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MANLEY
VOXBOX
OWNER'S MANUAL
RULE
TUBES
MANLEY LABORATORIES, INC.
13880 MAGNOLIA AVE.
CHINO, CA 91710 USA
TEL: +1 (909) 627-4256
FAX: +1 (909) 628-2482
www.manley.com
REV. MVBXXAxxxx
rev4/2015/zf

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Summary of Contents for Manley VOXBOX

  • Page 1 MANLEY VOXBOX OWNER’S MANUAL RULE TUBES MANLEY LABORATORIES, INC. 13880 MAGNOLIA AVE. CHINO, CA 91710 USA TEL: +1 (909) 627-4256 FAX: +1 (909) 628-2482 www.manley.com REV. MVBXXAxxxx rev4/2015/zf...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS SECTION PAGE INTRODUCTION QUICK START MAINS CONNECTIONS FRONT PANEL MIC PRE COMPRESSOR EQ & DE-ESSER REAR PANEL GENERAL DISCUSSION OVERVIEW AND BLOCK DIAGRAM MIC PREAMP & COMPRESSOR EQ & DE-ESSER ADDENDUM TECHNICAL DETAILS TUBE, TRIMMER LOCATIONS CALIBRATION TROUBLESHOOTING SPECIFICATIONS CURVES APPENDIX 1 - TEMPLATE FOR STORING SETTINGS...
  • Page 3: Introduction

    INTRODUCTION THANK YOU!... for choosing the Manley VOXBOX. This unit is the result of our customers asking us to make a vocal oriented combination from some favorite Manley designs. We combined the Manley Mic Preampli- fier, Electro-Optical Limiter, and Mid Pultec and then went further. Uniquely, we put a compressor before a minimalist mic preamplifier.
  • Page 4: Quick Start

    QUICK START So you just got your VOXBOX (congratulations!), and all you want to do is plug it in and get on with recording. But there are so many darn switches and input/output jacks all over the dang thing! Where to even begin?!? Don’t panic.
  • Page 5: Mains Connections

    MAINS CONNECTIONS Your VOXBOX has been factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country. The voltage setting is marked on the serial badge, located on the rear panel. Check that this complies with your local supply. Export units for certain markets have a moulded mains plug fitted to comply with local requirements. If your unit does not have a plug fitted the coloured wires should be connected to the appropriate plug terminals in accordance...
  • Page 6: Front Panel

    FRONT PANEL B C D E H J K N M O P Q R S T U V A. INSTRUMENT INPUT: 100K ohm input impedance. The PHASE switch should be in the middle po- sition to use this input so that the mic input transformer is disconnected. Inserting a phone jack here will interrupt the back panel LINE INPUT.
  • Page 7: Compressor

    RELEASE (or LIMITER) LA-3A = SLOW or MEDIUM ATTACK & MEDIUM SLOW RELEASE N. LINK: Switching up connects or links a second VOXBOX for stereo applications. It ensures that when either compressor channel reduces gain that both units will reduce the same number of dBs.
  • Page 8: Eq & De-Esser

    EQ section. It also allows you to use the VOXBOX for two different tracks. These 3 inputs are switched with high quality sealed relays near the back panel &...
  • Page 9: Rear Panel

    MDL 1 and its size is 1 1/4” X 1/4”. A second or third blown fuse may indicate an electronic problem needing repair especially if it has turned black. If it appears to be a serious problem, you should send the VOXBOX to your dealer or to MANLEY LABS for repair.
  • Page 10 EQ section. It is intended as a return for a noise gate or other processor between the mic pre and EQ. It is also a way to bring in a second input to use the VOXBOX for two separate tracks. The PIN- OUT is the same as the LINE INPUT and the same electronically.
  • Page 11 VOXBOX with any typical hi-fi RCA interconnect as long as it is not longer than 6 feet. P. LINK DE-ESSER: This RCA is used for connecting to a second VOXBOX. You can link the second VOX- BOX with any typical hi-fi interconnect and a stereo interconnect can be used to do both the compressor link and de-esser link.
  • Page 12: Overview And Block Diagram

    The PREAMP is where the mic signal gets boosted to line levels. This all-tube gain block is the same as the Manley Mono Microphone Preamplifier and quite similar in topology to the circuit in the Manley Pultec EQs and Opto-Limiters.
  • Page 13: Mic Preamp & Compressor

    Ground loops usually cause hum. Suggestion #3 - You can set up the VOXBOX in the studio near the mic and use a short mic cable. Why? Microphones often have “light duty” line drivers and you can lose an audible amount of signal in long cables. You can get the best fidelity by having the mic pre close to the mic at the “cost”...
  • Page 14 A little note about the INPUT control. This control is before any other circuitry that might distort. In a sense, it is a variable pad. Manley mic preamps can handle very hot signals cleanly because of this. The GAIN switch, that many mistake for a pad, sets the amount of negative feedback. We sometimes use this to optimise noise but more often use it to control how “forward”...
  • Page 15: Eq & De-Esser

    3) INSERT - This is a line input direct into the EQ. It can be used to “insert” an external device such as a gate, delay, distortion or even more EQ and compression. It can also be used as a way to use the VOXBOX as two separate channels.
  • Page 16 Opto. This allows the fine detail of the original sound to be left as intact as possible. The de-esser / limiter is after the EQ and before the final line driver. The side chain is solid state but, as in all Manley gear, the signal path is entirely vacuum tube and never hybrid.
  • Page 17 There will be simply less need for a de-esser by just using the VOXBOX and avoiding the cheap stuff. If you start off with a great mic like the Manley Gold Reference and use this mic preamp and compressor - you prob- ably won’t need to boost highs.
  • Page 18: Addendum

    Sovtek 12AX7LPS which is generally less noisy and has slightly more gain, and it works very well as a preamp in the VOXBOX. See pg. 18 to see a tube substitutions list. It also required a few resistor changes at the plates of the 12AX7LPS. The old R values at the “GAIN”...
  • Page 19: Tube, Trimmer Locations

    VU METER = +4.0 dB meter back to access) TUBES: We use 4 tubes in the VOXBOX. The substitutions listed just might work in a pinch but may not give optimum performance. Get selected tubes from Manley Labs. A tube that does not glow or has turned white inside needs to be replaced.
  • Page 20: Calibration

    There are potentially painful high voltages inside the VOXBOX so care should be taken even by good technicians. They have been known to get a shock but they also know to use one hand and insulated tools or gloves.
  • Page 21: Troubleshooting

    ONE SIDE WORKS FINE BUT THE OTHER SIDE IS DEAD - Let’s assume this is not wiring. We are pretty sure it is the VOXBOX. If it were solid state you would generally send it back for repair. Being a tube unit, you can probably find the problem and fix it yourself in a few minutes.
  • Page 22 Easy - Replace the tube. Which one? The one that makes the most noise when you tap it. Usually this will be one of the smaller (gain stage) tubes closest to the front. The VOXBOX will have to be on, connected and speakers up but not too loud for the sake of your speakers.
  • Page 23: Specifications

    SPECIFICATIONS MANLEY VOXBOX PREAMPLIFIER EQ SECTION BOTH Maximum Output : 1.5% THD Unbalanced: 20-20k +31 dBv +31 dBv +31 dBv Balanced: 1 kHz +31 dBv` +31 dBv +31 dBv Headroom (referenced to +4 dBv) 27 dB 27 dB 27 dB THD &...
  • Page 25: Curves

    MORE VOXBOX CURVES COMPRESSOR THRESHOLD AT MAXIMUM MED ATTACK / MEDIUM RELEASE SHOWS 3:1 SLOPE LIMITER THRESHOLD AT MAXIMUM Slope starts at 5:1 quickly becomes 10:1 then towards 20 dB of limiting begins to return to normal. Opto has 20 dB range...
  • Page 26: Appendix 1 - Template For Storing Settings

    TEMPLATES FOR STORING SETTINGS COPY THIS PAGE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS MASTER ARTIST INSTRUMENT / TRACK DATE MIC NOTES SONG ENGINEER ARTIST INSTRUMENT / TRACK DATE MIC NOTES SONG ENGINEER ARTIST INSTRUMENT / TRACK DATE MIC NOTES SONG ENGINEER NOTES...

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