Manley Nu Mu Stereo Limiter/Compressor

Building upon our proud heritage, the Manley Nu Mu merges the esoteric “T-Bar mod” all-tube front end from the legendary Manley Variable Mu and makes it standard followed by a new solid-state audio chain for the smoothest dynamics action coupled to the punchiest sonic path. It’s like a “clean” Variable Mu.

The Manley Nu Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor uses the special T-Bar mod tube front end of the legendary Variable Mu® with the same super-smooth side chain and timing characteristics followed by a high voltage discrete and FET solid-state amplifying and output stage for a faster and punchier audio path. It is like a “clean” version of the Variable Mu, especially suited for modern digital and electronic music where you don’t necessarily need to color or mask the sound as we did in the early days of digital.

1. OUTPUT CONTROL. The OUTPUT control is available on both the L and R channels. It adjusts the output level of that audio channel. Unity gain is about the ninth marking, or 11 o'clock.

2. THRESHOLD CONTROL. The THRESHOLD control is available on both the L and R channels. THRESHOLD or gain reduction sets the necessary amplitude for compression or limiting to take effect. The most extreme effect is when the control knob is set to MIN or fully counter-clockwise.

3. COMPRESS / LIMIT SWITCH. This switch allows the Nu Mu to use two different compression ratios, offering either Compression at approximately 3:1 when the switch is engaged and illuminated, or Limiting at approximately a 10:1 ratio.

4. IN / BYPASS SWITCH. The BYPASS switch in the Nu Mu is a ‘Hardwire’ bypass for maximum performance. If the switch is engaged and illuminated to the “IN” position the audio will pass through either the Limiter or Compressor, so all the front panel controls will function. Use this switch to verify that the limiting or compressing is not messing up the original sound but enhancing it or at least leveling the volume.

5. VU METER. The Large custom VU meters allow easy tracking of both channels with the Nu Mu. It shows the amount of gain reduction in dB from the 0 dB mark, when the switch (7) is set to REDUCTION. When this switch is selected to O/P and illuminated, the meter measures the output in decibels.

6. HIP CONTROL. The "Hip" control allows compression to happen at lower volumes (lower in the dynamic range spectrum) but leaves the louder dynamics alone while still compressing the overall signal. You get louder soft sections and original dynamics of the louder sections. Previously the only way to get around this issue has been parallel compression, where the compressed signal is mixed with the uncompressed signal. Our "Hip" control achieves a similar effect while being easier to use, requiring less hardware (no need for extra mixing externally).

7. METER SELECT SWITCH. The Meter select switch allows the user to monitor either Gain Reduction or the Output of the unit. When the switch is engaged and illuminated, the output of the particular channel you are monitoring is visible in the corresponding VU Meter.

8. ATTACK CONTROL. The ATTACK control determines how long the compressor takes to respond to signals above the threshold. The Attack control is continuously variable and determines the necessary length of a transient to initiate gain reduction.
With 63% gain reduction: SLOW 0.13s, MID 0.07s, FAST 0.013s.
With 90% gain reduction: SLOW 0.64s, MID 0.35s, FAST 0.064s.
Fully counter clockwise at the slowest setting will prevent most percussive signals from causing limiting or compression. It is available on both the left and the right channel.

9. RECOVERY CONTROL. The RECOVERY control determines how long the compressor takes to recover after the signal falls below the threshold level.
With 63% gain reduction recovery, five selections: 0.1s, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64s, 1.7s.
With 90% gain reduction recovery five selections: 0.227s, 0.368s, 0.736s, 1.6s, 3.87s.

10. LINK FUNCTION. When The LINK function is used it links the two Stereo channels together. The Left channel controls become the master linking THRESHOLD, ATTACK & the RECOVERY CONTROLS.

11. INPUT LEVEL SWITCH. The Input Level is controlled by a toggle switch. There is an Input Level control for each channel. Three levels of attenuation are available. +3dB, 0dB and -3dB.

12. HP SC SWITCH. The High Pass Side Chain filter is factory set a 100Hz. When this switch is engaged and illuminated, everything above 100Hz will have the effect of limiting or compression. Useful if you want the bass to come through with full impact and limit or compress everything else.

13. POWER SWITCH. The Power Switch glows a soft blue color when an IEC power lead is connected to the unit. This indicates that the Nu Mu is in STANDBY mode. Engaging the power switch takes the Nu Mu out of standby mode and into warm-up mode. The power switch will illuminate to a brighter blue and the backlit VU meters will start to flash. This warm-up process last 30 seconds, after which the MUTE relays will lift and the VU meters will stop flashing.

Specs

• Manley IRON® input transformers
• 4 x hand-matched 6BA6 vacuum tubes
• Balanced XLR inputs & outputs
• Manley HIP function raises soft dynamics without squashing louder passages
• MANLEY POWER® High Voltage Switched Mode Power Supply custom designed for our vacuum tube audio circuits
• INPUT Level Preset 3-way switches -3dB, 0, +3dB
• Continuously variable OUTPUT level controls
• Unity Gain set INPUT to "0" and OUTPUT control to 11 o’clock. (Input source Z= 150 Ohms, Output load Z= 100 kOhms)
• Maximum input level: (1 kHz Sine, <0.3% THD+N)
• -3 = +25 dBu
• 0 = +21 dBu
• +3 = +18 dBu
• Maximum GAIN: 13dB
• GAIN makeup: 10dB (gain above unity)
• Output Headroom: 23dB (referenced to +4dBu)
• Variable ATTACK control: 13msec - 130msec
• RECOVERY switch 5 steps: 0.1s, 0.16s, 0.32s, 0.64s, 1.7sec.
• Continuously variable THRESHOLD controls
• Hardwired Relay Bypass Switch
• Ratio Mode switches between LIMIT (1.5:1 to 12:1) or COMPRESS (1.2:1 to 3:1)
• HP SC: High Pass Side Chain Filter -3dB @ 100Hz @ 6dB per Octave
• Stereo Link establishes Left-Master dynamic control for THRESHOLD, ATTACK, and RECOVERY controls
• Beautiful illuminated stereo VU meters read Gain Reduction or Output Level
• Sidechain INSERT per channel via 1/4" TRS jack TIP=SEND, RING=Return, SLEEVE=Ground
• Maximum Output: +27dBu (18Vrms) into 100K Ohm load; +24.5dBu (13Vrms) into 600 Ohm load. (1Khz Sine, < 0.3% THD+N, BW 20Hz - 20kHz).
• Frequency Response: - 0.8dB @ 20Hz, -0.5dB @ 50kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.05% THD+N (1kHz Sine, +4dBu, BW: 20Hz - 22kHz)
• Noise floor: -85dB typical (BW: 20Hz - 22kHz)
• Dynamic Range: 112dB
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 89dB (referenced to +4dBu)
• Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR): 74dB (BW: 20Hz - 22kHz, +4dBu, 1kHz Sine)
• Output Impedance: 100 Ohms
• Input Impedance: -3dB= 1 kOhms, 0dB= 2.5 kOhms, +3dB= 4.5 kOhms
• AUTOMUTE warmup delay: 30 Seconds
• Power consumption: 35 Watts
• Standby Power Consumption: 0.5 Watts
• Operating mains voltage: 90 to 254 VAC (internal universal supply)
• Mains Voltage Frequency: 50-60Hz
• Dimensions: 19" x 3 1/2" x 7" (occupies 2u)
• Unit Weight: 8.5 lbs.
• Shipping weight: 11.5 lbs.