Manley variable mu limiter compressor universal audio. The structure is based on the typical vari mu solution. There are several reasons to use a variable bias tube compressor. As far as ssl type i found this works for me only in parallel for mastering and i have better options anyway, its predictable control of a very specific nature and that surely does not work for all musicgenres. Apart from the classic input, threshold and output controls it introduces switchable high pass filter in the sidechain, parallel compression mix knob, independent attack and release switches and user replaceable tubes. Varis is a mastering grade all tube hand built pointtopoint design vari mu compressor.
The mk3 is klanghelms proprietary take on varimu compression with a more modern twist. The tubecore was designed as a studio mastering compressor. Fet field effect transistor in comparison with an opto or vari mu, a fet compressor offers just like a vca a very quick transient response, and are solid state by design. He will also try an spl iron mastering compressor plugin to see what it sounds like. Pulsar mu is a stereo compressor operating in either leftright or midside modes, designed with mixing and mastering applications in mind, but also flexible enough for tracking. At that time i had been recording for 25 years and did not really believe in magic boxes, but simply going through the vari mu made my mixes sound better to me. Vari comp is an allpurpose, easytouse, twochannel compressor with breathtakingly transparent sound. The manley vari mu is on sale at the moment and i have read great things about it. Anyone who has heard the classic fairchild 670 series limiters in action has an idea of this variable mus capabilities but the sound is even sweeter with the variable mu.
Igs audio tubecore 500 series varimu compressor 500. This varimu type compressor limiter delivers an incredible magic touch that makes everything that passes through it shine and sound more musical and emotional, thanks to its tube signal path and gain reduction mode. It doesnt have as many features or intricate controls, but that. The new tracks 5 dyna mu vari mu compressor limiter is based on an iconic american coveted piece. Developed under manley labs rigorous scrutiny, the manley variable mu compressor plugin is a thorough modeling of the legendary tube limiter. Mar 20, 2018 often used in mastering, varimu or variablegain is a tube based compression type. Aug 27, 2018 this is of course a bit simplified, but its the main reason why a varmu sounds different than a vca or fet compressor for example. Tdr kotelnikov as transparent clean, sonoris mastering compressor. In fact, since its introduction, its quickly become an industry standard mastering tool and its the limiter compressor responsible for an incredible amount of hit records over the last decade. The variable mu uses a compressionlimiting technique similar to the beloved vintage fairchild 670.
This is definitely the compressor on the list with the most tone. For years they have served many of the greatest engineers around the world. If anything ever goes wrong with your cables, just send them back to us with a copy of. The renowned manley stereo variable mu limiter compressor is a favorite of producers and recording engineers and one listen to what this device does for your sound will make you a believer, too. Using varimu compression on lead vocals free pro video.
But id also like to get a new compressor, and im having a hard time deciding between the manley vari mu with sc and the tbar mod and the api 2500. An industrystandard mastering tool the variable mu mastering version is the perfect addition to any professional mastering facility. Gyratec x compresor varimu stereo mastering mansion pro. The renowned manley stereo variable mu limitercompressor is a favorite of producers and recording engineers and one listen to what this device does for your sound will make you a believer, too. Knif soma eq knif vari mu 2 compressor bettermaker 232p mk2 equalizer hendyamps michelangelo equalizer rupert neve designs master bus processor overstayer stereo vca compressor eq avalon design 747sp compressor eq sknote ms4 stereo pwm compressor mammoth cave audio wooly mammoth deluxe. Apr 01, 2016 a thoroughbred classic finally in software form. He says he wants a variable mu compressor because they sound thicker and have a relatively fast response. If someone cant get a great mix from using it, its not the fault of the tool.
Obviously, these dont use tubes so youre not going to get that true varimu sound. I believe that the informed mastering engineer appreciates versatility and transparency. Igs audio tubecore mastering varimu compressor vintage king. Manley variable mu limiter compressor uad audio plugins. Reverbs guide to audio compressor types reverb news. Mastering compressors professional mastering equipment. It is one of the very few compressors that has become a real standard in mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade and probably. The igs audio tubecore 3u vari mu stereo compressor offers a highpass filter and wetdry mixer. In order to do the diversity of this compression topology justice, three different. It offers variable mu type operation, combined with spls 120v technology. The density switch adds a second vari mu stage to reduce the dependence upon where you have your attack and release settings. Sep 14, 2017 tracks dynamu compressorlimiter indepth. Because it relies so heavily on its tubes and because it often uses warmer transformers than an opto compressor for example, a varimu compressor adds the most colour to a source. Manley stereo variable mu compressorlimiter mastering.
This compressor is extremely well programmed so does mimic the characteristics of an extremely complex tool. Unlike optical compressors, vari mu compressors see more use in mastering, even if strictly for the sound of the circuitry more than its compression. He says the spl is also a variable mu compressor but sounds more modern. And as a result its found inside mastering houses and highend studios the world over. Apart from the classic input, threshold and output controls it introduces switchab. Igs audio tubecore mastering varimu compressor reverb. Can be used as a mono tracking compressor or as a matched pair as an advanced mastering tool. Gyraf audio gyratec 10 varimu stereo compressor the g10 is a true tube stereo compressor based on the classic variablemu principle. Sonic studio masteringediting digidesign pro tools playback digital processing hardware weiss eq1 mkii equalizer junger do1 dynamics processor waves l2 ultramaximizer limiter. The new tracks 5 dynamu varimu compressorlimiter is based on an iconic american coveted piece of hardware praised for its subtle but instantly. In 1994 i was having a project mastered at disc mastering inc in nashville and heard my first manley vari mu compressor. Digital processing software, plugins waves mercury bundle.
The tubecore 500 is a true tube mono compressor where compression is achieved using the remote cutoff of tube biasing. Anyone who has heard the classic fairchild 670 series limiters in action has an idea of this variable mu s capabilities but the sound is even. It can be used for levelling, limiting, or just to add a bit of analog warmth with its emulated tube signal path. The vari mu is found in a lot of professional analog mastering studios because its performances are comparable to fairchilds legendary 670 compressor. The original design is owned and trademarked by manley and costs so much, youd need to remortgage your studio. It is one of the very few compressors that has become a real standard in mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade and probably the next. The name fet suggests that these compressors use some sort of transistor. It can be set to dualmono, but still keeps a backwardscompatibility g10 mode where one set of knobs controls real stereo, preferable during mastering. Igs audio tubecore 3u vari mu mastering compressor pro. What are the differences between the different types of. The dyna mu will work wonders on full mixes as well as single tracks.
Therefore it has become an expensive collectors item. The igs audio tubecore 3u is a fully symmetric transformer balanced stereo mastering compressor. Gyraf audio gyratec 10 vari mu stereo compressor the g10 is a true tube stereo compressor based on the classic variable mu principle. The dyna mu is an amazing emulation of a wellknown american tube compressor celebrated for its warm sound and vivid colored tone, which thanks to ik multimedias virtual circuit modeling, is perfectly recreated and indistinguishable from the hardware. I was just wondering, those of you who have the 670 and the manley variable mu compressor, do any of you use the 670 for mastering. What program audio sounds great with a varimu compressor. The compressor allows you to work either in dual mono or midside mode ms. From fet and vca compresion to classic opto and vari mu solutions. The ultimate mix and mastering workstation from the creator of the first desktop mastering software. When manley released what is ostensibly their version of the most venerable of the variable mu compressor designs the fairchild 670 it quickly became well regarded in the mastering and mixing rooms of the world. The gyraf g22 dual stero vari mu compressor is an updated, dual version of the venerable g10 vari mu compressor. It is built using the 3u enclosure, which improves front panel clarity and makes it easier to replace tubes located at the back.
The price of this plugin makes the desirable effect of variable mu compression available to the masses. Daniel wyatts mastering tips mastering 101 daniel wyatts mastering tips. If anything ever goes wrong with your cables, just send them back to us with a copy of your invoice, and well repair them for free. On the other side, there is the ni solid bus comp into the ni varicomp. One is a ms veca ssl buscompstyle into the manley varimu. It took almost two years of extensive, dare i say excessive, research and development. Now, this modern classic is available exclusively for uad2 hardware and apollo interfaces. All signal transformer are lundahls oversized models. The mk2 models the urei 175 or 176, also with a few unique features added. It can be used either transparently as a leveller with long attack and release, as a compressor to add glue slow attack with fast release, or as a limiter fast attack and fast release. The fairchild 660670 compressor limiter is arguably the most iconic of all dynamics processors. There arent many compressors that can be compared to fairchilds legendary 670 without a certain amount of hyperbole and wishful thinking. The most faithful emulation of a modern yet legendary tube compressor limiter perfect glue for mixing and mastering.
As manley labs flagship compressor since 1994, the variable mu is a tube and. Cable type no preference db25dsub analog db25dsub digital 2 channel snakes 2 channel snakes 4 channel snakes 8 channel snakes 12 channel snakes 16 channel snakes 24 channel snakes 8 channel boxes 8 channel boxes 12 channel boxes 16 channel boxes 24 channel boxes adda converters aesebu cables. The mk1 is a model of the fairchild 670 with a few unique features added. Modeled on the sound of boutique highend studio gear, this firstever software emulation adds highpass sidechaining and parallel compression all while running as. This vari mu type compressor limiter delivers an incredible magic touch that makes everything that passes through it shine and sound more musical and emotional, thanks to its tube signal path and gain reduction mode. Mobtowns guide to the different types of compressors mobtown. High end, ear selected software plug in suite from the main software developers.
To create mjuc ive researched and analyzed each and every variable mu implementation i could get my hands on to get the best of tube compression into a single processor. Check out our offer of handmade studio compressors. Nov 18, 2015 unlike optical compressors, vari mu compressors see more use in mastering, even if strictly for the sound of the circuitry more than its compression. Thanks to its transformers and alltube modeled heart, it can impart an audible magic which makes a mix bloom, amazingly gluing all the parts together. The new tracks 5 dyna mu vari mu compressor limiter is based on an iconic american coveted piece of hardware praised for its subtle but instantly recognizable sonic fingerprint.
A decent plugin emulation can now be considered pretty much a standard tool, and there are quite a. Its adjustable attack and release settings are optimized for mixing and mastering, but are flexible for most tracking situations. Mjuc is the most effortful klanghelm plugin to date. The renowned manley stereo variable mu compressor limiter is a favorite of producers and recording engineers and one listen to what this device does for your sound will make you a believer, too. Obviously, these dont use tubes so youre not going to get that true vari mu sound. Manley stereo variable mu limitercompressor vintage king. The new tracks 5 dynamu varimu compressorlimiter is based on an iconic american coveted piece of hardware praised for its subtle but instantly recognizable sonic fingerprint. All of this hardware software debate is a pretty narrow level concern and a very high level discussion. Sontec inspired stereo linked, custom 5 band analog equalizer exclusive to safeandsound mastering studio uk. Gyraf g22 dual stero varimu compressor vintage king. The manley stereo variable mu mastering version incorporates detented and logable steps built with 1% metal film resistors on sealed goldcontact grayhill switches. The manley variable mu limiter compressor has been our best selling product for many years.
Crane song solaris dac lowest jitter of any published dac adc. This incredibly affordable software compressor from klanghelm includes 3 separate and distinct models. Modeled on the sound of boutique highend studio gear, this firstever software emulation adds highpass sidechaining and parallel compression all while running as a standalone plugin inside your daw. Anyone who has heard the classic fairchild 670 series limiters in action has an idea of this variable mus capabilities but the sound is even. New uad vari mu compressor lets hear some examples on the master bus. Analog processing hardware shadow hills mastering compressor manley varimu limitercompressor. It emulates a modern yet legendary tube compressor which is an industry standard for mix and mastering. The vbcs are unofficially sourced from three classic designs. Nov 25, 20 lets kick off with a stunning tripledecker unit, and one of the best software emulations of analogue gear that weve encountered to date. The mastering version of the variable mu limiter compressor uses expensive greyhill rotary switches with gold contacts where conductive plastic pots were used. Knif vari mu ii mastering compressor thermionic culture phoenix mastering plus compressor rupert neve portico ii master buss processor dangerous music compressor pendulum audio es8 pendulum audio pl2 limiter. Often used in mastering, vari mu or variable gain is a tube based compression type. Input and output attenuators as well as threshold switches are 23position elma rotary switches and the rest are 11 position elma switches. Model mk3 looks to be the most hifi and sounds similar to a 670 in the way that it adds punch.
A gold standard among mixing and mastering engineers, the variable mu adds clarity and cohesion to stereo buses or your entire mix. Thanks to its transformers and alltube modeled heart, it can. The variable mu mastering version is the perfect addition to any professional mastering facility. A gold standard among mixing and mastering engineers, the variable mu. Versions with the ability to utilize midside processing can be especially effective in a mastering role. This is not the overly fat and big tube compressor sound which in fact is too often just messy, woolly and dark sound of bad transformers and too much distortion. Manley stereo variable mu limiter compressor manley.
This method controlling the gain by altering quesient current in differential tube pairs is much faster than the optical method. Manley variable mu stereo compressorlimiter sweetwater. This compressor from the 1950s is still considered one of the best tube compressors ever made. It was meticulously analyzed for months over every single detail, unveiling all of its secrets. Gyratec x compresor varimu stereo mastering mansion. Fuse audio labs releases vcl515 plugin based on rare 60s. Vari mu ii is a mastering grade compressor, which of course excels in mixing too. Feed backfeed forward modes, independent triode and pentode output stages, dualmonostereo link operation, attackrelease controls and two step hpf. Top 20 best compressors of all time page of 20 attack. Knif audio vari mu ii stereo bus compressor black pro. Lets kick off with a stunning tripledecker unit, and one of the best software emulations of analogue gear that weve encountered to date.
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