Master Bus Compressor Shootout: SSL 4000 G vs. Shadow Hills vs. Manley Variable Mu

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Can you hear the difference between these master bus compressors? Here are some tips on what to pay attention to:
- Mix cohesiveness.
- The punchiness of drums.
- A change in bass response.
- The clarity of vocals.
- Additional harmonic content.
- Potential pumping effects.
You'll want to make sure that you listen to these audio examples through a calibrated sound system in an acoustically treated space. Also, make sure you're listening to these examples with rested ears. Even then, the differences between these compressors are quite subtle, especially when applied in moderation at a mastering level.
- - -
SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor: bit.ly/39fVz1I
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor: bit.ly/3aQqDW9
Manley Variable Mu Compressor: bit.ly/3zxk3OI
- - -
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor
1:26 - Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
2:54 - Manley Variable Mu Compressor Limiter
3:20 - Shootout Explanation
4:19 - 1 - No Compression
4:31 - 1 - Compressor A
5:04 - 1 - Compressor B
5:26 - 1 - Compressor C
5:50 - 1 - Settings
6:03 - 2 - No Compression
6:15 - 2 - Compressor A
6:28 - 2 - Compressor B
6:41 - 2 - Compressor C
6:55 - 2 - Settings
7:07 - 3 - No Compression
7:19 - 3 - Compressor A
7:31 - 3 - Compressor B
7:44 - 3 - Compressor C
7:57 - 3 - Settings
8:14 - 4 - No Compression
8:33 - 4 - Compressor A
8:52 - 4 - Compressor B
9:12 - 4 - Compressor C
9:32 - 4 - Settings
9:52 - Outro
- - -
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[@BlackGhostAudio]

Get my music production course for beginners: bit.ly/3Dwmv83

[@WretchedIcon]

This is a fantastic way of comparison. By blindly comparing modules, it allows us to lead with our ears, rather than some preconceived bias. I was always leaning towards SSL, but I chose Shadow Hills 3 of the 4 times. That's enough to convince me which one I prefer. Thank you.

[@yuungsims]

We need more videos like this!!!! This is the first plugin shootout i've seen on youtube that actually helps highlight a plugins strengths/ weaknesses as opposed to "Which is better"

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

I just got the UAD Manley Vari-Mu on sale just under $50. Excellent compressor.

[@lyrixFH]

What do you recommend it for? I'm contemplating right now whether to buy it or not

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

@@lyrixFH I heard it sounds the best on busses.

[@cpthegenius]

Came to this video specifically cause I need a Glue Compressor for mixing/mastering and the Manley happened to be on sale. Think I might pull the trigger today.

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

@@cpthegenius What kind of music do you make?

[@cpthegenius]

@@aviatedviewssound4798I mostly record and produce R&B music for myself but I work on Hip hop, R&B, Pop and ballads for myself and other people I do mixes and masters for.

[@official_ffg357]

Got the shadow hills every time. Love it!

[@sonnybrasco9735]

I like the shadow hills in these examples. Thanks for the informative video.

[@abhigaming2160]

VERY BEAUTIFUL SHOOTOUT THANKS

[@torocruz1192]

Nice shout out. I picked the SSL every time. Still my favorite 2Bus Como 👍🏽✌🏽🇩🇴

[@greatcombo1443]

Amazing demonstration. It’s always great hear plug-ins you love used outside of your creative world. I love the shadow hills comp however in this example to me it was making the vocals flat in a way I didn’t enjoy. Definitely keeping this in mind! 💎 Gem Channel 💎

[@jesperborgstrm3385]

wholeheartedly agree on this. seems i need an ssl

[@K-pop_Jrock_Jmetal_Girl_Bands]

Like the Shadow hills and also have used it quite much

[@RJ1J]

Typical, the one I liked the most is the only one I don't have. The Manley.

[@BlackGhostAudio]

That always seems to be the way it goes. I’m a big fan of the Manley as well. I think its qualities shined the most on the acoustic track.

[@whatskraken3886]

this video is really high quality

[@philippgrunert8776]

For me this video shows that having a tool box full of different flavours may serve one well. I liked all of them. Mostly just one of the three was not really resonating with me on that particular material. They have a frequency imprint but seem to contour differently if that makes sense

[@NoQualmsTheArtist]

I chose a different one for each 🤔. That's why I love blind tests, this made me rethink, maybe I need more options on my master bus instead of using the same compressor on every song, which would have been impossible in my hardware days.

[@DJFreejak]

Thanks mate very helpful blind test. Currently i Use the G Bus but i chose the Manley in every instance here. 🤔

[@Maksitto]

ssl one love) thanks for video! By the way. You kept sc filter on 80 every time( on ssl)?

[@diego_jause]

New name : Shadow hits 👊👊👊💥🔊💥🔊💥👌👌✨✨✨🔊🔊🔊

[@savanaviolenta]

Shadow Hills is just pure magic

[@mariodario9033]

My preferences was ALWAYS Shadow Hills, Manley average everything and SSL is many time too radical. Shadow Hills is my best mastering compressor on every song :) THX for comparision.

[@kadiummusic]

Picked the SSL every single time, much more depth and 3D feel. 😎

[@paulmolive1821]

The Manley squishes the low end and loses some punch. The Shadow Hills sounds clean and punchy, maybe a little bit of extra high-end sizzle. The SSL sits somewhere between the two.

[@homeofcreation]

Shadow Hills is on sale now!

[@timcwalker]

Shadow Hills for the vocals on the 1st and last tunes.

[@bangubw736]

i got the Manley right in all examples. which was my least favorite lol. Love both the SSL & ShadowHills. i use the Class A by PA all the time

[@sonnybrasco9735]

Class A is nice 👌🏾

[@RayoBeatz]

do one with the iron spl i see mastering engeeners using that on everything

[@FlashMusicEntertainment]

SSL I love it

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

I really like the Manley and SSL, for different reasons. Both for the old school vibe, clean and quick SSL, Manley with the tube warmth and leveling.

[@jesperborgstrm3385]

dunno why. have the. shadow hills one but SSL won for me in all mixes. oh well time to buy another one

[@carldubcats3385]

I liked the Shadow Hills the best.

[@jodlex_music]

I see the SSL Bus will be less saturation and compression, more cold and sound like uncompress file. Manley Mu and Shadow Hill - how i see, that its more warm, sat, and compress, more warm sound, Shadow Hill have more natural timbre... IMHO!)

[@LoversinPH]

SSL 4000 - Huge wide and punchy Shadow Hills - my least favorite, probably because it's the least focused on the mid range. I'm actually surprised because I'm searching about it and ended up with this great video Manley - It's just diff, it had this smooth silky feel, it's like analog, it feels radio ready and polished, it has this FEEL. It's magical

[@woodhousemusic7176]

👌

[@sevchyk]

In this comparison for me Shadow Hills and SSL scored a 2:2 draw. For the first song Shadow Hills was better, then two songs for SSL, and the last one again Shadow Hills.

[@spickeys5078]

You've decided to sell your Kali coaxial monitors for Adam ? I personally own the Kali IN-8 v2 and I love them

[@BlackGhostAudio]

I do a fair number of product reviews so I have gear cycling in and out of my studio constantly. I still have the Kalis but these Adams are combined with an Adam sub so the augmented frequency response is quite helpful when it comes to mixing low end. I’m thinking about pairing the Kalis with a sub since I love the detailed midrange on them 😁

[@spickeys5078]

​@@BlackGhostAudio Ah! Got it. I had the Kali IN-5 but the low-end was not ideal indeed. That's why I switched to their bigger brother IN-8 v2. Now, Got the full spectrum!

[@danube466]

I chose the Manley for the Acoustic...

[@RayoBeatz]

i was suprised i thought it was the shadowhills but it was the manley

[@MahmoudNader]

The shadowhills mastering compressor seriously looks like Shelob from The Lord of the rings

[@Magic_carpet666]

The Manley just killed it on all genres… SSL was the least convincing IMO.

[@FreakinOutOnAudio]

hit em harder. manley for example takes ludicrous gain reduction but stays clean, while the ssl will quickly get colored.

[@danfilipradu]

compressor C compressor A third example they all sounds almost the same compressor C

[@Wizardofvoz2]

I picked the Manley every time.

[@BlackGhostAudio]

You found a winner 🥇

[@industryandaudio]

I feel like Shadow Hills is too aggressive across all songs. SSL seems to be more controlled as where the Shadow Hills adds audible boxy and distorted sounding textures to the mix.

[@Beethovan]

A sounds punchier (with less HF) followed by C (with more HF) followed by B (not punchier). B makes music duller. Select different compressors based on song

[@MrJvne]

Shadow hills all the way... Want to precise it's the Brainworx one, not a UAD version

[@johnisrael5183]

Tim Pethrick s L Bus Comp, Track Comp G Bus And Acustica Audio's Lime2 Sand3 And Amythist... Will put these to shame

[@mikethetruth1056]

Bro, you gotta use the hardware stuff

[@KINGDAVIDREINCARNATED]

Let’s just be Manley about this…

[@planetclay]

UAD makes mac os 10.15 a minimum-requirement to GIVE THEM MONEY for their products.....? there's all kinds of goofy...however, the ones that save me money i most appreciate.

[@vektacular]

1.-ssl wins 2. - manley wins 3.-ssl wins 4.-shadow hills wins To me anyways

[@waytospergtherebro]

The word bus does not have two of any letter.

[@BlackGhostAudio]

Haha, it depends on whether you're British or not. Being Canadian, a lot of those British spellings are engrained in me. "Colour" with a "u" is another fun one. I believe the majority of my viewers are located in the United States so I've gone ahead and updated the video's title :)

[@andreikhm]

Try to turn on a real compressor and you will hear a real difference, all the listed real compressors sound different, and all these emulations give a flat boring sound.

[@BlackGhostAudio]

I’d love to do a shootout with the hardware equivalents. Some software vs. hardware shootouts would be interesting as well!