Manley VOXBOX - MVBXA 4/2003 - Manual (Page 18)

ADDENDUM
Originally this page was supposed to show some user settings and we invited everybody to
contribute. Nobody did, so this page was blank for 3 years. So now, we can use it for some col-
lected comments and hints we have had since the introduction and for some info on versions and
updates.
The single biggest unexpected rave is from bass players - they want us to rename it “The Bass-
Box”. It turns out the VOXBOX is pretty amazing as a direct box for bass. If you haven’t tried this
yet, please do. Apparently, the compressor and EQ are voiced well to complement today’s bass
sounds and a number of top session bass players carry one around as their only processor.
It also has become a choice piece for some tours as a vocal processor and didn’t just end up as
a studio unit. For example, CSNY used 5, one for each voice and one on the vocal sub-mix. U2
used one for Bono’s vocals. After 3 years and countless “vocal channels” and “channel strips”
the VOXBOX still seems to be the one to beat.
The only common confusion-call we get has to do with the “EQ INPUT” toggle. (see page 8, item
P). To simplify; the typical most-used position for that toggle is the center, which routes the Mic-
Pre / Compressor into the EQ / Deesser-Limiter. The toggle-up position is for splitting the VOX-
BOX into 2 paths and uses “INSERT INPUT” to feed the EQ. The toggle-down position allows
the “LINE INPUT” XLR to feed the EQ directly. Maybe we weren’t clear enough originally,
maybe some guys never read manuals, maybe some guys didn’t notice it was a 3 position switch.
Regardless, we wrote a QUICK START page for this manual that might help too.
In the summer of 2000, we made our only requested update for those guys mostly doing spoken
voice-over work who needed more gain and more compression. We changed the Mic Pre circuitry
to allow for more gain by changing a few resistors associated with the”GAIN” switch which
reduced the negative feedback on 2 settings (ser # MVBX 738). This changed the older settings of
“40,42.5,45,47.5,50” to “40,45,50,55,60”. We replaced the 6072A which we were having trouble
getting good quiet tubes for that stage, for a Sovtek 12AX7LPS which is generally less noisy and
has slightly more gain, and it works very well as a preamp in the VOXBOX. See pg. 18 to see a
tube substitutions list. It also required a few resistor changes at the plates of the 12AX7LPS. The
old R values at the “GAIN” switch were 10K, 17K, 25K, 47K, 75K which are now 10K, 25K,
64K9,140K, 324K. The first plate (pin 1) resistor was 22K and changed to 56K and the second
plate (pin 6) resistor changed from 100K to 220K. We also changed the pick-off point for the
compressor sidechain from the first grid (pin 2) to the VU pick-off point at the pre-amp output.
All this added 10db to the gain and added some greater sensitivity on the Compressor Threshold.
The downside is a bit more expected noise with higher gains (physics). For those recording typi-
cally loud vocals these mods will have little value but for those working with quieter voices or less
sensitive mics, these are worthwhile mods.
We can do this mod for older VOXBOX’s at the factory, and while we do it replace tubes as
needed and re-tweak for original calibration. As usual our repair turn-around is very quick and
inexpensive.
Thanks again for everybody’s support, reviews and positive feedback !
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