Software compressors

Nothing to report.
Or, yeah, by the way... the user's manual is very well done, it covers and analyses the settings of each factory preset, so as to better understand how it all works. Very useful to learn how to tame this beast, which may look unnecessarily complicated and intimidating to new users (espacially those not used to M/S compressors).

EFFICIENCY & PERFORMANCE

The plugin works perfectly in both VST2 and VST3. Regarding its value-for-CPU use, it is one of the best plugins on the market right now. Very well programmed and modelled.

OVERALL

I personally use it on a regular basis on the master buss for compression, sometimes in M/S mode, sometimes on busses, less often on single instrument tracks - and when I do it's most often for spatial enhancement, playing with the EQ and M/S phase.

If I want something with more sonic character, more vintage-sounding but with almost the same settings, then I go for the Artacoustic Clms-1-X1.

Pros: the comp, M/S treatment, transparency and subtle character emulation of the original hardware.
Cons: none that I can think of.

I haven't tried it yet, and now I'm trying to fill it all up for it
I haven't tried it yet, and now I'm trying to fill it all up for it
I haven't tried it yet, and now I'm trying to fill it all up for it
I haven't tried it yet, and now I'm trying to fill it all up for it

I’ve used SKnote's SDC for mastering purpose, it perfectly completes my previous plugin list.

I originally intended to buy UAD’s Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, but the SKnote’s price aroused my interest...

For a mere $29.99 (approximately €27), this plugins perfectly does the job, it’s good-looking, has a big GUI, very practical to use and remains in its competitor’s league.

Acustica Audio’s Aquamarine also emulates the same, but for $199!!!

I haven’t compare dit with UAD’s version yet, but at first sight (or hearing) both emulations resemble each other (I’ll give the UAD’s demo another try), though according to some review they remain under the real Shadow’s sound (which is quite reassuring in a way ).

I like the Mid/Side settings which I find very practical, it remains transparent and brings the track a very pleasant dynamics!

Installation couldn’t be simpler – just copy a .dll to your VST foler and, voilà, no setup.exe or anything so everything is easily done.
Available in 32- and 64-bit versions, ready to be downloaded from your user account just after purchase.

Available for Mac... but not as an AAX, only VST !!!

Regarding the DSP, my PC is getting old (a Quad core 2.8 Ghz running Windows 7 64 bit), so it’s a bit heavy on the CPU!!!
Too bad that it comes without any preset, but you can save your own: I’ll have to try the UAD’s to see how they transpose.

I believe one shouldn’t spend that much into plugins, now that I’ve discovered SKnote I’m quite happuy that I have as they are a reliable developper.
A very good plugin by SKnote, I don’t regret buying it – especially considering the price!!!