ManleyVariable Mu Mastering Version Limiter Compressor - MS Mod

Manley Variable Mu Mastering Version

Implementing more stereo flexibility, the Variable Mu Mastering Version with MS modification from Manley is their stereo limiter and compressor with a distinct dynamic effect and power that's great for mastering. The mastering edition finely tunes and expands the Variable Mu into a much more recallable processing unit, widely appreciated by mastering engineers. This iteration of the Variable Mu has a fully detented Mid/Side processing section that has been a studio staple for recording drums and various other instruments to create a different style of spatialization, and the MS mod executes that same style in a unique encoding/decoding style. That said, Variable Mu's fantastic utilization of tubes throughout the signal chain is what makes the Variable Mu one of the most extensively used compression and limiting processors.

Each step of the way, the Variable Mu takes tube gain staging (hence the Mu), amplification, and leveling with maximum high-voltage headroom for a clean and powerful signal. The input gain is ganged for both channels, but this should be seen more as a pro than a con considering it's general use for mastering. Each channel can be set to a gentle compressor with a 1.5:1 ratio, or be pushed into maximum drive with a limiter that starts off at a 4:1 ratio but pushes up to 20:1 once the gain reduction surpasses 12dB.

Dynamic control is implemented with a stepped threshold control for simple and recallable gain reduction, and depending on the mode determines whether each increment is a half or quarter decibel. Controlling when compression or limiting kicks in and how long it lasts, the attack portion has been enhanced with a wider range of selectable speeds while the quite slow release retains its original timing choices. All three of the controls can be set individually or in a stereo link for one set of controls affecting both channels, and all compression and limiting can be easily viewed via the backlit gain reduction VU meters. The final output controls are unique for each channel making it very easy to dial in the perfect amount of leveling per channel.

What makes the MS mod so desirable is its ability to encode and decode the left and right channel—be it input, output, or both—into a mid and side pair, comparing the most in-phase to the most out-of-phase material. A greatly appreciated recording and mixing technique, mid-side processing allows you to separately apply different styles of limiting and compression for wider mixes or even stronger and more consistent mid information. Great for adding and solidifying the dynamic depth of your masters with expanded range in the stereo field, the Variable Mu Mastering Version MS mod offers big Manley sound with supreme control.

Variable Mu Mastering Version Features

• Stereo tube limiter/compressor
• All controls are detented for easy recalls on masters
• Mid/side encoding and decoding via input/output switching
• Balanced transformer inputs and outputs with flat frequency response
• All-tube signal path, including variable gain, amplifying, and output
• Each channel has a limit/compress switch and a hardware bypass switch
• Compression is soft knee at a 1.5:1 ratio, Limiter is a sharper knee starting at a 4:1 ratio and can achieve up to a 20:1 ratio
• Input gain ranges +/-4dB over a 5-position control
• Threshold is labeled in half-dB steps for a 12dB range on the limiter, compressor reassigns these to quarter-dB steps for a 6dB range
• Attack time extended on both ends with 11 positions (15to 90ms)
• 5-position recovery control (200ms to 8 sec)
• HP SC input sets a 1-pole filter at 100Hz
• Sep/Link sets whether the threshold, attack, and recovery are individual to the channels or linked controls
• Output detented to 24 steps of half-dB increments for an 11dB range