Manley Labs Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor, Mastering Version with T-Bar Mod

Find the perfect blend of vintage warmth and modern precision with the Manley Labs Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor, Mastering Version with T-Bar Mod. This high-quality, professional-grade audio equipment is a standout product from Manley Labs, a respected name in the audio industry.

The Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor is renowned for its innovative design and advanced features. It's not just a compressor; it's a tool that has shaped the sound of countless hit records over the past decade and will continue to do so in the future. The term "Mu" in tube technology refers to gain, and this device uses the unique concept of "remote cut-off" or re-biasing of a vacuum tube to achieve smooth, precise compression.

This durable audio equipment is one of the few all-tube compressors that utilize this technique, similar to the coveted vintage Fairchild 670. Even the side-chain in this device features glowing rectifier tubes. At the heart of the peak-reducing and compression action is the unique 5670 dual triode, which is constantly re-biased by the vacuum tube rectified side-chain control voltages. This results in a seamless change in its gain, providing a warm, characterful sound that is highly sought after by musicians, producers, and engineers.

The Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor offers two modes: COMPRESS and LIMIT. The COMPRESS mode provides a soft-knee ratio of 1.5 to 1, while the LIMIT mode starts at a sharper knee ratio of 4 to 1, escalating to a dramatic 20 to 1 when limiting over 12dB. Interestingly, the knee softens as more limiting is used, allowing for creative distortion effects.

Despite having a ganged input control, this device is far from mono-unfriendly. It features separate threshold and output controls for compensation, and its true strength shines when switched to LINK mode. This mode makes it an exceptional tool for final mix, 2-track, or mastering limiting and compression. As one reviewer aptly put it, using the Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor is "like pouring a bowl of sweet cream over the mix." Experience the rich, full-bodied sound that this innovative audio equipment can bring to your music.