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Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor

Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor

4.8 (92)

Add tube compression royalty to your mixes.

  • Add definition and fidelity to individual tracks, stereo buses, or an entire mix
  • Glue together difficult mixes with signature Manley tube compression
  • Link channels for a precise, perfectly matched stereo image
  • Select from Left/Right or Mid/Side operation for precise control of stereo imaging
  • Use the plug-in-only Dry/Wet Mix control to easily dial-in parallel compression
  • Mix with artist presets from Tom Elmhirst, J.J. Blair, Mike Larson, and more

Runs natively on your macOS or Windows computer, or accelerated on Apollo audio interfaces or UAD Accelerators. View full system requirements.

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Add Tube Compression Royalty to your Mixes

As Manley Labs' flagship compressor since 1994, the Variable Mu is a tube and transformer-driven classic that exudes handmade craftsmanship and is the gold standard among mixing and mastering engineers. The Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor plug-in gives your stereo buses or your entire mix the same clarity and cohesion as the high-end hardware.

Easily Add Stunning Polish

Treat your source material with velvety-smooth gain reduction, while infusing warm harmonic content, free of audible compression artifacts with the Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor plug-in and add a variable gain compressor with stunning transparency to your studio.

Enhance Tracks and Glue Mixes

The Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor plug-in can be used on single instruments such as bass or a lead vocal, or on subgroups like strings or horns. But its raison d'être is on the mix bus, where its expert features can unify your mixes with a rich, hi-fi fit and finish.

Polish your Mixes with Powerful Controls

Parameter linking allows simultaneous adjustment of both channels with stereo signals. When unlinked, the plug-in's Mid/Side processing is actually improved over the hardware, giving you phase accurate stereo imaging. Use the High Pass Sidechain filter to compress while retaining punchy bottom-end and plug-in-only controls like Dry/Wet, Mix, and Headroom for even more colors to paint your mixes.

What They Say

The Manley Variable Mu is one of my go-to compressors for all types of sounds – especially when I’m looking for an upfront, in-your-face tone. It's fun to distort too.

Mike Larson

Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg

If you've got a ragged mix, this plug-in will give it a big hug. It's a stunning emulation of our Variable Mu hardware, right down to the last detail.

EveAnna Manley

President of Manley Labs

Reviews

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
Based on 92 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 82 Total 4 star reviews: 5 Total 3 star reviews: 4 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 1
95%would recommend this product
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92 reviews
  • AS
    Ary S.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    3 days ago
    Very good

    I am still learning how to use it. But the preset Main Master bus is great. My go to now.

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  • KT
    Kim T. H.
    Verified Buyer
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    4 days ago
    Effect quality

    Medium

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  • JL
    John L.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    5 days ago
    Manley Vari Mu on acoustic guitars

    I got the Manley Vari Mu after watching a mix template setup video with engineer Sara Carter. She uses the Vari Mu on acoustic guitars and as she says it "keep their acoustic quality". So I put four instances of the compressor on the two guitar tracks (each with two mics) of a song I am now mixing and they did just that! Nice gentle squeeze to keep things in place and the tone is lovely! Looking forward to trying the Vari Mu on other sources but for now, I am completely happy with this compressor!

    Was this helpful?
  • JM
    jason m.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    2 weeks ago
    Fantastic plugin!!!

    Not only do I have this amazing plugin but I took the time to educate myself on many ways to utilize this compressor!! For now it's all about slight vocal tweaks limiting and color.

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  • GS
    Gerrit S.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    3 weeks ago
    Very good!

    I have not yet worked with the original hardware, which serves as a model for the UAD emulation. Therefore, I do not know how close the emulation with its signal quality is to that of the original Manley Compressor. Without a doubt, however, it is fully possible to produce professional results with the UAD emulation and that is what matters!

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. These plug-ins run natively on your computer. No UA hardware is required.
Yes, 14-day plug-in demos are available. Find eligible plug‑ins
We provide three activations per license. We support activation on your computer or on an iLok USB key.
For every UAD plug-in that supports native and Apollo/UAD-2 versions, you get a license for both upon purchase, or the option to get it through an upgrade.
Native plug-ins are supported on macOS and Windows systems. See our Native UAD System Requirements article for full system requirements. An iLok account is required for managing your native plug-in licenses. We support iLok USB keys for portability, but one is not required.
Check our Knowledge Base for additional questions

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