Manley Labs Slam!

Manley Langevin Slam! is a stereo microphone preamp and limiter.  I believe the pre is a combination of digital and analog components, containing a variety of connections in back, some of which are familiar and some unfamiliar.  I do know that it has XLR and AES connections at the least.  The unit is rackable and will take up two rack spaces in a traditional rack space.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the Manley Langevin Slam! does have a decent amount of stuff going on, but after a while of playing around with it I found that everything was pretty easy to use.  While it isn't the type of unit that you can know everything about with a single glance, everything is laid out nicely in order to insure that it can be as user friendly as possible.  Each of the two channels has the following parameters: input level, output leve, FET limiter, release, an attack switch, and ELOP limiter, and a knob for choosing the source (mic, line, DI, etc).  There is also a switch for choosing the frequency of the high pass filter as well for linking the two channels and for choosing your metering.  I've never seen the manual for Slam! so I can't say anything about its make up.


SOUND QUALITY

It is hard for me to describe the incredible sound quality offered by Manley Langevin's Slam! channel.  Both the mic preamp and the limiter are some of the best modern units of its kind.  I've used the unit for a variety of applications including vocals, drums, and guitars, and find that no matter what type of application I'm using this for, that it sounds incredible.  The best way that I can describe the sound is the perfect mixture of warmth and clarity, which are two things that often aren't seen paired together, as it is usually one or the other.  You've really got to hear Slam! in order to believe it...


OVERALL OPINION

While Manley Langevin Slam! is one of the best outboard channel strips that I've used in my days as an engineer, the price tag is so large that it will shy most away from buying this, and I can't blame them.  If you're looking for one of the most well designed preamp/limiter combination channel strips, look no further.  This unit is aimed at those looking a high quality piece of gear regardless of what it costs, so I assume that if you're looking into buying this that you fall into that category.  If you ever get the chance to try out this unit, I suggest doing so as you'll want to use it over and over again!

Analog limiter, 2 limiting circuits FET or ELOP (optical), lamp pramplification circuit.

USE

Simple configuration, except for the metering section which is very complte.

SOUND QUALITY

We have the version mastering, using insert on drums, a master bus, or any other track ncessite ultra-fast limiter.

The FET limiter brings to his incredible presence.

Its effect is equivalent L2 waves or UAD precision limit. But the resulting sound is much more natural.

We use less ELOP limiter, other optical compressors bring less distortion.

NOTICE GLOBAL

The equipment is expensive, but once you have it, you quickly forget the price, so it becomes essential.

If it is just to use an insert on a mono track, a 1176 UA could do the trick.

www.myprods.fr

Hybrid Stereo Limiter (FET and Optics)

XLR Connectors

2U rack

UTILIZATION

Architectural configuration simple. The processing order is:

- Input Gain,
- Optical limiter (Elop)
- Gain output
- FET limiter.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is fully respected.

A very pleasant crunch is added when you compress heavily.

If the drums stand out a little of the mix, the pump slam just right.

OVERALL OPINION

I used to use only soft limiters.

There is no comparison: the limiters are soft top for the last dB of a master, to adjust the RMS and arrive exactly to -0.1 dB peak.

This limiter hard gives a real personality and a real punch to the sound. I often place before a varimu, to relieve him and to work in a narrow range of dynamics (the varimu resents the high peaks).

The price is exorbitant given the lack of electronics inside. We pay particular R & D, and the sound!

To listen to this product: www.myprods.fr