Overview

Up for sale is a stunning Shadow Hills Industries Dual Vandergraph stereo compressor in Excellent condition. Bringing the uncompromising dynamic control and authoritative tone of the legendary Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor into a dual-slot 500 Series module, this unit is a powerhouse for your mix bus, drum subgroups, or tracking chains.

Known for its striking military-spec vintage aesthetic and larger-than-life sonic character, the Dual Vandergraph combines discrete, fully Class-A VCA gain cells with a highly flexible sidechain filter matrix. It is designed to glue a mix together, add weight and depth, and tighten up your low-end with absolute precision.

The Sonic Architecture & Control Layout

The Dual Vandergraph operates as a true stereo processor linked via a single set of master controls, ensuring perfect stereo matching across your subgroups.

• Discrete Class-A Path: Features fully discrete Class-A voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs) paired with Shadow Hills' custom-wound Iron Transformers to add that unmistakable analog body, harmonic saturation, and girth.
• Optimized Presets (Ratio / Time Constants): Rather than forcing you to guess, the 5-position lever switch selects between four carefully tailored, "greatest hits" compression ratios, each automatically engaging its own optimized attack and release times:
• • 1.2:1 (30ms attack / 100ms release) – Ultra-subtle, transparent glue for full mixes or acoustic tracking.
  • 2.5:1 (30ms attack / 500ms release) – The sweet spot for mix-bus or vocal subgroup leveling.
  • 4:1 (10ms attack / 500ms release) – Punchy control that snaps drum buses right into place.
  • 8:1 (0.5ms attack / 250ms release) – Aggressive, beautiful compression to crush parallel drum rooms.
• Sidechain Filter Matrix: Derived from the Optograph, this 5-position switch dictates what frequencies trigger the compressor, preventing heavy low-end energy from pumping your entire mix. Selectable options include: Off, 90 Hz, 150 Hz, 250 Hz, and Bandpass (250 Hz – 6 kHz).
• Premium Hardware Build: Equipped with Swiss-made, 24-position stepped rotary attenuators for both the master 'Compression' (threshold) and 'Output Level' (makeup gain), making precise mix recall incredibly easy.

Condition

• Cosmetic: Excellent condition. The faceplate is beautiful, the oversized Bakelite knobs feel robust and smooth, the blue bulbous indicator lamps illuminate perfectly, and the signature miniature kidney-shaped VU meter is fully functional. Maintained strictly in a smoke-free, climate-controlled studio rack.
• Functional: 100% fully operational. Tested extensively across all ratios and sidechain filters. The hardwire bypass lever triggers immediately and cleanly.

What’s Included

• Shadow Hills Industries Dual Vandergraph 500 Series Module
• Note: This is a 500 Series module and requires a compatible API lunchbox / 500-series rack chassis with appropriate power to operate.

Shipping, Insurance & Terms

• Origin: This item ships directly from the United States.
• Carrier: Shipped via UPS Ground for fast, traceable domestic transit.
• Full Insurance: Premium declared-value insurance coverage is included to guarantee your investment is fully protected against loss or damage during shipping.
• Costs & Duties: The buyer assumes full responsibility for all calculated shipping costs, as well as any regional customs fees, VAT, or import clearance duties if shipping outside the US.