Manley ELOP Limiter Owner's Manual

MANLEY

LABORATORIES, INC.

THE ELOP

OWNER's MANUAL

®

TUBES

brought to you by the clever folks at:

MANLEY LABORATORIES, INC.

13880 MAGNOLIA AVE.

CHINO, CA. 91710 USA

TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

email: [e-mail]

website: www.manleylabs.com

RULE

August-28-2007

CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

INTRODUCTION 3

FRONT PANEL 4

REAR PANEL 5

OPERATION NOTES 6 & 7

ADVANCED TRICKS 8

MAINS CONNECTIONS 9

TROUBLE SHOOTING 10 & 11

INTERNAL ADJUSTMENTS 12

SPECIFICATIONS 13

WARRANTY 14

WARRANTY REGISTRATION 15

TEMPLATE FOR USER SETTINGS 16

INTRODUCTION

3

WARNING!

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN THE CABINET

REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONEL

THANK YOU!...

for choosing the Manley ELOP®. This Limiter follows in the tradition of the vintage LA-2A Leveling
Amplifier using a passive electro-optical device to control gain. The advantage of a passive device
is that it eliminates the need to push the music through many transistors and/or ICs as would be the
case in a VCA based Limiter. Also like the LA-2A, the Manley utilizes a tube line amplifier for make­up gain. This is one of our favorite clean and powerful line drivers. We achieve true tube "warmth"
with fidelity rather than with distortion. Other owners of this unit love the way they can drastically
(10 dB) limit without introducing unmusical harshness. We find it extremely quick and easy to use,
mostly because it does exactly what one would expect of a good limiter when patched in. For critical
vocal tracks, this is the one to demand.

Unlike the LA-2A, we illuminate the photo-resistor with a LED rather than electro­luminescent elements which are often slow and unreliable. We also use a solid state side-chain to
drive the LEDs. The Limiter also features a BYPASS switch that retains the tube section at unity gain.

Please take a few moments to read through this manual carefully as it contains information essential
to proper operation of this unit. Thank you again, and please enjoy.

GENERAL NOTES

LOCATION & VENTILATION

The Manley ELOP® must be installed in a stable location with ample ventilation. It is recommended,
if this unit is rack mounted, that you allow enough clearance on the top and bottom of the unit such
that a constant flow of air can move through the ventilation holes.

WATER & MOISTURE

As with any electrical equipment, this equipment should not be used near water or moisture.

SERVICING

The user should not attempt to service this unit beyond that described in the owner's manual.
Refer all servicing to Manley Laboratories.

!

FRONT PANEL

E E

A B C D F G F H C B A

A GAIN Adjusts the gain of that audio channel. Unity gain is about the seventh marking, or 1

o'clock. Limiting usually requires some additional "make-up" gain to compare IN / BYPASS.
The Gain control can also be used as the level to tape.

B IN / BYPASS. Audio still flows through the tubes in BYPASS but at Unity Gain. Switching

to IN provides the Limiting controls and functions. Use this switch to verify that the limiting
is not messing up the original sound but enhancing it or at least leveling the volume.

C RECDUCTION Adjusts the amount of limiting in that channel. This could also be called

"threshold". Turning this clockwise introduces limiting.

D STEREO LINK / NORMAL Switching the toggle UP provides the STEREO LINK. It is

used on stereo tracks so that when either channel is called to limit, both channels reduce the
same amount at the same time. This prevents image shifts and an instrument should stay
where you panned them. Limiting individual sounds is usually done with the switch down
where each side is independent of the other.

E METER Shows the amound of gain reduction in dB from the 0 dB mark. Functions as a

high quality VU meter when the switch is set to METER OUTPUT. Note that VU meters and
PEAK meters rarely agree and that digital recorders use peak meters - Rely on those for clean
recording. VU meters are standard with analog machines and big consoles because they
correspond well with perceived loudness.

F METER SELECT Switch to REDUCTION to see the amount of limiting in dB. The wider

and quicker the reduction meter swings the more likely the limiting will be audible.
Switch to OUTPUT to show the output level as a conventional VU meter.

G POWER SWITCH Switch up to turn the unit ON. Both meters will illuminate when the

power is on.

H SIDECHAIN FILTER Allows you to limit only the frequencies above the one selected.

Useful if you want to let the bass come through full-force, but limit everything else.

4

REAR PANEL

A

C

B

G

E

D

A 1/4" INPUT (UNBALANCED) (RIGHT) TIP: HOT

B XLR INPUT (BALANCED) (RIGHT) PIN 1: GROUND

C 1/4" OUTPUT (UNBALANCED) (RIGHT) TIP: HOT

D XLR OUTPUT (BALANCED) (RIGHT) PIN 1: GROUND

E IEC MAINS CONNECTOR Standard IEC mains connector for 50 /60 Hz AC.

F MAINS FUSE Replace with only a 1 Amp slo-Blo fuse.

F

SLEEVE: GROUND

PIN 2: HOT (+)
PIN 3: GROUND

SLEEVE: GROUND

PIN 2: HOT (+)
PIN 3: GROUND

I

H

J

G XLR INPUT (BALANCED ) (LEFT) PIN 1: GROUND

PIN 2: HOT (+)
PIN 3: GROUND

H 1/4"INPUT (UNBALANCED ) (LEFT) TIP: HOT

SLEEVE: GROUND

J XLR OUTPUT (BALANCED) (RIGHT) PIN 1: GROUND

PIN 2: HOT (+)
PIN 3: GROUND

K 1/4" INPUT (UNBALANCED) (RIGHT) TIP: HOT

SLEEVE: GROUND

Old versions of the ELOP® were unbalanced only. This version has both transformer (floating
!) balanced and unbalanced (transformerless) inputs. The outputs are similar, offering

transformer (floating) balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4 jacks. The output transformers are
"driven" either way so even using unbalanced outputs there may be a part of the "character"
caused by the iron. Recording engineers tend to prefer the sound of good transformers. If done
right, they saturate a little in the deep lows and this effect "warmth" is usually attributed to
"tubes". Its the tubes that give it that clean, immediate, musical quality. Transformers give
that rich, fat bottom end - its not a "boost" like EQ but more like a low frequency "exciter".
Analog tape also saturates this way, as does the better vintage gear - tube or discrete.

5