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The Manley Mastering ED Stereo Variable MU Limiter Compressor has been the best selling product from Manley Laboratories for many years, and is one of the only compressors that have become a standard in Mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade. The Variable Mu is a registered trademark for the limiter compressor. It works by using a "remote cut-off" or re-biasing of a vacuum tube to achieve compression.
The COMPRESS mode is soft-knee 1.5 to 1 ratio while the sharper knee limit modes start at 4 to 1 and move to a more dramatic ratio of 20 to 1 with the limit is over 12dB. The knee will actually soften as more limiting is used. To create distortion simply turn up the input and turn down the output while using very little or no compression.
Just because the Variable Mu Limiter Compressor has ganged input control, does not mean that it has become mono-unfriendly. There are separate threshold and output controls to compensate. When you switch to LINK mode you really get to what the unit can do better than anything else: final mix, 2-track, or mastering limiting and compression. It really doesn't get much better than this. Get yours today at Alto Music!
MID/SIDE (a.k.a. Vertical/Lateral, or Sum/Difference)
This modification opens the door to stereo encoding and decoding as well as exciting image enhancement processing capabilities. For instance, setting to compress only the in-phase information allows the augmentation of the stereo image as the out-of-phase content is left untouched. Or, conversely, if you need a "more-mono" mix for broadcast, or vinyl-cutting for instance, you can set it to kill off more of the out-of-phase info which leaves more in-phase material in the final result. Read more about the MS Mod on page 12 of the Owner's Manual.
Total mod cost for the M-S option is $800 NET added to the base cost.
In order to add both M-S and the HP SC mods, we move the power switch to the rear panel and install both channels' HP SC switch to the center hole where the power switch was. The M-S switches then flank this switch.
| Product Name | Manley Labs Stereo Variable MU Mastering Version with Mid Side Mod Option |
|---|---|
| Brand | Manley Labs |
| Condition | New |
| MPN | MMSSLCHPMS |
| Shipping Option | Free Shipping to the Continental U.S. |
- 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.
- 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
- Unit is factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
- Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change.
- Mains Fuse Value for 100~120VAC operation: replace with 1.25A as of 10/2011
- Mains Fuse Value for 220~240VAC operation: replace with 0.6A (600mA) as of 10/2011
- Mains Fuse Type: MDA or MDL SLO-BLO Time delay 1 1/4" x 1/4"
- Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~60Hz
- Dimensions: 19” x 3 1/2” x 10” (chassis occupies 2u) Power transformer protrudes 3.5" out the back of the chassis.
- Shipping Weight: 23 lbs.
Manley Labs Stereo Variable MU Mastering Version with Mid Side Mod Option
The Manley Mastering ED Stereo Variable MU Limiter Compressor has been the best selling product from Manley Laboratories for many years, and is one of the only compressors that have become a standard in Mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade. The Variable Mu is a registered trademark for the limiter compressor. It works by using a "remote cut-off" or re-biasing of a vacuum tube to achieve compression.
The COMPRESS mode is soft-knee 1.5 to 1 ratio while the sharper knee limit modes start at 4 to 1 and move to a more dramatic ratio of 20 to 1 with the limit is over 12dB. The knee will actually soften as more limiting is used. To create distortion simply turn up the input and turn down the output while using very little or no compression.
Just because the Variable Mu Limiter Compressor has ganged input control, does not mean that it has become mono-unfriendly. There are separate threshold and output controls to compensate. When you switch to LINK mode you really get to what the unit can do better than anything else: final mix, 2-track, or mastering limiting and compression. It really doesn't get much better than this. Get yours today at Alto Music!
MID/SIDE (a.k.a. Vertical/Lateral, or Sum/Difference)
This modification opens the door to stereo encoding and decoding as well as exciting image enhancement processing capabilities. For instance, setting to compress only the in-phase information allows the augmentation of the stereo image as the out-of-phase content is left untouched. Or, conversely, if you need a "more-mono" mix for broadcast, or vinyl-cutting for instance, you can set it to kill off more of the out-of-phase info which leaves more in-phase material in the final result. Read more about the MS Mod on page 12 of the Owner's Manual.
Total mod cost for the M-S option is $800 NET added to the base cost.
In order to add both M-S and the HP SC mods, we move the power switch to the rear panel and install both channels' HP SC switch to the center hole where the power switch was. The M-S switches then flank this switch.
| Product Name | Manley Labs Stereo Variable MU Mastering Version with Mid Side Mod Option |
|---|---|
| Brand | Manley Labs |
| Condition | New |
| MPN | MMSSLCHPMS |
| Shipping Option | Free Shipping to the Continental U.S. |
- 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.
- 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
- Unit is factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
- Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change.
- Mains Fuse Value for 100~120VAC operation: replace with 1.25A as of 10/2011
- Mains Fuse Value for 220~240VAC operation: replace with 0.6A (600mA) as of 10/2011
- Mains Fuse Type: MDA or MDL SLO-BLO Time delay 1 1/4" x 1/4"
- Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~60Hz
- Dimensions: 19” x 3 1/2” x 10” (chassis occupies 2u) Power transformer protrudes 3.5" out the back of the chassis.
- Shipping Weight: 23 lbs.
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