Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 Analogue PWM Compressor

The Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 is a 4 channel analogue PWM compressor and gate designed to bring mastering grade dynamics control, deep tone shaping and modern recall into a single rack unit. With a pure analogue signal path, six distinct compression modes, advanced ENIGMA control and full USB/network integration with your DAW, it delivers everything from invisible mix glue to aggressive transient shaping and creative saturation, all with instant recall.

At its core, Brick Lane MC4 uses Cranborne Audio’s Modal PWM compression architecture, a digitally controlled analogue system that reshapes the behaviour of the gain stage itself rather than simply changing ratio and threshold. That means ultra low distortion, lightning fast response and a huge range of compression characters from one box. Whether you are tracking, mixing or mastering, you can configure the four channels for mono, stereo, mid/side, dual band, series or de essing duties, and see every move on the 5 inch colour TFT display with LED rings around the encoders.

Despite its depth, Brick Lane MC4 is built to be fast and intuitive in real studio workflows. Analogue Lookahead technology enables true zero attack compression and gating for precise transient control and converter protection, while the unique Stress control introduces harmonically rich saturation that evolves with the compression. ENIGMA opens up normally fixed analogue parameters such as knee, detector behaviour and HF emphasis, so you can fine tune the feel of the compressor to the source without leaving the analogue domain.

For hybrid and recall heavy setups, Brick Lane MC4 integrates directly with your DAW via USB or network. The included control plug in mirrors the front panel, allowing you to store, recall and automate settings from your session while the audio remains entirely analogue. Add flexible TRS inserts and assignable external sidechains on every channel, and Brick Lane MC4 becomes a powerful analogue hub for modern production, mixing and mastering environments.

Modal PWM Compression Architecture

Each channel of Brick Lane MC4 is built around Cranborne Audio’s Modal PWM compression architecture, which modulates the analogue gain stage’s dynamics law, time constants and harmonic behaviour. This approach minimises unwanted artefacts and distortion while giving you precise control over how the compressor reacts to programme material. The result is a single unit that can move effortlessly from ultra clean mastering compression to characterful, punchy bus work and creative sound design.

Six Compression Modes with Stress Control

Brick Lane MC4 offers six distinct compression modes: Velvet, Float, Smash, Tame, Glue and Polish. Each mode sets ratio, knee, style and rate of change to deliver a specific feel, from vintage vari mu style warmth to ultra fast limiting. The dedicated Stress control adds transient focused harmonic saturation that is tailored to each mode, turning the compressor into a powerful tone shaping tool that can add subtle density or bold analogue colour as needed.

Analogue Lookahead and ENIGMA Deep Control

Analogue Lookahead technology uses quarter wave predictive detection to anticipate transients and deliver true zero attack compression and gating, particularly in Polish mode for mastering grade limiting. ENIGMA then lets you dive deeper, adjusting knee shape, attack and release weighting, detector behaviour and high frequency emphasis. All of this happens in the analogue domain, giving you digital like control over the envelope while preserving analogue feel and integrity.

Flexible Routing, Inserts and DAW Integration

With four channels of dynamics, Brick Lane MC4 can be configured for mono, stereo, mid/side, series, dual band and de essing workflows. Each channel includes a bypassable balanced TRS insert that can be placed at different points in the chain, and four assignable external sidechain inputs allow complex keyed compression and ducking setups. USB and network control with the included plug in provide full remote operation, preset management and session recall without ever converting the audio to digital.

• 4 Channel Modal PWM Analogue Compression and Gating - Four independent dynamics channels based on Cranborne Audio’s Modal PWM architecture deliver ultra low distortion compression and gating with precise control over envelope and harmonic behaviour, making Brick Lane MC4 equally at home on individual tracks, buses and full mixes.
• Six Distinct Compression Modes with Stress Saturation - Velvet, Float, Smash, Tame, Glue and Polish modes provide a wide palette of compression styles, while the Stress control introduces mode specific harmonic saturation so you can move from transparent control to bold analogue colour without changing hardware.
• Analogue Lookahead and ENIGMA Advanced Dynamics Shaping - Analogue Lookahead enables true zero attack compression and gating for precise transient management and converter protection, and ENIGMA opens up deep parameters such as knee, detector behaviour and HF emphasis so you can sculpt the compressor’s response to perfectly match the source.
• DAW Remote Control, Recall and Flexible Routing - USB and network connectivity with the included plug in allow full remote control, preset storage and instant recall from your DAW, while versatile routing options, TRS inserts and assignable external sidechains support mono, stereo, mid/side, series, dual band and de essing configurations in modern hybrid studios.

General

• Product: Cranborne Audio Brick Lane MC4 Analogue PWM Compressor
• Channels: 4 channels of dynamics (compression and gate)
• Signal Path: 100 percent analogue, digitally controlled
• Compression Element: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
• Switching Frequency: 250 kHz
• Display: 5 inch full colour TFT screen
• Controls: Digital encoders with LED rings
• Control Connectivity: USB and Network (Ethernet) for remote control and recall
• Plug in: Included control plug in for DAW integration

Audio Performance

• Test Signal Path: APx555 (Line Out) - Input - Line Output - APx555 (Line In)
• Maximum Input Level: +24 dBu (<0.003% THD)
• Maximum Output Level: +26.5 dBu (<0.003% THD)
• Frequency Response: ±0.5 dB, 2 Hz to 80 kHz
• Noise Floor: < -100 dBu (unweighted)
• Dynamic Range: >118 dB
• Input Impedance (Line): 43 kOhms
• Output Impedance (Line): 150 Ohms
• PSU Type: Internal mains

Compression

• Compression Type: Modal PWM analogue compression
• Compression Modes: Velvet, Float, Smash, Tame, Glue, Polish
• Distortion at 0 dB Gain Reduction: <0.0006% THD+N, <0.00025% THD
• Distortion at 5 dB Gain Reduction: <0.00085% THD
• Distortion at 10 dB Gain Reduction: <0.00085% THD
• Distortion at 20 dB Gain Reduction: <0.00085% THD
• Harmonics (Stress Control): <20% THD depending on conditions
• Harmonic Frequency Range: 200 Hz to 6.2 kHz
• Sidechain Detection HPF: Selectable 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz, Off
• Minimum Attack Time (Standard): 6 nanoseconds (2 microseconds processing delay)
• Minimum Attack Time (Polish Mode with Analogue Lookahead): 6 nanoseconds (0 nanoseconds processing delay at 20 kHz)
• Input Gain Range: ±20 dB
• Output/Make up Gain Range: ±20 dB
• Controls: Threshold, Attack, Release (ranges vary per mode)
• Additional Parameters: ENIGMA compression parameters for knee, attack and release weighting, detector behaviour, HF emphasis and more

Gating

• Gate Type: Analogue gate per dynamics channel
• Technology: Enhanced gate with Analogue Lookahead

Routing and Modes

• Operating Modes: Mono, Stereo, Mid/Side, Series, Dual Band, De Esser
• Mid/Side Processing: Internal encoder and decoder sum difference matrix
• Sidechain Sources: Internal, other channel input/sidechain, or any of four external sidechain inputs
• Sidechain Routing: Assignable per dynamics channel

Inserts and External I/O

• Insert Type: 1/4 inch TRS balanced, dedicated send and return, normalled
• Insert Configuration: Post M/S encoding and compressor, pre M/S decoding
• Maximum Input Level (Return): +26.0 dBu (<0.003% THD+N)
• Maximum Output Level (Send): +26.0 dBu (<0.003% THD+N)
• External Sidechain Inputs: 4 assignable external sidechain inputs

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: +1 to 35 degrees Celsius
• Storage Temperature: -20 to 50 degrees Celsius

Dimensions and Weight

• Unit Width: 48.3 cm (19 inch rackmount)
• Unit Height: 8.9 cm (3.5 inch, 2U)
• Unit Depth: 23.6 cm (9.3 inch)
• Unit Weight: 6 kg (13 lbs)
• Shipping Carton Width: 60 cm (23.6 inch)
• Shipping Carton Height: 18 cm (7 inch)
• Shipping Carton Depth: 35 cm (13.8 inch)
• Shipping Carton Weight: 6.5 kg (14 lbs)