Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor
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Add tube compression royalty to your mixes.
As Manley Labs' flagship compressor since 1994, the Vari 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.
Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- 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
TAKE A LISTEN
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 Vari Mu Limiter Compressor plug-in and add a variable gain compressor with stunning transparency to your studio.
Enhance Tracks and Glue Mixes
The Manley Vari 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 it 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 improved over the hardware, giving you phase accurate stereo imaging. Use the High Pass Sidechain filter to reduce low-end pumping — letting you compress, say, overheads, while retaining punchy bottom-end. Dry/Wet Mix offers easy parallel compression — perfect for polishing vocals and more — while Headroom 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
K. Araki
July 21, 2024
This is Really Something.
I have years of experience of Manley Hardware in the studio recordings. For my professional bass player career, Manley is the finest compressor I've ever seen. I've known and worked with...
Read MoreD. Clements
July 19, 2024
Manley the MU Monster!
OMG! This MU compressor is unbelievable! I am currently using this UAD plugin on the mix bus at the end of the chain. It has extra options available that others do not. The input gain...
Read MoreP. Motyczak
July 15, 2024
Instant glue
Didn't know what to expect from this one since I never used the original hardware. I instantly loved it, instant glue and polish....
Read More -
Customer Reviews
Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor
K. Araki
This is Really Something.
I have years of experience of Manley Hardware in the studio recordings. For my professional bass player career, Manley is the finest compressor I've ever seen. I've known and worked with other historical superior gears such as 1176, LA-2A, dBX, however, Manley Mu is superior in this current music scene.
Now This is in my plugin library!
I also have other company's emulation for Mu, they never satisfied me unfortunately, very far from the original hardware.
This UAD version is real. No doubt.D. Clements
Manley the MU Monster!
OMG! This MU compressor is unbelievable! I am currently using this UAD plugin on the mix bus at the end of the chain. It has extra options available that others do not. The input gain control is such a great feature to have. Between the input gain, threshold, and output controls, you have great signal control flexibility at your fingertips. The metering is accurate. The fidelity of the plugin is very pleasing to the ear.
P. Motyczak
Instant glue
Didn't know what to expect from this one since I never used the original hardware. I instantly loved it, instant glue and polish. IMO Not for every music style , sounds great.
J. Fathali
Top notch!
Fantastic sound and great low-end punch for drums!
Q. TM
Qazaqland
Nice sound! Favorite plugin!
Q. TM
Qazaqland
Nice sound! Favorite plugin!
D. Baj
This plugin adds noise/hiss to the signal
I am super upset that I haven’t properly tested the plugin before purchase, There should be an option to disable the noise in a digital recreation of a plugin. Useless for me .
D. Armijo
Gentle warmth:
The Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor is like a warm hug to my tracks and master bus
U. GAI
Best Compressor！
I like !!!
J. MDSP
This sounds just like ...
This sounds just like something else. Better than everything else I own.
T. bryan
Just like the real thing
Perfect in every way
F. N
Best Plugin!
I like it!
o. camacho
magnifico
es impresionante la calidad de este producto me encanta
P. Vance
Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I love sound. The Look, and Feel of it's characteristics. Just Lovely
K. LIN
Excelent!
This should be one of the closest to the original sound, there might be some differences that make it better in other aspects, but it's also about the subtle differences
J. Ruziev
Excelent
Awesome!!!
R. Fukui
Impressions when using it for the first time
I had a strong impression that the stable operability and effectiveness were reliable.
W. Rice
polished finish
the finisher, that analog flavor
A. Mavashev
My go to
Its my go to compressor on my main mix as bus and definitely keys drums and guitars
J. Makhaisingh
This is The Real Deal !!
As a owner of the Vari MU mastering version, I can only say that this plug in is very very close to the real hardware unit. May a 10% less than the character of the hardware, but just really close in every character.
And I must say I love it, its just easy to dial in on a bus or entire mix...a really game changer!
Jimmy
