Analog Vari-Mu Tube Compressor that won't break the bank - Sound Skulptor MU524

[@MatthiasStockert]

Wow, danke für das extrem gut gemachte Review! So kann man sich echt was drunter vorstellen, wie das Ding klingt und funktioniert. So gut findet man das selten, besonders nicht bei DIY-Kits! Und dann auch noch genau für dieses Teil. 🤩

[@aZeee]

A tip for future comprisons is to gain match according to the rms and not peak, rms will translate better to perceived loudness. (MU524 was a few db hotter in rms according to your meters)

[@morererecords]

yep, there was no real comparison but definitely sounds great

[@DarkTrapStudio]

This sound so amazing you need no gain matching

[@ludovicmorelon6771]

I have a pair for a bit of time now and it is a stellar compressor! Definitely coloured but definitely a must have, especially for that price!

[@jordanchilders4500]

Been looking for a DIY vari-mu compressor for my guitars and this is going to be it! Thanks for the video and samples!

[@beautgrainger147]

Sounds good.. I've got plenty of existing projects but it's fair to say a 500 series setup with these would probably suit my needs more than adequately.

[@ludovicmorelon6771]

It seems to sound very cool!

[@peevonb7070]

Thank you ever so much for this video man. Really cool comp, just ordered 3 of them. Your video made the decision very easy.

[@oliverlorenz7462]

Voll der coole Typ, mehr von den Videos

[@MarcHerwig]

Dankeschön, es wird mehr geben! 😊

[@StudioFanThess]

Very good video my friend, Bravo! For the perfect result you mast press the button "verzogerung berech". This is for delay calculate. When you mix with another organs, must press it for phase problems

[@larswillsen]

I'm thinking of spending my older days doing this .. after a massive stroke it's impossible to afford anything, maybe this is the way 🙂

[@NikolausBrocke]

Great video. Very tasteful.

[@MarcHerwig]

Thank you! :)

[@paultietze9677]

Very good review! Thanks! 🙏🏻

[@eranddroory9987]

Great sounding unit.. thanks for the video..

[@danielc4361]

I think it actually made everything better. I'm shocked

[@louis-philippekyer4335]

Woah, amazing samples ! Viele Danke

[@jeanyvestheriault8362]

Would be cool if you could a review with the JLM LA500 and perhaps even compare the two, I used lots of those JLM compressor and they are fabulous. Great work, specially your vintage mixing restoration console one.

[@bonzology322]

not sure cause i use PT, but I believe the line on the meter thats hovering around -25db is the RMS level, if you match your output and bypass to that line you should have a legit comparison

[@LosFicosMusic]

Wow “VARI MU” in 500 series NICE

[@sagijames]

great examples, thanks!

[@therockhour1386]

I think these sound pretty good. In the video, it almost appears as if the knobs wiggle when you reach for them?

[@svenfranzisco]

Geiler Typ👍

[@MarcHerwig]

😊🙏

[@djscorpie]

Great Video! Thank You

[@DaftyBoi412]

The reason you had to reduce the output of your daw is most likely because of a descrepency between the A/D amd D/A stage of your interface. I also have to cut the return 5.5-6 db of my steinberg interface because it outputs inbetween +4dbu and -10dbv and you can only select +4dbu or - 10dbv for the input. Try it with a loop wire going directly from your outputto your input and you should see even then it is still around 6db louder. It's not the compressor doing it, at least my 2 don't have this behaviour and it comes from my interface.

[@TwoBirdDogStudios]

This may sound like a silly question but I am putting together my second MU524. I know they link for stereo operation but I can’t find literature on how to set that up. Can you explain to me how to operate them in stereo?

[@DaftyBoi412]

You press in stereo link on the back of your 500 rack for the two channels you are using for the comps (keep this on even when using not in stereo mode for any stereo compressor when you first install them). Then you switch both comps to stereo link mode on the front. Then you match the settings on both comps (or you can match the settings first and then turn on stereo linking). It's as easy as that.

[@diogomp81]

Thanks for the video, really helps to evaluate the tone of the unit. Btw, if you weren't recording to a daw and had no clear way to measure the output of the compressor, how would you avoid being fooled by gain/volume since the VU only registers gain reduction?

[@MarcHerwig]

Hey thanks for your comment😊! It’s not a scientific test in terms of measuring the output, but the meter on the right side always shows the actual volume. The focus were tone and behavior. In Cubase you can insert your hardware like a plugin (if you have enough digital in and outs on your interface), so you can easily bypass it to compare the levels. Hope this clarifies it🤗

[@diogomp81]

@@MarcHerwig I understand, but that's exactly my problem, as i record to a cassette 4 track with a built in mixer and very poor metering, so i was trying to understand how i can avoid being tricked by volume, given that the 524 doesn't register output, just gain reduction.

[@MarcHerwig]

Ok, I get it. You also have a true bypass on the unit, maybe that’s the solution for you.

[@diogomp81]

@@MarcHerwig That will have to do, yeah. Thanks again Marc!

[@vcs9171]

It seems to add a lot of high end.

[@azexodus]

good video thanks.

[@virgogreg]

what was the vocal mic? iit was a tube mic sounded vintage

[@MarcHerwig]

It was the UM70 from Microtech Gefell. No tube but a FET vintage mic with the M7 capsule. Awesome mic!

[@virgogreg]

@@MarcHerwig yeah it sounded magic

[@DarkTrapStudio]

This is butter and bread, with a toasted side.

[@MaxSchwanethal]

Man klingt dieser Compressor geil

[@MarcHerwig]

Dankeschön! Ich hoffe dieser Hashtag setzt dich durch!😅

[@MaxSchwanethal]

@@MarcHerwig das hoffe ich auch in zweierlei Hinsicht :)

[@oliverlorenz7462]

Ich hab’s… das wird ein Flux Kompensator

[@MarcHerwig]

Richtig, damit reise ich kurz zurück in die 60er und hole mir den originalen Altec😃

[@oliverlorenz7462]

@@MarcHerwig Ob die wirklich besser waren…

[@DaftyBoi412]

How is the stereo matching on your units? Mine are about 3db off on the compression sadly, I need to get some betteratched tubes.

[@chrisvanloo1007]

can't you just send them in to the owner of Sound skulptor? he has a service of fixing units when you mess up. perhaps he can make them match?

[@DaftyBoi412]

@@chrisvanloo1007 Tube comps are never going to match perfectly. It's an inherent design quirk with electronics like tubes (as they have a +/- range (useually of about 10%) within which they will operate, rather than a fixed value that they will certainly be), it's not something broken that they could fix. The only way to get them to be closer is to buy stereo matched tubes, or get lucky with the tubes you get.

[@chrisvanloo1007]

@@DaftyBoi412 i haven't built mine yet but at 5:20 you can clearly see him adjust the amount of compression or at least the amount shown on the meter.. maybe you can get them closer that way?

[@DaftyBoi412]

@@chrisvanloo1007 They are fully calibrated, it's just the tubes compression curve on mine is a bit out, it's expected with unmatched tubes. Mine match at the calibration point, but drift either side, and 3db differance max is nothing really compared to how bad it can get. Some tube driven opto comps go out by 5-10db when you really start digging in if the opto cells aren' t colsely matched... And that's just gain reduction, forget about the attack and release curves! ... Don't forget these types of compressors arn't precision tools, use aVCA comp or something for that, these are for gentle volume riding and colouring the sound. It's the same with pots, no two pots will be identicle, and most are only within 20% of each other! If you get lucky they will track ok, but get two pots at either end of their range and you'll have quite noticeable descrepencies between channels. Ofc you can adjust for it by turning the pot it's self, it just means you won't have matching settings on your left and right unit to get the same resistance values. (this isn't just this comp, it's all analouge gear!). It's why highly acurate stereo units are SOO expensive (like 3-5k minimum useually), as to get 5% or better you start to need stepped switches instead of pots, and then you're in the 1% range - but go look up the price of elmer or greyhill stepped switches xD, even 5% pots will cost and arm and a leg. 😉

[@chrisvanloo1007]

@@DaftyBoi412 i wanted to link two of these comps and use them in my mastering chain as a stereo compressor limiter... now i'm not so sure anymore. sigh

[@theresagroe8091]

Ich versteh leider nichts. Was allerdings nicht primär an der der Sprache liegt. 😄

[@MarcHerwig]

Spezieller Inhalt, ich weiß. Kauf dir einen Lötkolben, auf dem Kanal wird es noch mehr solcher Videos geben.😃👍