Brick Lane MC4 is a powerful evolution of Modal PWM compression, bringing four channels of advanced, digitally controlled analogue dynamics into a single 2U rack unit. Building on the acclaimed Brick Lane 500 concept, MC4 delivers the sound, feel, and musical behaviour of multiple vintage compressors — with far greater flexibility and precision. Designed for tracking, mixing, stem processing, and mastering, it seamlessly adapts to mono, stereo, and Mid/Side workflows. With Series, Dual-Band, and De-Esser modes, alongside analogue lookahead, harmonic saturation, and deep behavioural control, Brick Lane MC4 moves effortlessly from corrective control to creative shaping and final polish. It is a modern analogue dynamics processor built for demanding professional workflows.
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Brick Lane MC4 är en kraftfull vidareutveckling av Modal PWM-kompression och samlar fyra kanaler avancerad, digitalt styrd analog dynamik i ett och samma 2U-rack. Byggd på framgången från Brick Lane 500 erbjuder MC4 känslan, musikaliteten och kontrollen hos flera klassiska vintagekompressorer — men med betydligt större flexibilitet och precision. Den är utvecklad för inspelning, mix, stem-bearbetning och mastering, och anpassar sig perfekt till mono-, stereo- och Mid/Side-arbetsflöden. Med Series-, Dual-Band- och De-Esser-lägen, analog lookahead, harmonisk mättnad och djupgående dynamikstyrning rör sig Brick Lane MC4 lika naturligt mellan korrigerande kontroll, kreativ formning och slutlig finish. Ett modernt analogt dynamikverktyg för kompromisslösa professionella produktioner..
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Brick Lane MC4 is a four-channel, digitally controlled analogue dynamics processor designed to deliver the sound, feel, and musical behaviour of multiple classic compressors — while offering a level of flexibility and precision that goes far beyond traditional analogue designs. Housed in a 2U 19-inch rack, MC4 represents the next evolution of Cranborne Audio’s acclaimed Modal PWM compression architecture, first introduced with the Brick Lane 500.
At its core, Brick Lane MC4 uses Modal PWM compression, a unique approach that modulates the control behaviour, timing, and harmonic response of the analogue gain stage itself. Rather than relying on fixed ratios and envelopes, MC4 allows fundamentally different compression "modes" to exist within a single signal path — delivering everything from smooth vintage-style levelling to aggressive transient control and ultra-clean mastering-grade limiting.
Each of the four dynamics channels includes a Brick Lane compressor with six compression modes, each paired with a dedicated, dynamically linked analogue saturation circuit. This ensures that harmonic content evolves naturally with gain reduction, recreating the programme-dependent behaviour of classic analogue compressors. An enhanced Noise Gate with Analogue Lookahead is also included per channel, offering precise and predictable control without artefacts.
Brick Lane MC4 adapts effortlessly to a wide range of professional workflows. Channels can operate independently in mono, be stereo-linked, configured for Mid/Side processing, or combined using advanced routing modes. Series Mode allows two dynamics channels to be chained internally for layered control, while Dual-Band Mode provides carefully optimised two-band analogue compression with minimal phase interaction. A dedicated De-Esser Mode uses analogue lookahead to manage sibilance and high-frequency transients smoothly and transparently.
Designed for modern hybrid studios, Brick Lane MC4 is fully digitally controlled, with all parameters accessible locally or remotely via USB or Ethernet. A dedicated control plug-in enables real-time adjustment, total recall, and preset management directly from within your DAW — while maintaining a true analogue audio path.
With flexible sidechain routing, fully bypassable hardware inserts on every channel, and deep behavioural control via the ENIGMA system, Brick Lane MC4 is equally at home as a tracking processor, mix-bus tool, stem processor, or mastering dynamics unit. It delivers the musicality of vintage analogue compression with the control, repeatability, and workflow integration demanded by today’s professional environments.
Technical Highlights & Specifications
- Format: 2U, 19-inch rackmount
- Channels: 4-channel analogue dynamics processor
- Compression Architecture: Modal PWM (digitally controlled analogue)
Compression Modes:
- Velvet (Vari-Mu style)
- Float (Opto-inspired)
- Smash (FET-style)
- Tame (Ultra-fast precision)
- Glue (Bus compression)
- Polish (Mastering-grade analogue limiting with lookahead)
- Saturation: 6 dynamically linked analogue saturation styles (mode-dependent)
Operating Modes:
- Mono
- Stereo-linked
- Mid/Side
- Series (channel chaining)
- Dual-Band analogue compression
- Dedicated De-Esser mode
- Noise Gate: Per-channel gate with Analogue Lookahead
Sidechain:
- Internal routing between channels
- 4 assignable external sidechain inputs
Insert Points:
- Bypassable TRS inserts on all four channels
- Insert position selectable within the signal chain
-Mid/Side insert capability
Control & Recall:
- USB and Ethernet remote control
- DAW plug-in for real-time control and total recall
- Preset save and load
Advanced Control:
- ENIGMA system for deep adjustment of compression behaviour
- Knee, detector response, attack/release weighting, HF emphasis, and more
Applications:
-Tracking, mixing, stem processing, bus compression, mastering