The Shadow Hills Equinox is a professional-grade microphone preamp, analogue summing mixer, and monitor controller designed to bring the sound and workflow of a mastering console into a compact 2U rackmount format. At its core are two Golden Age transformer-based microphone preamps offering up to 60dB of gain, with a -20dB pad for high-output sources and a front-panel instrument input for direct recording of guitar, bass or acoustic-electric instruments. This versatile front end is ideal for capturing sources with warmth, clarity and harmonic depth.
Alongside the preamps, the Shadow Hills Equinox delivers 30 channels of passive analogue summing, providing ample headroom and the ability to create detailed, spatially rich mixes with punch and dimension. The monitoring section is equally comprehensive, offering mastering-level signal integrity with support for three sets of monitor outputs, and a dedicated stereo cue send for headphone monitoring. Whether tracking, mixing or mastering, the Shadow Hills Equinox offers a refined monitoring path that ensures accurate decision-making at every stage of production.
A unique feature of the Shadow Hills Equinox is its trio of switchable output transformers, nickel, iron and steel, which allow users to impart distinctive tonal signatures to both the mic preamps and the summed output. The nickel transformer enhances high-end detail and provides a tight low end, making it a strong choice for vocals and acoustic instruments. The iron transformer has a Class-A output stage and produces rich harmonic content with a focused lift around 110Hz. The steel transformer adds fast, detailed response with a low-frequency push around 40Hz, ideal for modern punchy mixes.
The Shadow Hills Equinox replaces the need for separate units by integrating high-quality mic amplification, extensive summing capabilities, and precision monitoring control into one streamlined device. With its 24-position stepped attenuators for reliable recall and its mastering-calibre signal path, it offers a no-compromise solution for engineers seeking the sonic advantages of an analogue console without the size or expense.
Features
- Two Golden Age transformer-balanced microphone preamps
- 60dB of gain with -20dB pad for high-output sources
- Front-panel instrument input for direct recording
- 30 channels of passive analogue summing for wide, punchy mixes
- High-headroom, mastering-quality signal path
- Comprehensive monitoring section supports three sets of monitors
- Dedicated stereo cue output for headphone sends
- Three switchable output transformers: nickel, iron, and steel
- 24-position gold-plated stepped attenuator knobs for precise recall
- Designed to replace separate preamp, summing mixer, and monitor controller
- 2U rackmount design for studio integration
- Requires Shadow Hills external power supply (not included)
