|
Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 21, 2016 10:34:04 GMT -6
Martin John Butler - The limitation IMO is the construction of the physical capsule. If it's cheap and has the "pinch" like every other cheap capsule, then every emulation is going to have the pinch too...But hey - here's hoping. I've thinking the same thing since day one of Slate's "The Future of Microphones" announcements. Steven Slate might make every effort to see that his new mic is as clean and neutral as can be, but the capsule is the capsule, and it's likely it's sending the typical "pinchy" Chinese capsule signal to then be modified. W'eve all spent years listening for these details, and I'd bet we'd know one way or another in less than a minute of using the Slate system. Still, that M49 emulation in the $24 plugin I mentioned seriously improved the sound of a $600 mic I had on loan that has a Chinese capsule, so there may be uses for them yet. I never use the mic switch option in UAD's Ocean Way studios, just the room sound as a reverb.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,014
|
Post by ericn on Jul 21, 2016 11:03:00 GMT -6
I'd like to get my hands on the Slate thing - and be proven wrong. I'd love it if this worked. Everybody who lacks a locker full of classic mics would love it to work. Many moons ago a DSP guy who worked for a company that makes mic and I talked about mic modeling with a couple of beers in us discussed how it might work and why it wouldn't 1 the standard mic that would work best would be a flat omni SDC, the majority wouldn't buy into an omni SDC for vocals! 2 Natural omnis are linear and could be modeled , nobody wants models of natural omnis! 3 sum total of how a nonlinear directional mic is what gives a mic its character good luck with that!
|
|
|
Post by tasteliketape on Jul 21, 2016 15:31:39 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 15:36:02 GMT -6
PTE is pretty effusive about everything. I thought the guy was going to make out with the Aston mic he was demoing.
|
|
|
Post by tasteliketape on Jul 21, 2016 15:38:37 GMT -6
PTE is pretty effusive about everything. I thought the guy was going to make out with the Aston mic he was demoing. Don't think UAD ad dollars have any influence now do you nawwww
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 15:39:27 GMT -6
UA ignores me...so, I guess I don't have to be a fanboy.
|
|
|
Post by tasteliketape on Jul 21, 2016 15:42:15 GMT -6
I've not jumped on that bandwagon yet but they do have some great plugs an of course the Apollo
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,014
|
Post by ericn on Jul 21, 2016 16:48:07 GMT -6
UA ignores me...so, I guess I don't have to be a fanboy. Yeah but you don't feel like you need to shower after every post !
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Jul 21, 2016 19:05:49 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by mrholmes on Jul 21, 2016 19:38:46 GMT -6
PTE is pretty effusive about everything. As all the others too.... SOS, Mix Magazine, Tape OP, Sound and Recording... They need to sell ads and you cant sell them with critical words about products some big names want to push into the market. If someone trusts reviews for anything else as technical facts - he or she is naive.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 20:50:52 GMT -6
I'm not above being bought...but I haven't been yet I was perusing the website and found out that these are the current models that the mic comes with U47 M49 U67 U87 C12 C451EB 4038 SM57
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 20:52:38 GMT -6
Report when you record with it, John. Sorry for off topic, but donr - have you noticed that the high strings G,B,E don't seem to be as loud as the the lower ones? Hey donr - did you guys in Blue Oyster Cult have particular mics you were fond of?
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 20:53:41 GMT -6
I have to say - UA has rarely let me down. I'm pretty pumped about this product.
|
|
|
Post by erikppapp on Jul 21, 2016 21:01:42 GMT -6
Hi John,
Thank you for contacting me through the Townsend Labs site. Hi everyone, I am Erik from Townsend Labs. We are working on getting the full site up and having comprehensive info up with in the next several days. Townsend Labs is mainly Chris Townsend and myself. We wont be answering a lot of direct questions until we actually launch but I wanted to stop in at John's invite and make sure I or Chris could answer questions, especially once we actually go live.
Erik Papp
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 21:09:25 GMT -6
Awesome! Thanks for coming by, Erik! I have to say, this thing intrigues me...and teaming up with UA could be an absolute homer. If - and I don't mean that disrespectfully - if it does what you guys are saying...even if it only reaches 90% of the way there...could be a dream come true for LOTS of people.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,014
|
Post by ericn on Jul 21, 2016 21:16:28 GMT -6
Hi John, Thank you for contacting me through the Townsend Labs site. Hi everyone, I am Erik from Townsend Labs. We are working on getting the full site up and having comprehensive info up with in the next several days. Townsend Labs is mainly Chris Townsend and myself. We wont be answering a lot of direct questions until we actually launch but I wanted to stop in at John's invite and make sure I or Chris could answer questions, especially once we actually go live. Erik Papp As Much as I am a doubter I'm glad your here and I hope you prove me wrong! I am willing to listen to what you have to say , but while your method is new , have heard the same promises before and been disappointed ! My wallet really wants to be proven wrong on this one! The proof will be when I get to hear one of these ! Good luck and glad your here I hope to learn something!
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 21, 2016 21:17:13 GMT -6
PTE is pretty effusive about everything. I thought the guy was going to make out with the Aston mic he was demoing. I should add - as I did in the Aston thread - it's a really nice mic - I would venture to say one of the best I've heard in the under $1000 market. But it's not going to replace a 67 for $249.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2016 6:46:06 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2016 9:18:10 GMT -6
Good info: The Sphere L22 microphone uses a large diaphragm condenser capsule, and is optimized for modelling large diaphragm mics most accurately. For vintage large diaphragm condenser microphones, in particular, our target is to meet or exceed the accuracy of currently available reissues, clones or other modern versions of the corresponding mic. In most cases we achieve or surpass that standard of accuracy.
For other types of microphones, such as dynamics, ribbons, and small diaphragm condensers, we refer to these models as “hybrids” because they combine the response of those mics with a little bit of the quality of a large diaphragm condenser. These models are generally accurate when used on-axis. Beyond about 45 degrees off-axis the models may differ substantially, but the overall polar pattern is still maintained. Generally this means that close miking will be more accurate than distant miking.
|
|
|
Post by sceneofdarhyme on Jul 22, 2016 16:57:22 GMT -6
Good info: The Sphere L22 microphone uses a large diaphragm condenser capsule, and is optimized for modelling large diaphragm mics most accurately. For vintage large diaphragm condenser microphones, in particular, our target is to meet or exceed the accuracy of currently available reissues, clones or other modern versions of the corresponding mic. In most cases we achieve or surpass that standard of accuracy. For other types of microphones, such as dynamics, ribbons, and small diaphragm condensers, we refer to these models as “hybrids” because they combine the response of those mics with a little bit of the quality of a large diaphragm condenser. These models are generally accurate when used on-axis. Beyond about 45 degrees off-axis the models may differ substantially, but the overall polar pattern is still maintained. Generally this means that close miking will be more accurate than distant miking. I am wondering what "....and is optimized for modeling LDCs most accurately" means - flat? neutral? And maybe it is only me, but I think that setting the bar to equal or surpass the quality of "... or other modern versions of the corresponding mic" sounds not too promising. That would include some budget chinese stuff too, no? While I would love to test one when available, I wonder why no innovation seems to care about the preamp side to get different mic sounds? I am a happy owner of a used Groove Tubes Vipre and with the different slew rates and impedances, I can get anything from super clean tuby hifi to dark gritty stuff with my U47/M49ish mic. I also have an "ioaudio converted TLM 67". I think the differences between the two mics are way smaller in comparison to the tonal palette i get from the preamp alone. I am no engineer, but it cant be that expensive to build a more versatile preamp, no? And i guess there are already some available with different slew rates? BTW, the M49 emulation of the 24$ plugin mentioned by MJB is really crazy good.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2016 17:16:33 GMT -6
Good info: The Sphere L22 microphone uses a large diaphragm condenser capsule, and is optimized for modelling large diaphragm mics most accurately. For vintage large diaphragm condenser microphones, in particular, our target is to meet or exceed the accuracy of currently available reissues, clones or other modern versions of the corresponding mic. In most cases we achieve or surpass that standard of accuracy. For other types of microphones, such as dynamics, ribbons, and small diaphragm condensers, we refer to these models as “hybrids” because they combine the response of those mics with a little bit of the quality of a large diaphragm condenser. These models are generally accurate when used on-axis. Beyond about 45 degrees off-axis the models may differ substantially, but the overall polar pattern is still maintained. Generally this means that close miking will be more accurate than distant miking. I am wondering what "....and is optimized for modeling LDCs most accurately" means - flat? neutral? And maybe it is only me, but I think that setting the bar to equal or surpass the quality of "... or other modern versions of the corresponding mic" sounds not too promising. That would include some budget chinese stuff too, no? While I would love to test one when available, I wonder why no innovation seems to care about the preamp side to get different mic sounds? I am a happy owner of a used Groove Tubes Vipre and with the different slew rates and impedances, I can get anything from super clean tuby hifi to dark gritty stuff with my U47/M49ish mic. I also have an "ioaudio converted TLM 67". I think the differences between the two mics are way smaller in comparison to the tonal palette i get from the preamp alone. I am no engineer, but it cant be that expensive to build a more versatile preamp, no? And i guess there are already some available with different slew rates? BTW, the M49 emulation of the 24$ plugin mentioned by MJB is really crazy good. I took it as modesty. Kinda damned if you do damned if you don't..."Our stuff sounds better than the original" or "our target is to meet or exceed reasonable standards..." I prefer the latter approach.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2016 17:40:23 GMT -6
I spoke to Erik a little while ago - really seemed like a very cool guy and passionate about what he and Chris are doing. His approach seemed to be this - lets deliver a product at a price that will be useful even without any emulations.
Let's get away from the emotional aspect of vintage mic emus...This mic (and especially at the price range) will be killer to have just for its ability to record stereo with ZERO phase issues, you can change polar patterns after the fact, can affect proximity effect, blend capsules...then add in the emus - you can blend in a 47 with an M49. Or use them in stereo...I can think of TONS of reasons I would want this mic. As far as the emulations, let your ears be the judge of that. My take on it is this - if I can record someone that I don't know...and then audition several mics after the fact...that's extremely useful.
I think these guys are extremely close to releasing the mic - and taking orders at a discount to an already extremely reasonable price. I'm in for one. To me, the fact that this will be a UA product lends major credbility - and it's not likely some fly-by-night company that's going to up and disappear.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2016 17:42:43 GMT -6
So Erik just called back with something he forgot to tell me (which was burying the lede a little bit lol)...Get a load of this.
The software is going to be free - downloadable by anyone. So, we can all download it, take files that have been recorded by them on the mic - from different beta testers - and check it out ourselves. That, to me, sounds like they're pretty confident about the product.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,014
|
Post by ericn on Jul 22, 2016 17:47:06 GMT -6
So Erik just called back with something he forgot to tell me (which was burying the lede a little bit lol)...Get a load of this. The software is going to be free - downloadable by anyone. So, we can all download it, take files that have been recorded by them on the mic - from different beta testers - and check it out ourselves. That, to me, sounds like they're pretty confident about the product. Very cool ! I do want to hear it, preferably next to the real thing but I do like the idea of being able to play around with some clips ! My wallet hopes they get it right or close!
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Jul 22, 2016 17:47:57 GMT -6
Based on what I read in the link (now redirected) I provided, I've gotten the impression that the focus is emulating certain LDCs, so the mic is designed to get you part of the way there without any DSP and that DSP will be used to get you the rest of the way there to whatever mic model you want. This is in contrast to the Slate model which is (as I understand it) trying to be a blank slate and use DSP to do much more of the heavy lifting.
The aforementioned link even specifically said that the biggest focus was on emulating the U47. So it's likely that the mic will be physically designed to sound in the ballpark of a U47 and then use DSP to make it sound all the way like a U47 or a U87,U67, etc.
John, did you get a chance to discuss this particular aspect with Erik?
|
|