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Slate ML1
Jul 19, 2023 19:49:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 19, 2023 19:49:08 GMT -6
I just got a vocal from a (really good) singer and it sounded really good. Like really good. He was using the Slate mic with the Blackbird 67. Now, he’s gonna sound good on anything, but I was shocked at how beefy the bottom was and how non-shitty the top end sounded. Kinda has me jonesing to find a cheap one.
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Post by RealNoob on Jul 19, 2023 20:29:19 GMT -6
any idea if he used the slate pre or what he used?
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Slate ML1
Jul 19, 2023 20:33:06 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 19, 2023 20:33:06 GMT -6
any idea if he used the slate pre or what he used? That would make sense. I asked and he said he was just using the UAD 1176 and 2A. So I guess he was using the pre. Don’t you have to use the pre to get the emulation? |
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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 19, 2023 20:38:18 GMT -6
The Blackbird mic set was without a doubt their best models.
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Slate ML1
Jul 19, 2023 20:41:29 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by phdamage on Jul 19, 2023 20:41:29 GMT -6
I bought one some years ago when they were on sale. I didn’t have the the pre or the blackbird collection - just the stock ones but I was pretty unimpressed. I mean, it sounded fine in its own right as a mic but the emulations were pretty subtle and didn’t give me any kind of wow factor, at least compared to my tube mic offerings. Maybe the pre makes all the difference? I think I used a JLM 99v with it, typically, as I thought it was the least colored of my options
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Post by ragan on Jul 19, 2023 22:12:51 GMT -6
Try Guitar Center used site. There have usually been a lot of those things out there, typically pretty cheap used. Plus, you get a return policy on used gear.
I bought one right at out of the gate and wasn't impressed with it. But it wasn't bad or anything and this was before the Blackbird plugins were available for it.
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Post by crillemannen on Jul 20, 2023 2:16:11 GMT -6
I have done several videos on the ML-1. I've been super impressed by it and I do agree that the Blackbird expansion is the one to get. The latest 87 pack is also nice. Honestly it's very close to the originals, maybe even so close that it rivals high-end clones.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 20, 2023 4:44:02 GMT -6
I remember getting mine in the 2nd wave of it. I heard how many people liked it, so I caved. I opened the boxed turned it on and was immediately disappointed. I had it next to a bunch of my Advanced Audio mics, and a FleA 47, and it just wasn’t the same. I honestly preferred using mic mod EFX or IK Mic Locker with my U87ai as the base mic. It’s not a bad system for those looking to try a bunch of mics, but just not the level it leads you to believe. I sold it to purchase a BLUE Bottle Rocket Stage II with a bunch of Caps and was much happier. I was able to demo the Blackbird sample pack when it came out, and found those much better than the previous emulations. You can watch my videos below.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Jul 20, 2023 4:53:28 GMT -6
I bought one some years ago when they were on sale. I didn’t have the the pre or the blackbird collection - just the stock ones but I was pretty unimpressed. I mean, it sounded fine in its own right as a mic but the emulations were pretty subtle and didn’t give me any kind of wow factor, at least compared to my tube mic offerings. Maybe the pre makes all the difference? I think I used a JLM 99v with it, typically, as I thought it was the least colored of my options I looked into it years back and am pretty certain that it is just a THAT chip based preamp. Clean but basic. |
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Jul 20, 2023 4:56:56 GMT -6
I have done several videos on the ML-1. I've been super impressed by it and I do agree that the Blackbird expansion is the one to get. The latest 87 pack is also nice. Honestly it's very close to the originals, maybe even so close that it rivals high-end clones. Great voice. are you the same crille from sneap? |
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Slate ML1
Jul 20, 2023 6:03:07 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by crillemannen on Jul 20, 2023 6:03:07 GMT -6
I have done several videos on the ML-1. I've been super impressed by it and I do agree that the Blackbird expansion is the one to get. The latest 87 pack is also nice. Honestly it's very close to the originals, maybe even so close that it rivals high-end clones. Great voice. are you the same crille from sneap? Thanks! Yeah that's me! Good old Sneap forum 😁 What was your nickname on that forum? I've stayed in touch with a few ppl that I've gotten to know on that forum. |
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Post by seawell on Jul 20, 2023 6:57:17 GMT -6
I used one on 3 different songs/singers with the Slate preamp. Felt & sounded ok during tracking but did not respond well or the same as what I’m used to with Eq & compression come mix time. This was pre the blackbird pack.
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Post by guitarheadhunt on Jul 20, 2023 8:43:18 GMT -6
I have the slate mic and the slate pre. To be honest I always felt that the mic sounded better going through my Apollo x6 than the slate pre. The slate pre sounds kind of flat with the mic. That being said I almost never use the slate mic anymore. I have all the expansions but the 87 expansion. The sphere L22 sounds way better than the slate mic does. I will say the ml2 is a decent mic with it's emulations. You can get good results with the ml1 I just prefer my other mics over it. I have been pairing my BU67 with my Pacifica lately and they seem to be a great match. The slate mic is always on sale. I wouldn't feel the need to buy the pre. I also wouldn't pay more than $499 for one new. Here is one for $399. It looks like it comes with the vms mic pre. I would call to verify. www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Slate-Pro-Audio/VMS-ML1-Condenser-Microphone.gc |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 20, 2023 9:39:45 GMT -6
Guess they don’t even make the pre anymore.
Yeah - so the plan would be to get one for $399 and then get the blackbird collection for $200. Worth $600?
My experience with any type of modeling (Kemper) and - I swear I’ve tried one before (or maybe it was the Townsend) was that it still all sounds like the same mic just eq’d differently. That being said, I wasn’t really impressed with the Slate drum sounds until the Blackbird kit. I use that for drum replacement in every mix.
I’ve also found that when I’m recording someone, I don’t think I’ve ever sat around and said “let’s try this one, no this one…wait, let’s try this ribbon mic.” Like - am I ever going to choose this thing over a Soyuz? Hmmm
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Post by robo on Jul 20, 2023 10:08:56 GMT -6
I feel like the mic itself is pretty high quality and does an honest, full-range capture. I use mine through a Camden pre and that’s a good combo. Without any software, you are getting a lot of detail without (IME) problematic resonances or anything.
The Blackbird mics do tend to win out when using the software. They sound noticeably better to me at 96k. To my ears, the Slate preamp emulations are the weak point. I’ve had the best results running the mic emulations back out into hardware pres and outboard.
It’s the workflow that keeps the mic out of tracking sessions for me most of the time. Even when recording myself, I like to nail down the chain on the way in, so I’m comping what sounds like a finished vocal.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 20, 2023 11:13:30 GMT -6
After listening to a bunch of different youtube videos, (nice vid crillemannen) the differences between the mics are almost indistinguishable to me. Like super, super subtle. Think I'm just gonna pass and chalk that vocal up to "dude would sound good on anything." I'd probably get more use out of the VSX headphones to double check mixes. |
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Post by guitarheadhunt on Jul 20, 2023 17:24:35 GMT -6
After listening to a bunch of different youtube videos, (nice vid crillemannen ) the differences between the mics are almost indistinguishable to me. Like super, super subtle. Think I'm just gonna pass and chalk that vocal up to "dude would sound good on anything." I'd probably get more use out of the VSX headphones to double check mixes. The VSX system is pretty good. I just ran a mix through int last night and will have to say it performed very good. Especially great for late night mixing while everyone is a sleep. You can get the essentials for $299 and upgrade later if you so choose. It will cost you the same. I bought the essentials for $299 then they gave me a 14 day demo for all the models. At that point I went ahead and paid the difference and now own the platinum version. I have also grown fond of tracking through them with no emulations. |
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