These don't come up very often, as most people who buy them never want to sell them.
Here we have a Shadow Hills Equinox, recently completely refurbished by JMP Electronics, the service company for Shadow Hills, and in like new condition.
The Shadow Hills Industries Equinox is an ultra high-quality microphone preamp, summing mixer, and monitor controller - essentially a complete small-format recording console - in just two rack spaces! The Equinox features two Golden Age microphone preamplifiers, a 30-channel analog summing section, an extensive mastering-quality monitor section plus Shadow Hills' switchable output transformer matrix for the ultimate in tonal options. With all these features in a rugged 2U enclosure the Shadow Hills Equinox is equipped for the demands of modern recording, but styled and crafted to the high standards of a bygone era.
MICROPHONE PREAMPS
The mic preamps are the Golden Age Microphone Amps. Each features 60 dB of gain, 24-position gold-plated stepped attenuators, 48V Phantom Power, a 20 dB Pad, phase reverse, and 1/4” DI input. But the most exciting feature of the amplifier section are the switchable output transformers, which allow for several different sonic flavors in the same box. The transformers and characteristics are as follows:
- Steel: hand-wound to match a favorite 1970s American output transformer for a tight and punchy sound with the most color and biggest low end - the sound of rock and roll!
- Nickel: hand wound transformer based on a L.A. custom console for a super clear and wonderful sound, but with a subtle and musical smoothing of the transients
- Iron: modern version of the classic St. Ives 1166 Neve output transformer featuring a warm and round sound with a super detailed and present mid-range
SUMMING NETWORK
The summing buss is a 30-channel mixer utilizing copper buss bars and esoteric resistors, for simply the finest sounding passive summing. DAW inputs 3-24 are STEREO summed and distributed odd to left and even to right, while DAW inputs 25-32 are sent MONO to both channels of the summing network. The summed signal then passes through the Golden Age amplifiers with selectable output transformers. Effectively allowing the user to choose between the sounds of three different consoles on the mix bus.
MONITOR SECTION
The monitor section features: choice of 4 input sources, choice of 3 speaker outputs, 24 step Monitor Level control, Monitor Level DIM switch, switch to engage built-in Talkback Mic, Cue output, and Stereo/Mono switch.
With the INPUT SELECT switch IN:
- DAW 1-2 position the Equinox monitors the stereo mix output of the user’s DAW In this mode, the incoming DAW 1-2 signal bypasses the GAMA amplifiers and feeds the Monitor Level control. This allows the user to employ the Equinox’s mic preamps standalone and record/monitor them through the DAW’s I/O.
- MIX 3-32 position, the Equinox monitors the summing network after passing through the GAMA’s.
- EXTERNAL position, the Equinox is able to monitor an additional balanced stereo source via rear panel XLR connections.
- MIC PRE position, the Equinox routes the mic preamp output directly to the Monitor Section. This allows the user to monitor the signal coming directly from the preamp, prior to any converter artifacts or intermediate processing.
The monitor section also features 3 pairs of Speaker Outputs and a Cue (or headphone) Output. Both reproduce what the Input Select is set to. Only one speaker output pair may be selected at a time. The speaker output level is control by the Monitor Level knob. The Cue Output is unaffected by the Monitor Level, and switches to the Talkback signal when the Talkback Switch is engaged. Simultaneously, the Monitor Level dims when the Talkback Switch is engaged.
FEATURES:
- Complete small format console in 2U rack spaces with two Golden Age mic preamps, 30 channels of high-quality analog summing, and mastering-quality monitor control
- 24-position, gold-plated stepped attenuator knobs for exacting recall
- Switchable output transformer matrix with nickel, iron, and steel options for the sounds of various famous consoles
- 30 channel passive analog summing for high headroom for massive-sound mixes
- Supports up to three sets of studio monitors
- Cue output for connecting to your headphone distribution system
- Requires the Shadow Hills Power Supply for operation, which is included
