workflow, expanding its flexibility far beyond the traditional use cases where typical opto compressors might be reached for.

Character and control
Newly expanded Ratio and Speed controls offer a wider range of compression possibilities than ever. Plus, switch on Push mode to engage limiter-style behaviour with ultra-fast timing for an even more aggressive, modern compression sound.

Meanwhile, the Tone control provides additional options for adjusting how the compressor treats the very top end of the spectrum. Air adds a silky brilliance ideal for vocals and acoustic instruments. Smooth gently tames harshness and extreme highs for more velvety, warmer tones.

Signature transformer modes
OptoMax wouldn’t be complete without the original Mastering Compressor’s signature transformer modes. Switch between colorful Nickel, Iron and Steel analog transformer models for instant tone and saturation variations, now made even more flexible with the addition of Harmonics, TX Drive and Headroom controls in the lower panel. These controls also sit alongside advanced sidechain and parallel Mix options, allowing easy configuring of OptoMax for even the most delicate modern compression applications.

→ FEATURES:
• Unique and versatile optical compressor endorsed by Shadow Hills: With expanded Ratio and Speed controls offering a wide range of compression possibilities for channels, mixes and mastering.
• Harmonic shaping: Three dedicated controls (Harmonics, TX Drive and Headroom) for shaping the harmonic generation and saturation of the analog circuit.
• Push Mode: Engage limiter-style behavior with ultra-fast timing for aggressive, modern compression.
• Tone control: Add airy highs or tame the top end for polished balance.
• Signature Transformer Modes: Switch between the original Mastering Compressor’s colorful transformer types – Nickel, Iron and Steel – for instant tone options.
• Advanced Sidechain: High-pass and bell filter options to keep midrange-heavy signals under control, plus monitoring, stereo linking and external SC input.
• Parallel compression: Blend compressed and dry signals to maintain dynamics and detail.
• Modern resizable GUI with expandable lower section: Fast, intuitive workflow with immediate control, plus further options within easy reach for those wanting to dive deeper.

• Artist Presets: Great starting points crafted by Bryan Reilly from Scramble Shack Studios.
Homepage https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/shadow_hills_optomax.html