Brick Lane MC4: Ultimate Dynamics Processing

An Evolution of Modal PWM Compression

Brick Lane MC4 is a 2u 19-Inch rack, 4-channel Modal PWM dynamics processor - an evolution of our Brick Lane 500 Modal PWM Compressor.
Brick Lane MC4 utilizes the same unique and revolutionary Modal PWM compression concept found in Brick Lane 500 that transcends traditional dynamics control methodologies through its revolutionary Modal PWM Compression architecture. Control your dynamics whilst tracking, enhance your sources, stems and mixes, or get that last bit out of your analogue mastering chain - all with the feel, familiarity, and control of various vintage analogue compressors. However, the concept is taken even further with Brick Lane MC4.

Modal PWM Compression with more
Whether being used for Mono, Stereo, or Mid-Side processing, or using a combination of Series, Dual-Band, and De-esser modes available -  Brick Lane MC4 features 4 channels of dynamics processing. Each dynamics channel contains an enhanced Noise Gate with Analogue Lookahead technology and a Brick Lane compressor - a Modal PWM compressor with 6 harmonically-enriched analogue saturation styles.

Mono, Stereo, Mid/Side Operation
Brick Lane MC4 is designed to adapt seamlessly to a wide range of professional workflows. Each of its four dynamics channels can be configured for independent mono processing, linked stereo operation, or Mid/Side processing, allowing Brick Lane MC4 to function equally well as a tracking tool, a mix-bus processor, or a mastering dynamics unit.

Stereo linking ensures coherent gain reduction across paired channels, preserving image stability when processing stereo sources or buses. Mid/Side mode provides precise control over the centre and edges of a mix, enabling targeted dynamic shaping of vocals, bass, ambience, and width without compromising mono compatibility.

This flexible routing architecture allows Brick Lane MC4 to move effortlessly between corrective control, creative enhancement, and final polish.

Series Mode - creating Dynamics chains

Brick Lane MC4’s Series mode allows two dynamics channels to be routed in series within a single signal path, enabling sequential dynamics processing without external patching. Each stage operates independently, with its own dynamics settings and Modal PWM saturation characteristics.
By dividing gain reduction across two stages, Series mode enables more controlled and predictable dynamics behavior than a single processor operating aggressively. Transients can be shaped in the first stage while overall level control or tonal density is applied in the second, reducing audible artifacts and improving consistency.
This approach reflects established studio practice while offering the precision, stability, and repeatability required in modern analogue workflows. Series mode is suited to sources that benefit from layered control, including vocals, bass, drums, and program material.

Dual-Band Mode - powerful Multi-band Analogue Compression
Brick Lane MC4’s Dual-Band mode splits a source into low- and high-frequency bands, with each band processed by its own Modal PWM dynamics channel before being recombined. 
The dual-band architecture is specifically optimized to minimize the unwanted artifacts and phase interaction that can be present in traditional analogue multi-band compressors. Rather than applying broad, complex multi-band processing, Brick Lane MC4 focuses on a carefully controlled two-band structure, reducing crossover complexity while preserving the coherence and integrity of the original signal.
By isolating low-frequency energy from mid and high-frequency content, Dual-Band mode provides greater control over dynamics without compromising tonal balance. Low-end behavior can be managed without affecting clarity or transient definition, while high-frequency dynamics can be shaped without altering weight or impact. This enables more precise treatment of complex sources while maintaining a natural, unified sound.

Dual-Band mode is particularly well suited to material where additional control is required without sacrificing transparency, including drums, bass-heavy sources, full mixes, and mastering applications.

Advanced De-Essing with Analogue Lookahead
Brick Lane MC4 includes a dedicated De-Esser mode built around analogue lookahead dynamics control, allowing sibilance and high-frequency transients to be managed with precision and “intuition” that is difficult to achieve using conventional analogue designs.

By detecting problematic high-frequency content before gain reduction is applied, the dynamics engine responds predictably and smoothly, avoiding the overshoot, distortion, and pumping commonly associated with fast de-essing. This enables consistent attenuation of sibilance without dulling transients or altering the overall tonal balance of the source.

De-Esser mode operates within the Brick Lane Modal PWM architecture, maintaining low distortion and accurate control even during aggressive reduction. The result is natural, controlled high-frequency dynamics suitable for vocals, dialogue, acoustic instruments, and program material, whether tracking, mixing, or mastering.

Fully Digitally-Controlled with USB and Network options
Brick Lane MC4  takes control to a whole new level allowing all controls of the unit to be controlled remotely via USB or an Ethernet network. Our control plugin seamlessly integrates with the Brick Lane MC4  hardware via the USB or NET ports, allowing for convenient real-time control and recall from within your DAW. It also facilitates the independent saving and loading of presets.

Mid/Side Processing
Especially valuable for mastering, mixing, and sound design applications, Brick Lane MC4 allows for Mid/Side processing, allowing you to apply dynamics processing to the separate mid (center) and side (stereo width) components of your stereo signal. No additional hardware is needed, Brick Lane MC4 takes care of all the necessary encoding and decoding.

Inserts for Outboard Hardware
Brick Lane MC4 features bypass-able TRS insert points on all four dynamics channels, allowing external analogue hardware to be integrated directly into the signal path. Each insert point is user-selectable within the processing chain, enabling precise placement relative to the dynamics engine and associated processing stages.

This flexibility allows a wide range of advanced workflows, including inserting external equalization, saturation, or other analogue processors either before or after dynamics processing. In Mid/Side operation, the insert points may be positioned between M/S encoding and decoding, enabling external hardware to be applied independently to the Mid or Side components of a signal.

By providing fully integrated insert routing without the need for external patching or additional routing hardware, Brick Lane MC4 enables complex analogue signal chains while maintaining a clean, repeatable workflow.

External Sidechain Inputs

Brick Lane MC4 provides four assignable external sidechain inputs alongside a flexible internal sidechain routing system, allowing each dynamics channel to independently select its control signal source.
Each compressor can derive its sidechain from its own input signal, from another compressor’s input or sidechain, or from any of the four external sidechain inputs. This enables a wide range of dynamics control strategies, from conventional keyed compression and ducking to more complex inter-channel dynamics relationships.
This routing flexibility allows dynamics behavior to be decoupled from the audio signal path when required, enabling precise control without altering the processed audio. In stereo, Mid/Side, Series, or Dual-Band configurations, sidechain sources can be reassigned to suit the specific processing objective.
By offering both internal and external sidechain selection on a per-channel basis, Brick Lane MC4 supports advanced dynamics workflows while remaining intuitive and repeatable in professional analogue environments.

Modal PWM Compression Architecture
Each channel of Brick Lane MC4 is built around Cranborne Audio’s Modal PWM compression architecture, a digitally controlled analogue dynamics system that enables multiple, fundamentally different compression behaviours within a single signal path.
Modal PWM compression operates by modulating the dynamics control law, time constants, and harmonic behavior of the analogue gain stage rather than simply changing ratios or thresholds. This allows Brick Lane MC4 to deliver a wide range of compression responses while maintaining low distortion, fast response, and precise control.

Compression Modes

• VELVET - Vintage Vari-Mu-style musicality with Tube-inspired harmonic compression. This compression style offers smooth, organic dynamic control with vintage tonal warmth and character.
  
• FLOAT - Transparent Opto-inspired dynamics with moderate transparency and gentle, wavelike compression ballistics.
  
• SMASH - FET-Style transient dominance with aggressive dynamic reduction,  and explosive punch and sonic impact.
  
• TAME - Precision transient management with ultra-fast, transparent control and surgical dynamic precision.
  
• GLUE - Glue together all the elements of your mix with this on your master bus for gentle bus-style compression.
  
• POLISH - Ultimate mastering-style limiting with the cleanest, fastest analogue limiter with our “Analogue-Lookahead” technology.

Modal Control and Harmonic Behavior

The Stress control operates within the Modal PWM architecture to introduce dynamics-focused analogue harmonic saturation. The STRESS behaviour is defined by the selected compression mode.

Rather than applying a single, static saturation circuit, Brick Lane MC4 implements six distinct multi-band analogue saturation circuits, each specifically designed to operate in tandem with its corresponding Modal PWM compression behavior. These saturation circuits are dynamically linked to the gain-reduction process, allowing harmonic content to evolve with signal level, envelope, and compression activity. This integrated approach recreates the characteristic non-linearities and program-dependent behavior found in classic analogue compressors, where tone, dynamics, and saturation are inherently connected rather than treated as separate processes. 

By tailoring the saturation topology to each compression mode, Brick Lane MC4 delivers mode-appropriate harmonic behavior - ranging from subtle density and warmth to more assertive dynamic coloration - while maintaining control, consistency, and signal integrity across a wide range of operating conditions.

ENIGMA - Advanced Compression Control

ENIGMA provides access to deep compression parameters that are normally fixed in analogue compressor designs, allowing the dynamic response of Brick Lane MC4 to be precisely tailored to the desired result.
Through ENIGMA, users can directly adjust parameters such as compression knee, attack and release weighting, detector behavior, high-frequency emphasis, and more. These controls allow the compressor’s response to be shaped beyond basic threshold and ratio settings, making it possible to fine-tune how transients are captured, how gain reduction develops, and how the compressor reacts to different frequency content.
For example, hardening the compression knee and adjusting attack weighting can produce a more immediate, percussive response, while altering high-frequency emphasis and detector behavior can introduce the softer, program-dependent response commonly associated with vintage compressors. These adjustments enable the same compression mode to be adapted for markedly different sources and musical objectives.
ENIGMA operates entirely within the analogue Modal PWM compression system, ensuring that changes to behavior remain predictable, repeatable, and musically relevant. This level of control allows Brick Lane MC4 to be configured with a degree of precision rarely available in analogue dynamics processors.