Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip

The Ultimate All‑Tube Vocal Processor
 

The human voice is the first, most natural musical instrument. It’s also the most expressive. Like the voice itself, Manley’s VOXBOX channel strip is a beautiful and evolved system — a high-end blend of tube-driven preamp, dynamics and EQ circuits, designed specifically for your all-important vocals.

Featuring UA’s groundbreaking Unison™ technology, the Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip plug-in is a stunningly faithful emulation of this premium vocal channel strip. One listen and you’ll hear why it’s the vocal choice of Beck, Rick Rubin, U2 and more.
 

Under the Hood

Introduced in 1997, the Manley VOXBOX combines the best of Manley’s audio designs, including their high-fidelity tube mic preamp, vactrol optical compressor, Pultec-style passive EQ, and de-esser/limiter into a formidable 3U package. Featuring Manley’s legendary boutique build quality, including in-house wound transformers, the VOXBOX stands alone as a premium tube-driven toolbox for outstanding vocal tracks.

Track Vocals through a Coveted Mic Preamp — with Unison Technology

Chock full of Class A vacuum tube tone, the Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip plug-in expertly emulates the hardware’s rich, feedback-style mic preamp. Harnessing UA’s groundbreaking Unison technology, the VOXBOX plug-in perfectly captures the impedance, gain staging, and the circuit behaviors that have made the hardware famous. The secret is Unison’s bi-directional control and communication — from the plug-in to the digitally controlled mic preamps in Apollo audio interfaces.
 

Compress Sources Before the Preamp

Just like the hardware, the Manley VOXBOX plug-in lets you tame transients before the preamp with its flexible optical compressor. This innovative topology, as well as the compressor’s 25 interactive Attack and Release combinations, assure exceptionally clean, smooth-sounding tracks.

Unmatched Passive EQ Sculpting

The Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip plug-in’s three-band, passive EQ is based on the classic Pultec MEQ-5. With two peak bands, one dip band, and greatly expanded and overlapping frequency selections, this broad-stroke EQ keeps the top end sweet, and the lows defined, yet natural sounding — even with extreme boosts and cuts.
 

Ultra Transparent De-Essing and More

At the center of the Manley VOXBOX is its sublime, natural sounding de-esser. With two knobs, you’re afforded complete control of not only vocals, but shrill electric guitars, or overly bright overheads. You can also turn off the de-esser frequency control and use this section as an aggressive and colorful limiter.

Not Just for Vocals

For years, the Manley VOXBOX has been a secret weapon for bassists looking to harness its high-end tube signal path and slick EQ and compression appointments. Engineers have also called on the Manley VOXBOX for clean electric guitars, strings, and drums as it’s always-musical results can elevate any source way beyond the ordinary.

Features

• Exclusively licensed by Manley Laboratories, modeled by Universal Audio
• World's only channel strip custom-designed for the ultimate vocal performance and production experience
• Best of Manley's designs: Tube mic preamp, optical compressor, limiter/de-esser, and three band passive EQ
• Feedback-style 60 dB tube mic preamp with Mic, Line, or Hi-Z input with Unison technology
• Models entire VOXBOX circuit path, including transformers, tube amplifiers, passive inductor based filters, and optical gain reduction
• Sidechain Unlink/Link, Output transformer bypass, plus final clean makeup gain or attenuation
• Physical input impedance and front panel control of Gain staging and other preamp parameters via Unison

Versions Included with your Purchase

• UAD Native: Runs on your Mac or PC without any UA hardware
• Apollo Realtime & UAD-2: Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD-2 hardware

System Requirements

• macOS 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura
• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit only Editions)
• Intel, AMD, or Apple silicon processor
• Internet connection to download software and authorize UADx plug-ins
• Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
• A physical iLok dongle is NOT required to activate this product

DAW Compatibility

• Pro Tools 2022 (AAX)
• Logic Pro (Audio Units)
• Ableton Live 11 (VST 3, Audio Units)
• Cubase 12 (VST 3)
• Studio One 5 (VST 3)
• LUNA Recording System

You can activate this software on an online system (using iLok Cloud) or an offline system (using an iLok USB):

1. Online: an active internet connection and a FREE iLok account are required to authorise UAD Plug-ins using iLok Cloud

2. Offline: you will need a physical iLok USB (2nd generation or higher) to authorise this software

Important Notes:

• This product is a plugin and not a physical product. It is available after purchase as a digital download.
• UAD plugins do not work in Apple's Garageband DAW