All user reviews for the Manley Labs Stereo Variable Mu

Tube compressor 2U rack.

XLR connectors.

The device heats a lot, it is important not to stick it to the other racks.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple: all the standard parameter of a compressor (threshold, attack, release), but no ratio, which varies depending on other settings and the input signal. This causes a gentle compression, well adapted to link instruments of a mix.

The downside: the varimu resents the dynamics are too high, it saturates quickly: it is often wise to use a limiter in front (the Slam in my case).

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is warm: the varimu transforms (bon!) mix music.

OVERALL OPINION

For its price, it would have been nice if the device saturates least in high dynamic.

If you do not have a hard limiter to attach to it, it will be necessary to test whether other kinds varimu phoenix does not suit you best.

To listen to this product: www.myprods.fr

Compressor or limiter, to choose from. A vehicle while lamps, which heats the sound, and heat at all! At the end of journalists, it can be used for grilling your meat.
Rackable, but you prvoir the place above and below ... it's quite warm!

UTILIZATION

Superb manual, easy at first, but to get exactly what you want, we must quibble. No function of attack or relchement automatic, it's 100% manual.

SOUND QUALITY

Usable on almost everything. Can be used for drums, bass or voice, but it is often used for mastering. The sound quality is superlative. I think that analog is the best compressor I've heard. The sound is warm, natural (meaning not the effect of compression) and above, can be strong without abmer ringing sound. This machine can collect large volumes in between.
It can be used dual mono or Stereo.

OVERALL OPINION

It is expensive, ok. It heats up (you can dye the heating when it is on), ok.
Both channels keep their rglages spars, even when we are "link".
For the rest, the box of course. The finish leaves a little DSIR (not all the knobs n'taient visss well .. it weird for a machine of this price). But hey, this is the kind of air we do not regret having bought. We just regret not having bought more than tt.

Compressor / Limiter studio PRO, used on many hits for over 20 years.
It is analog. The technology of variable MU is unique and only with the Fairchild 670 used this technique.
Basically the idea is to use the relaxation of the tube To determine the degree of compression. It is a soft knee (the action is transparent). It is rack mountable, big and heavy, built like a tank.
He may of rglages is frustrating.

UTILIZATION

In this area it is very simple. There is only one thing: compression / limiting the signal. So little rglages 6 no recovery, attack, gain and threshold ...
One wonders, or will the need to pay 3000 EUR to buy it.

SOUND QUALITY

3000 EUR to justify it must cost. Simply magical.
It is not my opinion only one compressor is also a sound enhancer. You spend any of your songs dedant and it sounds serious. Determines impossible to exactly why. It changes everything, the bass sound more pchuent the acute are distinct, the medium you jump in the face.
I make music for a long time and I have seen the compressor, the Manley Variable Mu is the caviar of mastering. All Michael Jackson dedant pass. It is a wonder of your songs. So yes it has little option but we must listen to understand.

OVERALL OPINION

It is rare to say without fear of being wrong that a device is the best in its class. Yet in the case of the latter. Manley saw the socity and sell for 20 years, but try to entrouver a hand!
When you have one, you keep it. Or is that adcid of stopping to make music.

Note: This notice applies to the first version of the Variable MU (with 6386 lamps). The latest version is more transparent and do not have that particular color. The problem is that these lamps are now ending for it ... disparatre n'ey will be more at all ...

Analog tube compressor. Primarily aimed at mastering (but can be used at the plug).
Not a single automatic setting, it's true, the high end.

UTILIZATION

Instructions very well and with humor too rare in the audio world.
Just get used to the handling of this machine, but it quickly if we understand how a compressor works.

SOUND QUALITY

Top notch. Possesses a smooth, warm and detailed. This is not a neutral machine, far from it, but the color made, in addition to a very natural compression makes this machine one of the best compressor market. Can not do without when you put your fingers on it.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for several years, the price seems high but is justified. The type of purchase you do not regret.

Compressor Limiter 2-channel Stereo or
trs beautiful finish, 8 lamps, input and output transformers

UTILIZATION

Fresh or compression limiting mastering
this machine is one of the best to finish a mix, without linking it crushes,

SOUND QUALITY

Good biensur is luxury, a rich machine, or in a cot era production lower and lower no longer amortize correctly this kind of machine, but all the same, up Bus mastering compressor or final, it seems to me so far difficult to meet your exact hardware of a machine in this range with plugs. more musicians and customers like to see a machine acts, and that he tural rsulte a quality sound.
So now it seems unwise to buy mid-range hardware, now often Exceeds by trs plugs good for the rest, some machines are all made sense in a modern environment ...
whether for their versatility (Distressor for example) or for their quality tural identity or sound (Vari-Mu, Neve 33609 etc ...)
to return our manley:
First the machine amne lgre a beautiful musicality and the high trs, trs is beautiful and not hard
then the compression is quite soft, it can swell up quite a punch without limitation pumping effects,
transients even with 4 of 5 dB cuts remain intact,
the release is not fast enough to allow destructive (type Distressor)
low levels are beautifully highlighted in the mix, the knob "input" and worthy of the finest pre amp line, it grazed the sound without any vulgaris the output signal when compressed does gnre any problem or phase deformation curve rponse often encountered on plugs "called" mastering.

OVERALL OPINION

+
Superb machine,
subtle, of a large class, respect the signal, gentle compression
I bought it to replace my VT747
the manley Ragit immediately better on a mix, compression takes place quickly and is less need to come rergler the machine
higher compression can be applied with the Manley or the avalon will crasis soft fawn can signal a stroke.
it's more musical, more empty in the rglage and more stable as a whole.
-
it heats up really

right now it is accompanied by two Empirical Labs Lil freq for mastering, all converted by a Universal Audio 2192 and frankly it works, at the same time a can !!!!!!

Compressor / limiter tube, 2 mono or 1 stereo ....

UTILIZATION

Extremely simple configuration, input gain, relaxation, output level, threshold, attack. Not easy to master, however, is a Formula 1 ... Tool for starting, especially for mastering, but usable on any source ...

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is exceptional ... It gives a thick sound, incredible heat ... Taste is very addictive ... It gives not only fishing, but it adds a je ne sais quoi that magnifies the sound, gives it a very nice size ... It is colorful, it has a real personality sound very very very endearing ....

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for some years now, so mastering it is indispensable, mix well used it's magic (a piano in with the mass-eq in passive, is a beauty ...), it deals all sources with true happiness, special mention instruments rich in harmonics ...
The price?? Justified, completely, once it has, you can not live without it ...

This is a compressor / limiter with high standing lamp.
Two channels that can not or linker. two rack units.
XLR connectors.

the finish is very neat and the look is hell.
it heats up a lot (there are ways to get burned on the fins at the rear)



UTILIZATION

Everything is clear, it's just a compressor.

SOUND QUALITY

A compressor is absolutely beautiful. It can be used on almost everything: for tracking vocals, Over-head, guitars, mix in the group or mastering.

The sound is huge. quite respectful in the low cut, it can heat a mix of very nice way.
Cranked on batteries, it is pumped cymbals exactly how we expect.

Truly a great achievement of Manley. The technology is similar to the Fairchild 660.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years. I have also Tubectech CLA2B. Manley is the most versatile: it is also used for mastering, I would like to compare with LA2A.

What I like best: sound, what I like least: nothing, really.

value for money: ben it's expensive but obviously we really need a good tube compressor in a set-up mix.
for any info, appointments at: http://www.lestudio5.com

Manley Langevin's Stereo Variable Mu is a dual channel limiter and compressor. It is an analog dynamic processor, the connections of which I'm not sure of as the few times I've used it it was racked up already and I had no need to look at the back of it. The Variable Mu will take up two spaces in a traditional size rack casing.

UTILIZATION

I found that using the Manley Langevin Stereo Variable Mu was generally a pretty easy thing to do. I will assume that those who are using a high end limiter like this one will probably have a bit of experience using other limiters and compressors, so if this is the case, these users should be able to adapt quickly to using the Variable Mu. Each of the two channels has it's own parameters for threshold, output, attack, and recovery (release). There is than a dual input know which controls the input level on both of the channels. In addition, each channel has switches to choose between either a compression or limiter mode, for bypass, and there is also a single switch to choose either a linked or separate connection between the two channels. I haven't seen the manual, but I think the Variable Mu is easy enough to use where you don't need one.

SOUND QUALITY

The Manley Langevin Stereo Variable Mu is capable of being used in all sorts of situations and scenarios. While it is first a limiter and then a compressor on paper, I would say that it has equal capabilities to do both sort of dynamic processing. The sound in general has a very good balance of clarity, sharpness, and girth. I love the way that it sounds on vocals, which is really the only application that I've gotten to use the Variable Mu for thus far. Judging by the way it sounds on vocals alone though (and I've used it on a few different voices), I would say that this can be used for a variety of instrument applications as well. I've yet to have the chance to prove this theory though...

OVERALL OPINION

The Manley Langevin Stereo Variable Mu is definitely one of the most popular products that Manley has to offer, which is saying a lot considering their impressive line of high end pro audio gear. I love the gear that Manley Langevin has to offer, although it can be a bit pricey at times, including with the Variable Mu. However, this is absolutely what you need to expect from high quality signal processing like the Variable Mu. If you're a professional studio owner or engineer, the Variable Mu is something you should absolutely check out, but if you're a home studio owner, this is probably a bit out of your price range.