Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor
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Tube compression royalty for your mixes.
As Manley Labs' flagship compressor since 1994, the Variable Mu is a tube and transformer-driven classic that exudes hand-made craftsmanship. A gold standard among mixing and mastering engineers, the Variable Mu adds clarity and cohesion to stereo buses or your entire mix.
Developed under Manley Labs' rigorous scrutiny, the Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor plug-in is a thorough emulation of this legendary tube limiter, and is based on the coveted “6BA6 T-BAR Tube Mod” unit. Now, its famed sound is available exclusively for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces.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
Take A Listen
Manley Variable Mu Under the Hood
While the Manley Variable Mu uses the remote cut-off style gain reduction found in the Fairchild and other classic limiters, it has a sound and character all its own. Its classic dual-triode gain reduction design is constantly re-biased by the sidechain control voltages, creating a unique variable gain compressor with stunning transparency. This lets you treat source material with velvety-smooth gain reduction, while infusing warm harmonic content, free of audible compression artifacts.
King of the 2-Bus
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.
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, providing phase accurate stereo imaging. The High Pass Sidechain filter prevents compression to frequencies lower than 100 Hz — letting you compress, say, overheads, while retaining punchy bottom-end. Plug-in-only controls Dry/Wet, Mix, and Headroom give you more colors to paint your mixes. Dry/Wet Mix offers easy parallel compression — perfect for polishing vocals and more. Finally, the Headroom control lets you optimize the Variable Mu’s overall level to your playback system.
“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
“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, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar)
“I used to lament that I had only one Manley Variable Mu. Thanks to UA, those days are in the past! Now I'm like that little old lady on the hot sauce commercials — I put that s*** on everything!”
– Phil Tan (Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Rihanna)
“Three different hardware versions of the Manley Variable Mu have lived in my gear racks since the ’90s. Now the UAD version captures the same unique feel that the hardware adds to my mixes.”
– Mark Needham (The Killers, Neon Trees, P!nk)Customer Reviews
D. Zamora
July 27, 2023
Bad Horsie!!
love it i am using it on my material! specially on drums for Magia Blanca! Dario DSA
Read MoreW. Manke
July 10, 2023
Vari Mu? Very Smooth
Tape Op described this plugin as a warm hug for your mixes, and that is the perfect description. For those of us "mastering" at home for small projects and podcasts this is a...
Read MoreJ. Mateo
June 28, 2023
smooth glue!
This thing is so smooth and easy to dial in. it gives things just a smooth hug that I love it on my mixbuses and my master tracks
Read MoreB. Worrell
June 10, 2023
Great!
I bought this plugin looking for something to give my mix character. I demoed this and felt it had an amazing character that I dare say is now my secret sauce. The sound of it is, to my...
Read More -
Key Features
Exclusively licensed and rigorously scrutinized by Manley Labs, modeled by Universal Audio
Transparent Variable Mu tube compression for master fader, subgroups, or individual sources
Models entire stereo stereo Class A circuit, including custom tubes and transformers, input gain and gain reduction
Continuous Dual Input, Stereo Output, Threshold and Attack controls with five position Recovery controls
Sidechain Filter, L/R or M/S operation plus plug-in only Dry/Wet parallel processing Headroom and Controls Linking
Requires UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface, available from authorized dealers worldwide
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Customer Reviews
Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor
D. Zamora
Bad Horsie!!
love it i am using it on my material! specially on drums for Magia Blanca! Dario DSA
W. Manke
Vari Mu? Very Smooth
Tape Op described this plugin as a warm hug for your mixes, and that is the perfect description. For those of us "mastering" at home for small projects and podcasts this is a perfect final touch to up the volume without squishing and to add depth and detail.
J. Mateo
smooth glue!
This thing is so smooth and easy to dial in. it gives things just a smooth hug that I love it on my mixbuses and my master tracks
R. Schuster
Amazing on the mix bus
Great for drums as well
B. Worrell
Great!
I bought this plugin looking for something to give my mix character. I demoed this and felt it had an amazing character that I dare say is now my secret sauce. The sound of it is, to my ears, unique and I've already placed it across several mixes to see how it performs. I'm happy to say it does exactly what I want it to and I can't wait to put it on several more mixes!
B. Byc
bobby byc
I love its character
B. Byc
bobby byc
I love its character
A. Portillo
I love this plugin!
it is just great! I love its character, it really does glue your track nicely. Manley products are not famous for nothing. If the hardware sounds better than this, I want one!!
E. ARRUDA
Unrivaled balance!
Hi folks, I'm impressed with the accuracy of this plugin, especially on Mix Bus. By the way, I have used it a lot in Mix Drums, Bus Guitar because of its excellent glue.
J. Szeszel
Yes!
I thought for a long time. I tested. This plugin finally beat me to it. First choice of master bus compression for me.
J. FALCONERY
Profissional
Compressão espetacular. Sempre tive o desejo de adquirir esse simulação. Estou impressionado com a textura e capacidade de cola desse plugin.
G. Grinko
Very powerfull!
I use this on drums and mix bus. Its great!
R. Mangile
Mix Bus Compressor
The main choice in the mix bus and mastering
S. Gara
Drums bus
Lo uso solo per incollare tutta la drums. Funziona alla grande , da quando lo uso le mie tracce suonano benissimo.
A. Litwinowicz
Excellent Compressor and irreplaceable!
Excellent Compressor and irreplaceable! Sounds very close to hardware (90-95%). One of the best plugins I've used. I use it for all my music projects.
P. Sviyazov
Smooth
This plugin shape sounds very close to hardware for my opinion. I tried many and this one is the closest. And as well one of the smoothest and softest vocal compressors.
S. Bhatti
Simply the Best
It’s been on EVERY single one of mixes since 2018, just buy it, no regrets here!
S. Nascimento
Musical color
Nice option when I mastered in the box without my NuMu unit. Similar color.
. Oliveira
Very Good!
Thanks Universal Audio and Manley
Essential Plugin!!!E. Larson
Incredible
Just a couple of db on the two bus and you're golden
