SPL Iron plugin - The ultimate compressor?

[@thehitter2708]

Plugin Alliance just had a sale so I was demoing this and within seconds I was blown away by the sound. Not to mention the stereo width is one of the best I've heard on it. It was only $100 yesterday now I'm looking up videos to maximize use so thank you!

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Your welcome! :)

[@DJeMo]

Just picked it up for 17 dollars at plugin alliance, its on sale at 39.99 and there was a survey completion coupon last week for 25 off both coupons work, UK here so technically 13 pounds for a 240ish plugin lol

[@Mansardian]

Hello Mark! I purchased the plugin couple of weeks ago and I totally agree! I just wanted to say something about the input/output stage: You are right, 2db steps would be way too brutal for a mastering style make up gain, however I don't think this is meant to be a normal make up gain or output control. I use that as a parameter set to adjust the working behaviour with a given "threshold/bias"-setting. If you see it from that point of view then it totally makes sense that those stepped controls mirror each other. The rectifier setting adjusts the speed, the ip/op how much the signal shoots over the line of the predetermined threshold. Of course, you have the headroom parameter in the brainworx section now, but that didn't exist with the hardware. So...stepped controls for mastering accuracy but the added headroom control by brainworx for more flexibility.

[@nimbvs7233]

I can't complete a mix/master without using the IRON. Absolutely incredible plugin.

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Yes since I got it I'm finding I use it more often than any other mix bus or mastering compressor, and I have a lot of them :)

[@AH20XX]

@@heronislandstudio8054 Why so?? What do you like most about it?

[@heronislandstudio8054]

@@AH20XX Its very smooth like an optical or varymu compressor, but at the same time you can get great punch with it, which you couldn't do with an optical or varymu. Also it gives a smooth lush sound to the top end.

[@twtobin941]

Mark, just wanted to say thanks for this video, as your glowing review of IRON was the last step of convincing I needed to commit to buying this plug in. I had watched the KZbin review by Michael White on Mixing With Mike channel and, though his review was excellent, the track he used to demo it was not optimal. Your review was very articulate, as well as using a very good style of song to test the compressor on. I just purchased the plug in and tried it briefly on a CD mastering project I am currently working on. I REALLY like how it is sounding. Thanks again. (PS. Just had a quick listen to some of your projects - amazing guitar playing and compositions! And thanks for your beautiful tribute article to Allan Holdsworth, one of my heroes.)

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Thanks TW! Glad you found it useful!

[@vincentnoack1399]

Hi Mark, thank's for your Video. I bought this compressor and it helps a lot. It dont sound's like a Compressor but make everything clearly audible. I made a test with Cajon Framedrum and Flamenco Guitar...Together with Eq Amec 200 it sound's very natural, Cheers...

[@jyun7360]

Thanks for your detailed explaining here！Appreciate ！

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Cheers!

[@jayclas4023]

Great review man!

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Thanks!

[@nichttuntun3364]

Hi Mark, hi community. As I understand you love the UNISUM compressor (I do as well). After having used both of indepth, I'm very interested to know if you think the IRON plugin adds something special by its own beside Unisum and it may be a keeper. Thanks a lot for the indepth and inspiring video. Cheers

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Interesting question, thanks. I think the IRON does bring something unique to the table. Even though these days I use Unisum more often than any other compressor for mastering (and it's amazing on the drum bus if you want something clean), there are some tracks where Iron has what the track needs.

[@nichttuntun3364]

@@heronislandstudio8054 Thank you for your thoughts about it. I demo the IRON right now and I am fond with it. It has something special imo. Cheers

[@heronislandstudio8054]

@@nichttuntun3364 Yes agree it does 😄

[@jbkivontop]

great review, thanks. What one do you like better. Shadow Hills Master Compressor. Or this the SPL Iron?

[@heronislandstudio8054]

I find myself using the Iron more often it's so quick to get a good result. The Shadow Hills is a lot trickier to set up because the VCA part very quickly grabs the signal very hard, but it can be great on certain things.

[@saardean4481]

Very good plugin. On the other hand , the Atack-Release 2345 Choices i find the opposite of Sexy. When you opened the window with the possible settings i almost wanted to stop the video. Not cause of you, but i like simplicity.

[@saardean4481]

Btw did they ever answer about the 2 Db increment output?

[@heronislandstudio8054]

@@saardean4481 No answer on that. I still find that the most frustrating thing about the plugin.

[@haucowby8957]

Thanks for your video. I just bought it yesterday but does it mean both Attack and Release MUST set to the same position and the Rectifier will alter the value of them ?

[@heronislandstudio8054]

No you can set the attack and release independenty. The rectifier changes both attack and release. There's a chart in the manual that explains. I have that page to hand when I'm setting it up.

[@bucurgabriel6319]

Thanks for the very clear explanations ... You clarified many ambiguities and I think I made a good choice to use this plugin ... Thanks again!..From Paris with respect !Is there any special reason that you used M / S and not the Stereo configuration ?? .. In the sound example you made ...

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Glad it was useful! Actually I can't remember why I used M/S, but it was probably to widen the stereo image.

[@vintagepearlguitars]

Interesting. I had the hardware and didn't really find a good use for it. I most often preferred other compressors (STC-8, Tube Tech, Pendulum, Charter Oak, ADT etc.) both for Mastering and Mixing. Do you know the original hardware?

[@mondrian_76]

Great review. Best one so far. Everything perfect until you forgot to turn off the M/S button after explain what it does. But great job overall.

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Cheers!

[@danielbigler5546]

Hi i am at the moment testing the testlicence and must say sounds amazing . A Year before i was whanted buy the hardware spl iron version - as my first real tube compressor . but i see then tegler audio ,,schwerkraftmaschine,, about can more settings . i like the tegler but must say is not really for all and mean the spl really is better for what i need . I need the compressor for House music some Techno and Drum and Bass So i am happy when brings a good lowend a lot of loudness is possible and make a rich sound . ( at moment i dont to buy the hardware all so is comming a big bill from the tax office) - it can be i will buy both - My question at you what do you think from the hardware up to this plugin is a big differnce in the lowend about thier is noramaly all so today the hardware mean bit better and this real 120 volt on this device what do you mean ???? - the other thing dont now to wait up to the uad version i mean will come only about i can then use in realtime - perhaps not bad for my livemixshows or for some live recordings ? thank you before for your answers !!! best regards Daniel

[@heronislandstudio8054]

I haven't used the hardware so I can't compare it to the software. But I do love what the software version does with the low end, and the high end also (very smooth and lush).

[@bradleypower4803]

Hey man do you still use this? Thinking about buying..

[@heronislandstudio8054]

I definitely still use this, nothing else sounds like it. I really like it as a mastering compressor.

[@bradleypower4803]

Great - thanks for the response, I was wondering if it was similar in any way to the Shadow Hills. I think I’ll have to get it.

[@mcsweet1966]

Man I just got that one Plugins Alliance for 15$ LOL , I will compare to my UAD Shadow Hill ... Have a Nice Day !

[@razzerraw1108]

How does it compare so far ?

[@corypalmer5495]

Wait how did you get this for $15?

[@mcsweet1966]

@@corypalmer5495 Check the Date !

[@moonstrobe]

I guess my ears are dead, because it sounds practically identical to me whether on or off. Without compression, it seems a bit brighter. I'd be interested in seeing a null comparison, to tell the real difference.

[@CraftWon]

Have you tried the free demo? Or judging it by KZbin videos? Plugin Alliance allows 14 days free. It’s $50 today with a coupon number. I’m going to test it for a few mixes.

[@uvuvwevwevweossasosman10]

@@CraftWon its $90 :( Now

[@CraftWon]

@@uvuvwevwevweossasosman10 no. The voucher code is on their Facebook page. You can confirm but I have XMAS20-IRON as the voucher. I’ve been buying their plugins for $29-$49 dollars every 2 days since Black Friday. And on Black Friday weekend they had them all for $29. But you could only buy 1 per day on those 3 days.

[@uvuvwevwevweossasosman10]

@@CraftWon Thank you very much my friend! ❤️👍🏼

[@CraftWon]

@@uvuvwevwevweossasosman10 have you been participating in the year end sales? Absolutely incredible deals. Today is the last day (supposedly)

[@jjwhittle8873]

I absolutely love PA plugins but their interface design is baffling. I don't understand why they wouldn't feature the attack and release times on the interface when you change the rectifier settings. You literally wouldn't need to reference the manual then. Its the same as their SSL plugins - when you x3 a HP or LP filter, the number on the board stays the same. Why?? This is software guys! You don't need to stay within the limitations of the original hardware.

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Yeh I agree with you, I find it irritating. I think they are selling something other than a good plugin. They are trying to sell the feeling of using hardware. Personally I can't see the point in that. But maybe it helps sell the plugins. I wish they would at least have a preference that shows the values and makes the gain not stepped in 2 db increments (which is crazy when you're trying to level match). Other than that, it's a great compressor, sounds fantastic.

[@jjwhittle8873]

@@heronislandstudio8054 I work in branding so I kinda understand it. If they released a plugin that was a small grey box with 5 plain dials on it and said "here is the new Townhouse compressor, 350 bucks please" people would be a lot less hyped about it. But I do think that sort of design skewers peoples' perception of the music they're mixing if I'm being honest.

[@mrjoegavenlock]

@@jjwhittle8873 check out Airwindows plugins if you want great-sounding grey boxes 👌😉

[@jjwhittle8873]

@@mrjoegavenlock oh yeah jumped on that train a while back. Their tape dust one lives on a my mix return.