Meet the Manley Variable Mu 30th Anniversary Limited Edition
Manley Celebrates 30 years of the Legendary Compressor/Limiter.
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, the Manley Variable Mu is available in a limited edition T-Bar XXX version with a customized look.
Today, the Variable Mu is about as synonymous with mixing and mastering as a single piece of gear can be. However, its origin story is far more obscure than you might think.
Manley Variable Mu 30th Anniversary Edition
Rather than being influenced by the design of the Fairchild 670, the Stereo Variable Mu is, in fact, inspired by the Disa Elektronik 91N02 broadcast limiter from Denmark.
This gave the Variable Mu a sonic identity of its own, with a defined sound preferred by mixing and mastering engineers. With this limited T-Bar XXX version, however, there is a mod that allows more extreme limiting than the standard Variable Mu unit.
When more than 6dB of gain reduction is present, the result is smoother and more musical compression. This also widens the scope of utility, as you can apply this in a wide range of different signal chains.
Instead of going after the rare 6386 tubes found in the Fairchild, the design uses a matched pair of 6BA6 pentodes strapped as triodes.
This makes the Anniversary Edition a worthwhile acquisition both for prospective and even current owners of the Variable Mu. With its custom stars and stripes themed faceplate, it’s sure to become a favourite in your studio.
Pricing and availability:
The limited-edition Manley Variable Mu is currently available from Thoman. With only 50 units produced worldwide, this is a rare chance to own this future classic.
More about the Manley Variable Mu:
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