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The Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 is a 2U, four-channel analogue Modal PWM dynamics processor with compression and noise gating on every channel. Its flexible routing supports Mono, Stereo, Mid/Side, Series, Dual-Band and De-Esser workflows, while USB/Ethernet control, presets and recall bring modern DAW efficiency to genuine analogue dynamics processing.

 

The Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 is a highly flexible four-channel dynamics processor designed to cover recording, mixing, mix-bus, mastering and creative sound-design applications from one 2U rack unit. Each of its four channels features fully analogue PWM compression and an enhanced noise gate, while digital control provides recall, automation, presets and detailed visual feedback without placing the audio signal path in the digital domain.

At the centre of the MC4 is Cranborne’s Modal PWM compression architecture. Rather than providing one fixed compressor character, it offers six distinct operating modes—Velvet, Float, Smash, Tame, Glue and Polish—each with its own detector behaviour, timing profile and gain-reduction personality. This gives the unit a wide usable range: transparent levelling, gentle programme control, punchy bus compression, aggressive transient shaping, vocal control and polished mastering dynamics can all be approached from the same hardware platform.

 

Each channel includes compression and an enhanced analogue noise gate. The gate can clean up microphone signals, close down amp or drum bleed, shape percussion, reduce unwanted room noise or create rhythmic sound-design effects. Its analogue lookahead system allows extremely fast response. In Polish mode with analogue lookahead enabled, the compressor can deliver effectively zero-attack processing at 20 kHz, making it possible to restrain sharp peaks before they pass while preserving control over the final dynamics character.

 

The MC4 can be configured in several routing modes. Mono gives four independent analogue channels for tracking, drum processing or multichannel sources. Stereo links channel pairs for buses, keyboards, overheads and mix processing. Mid/Side mode includes internal M/S encoding and decoding, allowing the centre and sides of a stereo signal to be compressed independently. Series routing lets channels feed into one another for multi-stage dynamics processing. Dual-Band mode divides a signal into frequency bands and processes them across paired channels, while De-Esser mode uses its detector and routing structure for targeted high-frequency dynamic control.

 

The dedicated Stress control adds harmonic enrichment to the compression process. With modest use, it can increase perceived density and energy; pushed harder, it creates more deliberately coloured, saturated dynamics effects. The Enigma parameter opens deeper control over the selected compression mode, including parameters such as knee, attack and release weighting, detector response and high-frequency emphasis. This keeps the front-panel workflow immediate while making the MC4 capable of more specialised, source-dependent behaviour than a conventional one- or two-knob compressor.

 

Each channel provides ±20 dB input and output gain, a selectable sidechain high-pass filter at 60 Hz, 100 Hz or 200 Hz, plus off. The sidechain filter prevents low-frequency energy from triggering unnecessary compression, helping retain kick and bass punch on a mix bus or stereo drum group. Four dedicated balanced TRS insert loops make it possible to place external EQ, saturation, filters or other processing into each channel’s signal chain. Four external sidechain inputs extend detector routing further, allowing one source to control compression or gating on another.thomannmusic+3

A 5-inch full-colour TFT display, LED-ring encoders and clear metering offer detailed real-time feedback without slowing workflow. The MC4 connects over USB or Ethernet for remote control, plug-in-based DAW automation, session recall, preset management and network operation. This makes it especially practical in high-revision sessions: complex four-channel analogue settings can be restored with the project rather than documented manually.

 

With a maximum input level of +24 dBu, maximum output of +26.5 dBu, frequency response from 2 Hz to 80 kHz, dynamic range above 118 dB and all-analogue PWM processing, Brick Lane MC4 offers mastering-capable technical performance as well as creative flexibility. It is a serious multi-channel tool for engineers who need four channels of analogue dynamics without being locked into a single compressor topology.

 

Key features

  • Four-channel fully analogue Modal PWM dynamics processor

  • Compression and enhanced noise gate on every channel

  • Six compression modes: Velvet, Float, Smash, Tame, Glue and Polish

  • Mono, Stereo, Mid/Side, Series, Dual-Band and De-Esser operating modes

  • Internal Mid/Side encoding and decoding

  • Analogue lookahead for extremely fast peak handling

  • Effectively zero-attack compression in Polish mode with Lookahead at 20 kHz

  • Stress control for harmonically enriched compression and colour

  • Enigma deep-edit parameter for advanced timing, detector, knee and emphasis control

  • Adjustable compression ratio, threshold, attack, release and makeup gain

  • ±20 dB input gain and ±20 dB output gain

  • Per-channel sidechain HPF: Off, 60 Hz, 100 Hz or 200 Hz

  • Four external sidechain inputs

  • Four dedicated balanced TRS insert loops, one per channel

  • 5-inch full-colour TFT display

  • LED-ring encoders and comprehensive visual feedback

  • USB and Ethernet/network remote control

  • DAW automation, preset management and total recall

  • Fully analogue audio path with digitally controlled parameters

  • High headroom: +24 dBu input and +26.5 dBu output

  • 19-inch, 2U rackmount chassis

  • Internal mains power supply

 

Applications

  • Four-channel compression for drums, vocals, guitars and instruments

  • Stereo bus compression and mix-bus glue

  • Mid/Side processing for mastering and stereo image control

  • Transparent mastering dynamics with Polish mode

  • Multi-stage compression using Series mode

  • Frequency-split compression through Dual-Band mode

  • Hardware de-essing for vocals, overheads and harsh programme material

  • Fast transient control and peak management with analogue lookahead

  • Drum shaping, room-mic control and creative gating

  • Harmonic compression effects using Stress

  • Frequency-selective sidechain compression with external EQ in the insert path

  • Hybrid mixing and recallable analogue outboard workflows

Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 – 4-Channel Modal PWM Dynamics Processor

3 099,00 €Prix
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