MR MANAGER

Lets your pedals shine, no amp or computer required

Mr Manager came from a specific place. I have neighbors on the other side of the walls, so an amp usually isn't an option at home. Amps-in-a-box impose too much of their own character. Digital sims are fun, but for me the endless choices become a time drain, and I spend enough time on a computer at work. I'd rather turn a knob than click a mouse and watch a skeuomorphic knob icon rotate.

What it does

Mr Manager is an always-on, analog signal conditioning stage that, like any good bureaucrat, does its job and gets out of the way. Amps and speakers shape signals in important ways: rolling off highs, shaping the mids, and rounding harsh edges instead of clipping them flat. Mr Manager does the same job with no DAW in the loop and no overcooked amp emulations.

• INPUT PAD Use 0dB for clean guitar and other instrument-level signals. Attenuate for high-gain pedals, keyboards, and other hotter signals.
• PUSH Gain control that goes from clean to soft, responsive clipping
• BALANCE A tone control to tilt brighter or darker
• CONTOUR A gentle low-mid scoop with adjustable depth
• FILTER Four voicings (plus bypass) of speaker-like high-frequency rolloff to kill harsh transients and fizz from drive pedals
  

Mr Manager does not try to emulate a particular circuit, tone stack, or amp. It just does what is needed to let pedal tone come through when playing without an amp.

Record, rehearse, go direct

Mr Manager (usually) goes at the end of your signal chain. Monitor through an interface, mixer, or anything with a headphone out. Go direct to tape, digital recorder, or PA without studio gear or a laptop.

I love amps

Mr Manager doesn't replace your amp, but it's nice for when you don't have one, don't want to mic one, or don't want to lug one. I also use it as a neutral(ish) reference for testing signal chains, prototypes, and new circuits.