Manley STEREO VARIABLE MU LIMITER / COMPRESSOR - 3/2004 - Manual (Page 6)

A D F
C
I
G E
F
C
D A
E
J J
H H
B B
K L M K L M
FRONT PANEL
A. IN / BYPASS Switched in bypass mode, (down position) all effects of the limiting circuitry are bypassed and
will not affect the audio signal. In the bypass mode , the audio signal passes from the input
directly to the output (hardwire).
B. COMP / LIMIT Selects compression ( 1.5:1) or limiting (4:1) function. Compression is soft -knee, Limit is a
sharper knee. At greater than 12dB of limiting the ratio increases (up to 20:1 maximum).
C. RECOVERY Recovery times can be selected between
a. VERY SLOW 8 seconds
b. SLOW 4 seconds
c. MEDIUM 0.6 seconds
d. FAST 0.4 second
e. VERY FAST 0.2 second
D. THRESHOLD Continuously variable gain reduction threshold control.
Determines the necessary amplitude for compression or limiting to take effect. Most extreme
effect is at the MIN (fully counter clockwise) position. The lower the threshold, the more that
gets limited.
E. OUTPUT ATTENUATE Continuously variable attenuation of output signal leaving the amplifier circuitry.
Full attenuation occurs at the full counterclockwise position.
This control is active only in IN mode.
F. ATTACK Continuously variable sensitivity of transient detection. Determines the necessary length of
transient to initiate gain reduction. Fast =25mS, Med =50mS, Slow =70mS. Fully counter
clockwise at the slowest setting will prevent most percussive signals from causing limiting or
compression.
G. INPUT LEVEL Stepped attenuation of input signal entering the amplifier limiting circuit. 12:00 is unity.
Turning the switch clockwise will feed more signal into the amplifier, increasing TH+D
and saturation; counter-clockwise rotation will feed less signal in and sound more
transparent. *Note: until late 2011 (MSLC83273), this switch was a continuously variable
potentiometer, with which it was extremely difficult to achieve proper channel-to-channel
matching. The switched input provides a far more accurate experience for the user, as well
as being far simpler from a manufacturing standpoint.
H. GR METER Measures (in decibels) amount of reduction.
I. LINK When switched to “MONO”, left side is independent from the right side. When
switched to “LINK” both channels are reduced in gain by the same number of dB. This insures
that the stereo image is unchanged. The METERs remain independent to help set THRESHOLDs.
POWER ON/OFF Power is supplied to the unit when switched UP. Meters will illuminate.
J. HP SC IN / OUT When switched to “IN”, the side chain will not respond as strongly to low frequency content. These
switches can be used with bass-heavy music where you don’t want the bass driving the WHOLE
action of the compressor. The filter is a very gentle 6dB/octave 1-pole filter, and will typically be
down 1-3dB at 100Hz and down 4-6dB at 50Hz. As you decrease the frequency, the amount of
limiting will also decrease.
K. BALANCE Multimeter test jacks for calibration. See p.15 for instructions.
L. ADJUST Trimpot #1 for tube calibration. See p.15 for instructions.
M. METER Trimpot #2 for adjusting Meter ZERO point in LIMIT mode. See p.15 for instructions.
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