Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter/Compresor

Manley Variable Mu

Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter/Compressor is one of the very few compressors that has become a real standard in Mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade and probably the next. The compress mode is soft-knee 1.5 to 1 ratio while the sharper knee LIMIT mode starts at 4 to 1 and moves to a more dramatic ratio of 20 to 1 when limiting over 12dB. Interestingly, the knee actually softens as more limiting is used. Distortion can be creatively used by turning up the Input and turning down the Output while using very little or no compression. See the gain reduction curves here!

Specifications:
• Manley input & output transformers with nickel laminations in mu-metal cases with flat frequency response from 20hz-25khz
• Balanced inputs & outputs (600 ohms)
• Fully differential all-tube circuitry using one each 5670, 5751 (or 12ax7), 7044 (or 5687), & 12al5 per channel
• Independently regulated b+ and heater supplies
• Hard-wire bypass switch
• Stepped switch input attenuator as of 10/2011. (older units use silent dual-ganged potentiometer)
• Recovery 5 steps: 0.2s, 0.4s, 0.6s, 4sec., 8sec.
• Variable attack: 25msec-70msec
• Continuously variable threshold
• Limit (4:1 To 20:1) or compress (1.5 To 1)
• Hp sc: high pass side chain filter -3db @ 100hz
• Large illuminated sifam meters (older units before serial number mslc61642 shipped before 12/2003 use: 26v 1.2w festoon lamps; manley's part number: var016b) order spare bulbs using our parts order form. (newest units after serial number mslc61642 shipped after 12/2003 use white led lighting)
• Stereo link switch
• Several units can be linked for surround (custom order )
• Maximum gain: 35db
• Max. output: +30dbu (26vrms) 26db headroom
• <0.1% Thd @ 1khz Noise Floor: -85db Typical
• Power consumption (120/240vac): 80 Watts