Manley Voxbox

Description

Manley Voxbox. Condition is "Used".
Used in a nonsmoking studio. Good condition sounds great.
Manley Labs MVBX
Highlights
2 Discrete Processors in One Unit
Hand-Wound Nickel Transformers
Hand-Selected Tubes
ELOP Compression and Limiting Circuits
Auto-Mute Warm Up Circuit
Magnetic Field Containment
Smart Grounding
Stereo Link for Compressor and De-Esser
Handmade in the USA
Features
The VOXBOX Combo Tube Channel Strip from Manley Labs is a signal processor with mic preamp, compressor, EQ, and De-Esser/Limiter. While the unit can be used as a single input channel strip, it can also process 2 independent audio signals; one through the mic preamp/compressor and the other through EQ/De-Esser/Limiter. The original design idea was intended for vocal processing. However, the VOXBOX also excels at processing drums, guitar, bass, and stereo mixes.
The VOXBOX incorporates many of Manley's technological innovations including the preamp from the Mono Mic Preamp, an electro-optical ELOP compressor, a Pultec-style mid-EQ, and a dedicated ELOP de-esser/limiter. The mic preamp features a hand-wound iron transformer with nickel laminations, negative feedback gain circuit, and triode vacuum tube circuit. The ELOP compressor is an electro-optical limiter with a fixed ratio of 3:1. The attack, release and threshold knobs adjust 4 different time constraints simultaneously resulting in "parametric compression," which allows for a broad spectrum of professional results for any vocal, instrument, or mix bus signal. While other manufacturer's designs have the compressor post mic pre, the VOXBOX places the circuit before the mic preamp making it near impossible to clip. This also shortens the signal path and ensures a quality, low noise signal.
The EQ section features Manley's Pultec-style Mid EQ, a 3-band EQ (low peak, mid dip, high peak) with an extended frequency range covering 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The de-esser/limiter features another ELOP circuit with 4 notch frequencies to tame sibilance and a 5th setting to provide a LA-2A style limiter. This design allows for compression of the signal pre-EQ and limiting post-EQ. Another useful feature is the silent bypass switches, which allow for the engaging and disengaging of any circuit during recording or playback without any audible artifacts. The large VU meters offer a 5-way toggle switch for monitoring the line input, preamp output, final output, compression gain reduction, and de-esser/limiter action. Handmade in the USA, the unit is housed in a 3U steel chassis with a CNC machined 1/4" faceplate that is also inlaid with laser engraved inserts. The VOXBOX ships with a standard IEC power cable.
Mic Preamp
Phantom 48 Volts: 48v power for microphones requiring phantom power
3-way Toggle Switch for High Pass Filter: Flat (bypassed), 80, and 120 Hz
3-way Toggle Switch for Phase Reverse and Line Selection: 0, line, and 180
1/4" 100 KΩ direct injection (DI) input for instruments
Mic Preamp Gain Switch: 40 to 60 dB of negative feedback gain
Input Level: Input attenuator or variable pad for mic, line, and DI
Compressor
Manley ELOP circuit
Fixed 3:1 ratio
Continuously variable threshold control
5-way Selection Knobs for Attack and Release: Fast, med fast, medium, med slow, and slow
Compress 3:1 Bypass: Silent bypass allows for discretely engaging the compressor during playback or recording
Link: Selects stereo operation of a second VOXBOX
EQ
Pultec style mid-EQ with extended frequency range
Low Peak Frequency: 11 position knob - 20 to 1000 Hz
Low Peak Boost: 0 to +10 dB
Mid Dip Frequency: 11 position knob - 200 to 7000 Hz
Mid Dip: 0 to -10 dB
High Peak Frequency: 11 position knob - 1.5 to 20 kHz
High Peak Boost: 0 to +10 dB
EQ In Bypass: Silent bypass switch allows for discretely engaging the EQ during playback and recording
EQ Input: 3-way toggle switch for selecting line input, preamp output, and insert return
De-Esser & Limiter
De-Ess Bypass: Silent switch for discretely engaging the de-esser during playback and recording
De-Ess Select: 5 position rotary switch for selecting de-essing frequencies
Limit: Setting removes frequency selection and works as an electro-optical limiter
Continuously variable threshold control
VU Meter
Full size illuminated Sifam VU Meter
5-Way Switch: Line input, preamp output, EQ output, compressor gain reduction, and de-esser/limiter action
Additional Features
Auto-Mute Warm Up Delay: 30 seconds
Hand-wound Manley iron input transformer
Silent conductive plastic input attenuator
Magnetic field containment
Smart-grounding