OUTPUT THRESHOLD HIP METER OUTPUT MIN +3dB 0 db -3dB INPUT LEVEL MAX RECOVERY GR HP SC VU ATTACK TM n S T E R EO L I M I T E R C O M P R E S S O R VACUUM TUBE STEREO LIMITER / COMPRESSOR CHANNEL 2 CHANNEL 1 OR INPUT 2 OUTPUT 2 OUTPUT 1 710 INSERT 2 INSERT 1 OWNER S MANUAL INPUT
Contents CHAPTER PAGE i) Introdction 1 ii) Manal Conventions 1 iii) Copyright Notice 1 1. Iportant Safety Instrctions 2 2. Getting Started 2 3. Front Panel 3-4 4. Rear Panel 5 5. Operational Notes 6-7 6. Advanced Tricks 8 7. Qestions & Trobleshooting 9 8. Servicing 10 9. Calibration Procedre 11-13 10. Specifications 14 11. Recall Sheet 15 This eqipent has been tested and fond to coply with the liits for a class B digital device, prsant to part 15 of the FCC Rles. These liits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harfl interference in a residential installation. This eqipent generates, ses and can radiate radio freqency energy and if not installed and sed in accordance with the instrctions, ay case harfl interference to radio conications. However, there is no garantee that interference will not occr in a particlar installation. If this eqipent does case harfl interference to radio or television reception, which can be deterined by trning the eqipent off and on, the ser is encoraged to try to correct the interference by one or ore of the following easres: * Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. * Increase the separation between the eqipent and receiver. * Connect the eqipent into an otlet on a circit different fro that to which the receiver is connected. * Conslt the dealer or an experienced radio/tv technician for help.
i) An Introdction To The Manley N M Liiter & Copressor TM Thank yo for selecting the Manley N M Stereo Vac Tbe, Liiter & Copressor. The Manley N M bilds pon the legacy of the Variable M, cobining the T-Bar vac tbe front end sed in the Variable M with a new discrete FET otpt stage. This arriage of tbes and solid-state electronics gives the N M a rearkable tonal character which will always ake it a hit in the stdio! Using the new HIP control gives the engineer ore freedo, allowing ore of the sic to coe throgh. This fnction raises soft dynaics withot sqashing the loder passages. Yor N M is powered by or highly developed adiophile switched-ode power spply, offering sper low ipedance, rigid reglation and very, very low noise. Congratlations on yor new prchase! Don t forget to register yor warranty with s. Thank yo for choosing or MANLEY N M. Enjoy! ii) Manal Conventions Please take a few oents to read throgh this anal careflly. It contains essential inforation for the proper operation of yor Manley N M Liiter & Copressor. Also in the following pages yo will find sefl hints and tips, allowing s to help yo achieve the tost perforance fro yor eqipent. Below are the following conventions, sed to pick ot particlarly iportant parts of the anal. The sybols are fond in the argin next to the body of text of interest. Especially Usefl Tip Iportant Inforation. Read Careflly! Cation! Pay Attention! Refer to another section in this Manal iii) Notice This anal provides general and technical inforation for se, installation, and operating instrctions for the Manley N M Liiter & Copressor. Manley Laboratories, Inc. reserves the right to ake changes in specifications and other inforation contained in this pblication withot prior notice. Manley Laboratories, Inc. shall not be liable for errors contained herein or direct, indirect, incidental or conseqential daages in connection with the frnishing, perforance, or se of this aterial. No stateent contained in this pblication, inclding stateents regarding sitability or perforance of prodcts shall be considered a warranty by Manley Laboratories, Inc. for any prpose or give rise to any liability of Manley Laboratories, Inc. 2016 COPYRIGHT Manley Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. This anal and any associated artwork, prodct designs, and design concepts are sbject to copyright protection. No part of this docent ay be reprodced, in any for, withot prior written perission of Manley Laboratories, Inc. N M, and the Manley Laboratories, Inc. logo are tradearks of Manley Laboratories, Inc. 1
1. Iportant Safety Instrctions 1. Water and Moistre Do not se The N M near any sorce of water or in excessively oist environents. 2. Object and Liqid Entry Care shold be taken so that objects do not fall, and liqids are not spilled, into the enclosre throgh the openings. 3. Heat & Ventilation When installing The N M in a rack or any other location, be sre there is adeqate ventilation. Iproper ventilation will case overheating, and can daage the nit. The nit shold be sitated away fro heat sorces, or other eqipent that prodce heat. As a general rle with tbe eqipent, it is wise to keep a 1U gap below and above if possible. 4. Power Sorces The N M has a niversal power spply which can operate in any contry. It has an inpt voltage range of 90-260 VAC at 50/60 Hz. 5. Cleaning - The N M can be cleaned with jst a dap cloth, or alcohol/ethylated spirits for ore stbborn arks. 6. Daage - If after npacking yor N M there are signs of shipping daage, contact yor dealer. 7. Servicing - Do not attept any servicing withot conslting yor dealer or Manley Laboratories, Inc. The ser shold not attept to service the nit beyond that described in the operating instrctions. All other servicing shold be referred to qalified service personnel. This nit has high voltages present, even after the power has been switched off. 8. DO NOT connect the AC spply cord ntil all other connections have been ade. Afer initial power p the VU Meter will blink for thirty seconds. The nit reains in MUTE ntil this war p period has elapsed. 2. Getting Started Unpacking yor MANLEY N M: The N M is secred in its packing carton by two end-caps. Hold the nit by the iddle and siply lift the nit vertically straight ot of the box. After it has beenpacked, check that nothing is loose inside when handling the nit. The nit is shipped with the vac tbes installed. Make sre they are not loose by looking throgh the vent holes on the top cover. Ensre they are standing pright in their sockets. It is advisable to keep the original packaging. In the event of servicing or relocating, the original packaging ensres that the nit will always be shipped safely. This package contains the following; 1 x Manley N M Reference Channel Strip 1 x Manley N M Owner s Manal 1 x IEC Power Cable 1 x Warranty Registration Card 1 x Warranty Stateent 2
3. Front Panel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 1 OUTPUT THRESHOLD THRESHOLD OUTPUT COMPRESS HIP LIMIT MIN MAX IN +3dB +3dB METER OUTPUT MIN MAX ATTACK RECOVERY BYPASS LINK 0dB -3dB INPUT LEVEL INPUT LEVEL 0dB -3dB GR HP SC RECOVERY ATTACK V U HANDCRAFTED IN CALIFORNIA USA STEREO LIMITER COMPRESSOR Diagra 1 8 9 10 11 11 12 9 8 13 1 2 3 OUTPUT CONTROL The OUTPUT control is available on both the left and the right channel. It adjsts the otpt level of that adio channel. Unity gain is abot the ninth arking, or 11 o'clock. THRESHOLD CONTROL The THRESHOLD control is available on both the left and the right channel. THRESHOLD or gain redction sets the necessary aplitde for copression or liiting to take effect. The ost extree effect is when the control knob is set to MIN or flly conter-clockwise. COMPRESS / LIMIT SWITCH This switch allows the N M to se two different copression ratios. Offering either Copression at approxiately 3:1 when the switch is engaged and illinated or Liiting at approxiately a 10:1 ratio. 4 5 IN / BYPASS SWITCH The BYPASS switch in the N M is a Hardwire bypass for axi perforance. This switch dictates whether yor adio flows throgh the Liiter/Copressor or jst straight throgh the nit, even if the nit is switched off adio will still flow throgh the nit. If the switch is engaged and illinated to the IN position the adio will pass throgh either the Liiter or Copressor, so all the front panel controls will fnction. Use this switch to verify that the liiting or copressing is not essing p the original sond bt enhancing it or at least leveling the vole. VU METER The Large csto VU eters allow easy tracking of both channels with the N M. It shows the aont of gain redction in db fro the 0 db ark, when the switch (7) is set to REDUCTION. When this switch is selected to O/P and illinated, the eter easres the otpt in decibels. Note: VU eters and PEAK eters rarely agree, digital recorders sally se peak eters - Rely on those for a precisie recording. VU eters are standard with analog tape achines and big consoles becase they correspond well with perceived lodness. 6 HIP CONTROL The "Hip" control allows copression to happen at lower voles (lower in the dynaic range spectr) bt leaves the loder dynaics alone while still copressing the overall signal. Yo get loder soft sections and original dynaics of the loder sections. Previosly the only way to get arond this isse has been parallel copression, where the copressed signal is ixed with the ncopressed signal. Or "Hip" control achieves a siilar effect while being easier to se, reqiring less hardware (no need for extra ixing externally) More notes on the HIP control in Chapter 5 Operational Notes 3
3. Front Panel 7 8 METER SELECT SWITCH The Meter select switch allows the ser to onitor either Gain Redction or the Otpt of the nit. When the switch is engaged and illinated, the otpt of the particlar channel yo are onitoring is visible in the corresponding VU Meter. ATTACK CONTROL The ATTACK control deterines how long the copressor takes to respond to signals above the threshold. The Attack control is continosly variable and deterines the necessary length of a transient to initiate gain redction. With 63% gain redction: 0.13s, MID 0.07s, 0.013s. With 90% gain redction: 0.64s, MID 0.35s, 0.064s. Flly conter clockwise at the slowest setting will prevent ost percssive signals fro casing liiting or copression. It is available on both the left and the right channel. 9 10 11 RECOVERY CONTROL The RECOVERY control deterines how long the copressor takes to recover after the signal falls below the threshold level. With 63% gain redction recovery, five selections: 0.1s, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64s, 1.7s. With 90% gain redction recovery five selections: 0.227s, 0.368s, 0.736s, 1.6s, 3.87s. LINK FUNCTION When The LINK fnction is sed it links the two Stereo channels together. The Left channel controls becoe the aster linking THRESHOLD, ATTACK & the RECOVERY CONTROLS. INPUT LEVEL SWITCH The Inpt Level is controlled by a toggle switch. There is an Inpt Level control for each cannel. Three levels of attenation are available. +3dB, 0dB and -3dB. 12 13 HP SC SWITCH The High Pass Side Chain filter is factory set a 100Hz. When this switch is engaged and illinated, everything above 100Hz will have the effect of liiting or copression. Usefl if yo want the bass to coe throgh with fll ipact and liit or copress everything else. POWER SWITCH The Power Switch glows a soft ble color when an IEC power lead is connected to the nit. This indicates that the N M is in STANDBY ode. Engaging the power switch takes the N M ot of standby ode and into war-p ode. The power switch will illinate to a brighter ble and the backlit VU eters will start to flash. This warp process last 30 seconds after which the MUTE relays will lift and the VU eters will stop flashing. 4
4. Rear Panel 7 RIGHT LEFT MAINS VOLTAGE SHOWN ON SERIAL TAG WARNING! : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CAUTION! : RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY. PIN CONNECTIONS 1/4 JACK TIP : SEND RING : RETURN SLEEVE : GROUND XLR PIN 1: SHIELD/GROUND PIN 2: POSITIVE PHASE PIN 3: NEGATIVE PHASE SERIAL No. STEREO LIMITER COMPRESSOR MANLEY LABORATORIES INC. 13880 MAGNOLIA AVE. CHINO, CA 91710 PHONE +1 (909) 627-4256 service@anleylabs.co www.anley.co CHANNEL 2 CHANNEL 1 INPUT 2 OUTPUT 2 OUTPUT 1 INPUT 1 SIDECHAIN INSERT 2 SIDECHAIN INSERT 1 HAND CRAFTED IN THE USA Diagra 2 2 4 6 5 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 XLR INPUT 1 (TRANSFORMER BALANCED) (CH1, LEFT) XLR INPUT 2 (TRANSFORMER BALANCED) (CH2, RIGHT) XLR OUTPUT 1 (IMPEDANCE BALANCED) (CH1, LEFT) XLR OUTPUT 2 (IMPEDANCE BALANCED) (CH2, RIGHT) SIDE-CHAIN INSERT INPUT CH1 PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) This TRS 1/4 jack interrpts the connection to the inpt drive of the side-chain of Channel 1, allowing external gear to be inserted to trigger the side-chain circitry. The pinot is TIP: SEND, RING: RETURN, SLEEVE: GROUND. 6 SIDE-CHAIN INSERT INPUT CH2 This TRS 1/4 jack interrpts the connection to the inpt drive of the side-chain of Channel 2, allowing external gear to be inserted to trigger the side-chain circitry. The pinot is TIP: SEND, RING: RETURN, SLEEVE: GROUND. 7 IEC MAINS CONNECTOR Standard IEC ains connector for 50 /60 Hz AC. (INPUT MAINS VOLTAGE 90 V AC - 250 V AC) 5
5. Operational Notes The cleanest settings are easiest to set p and ost recoended for ixes. Set the THRESHOLD near "MIN", set the ATTACK near "" and adjst the INPUT for 2 to 4 db of LIMITING, then adjst the OUTPUTS to reach the levels yo want or by coparing with BYPASS. Yo can fine tne the ATTACK, RECOVERY and THRESHOLD to taste fro this. Copression with this nit begins at the sae threshold so to achieve siilar aonts of gain redction yo ay have to trp the INPUT or trn the THRESHOLD to "MIN". We also sggest while in "LINK" that both channels are set p the sae or siilar. LINKing with one channel in LIMIT and the other in COMPRESS is not possible. The gain control chain is technically called a feedback circit. Most odern copressors se a feed foward circit which sonds nsical to s bt for featres sake sally offers a Ratio control. Soe engineers get great reslts fro blending the otpt of the liiter with the "straight" signal. This trick obviosly is easier to do on individal tracks and sonds like a very gentle copressor that lifts qiet sections. The general goal of copression is to redce the overall dynaic range of the signal. Traditional copression redces the lodest sections of the sic which can sqash the ost exciting transients. HIP CONTROL The "HIP" control allows copression to happen at lower voles (lower in the dynaic range spectr) bt leaves the loder dynaics alone while still copressing the overall signal. Yo get loder soft sections and original dynaics of the loder sections. Previosly the only way to get arond this isse has been parallel copression, where the copressed signal is ixed with the ncopressed signal. Or "HIP" control achieves a siilar effect while being easier to se, reqiring less hardware (no need for extra ixing externally) - all while keeping a constant Manley color/tone to the sic since there is no ixing between the wet and dry signals throgh the dynaics of the sic. Users of or Variable M often want to jst kiss the sond with a bit of copression while getting the "Manley Sond", the hip control akes this easier, whesing the N M. When the "HIP" control is active, yo will want to adjst the Threshold control so that copression is active ore often than yo are sed to. It shold release on qieter passages, bt yo shold see constant copression on loder passages. Yo can also think of the "HIP" control as Safety or Easy ode - it will keep yo fro over copressing the signal, even if the controls aren't qite set right. Yo can get the Manley Sond withot excessive copression. 6
5. Operational Notes The MANLEY NU MU LIMITER / COMPRESSOR is designed for ltiple prposes. The nit can be sed in stereo or as 2 individal channels of liiting or copression. With higher inpt gain settings the nit can be sed to create gentle tbe distortion if desired. Modest settings will often enhance the signal in ways difficlt to describe however the range incldes "tbe warth", richness and enhanced clarity and agic. The attack and recovery controls are iportant to nderstand. The response to transients and percssive sonds are affected by the attack control. Recovery is the tie it takes for the gain to retrn to noral or zero redction. This is called "RELEASE" on soe liiters. We case a typical ix with dynaic vocals, drs and bass for an exaple. With this exaple a fast attack setting will react to the drs and redce the overall gain. If the recovery is very fast then the gain will retrn to noral qickly. This will have an adible effect of redcing soe of the level and attack of the drs in the ix. As the recovery is set slower the gain changes so that the drs ight be heard as "pping". Now these gain changes cased by the drs are plling down vocals, soe bass and casing vole changes. Slower recovery settings will sally keep the gain changes ore inadible bt will also lower the perceived vole. A slow attack setting will tend to ignore drs and other fast signals bt will react to the vocals and bass in or exaple. A slow attack ight also let a hard kick dr transient distort the next piece of eqipent in the chain. We have set p the nit so that edi settings of both controls provide good gain control and little change in ix vales. LIMITING OR COMPRESSION Two basic rles of thb with any copressor or liiter shold be reinded. Typical aonts of gain redction shown by GR eter shold be 2 to 6 db. The ore that the needle swings the ore likely the gain changes will be adible. Listen for objectionable "pping" with fast settings. Use yor ears to deterine opti settings ore than the eters. Soe liiters add npleasant artifacts with any reasonable looking setting. This liiter ay give soe agic at nexpected settings. It ay help to se the bypass switch to copare the original inpt with the processed otpt to verify that an iproveent is real. Then, becase the peaks are redced, the final otpt can be adjsted a little loder than the inpt. It shold be borne in ind that the intended sage, and fnction therefore, is very different between liiting and copression. In liiting ode we are seeking to control PEAK overshoots or the 'ceiling' level as inadibly as possible, norally in the 2 to 4 db area. By sing copression we seek to "fold in" a ratio of, say, 20 or ore into 10 db. Both liiting and copression can prodce the effect of increasing the average levels and backgrond noise - depending on the degree or aont of liiting / copressiosed. Becase dynaic range and peaks can be redced, often overall lodness can be increased at the otpt. This is called MAKE-UP GAIN on soe copressors and is siply the OUTPUT ATTENUATOR with this nit. Liiters often are designed for very fast attack ties only. This asses that the nit will alost always be sed to prevent electronic clipping or overload. Typically the release with these is slow to prevent adible daage to the ix. With this nit yo can adjst the attack, release and even the overload point in sical ways. Distortion can be creatively sed by trning p the INPUT and trning down the OUTPUTs while sing very little or no COMPRESSION. 7
6. Advanced Tricks Here are a few tricks that are not really for rookies. They coe fro gys doing ajor records for years and won t work nless yo ve astered the basics. In other words if we gave yo a Strat and Marshall it won t ake yo another Jii. Also we don t sggest that yo try these ot while paying big-tie stdio rates - they ay not be easy to get right at first. Trick#1 Each copressor or device in the chain has certain flavors and characteristics and with experience we grab the ones we like becase of the sond - not becase it is a copressor. The idea is to se several cool copressors in a chain getting flavors fro each depending on how ch GR (gain redction) is sed in each and how hard they are driven. It s this second concept that can be tricky. How far to trp each Make-p Gain to overdrive or not overdrive the next nit - and still not get flooded with noise when the sic stops. Yo can chain the two channels of the N M and trp the ake-p of the first channel. This works best with classic discrete and tbe nits and sally IC nits are to be avoided. The finesse coes fro which order they are patched. See how long it ight take to get best reslts. Trick#2 This one is easier, bt also reqires serios listening. Rather than jst inserting a liiter, try driving the liiter fro the tape patch (pre EQ), retrning it to a spare fader and ixing it with the original. So what is so tricky? How yo EQ and atoate and add effects to these channels. Yo can also have fn phase reversing one of the channels. Yo get cancellation bt only at a certain level. It is sort of like gating, bt different - it is a way of controlling the abiance. Trick#3 Using one track to dck another. This ay work better with copressors with attack and release and ratio controls if yo are thinking drs. Bass and vocal is very cool with the N M. Set it p like trick#2 with bass in one channel and vocal in the other (in LINK ode) and experient with each threshold. Two gitar tracks also work here soeties. Obviosly, we pll ot this trick when two tracks are stepping on each other and EQ isn t aking enogh roo for clarity. Trick#4 Drive the copressor fro an AUX send and retrn it to a channel. Once yo have soe liiting, careflly trp that ax send on the retrn channel to feed back into the liiter. Watch ot for real howling feedback and over the top liiting. If yo are lcky it won t screa dring the qiet parts. The key is balancing the faders, track axes, the retrn axes, the thresholds, and ake-p gains. The techniqe can get pretty crnchy and wild. Works best with not-so-clean copressors, bt is interesting with the N M. Trick#5 This one is a way to get a very good single channel De-esser fro the N M or other copressor good enogh for lead vocals. Split the Insert send of the vocal to the N M and to a spare channel. EQ the snot ot of that second channel -boosting the 5 or 6 khz band and chopping everything below that. Use the insert fro this channel to drive the other channel of the N M, bt it is nlikely that yo want this fader p. Set the N M to Link. The threshold of the first channel sets copression and the second channel sets de-essing. Unlike soe de-essers it will not chop highs, bt redce wide-band which is less obvios. The only drag is that the release is a little slow. Reeber good de-essing is not to reove esses - the idea is to redce esses and ake the natral sonding. BTW if yo need to de-ess, yo ight want to rethink yor choice of gear. There are 3 ain reasons we get horrible esses: 1) a gap in the singer s teeth or jst a strange voice, 2) too ch or wrongly chosen EQ, or, 3) gear that distorts the highs. If the case is 1, try sticking soe dental wax in the gap. No joke! If the case is 2 then we can tell yo soe EQs allow one to boost highs with less probles with the esses or yo ight try boosting a higher freq, or less dring tracking. If it is 3 yo ay want a better ic or sell off soe of that cheap IC gear that sees to be distorting the top in a way that yo don t like. Actally we have heard soe pretty expensive gear - both tbe and solid state - that has this particlarly gly distortion. If in dobt, try soe togh percssion throgh it like shakers or taborines, and see how they sond... 8
7. Qestions & Trobleshooting! Q: No Power, No Indicators? Ensre the IEC plg at the rear of the nit is inserted all the way. Wait at least five intes before trying the power switch again. If the nit does not power p then check the fse on the PSU. (See Servicing, Diagra 3) Q: The Unit Is Switched On, No Sond? First try plgging the IN and OUT cables into soe other piece of gear to verify that yor cables are OK. Next check the front panel, try BYPASS. If yo have sond now it ight be a good idea to trp the otpt levels to abot 1 o clock (rather than flly conterclockwise which is ins infinity. Q: Levels See To Be Wrong, No Botto? Several possible scenarios. Manley ses the professional standard of +4 db = Zero VU = 1.23 volts AC RMS. A lot of sei-pro gear ses the hi-fi reference of -10 db = Zero VU. This is a 14 db difference that will certainly look odd and ay tend to distort. Often there are switches on sei-pro gear to choose the pro reference level. We do not provide that kind of switch becase of inevitable coproises in the signal path. If the loss looks close to 6 db and it sonds thin then one half of the signal is lost. The case is probably wiring again. One of the two signal carrying wires (the third is grond / shield on pin 1) is not happening. Check the cables careflly becase occasionally a cable gets odified to work with a certainit and it sees to work bt its wrong in other sitations. If only one side of the N M exhibits this proble, it ay be a proble in the nit itself. Q: Only One Channel Is Fnctioning? This ay be de to a falty tbe. Most Manley gear is two channel, eaning yo can swap tbes to deterine the falty tbe. Switch one pair at a tie. VT1 & VT2, VT3 & VT4 are atched pairs.leave the nit switched off for at least 15 intes before reoving any covers. If pon exaination yo see a white topped tbe instead of a silver top this tbe is likely to have cracked its glass envelope, fractring the vac, this tbe will need to be replaced. Q: How Can I Cre Low Freqency H? Method 1- The ost likely case is a grond loop. This can be cred by lifting the chassis to signal grond lift jpers which are located inside the nit. Please refer to the Servicing Chapter, Diagra 3. Method 2 - Ctting the shield on one side of the cable (PIN 1). This is done by soe stdios at every feale XLR to break all loops. Yo ay get a loop siply fro the rack. All the other gear in the rack is dping grond noise onto the rack rails. Try reoving the N M fro the rack so that it is not 9 toching any etal. Yo ay have cred a non-loop h. Soe gear radiates a agnetic field and soe gear (especially if it has transforers) ight receive that h. Method 3 -Another ethod of redcing all sorts of h and noise is to se a 60-0-60 balanced AC power transforer. H is ore likely with the nbalanced inpts and otpts becase these signals are grond referenced. A coon sitation is sing the N M in a way that significantly boosts the low level signals and what ay have started ot as a little h becoes nasty. Check ot the gear feeding the N M or se less liiting and ake-p gain. Q: Why is y N M Not Copleting its Power-Up Cycle? The N M tilizes a csto designed, sophisticated high voltage switched-ode power spply. This power spply featres protection circitry to stop any daage being cased to itself. If at anytie the nit will not power-p the protection circitry ay have been triggered. It is in protection ode if after switch-on the power LED blinks for a fraction of second then after a pase it blinks again. The PSU is now in protection ode as the spply is trying to reset. This condition will occr if the nit sffers excessive heat exposre or there is a daaged tbe or coponent. Allow the nit to cool and try powering-p again. If the protection ode persists, the nit will have to be retrned for service. Q: N M Makes Noises When The Front Panel Is Tapped? Soe tbes becoe icrophonic over tie. That eans they start acting like a bad icrophone. Vibration and aging has cased the spports for the sall internal parts in the tbe to loosen and now the tbe is sensitive to vibration. The only reedy is to replace the tbe. Q: N M Sonds Distorted? This ight be a tbe. Swapping is a good way to find ot. It ay be a wiring isse or isatch. Wiring probles sally accopany the distortion with a ajor loss of signal. Misatches are a bit togher. The N M has a high inpt ipedance (HI Z) bt soe of or gear has a reasonably low inpt ipedance. Withot even explaining the ter ipedance it is enogh to say that a lot of gear is siply not capable of driving pro levels and low ipedances. It will sond like lost headroo, early clipping, distortion on peaks. Often changing the order of processors will do the trick. Also check yor patch bay in case there is a proble there too.
8. Servicing P3 LEFT 6BA6 TP1 TP4 CV-1 RIGHT 6BA6 TP101 TP104 CV-2 VT1 VT2 VT3 VT4 1 3 5 A 6 8 B 9 10 2 4 7 KEY Diagra 3 4 10 -DC Offset 3 9 -Meter GR 0 VU 1 5-6BA6 Pair Balance 2 8 -Meter GR Adjst 6 7 -Meter Otpt, 0 VU A -Chassis Grond Lift VACUUM TUBES The N M tilizes two 6BA6 tbes per channel, which are hand atched at the factory. The life span of these tbes is in the order of 5000-6000 hors, after which tie the tbes shold be replaced. If the N M has becoe noisy, this cold be related to tbe wear. Conslt yor dealer or prchase new tbes fro Manley Labs. We sggest low noise and graded qality. Siply hold the tbe firly at its base and vertically pll pwards, freeing the tbe fro its socket. When inserting a new tbe ensre all the pins are straight and align with the receptacles of the tbe base before pressing down firly to locate the tbe correctly. In ost cases the nit will reqire calibration after a tbe change. Conslt the Manley website or contact s for the calibration procedre reqired after a tbe change. A GROUND LIFT JUMPER If necessary the Circit Grond can be disconnected fro the Chassis Grond. This practice is sally reqired if h-loops cannot be cred in any other way. Reoving both jpers JP6 will break the chassis signal grond. B PSU FUSE The PSU fse is a safety fse rated at 2A (T) 250V AC. If this fse fails the switched-ode PSU has sffered a catastrophic failre and it is nlikely that it can be repaired. The nit will have to be retrned for service. 10
10. Calibration Procedre * Experienced Technicians Only The calibration procedres entioned here are to aid the servicing of the nit. They shold only be attepted by a skilled Technician. These adjstents shold not be attepted by the ser withot experience. Triing these potentioeters withot the correct nderstanding will reslt in poor perforance of the nit. Before starting any procedre, please set the front panel controls to the settings below & reove the top cover; LIMIT/COMPRESS switch set to LIMIT BYPASS switch set to IN LINK switch disengage INPUT LEVEL switch set to 0 db OUTPUT control set to 11 O'clock THRESHOLD control set to MAX ATTACK control set to RECOVERY control set to HIP switch disengage METER switch set to GR HP SC switch disengage THERE ARE HIGH VOLTAGES INSIDE. DO NOT HOLD THE METAL SHAFT OF THE SCREWDRIVER OR PROBE AROUND WITH FINGERS OR ANY TOOL. The nit shold be switched on for abot 15 intes to allow for the correct war p period. It is preferable to se an inslated triing tool. Note: NU MU nity gain settings: INPUT LEVEL switch set to 0dB and, the OUTPUT control set roghly to 11:00 O'clock. The position of the otpt control for nity gain will vary slightly fro nit to nit. 4 10 DC OFFSET ADJUST This trier adjsts the DC offset of the otpt stage in the side chain circitry. The reote ct-off 6BA6 tbe is controlled by the side chain circitry. The control grid (Pin 1) of the 6BA6 st have 0Vdc when idle. With no signal throgh the nit, no liiting or copression the otpt of the side chain circitry st be set for an otpt of zero volts. 1. Set a lti-eter to read DC volts on its lowest scale (expect a sall voltage reading : <200V). 2. Connect black probe to test point grond, connect the red probe to test point CV-1 adjst 4 (VR11) for a eter reading of zero volts. Switch red probe to test point CV-2 adjst 10 (VR12) for a eter reading of zero volts. 1 5 6BA6 PAIR BALANCE We recoend that this control be reset only after changing 6BA6 tbes. This trier adjsts internal balance and tris for the lowest distortion. This balance sets the relative gains of the 2 halves of a differential circit (atched pair 6BA6= lowest distortion & thps). THIS IS NOT LEFT /RIGHT BALANCE. 1. Set a lti-eter to read DC volts on its lowest scale (expect a very sall voltage reading : <1.0VDC). 2. Adjst one channel at a tie. 3. This is a nll adjstent. Adjst corresponding trier ntil the eter reads zero volts. A eter reading less than 50V is acceptable. 4. Connect the eter probes to test points TP1 & TP4 for Left channel, adjst 1 (VR1) ntil the eter reads zero volts. 5. Connect the eter probes to test points TP101 & TP104 for Right channel, adjst 5 (VR101) ntil the eter reads zero volts. Tip: Trier shold not be set ore than 10deg fro the center position to nll voltage to zero, if this is the case this wold indicate anbalanced pair, try replacing one or both tbes. In a perfect world a pair of well atched 6BA6 tbes, trier position shold be dead center of its range to nll to zero volts, as well as giving yo the lowest distortion reading. 11
10. Calibration Procedre The Manley N M featres two independent large VU eters (1 per channel), which allow yo to read the aont of gain redction (GR) or read the otpt level at the ain otpt XLR. A psh btton (coon for both channels) allows yo to switch between the two options. 3 9 METER-GR SET 0 VU This trier adjsts the VU METER to read 0 VU for zero gain redction. 1. No signal throgh the nit, no liiting, no copression. 2. Meter switch set to GR. 3. L-CH 3 (VR8) adjst to set Left eter to read 0 VU. 4. R-CH 9 (VR10) adjst to set Right eter to read 0 VU. 6 7 METER-OUTPUT SET 0 VU This trier adjsts the VU METER to read 0 VU = +4dB Otpt. 1. Apply a 1kHz sine at +4dB/1.23Vrs to both Balanced inpts. 2. Connect an Adio Analyzer or a RMS volteter (set to read AC volts), to the ain otpts. 3. Adjst OUTPUT control for nity gain (+4dB/1.23Vrs) at ain otpts. 4. Meter switch set to OUTPUT. 5. L-CH 6 (VR13) adjst to set Left eter to read 0 VU. 6. R-CH 7 (VR14) adjst to set Right eter to read 0 VU. 2 8 METER-GR ADJUST This trier calibrates VU eter gain redction read, to atch actal adio gain redction at the ain otpt. 1. Set Meter to OUTPUT 2. Confir VU eter reads 0 VU. 3. Adjst the threshold controls (ccw) for a gain redction of 2dB. Meter drops to the -2 ark (ain otpt level drops to +2dB / 0.977Vrs) 4. Meter switch set to GR. 5. L-CH 2 (VR7) adjst to set Left eter to read -2 VU. 6. R-CH 8 (VR9) adjst to set Right eter to read -2 VU. 7. Switch between OUTPUT and GR to confir eter tracking. (2dB of otpt level drop = 2dB of gain redction). 8. Adjst the threshold controls (ccw) for a gain redction of 6dB. Switch between OUTPUT and GR to confir eter tracking nder heavier gain redction. 9. Engaged LINK (left channel aster: threshold, attack & release controls) switch between OUTPUT and GR to confir eter tracking throgh ot range. (There is no trier to adjst L/R gain redction balance in LINK ode). 12
10. Calibration Procedre Note: (1kHz sine at I/O: +4dB/1.23Vrs) Adio GR Vs Meter GR tracking tolerance: +/- 0.1dB (fro 0 to 2 db of gain redction). Adio GR Vs Meter GR tracking tolerance: +/- 0.5dB (fro 3 to 7 db of gain redction). (Matched PAIR of VU eters provides best tracking) Note: LINK Adio GR tracking Left CH Vs Right CH Tolerance: (1kHz sine at I/O: +4dB/1.23Vrs) +/- 0.1dB @ 2dB of GR +/- 0.3dB @ Up to 7dB of GR (Matched QUAD of 6B6A's provides best link tracking) Note: LINK Meter GR tracking Left CH Vs Right CH Tolerance: (1kHz sine at I/O: +4dB/1.23Vrs) +/- 0.1dB @ 2dB of GR +/- 0.5dB @ Up to 7dB of GR (Matched QUAD of 6B6A's and Matched VU eter provides best link tracking) Things to reeber abot VU Meters: Or VU eters being passive electro echanical devices, no two eters are 100% identical (Electrical specification: 1.228V = 0 VU +/- 10% tolerance), we test and atch stereo VU eter asseblies to obtain the best possible tracking. The VU eter was not designed to easre signal, bt to let sers target a signal level of 0 VU (soeties labeled 100%), so it is not iportant that the device is non-linear and not precise at low levels. The VU-eter (intentionally) "slows" easreent, averaging ot peaks and troghs of short dration, and reflects ore of the perceived lodness of the aterial than the ore odern and initially ore expensive PPM eters. For this reason any adio practitioners prefer the VU eter to its alternatives, thogh the eter indication does not reflect soe of the key featres of the signal, ost notably its peak level, which in any cases st not pass a defined liit. Since a VU eter is a echanical device it can never reflect the instantaneos signal peaks of coplex adio signals. A VU eter does NOT easre peaks bt siply infer the. The engineer st know that with sic or speech the Peak levels will always be "inferred" to be between 6dB to 10dB higher than the reference level. 13
9. Specifications MANLEY NU MU STEREO VACUUM TUBE LIMITER / COMPRESSOR Ÿ Flly differential front end, with Manley IRON inpt transforers Ÿ Two pairs of hand atched 6BA6's vac tbes per channel. Ÿ New solid state otpt stage. High voltage, discrete transistor design with high headroo for a sooth, pnchy and dynaic action Ÿ Hard-wire BYPASS switch Ÿ Transforer BALANCED INPUTS. Ÿ Ipedance BALANCED OUTPUTS. Ÿ INPUT LEVEL switch: -3dB, 0dB, +3dB Ÿ Silent Condctive Plastic, continosly variable OUTPUT controls. Ÿ MIN: -40dB~11 O'clock: 0dB (+/- 1 indent ark)max: +10dB Ÿ RECOVERY 5 steps switch: Ÿ 63% gain redction recovery: 0.1s, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64s, 1.7s. Ÿ 30% gain redction recovery: 0.227s, 0.368s, 0.736s, 1.6s, 3.87s. Ÿ Continosly variable ATTACK control: Ÿ 63% gain redction: 0.13s, MID 0.07s, 0.013s. Ÿ 90% gain redction: 0.64s, MID 0.35s, 0.064s. Ÿ Continosly variable THRESHOLD control. Ÿ LIMIT/COMPRESS Mode switch. Ÿ LIMIT (1.5:1 to 12:1) or COMPRESS (1.2:1 to 3:1) Ÿ HP Side Chain Filter: 6dB per octave, approxiately -3dB at 100Hz. Ÿ STEREO LINK SWITCH Left Channel Master. Links threshold, attack & recovery controls. Ÿ HIP control fnction: Raises soft dynaics withot sqashing loder passages Ÿ Large Illinated Stereo VU eters. Reads Otpt level or Gain redction. Ÿ Sidechain INSERT: Insert point for liiter/copressor sidechain. Two Stereo Phone Jacks (TIP= Send, RING= Retrn, SLEEVE= grond) Ÿ For Unity Gain set: Inpt level switch to 0 and, Otpt control to ~11: O'clock. (Inpt sorce Z= 150 Ohs Otpt load Z= 100k Ohs) Ÿ Maxi Inpt level: (1 khz Sine, <0.3% THD+N) Ÿ -3= +25 db Ÿ 0 = +21 db Ÿ +3= +18 db Ÿ Maxi gain: 13dB Ÿ Gain Make-Up: 10dB (gain above nity) Ÿ Otpt Headroo: 23dB (Reference to +4dB) Ÿ Maxi otpt: +27dB (18Vrs) 100K Oh load, +24.5dB (13Vrs) 600 Oh load. (1kHz Sine, < 0.3% THD+N, BW 20Hz- 20kHz). Ÿ Freqency Response: - 0.8dB @ 20Hz, -0.5dB @ 50kHz Ÿ Total Haronic Distortion: <0.05% THD+N (1kHz Sine, +4dB, BW: 20Hz - 22kHz) Ÿ Noise floor: -85dB typical (BW: 20Hz - 22kHz) Ÿ Dynaic Range: 112dB Ÿ Signal to Noise Ratio: 89dB (referenced to +4dB, BW 20Hz 20kHz) Ÿ Coon-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR): 74dB (BW: 20Hz - 22kHz, +4dB, 1kHz Sine) Ÿ Otpt Ipedance: 100 Ohs Ÿ Inpt Ipedance: -3= 1k, 0= 2.5k, +3= 4.5k Ohs Ÿ Sidechain Insert: Send otpt Z= 50 Ohs, Retrn Inpt Z= 50k Ohs Ÿ War-Up te tier: ~30 Seconds Ÿ Universal high voltage switched ode power spply csto designed for or vac tbe adio circits. Ÿ Mains Voltage & Freqency: Operates worldwide 90-250V~ AC 50/60 Hz. Ÿ Power Consption (120/240VAC): 25 Watts Ÿ Standby power on switch. Ÿ Standby Power Consption (120/240VAC): 0.5W 14
10. Recall Sheet ARTIST SONG ARTIST SONG OUTPUT THRESHOLD COMPRESS LIMIT ATTACK MIN MAX RECOVERY IN BYPASS LINK +3dB 0dB -3dB INPUT LEVEL HANDCRAFTED IN CALIFORNIA USA INSTRUMENT / TRACK MIC NOTES OUTPUT THRESHOLD COMPRESS LIMIT ATTACK MIN MAX RECOVERY IN BYPASS LINK +3dB 0dB -3dB INPUT LEVEL HANDCRAFTED IN CALIFORNIA USA INSTRUMENT / TRACK MIC NOTES V U V U INPUT LEVEL INPUT LEVEL +3dB 0dB -3dB +3dB 0dB -3dB HIP METER OUTPUT GR HP SC HIP METER OUTPUT GR HP SC THRESHOLD OUTPUT MIN MAX RECOVERY ATTACK STEREO LIMITER COMPRESSOR DATE ENGINEER THRESHOLD OUTPUT MIN MAX RECOVERY ATTACK STEREO LIMITER COMPRESSOR DATE ENGINEER 15
OUTPUT THRESHOLD COMPRESS LIMIT ATTACK MIN RECOVERY MAX IN BYPASS LINK +3dB 0dB -3dB INPUT LEVEL HANDCRAFTED IN CALIFORNIA USA Designed & Handcrafted in the USA Manley Laboratories, Inc. 13880 Magnolia Avene Chino, CA 91710 USA T: +1 (909) 627-4256 www.anley.co PIN CONNECTIONS MAINS VOLTAGE SHOWN ON SERIAL TAG WARNING! : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CAUTION! : RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY. 1/4 JACK TIP : SEND RING : RETURN SLEEVE : GROUND XLR PIN 1: SHIELD/GROUND PIN 2: POSITIVE PHASE PIN 3: NEGATIVE PHASE SERIAL No. SIDECHAIN SIDECHAIN STEREO LIMITER COMPRESSO MANLEY LABORATORIES INC. 13880 MAGNOLIA AVE. CHINO, CA 9171 PHONE +1 (909) 627-4256 service@anleylabs.co www.anley.co HAND CRAFTED IN THE USA Rev. 1.3 ZF 2017 Z Z