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  • Overview
  • Customer Reviews
  • 4.8/5
    (72)
Try it Free

Regular Price: $299.00

$39.00

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4.8/5
(72)

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

Want to Try It?

Use this plug-in free for 14 days and find out if it's right for you.

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TAKE A LISTEN

Easily Add Stunning Polish

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

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

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.

Customer Reviews

Manley® Variable Mu Limiter Compressor

Overall Rating

4.8/5
(72)

M. Sweeney

December 4, 2024

Wonderful tool

I love it on the master bus, but also individual tracks Very smooth and unobtrusive, but at the same time it does something magical. Definitely worth picking up! And with the native version you can have as many as you want.

G. Spiridion

October 13, 2024

Wonderful, clear, transparent, great sound

Amazing sound. Clear, transparent, great!!

A. Botaro

October 1, 2024

Top compressor

Som incrível textura que não achata o som

A. Botaro

October 1, 2024

Top compressor

Som incrível textura que não achata o som

T. Sallai

September 24, 2024

One compressor

I haven't used it in a serious situation yet, just trying to see how it works. I know that many people use it and like it.

T. Sallai

September 24, 2024

One compressor

I haven't used it in a serious situation yet, just trying to see how it works. I know that many people use it and like it.

L. Shelby

July 28, 2024

Great Emulation of a Great Compressor!

Just like the title says!

D. GHO

July 26, 2024

Real Glue with no muddy sound

Even just a little of effects change entire mix to good way!!

t. tooley

July 25, 2024

Very happy

Great compressor, great on all my music

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 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

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 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

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. IMO Not for every music style , sounds great.

J. Fathali

July 14, 2024

Top notch!

Fantastic sound and great low-end punch for drums!

Q. TM

July 12, 2024

Qazaqland

Nice sound! Favorite plugin!

Q. TM

July 12, 2024

Qazaqland

Nice sound! Favorite plugin!

D. Baj

July 7, 2024

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

July 1, 2024

Gentle warmth:

The Manley Variable Mu Limiter Compressor is like a warm hug to my tracks and master bus

U. GAI

June 28, 2024

Best Compressor!

I like !!!

J. MDSP

June 25, 2024

This sounds just like ...

This sounds just like something else. Better than everything else I own.

T. bryan

June 13, 2024

Just like the real thing

Perfect in every way