Manley Labs Voxbox

Manley Langevin’s Voxbox is an all in one channel strip designed for use with vocals, as the name states.<span> </span>However, the mic preamp, compressor, EQ, and de-esser here I think it can be used for a variety of other applications.<span> </span>Having said this, this review will focus on using this with lead vocals, as this is what the original intention of this box was and is what it is best suited as.<span> </span>In terms of characteristics, the Voxbox has XLR connections in the back and has a ¼ inch input in the front in the mic pre section.<span> </span>It also has built in phantom power.<span> </span>The Voxbox will take up three rack spaces in a traditional rack.

UTILIZATION

<p class="MsoNormal">At first look, the Manley Langevin Voxbox certainly has a whole lot going on.<span> </span>However, everything is broken up into neat sections and once you break it all down, it is really quite simple.<span> </span>The mic pre section has parameters for phantom power, a high pass filter, a mic/line selector, and both an input and gain leveler.<span> </span>The compressor has parameters for threshold, attack, release, and a switch to either bypass or to compress at a 3:1 ratio.<span> </span>The EQ section is pretty basic, consisting of three bands, each of which has parameters for frequency and gain.<span> </span>Lastly, the de-esser has a threshold knob and a fixed frequency selection knob.<span> </span>Since there is a lot going on here, if you don’t have much experience with channel strips and their individual parts, it is probably a good idea to have the manual around.


SOUND QUALITY

<p class="MsoNormal">Like most of the gear made by Manley Langevin, the Voxbox sounds incredible.<span> </span>Across the board, this is a top notch channel strip, with each piece sounding as good as the next.<span> </span>The mic pre and the compressor are probably the most impressive parts of the unit as far as recording vocals goes, but the EQ and de-esser are no less important and sound great as well.<span> </span>This is a versatile enough piece of outboard gear that it can be used for just about any type of voice, ranging from low males to soprano females.<span> </span>Since you’ve got so much versatility, it makes it the perfect box for recording any type of vocals…

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OVERALL OPINION

I first used the Manley Langevin Voxbox about a year ago, and was immeadiatley taken back by the amazing sound that I was able to achieve with it.<span> </span>Of course the most important thing when recording vocals is the singer, but if you’ve got that in place, the Voxbox will take care of the rest.<span> </span>With great sound quality comes a large price, but for those looking for perfect sound quality regardless of<span> </span>price, the Voxbox is one of the best on the market for recording vocals.<span> </span>Beyond vocals, you can definitely extend the use of this to other applications as well, making it the perfect all in one channel strip for recordings of all types.

What technology is used? analog lamp.
What are the effects or types of effects available? preamp, esser, limiter, compressor, equalo
What is the connection? XLR jack
Is this a rack or rack MODEL? yes

UTILIZATION

The configuration is it simple? it depends, if you know a channel strip so, otherwise you will not understand everything.
Gets it easy to sound good? a killing this preamp, sweet, creamy, super equalo,
The manual is clear and sufficient? complicated and English.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of your instruments or your microphone is properly reproduced? perfectly
The preamp is it clear or does it brings a stain? a color that is undeniable ... but what color ..... beautiful ...

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it? 2 years
What is the particular feature you like best and least? we love everything about this machine
Have you tried many other models before buying it? yes
How would you rate the quality / price? expensive ... but when it was ... we understand why!
With experience, you do again this choice? and how!!

This is a Voxbox a while. Ie a channel strip rack which combines in a single device a preamp, a compressor / limiter, a de-esser, and EQ. This strip offers mic, instrument and line. The technology used is hybrid, ie mixing lights and opto-isolators.
The architecture of this device is still quite unusual. Upon reading the synopsis shows that the signal begins to cross the compressor before being routed to the tube preamplifier (whose effect is dose increments). According to Manley, the architecture for the least unusual, in conjunction with the use of passive components (a specialty of the brand), avoids clipping pre-compression signal even with a very tormented say. In a more conventional layout, the ridges might wring from the preamp, compressor recovering a signal already degraded ..
The equalizer is passive as the illustrious Pultec EQ with Mid Voxbox builds happily, this correction is unknown amplify the bass and treble, midrange or dig, it&#39;s a surprising choice, given the complexity of the various correctors strips market.

UTILIZATION

Well it&#39;s a strip thus a priori no big deal though a cheese .. Yes but now, if you look closer, and especially by using it you quickly realize that Manley&#39;s not quite like any other. To try to be as clear as possible I will split into two sections Voxbox. Bring me a chainsaw! (Just kidding).
First-section, compressor / preamp:
Let us first see the preamp, the commissioning of the phantom voltage is lockable (alleluia!). The settings of the high-pass filters (80 or 120 Hz) are themselves classics. The phase inverter is equally important. However the input gain with determination, in steps, rate-reaction against the preamp is much less. A little explanation is needed: in fact it acts directly on the working conditions of the lamp, which means that ca also increase level, this translates into a different tone quality. At this level it is far smaller tube preamp type ART Behringer et al .. That said, as said above the patch differs nice but the background noise is more or less important depending on the settings .. Which incidentally is in no way crippling the contrary!
The compressor is fairly complete, use one discovers an inverter "Link / Separate" to link the parameters of said compressor and two units Voxbox esser, if you would like to address a stereo signal, a bypass, a fine adjustment of threshold, and two five-position switches for the fast attack and release (Slow and Fast). Fixed rate is 3:1 - though it varies slightly depending on the amount of signal being sent. Under the meter, a five-position switch lets you choose what you visualize, gain reduction (or compressor esser), line level input, output level of the first or second section .. , But terribly practical.
Section Two-undoubtedly the great curiosity of the craft, the equalizer:
I remind you that this equalizer merely amplify the bass and treble, midrange or mitigate this and more than 10 dB. To adjust the frequency, there are switches to eleven positions. Attention please, no continuous settings! Fairly broad, covering bands ultimately allows good flexibility in correction despite a relatively high Q factor (at least 5 in my ear). Again a bypass is planned, as well as an input selector to choose to feed the equalizer either end with the modulation of the compressor / preamp or with a line level signal recovered at the entrance of the independent section or with the modulation directly from the input line, which is split internally. This third option is simply a convenience to directly attack the second section without having to disconnect / reconnect anything casually makes a big difference in session .. Obviously this trick the mic can not enjoy it because of course need to be preamplified ..
The final stage of Voxbox esser is, the use of this function is very simple, it uses a passive notch filter, whose frequency is again a rule in steps 3 to 12 kHz. Position "Limit" will, where appropriate, the additional use as a limiter (handy).

SOUND QUALITY

It sounds this thing! The preamp can be alternately extremely colorful or neutral depending on the settings you made. The compressor is definitely a strong point of this Voxbox. One does not hear, no particular color, transparency disconcerting. The equalizer on the other hand is absolutely beautiful, musical and very effective. The joys of quality subtractive correction, as a Massive Passive (to a lesser extent though), you get used to very quickly!

OVERALL OPINION

In fact, the most exotic high moose with this unit is undoubtedly the equalizer. We discover the joy of this so-called subtractive correction, much admired by our elders who reported always say and appreciate its clarity. After more than ten years of regular use, I can only agree with them, it is clearly another world that no plugin is able to match to date. The Voxbox is a tool perfectly transparent, though capable, the opportunity to take a color all its own. However, it is primarily intended for already well equipped studios and those willing to question their methods. The dosage of the light effect, the sweetness (no softness), compressor efficiency and Esser and I repeat the incredible equalizer make this machine an almost indispensable tool in occupational structures (read: well-equipped).
In contrast to the studio home, the provision of audio quality of such a machine is less obvious in my opinion unless the rest of your audio is in line with this bike.

See user manual or official website manleylabs.

UTILIZATION

Configuration gnrale Is it easy?
Medium, the machine calls for it looks like all great things!
The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
Yes, but in English ...

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of your instruments or microphones is properly reproduced?
This is the cream of the crme "channel strip" is really high-end trs! The sound is a natural musicality and a Ingal!
The prampli is it clear or does it brings a stain?
Color of life, velvet!

OVERALL OPINION

This machine is simply amazing! 3 rack units, with its yellow lighting "supported" in a rack, it's love at first sight ensured!
Coupled a M149, it is simply a must!
Pramplification part is great, less color than the 6176 AU, but can be more "subtle," although I am a fan of the AU 6176.
Compression is less effective, less "radical" than 6176 AU but one outstanding musical. FYI, the compression before the game pramplification is a formidable ingniosit!
The 3-band EQ is, damage, we would like the 4-band but we have to justify the Massive Passive in addition to its stro ct.
All that can stepfather "ugly" in another prampli emerges from this machine "magnifiquot;. It gives me" The Alchemist "the channel strip!