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Antares microphone modeler v1 30: How to emulate classic and exotic mics with a plug-in



The Sphere plug-in is available in VST (2 and 3), AAX and AU formats, as well as for the UAD2 platform.Many large-diaphragm mics have switchable polar patterns. These usually include cardioid, omni and figure-8, and sometimes additional patterns such as hypercardioid, and this flexibility is achieved by using both diaphragms rather than just the front one. Adding their contributions together in equal amounts gives an omnidirectional pickup, while reversing the polarity of one creates a figure-8 microphone. Unsurprisingly, however, this approach to synthesizing first-order polar patterns yields only a fairly rough approximation of the ideal! Additionally, there is often substantial variation in the on-axis frequency response between the different pattern settings.




Antares microphone modeler v1 30



Townsend Labs told me that they plan to add further models to the core collection as time goes by, and that these will be free additions, though there is also the possibility that special microphone packs will be made available as paid add-ons.


A microphone is an essential tool for achieving excellent sounding recordings, whether it be vocals, instruments, or other sounds. The type of microphone you use can make or break the sound quality of any recording.


Each microphone has its own unique and colorful character that contributes to the tone of a recording. This is why recording studios around the world have a range of microphones that suit any situation. However, not everyone has access to the revered microphones used by professional studios. Also, sought after classic microphones are expensive and hard to find.


Flexibility: Plugins can offer more options and capabilities than hardware microphones. For example, some mic modeling plugins allow you to change the mic type, polar pattern, and other microphone characteristics, even after recording!


The Sphere L22 microphone system from Townsend Labs accurately models the characteristics of the most sought-after large-diaphragm condenser microphones. Access over 30 authentic emulations of the most revered microphones of all time.


The Sphere system consists of a high-resolution, dual-channel microphone, and the included Sphere Precision Microphone plugin by UAD. Together, they accurately model the response of each mic model, including transient response, harmonics, proximity effect, and three-dimensional polar response. You can also change the mic type, polar pattern, placement, and other microphone characteristics, before and after tracking.


The VMS Virtual Microphone System by Slate Digital is a hybrid microphone and preamp modeling system. The system includes the ML-1 microphone, two vintage preamp emulations, and the VMS microphone/preamp modeling software. You can mix and match precise models of sought-after microphones and preamps to find your flavor.


Moreover, the VMS offers an extensive selection of iconic microphone models ranging from coveted tube classics to a modern ultra-fidelity condenser. There are also expansion packs available that offer even more sought-after mic emulations.


The Verge modeling microphone allows you to access some of the most revered small diaphragm condenser microphones. Its transparent response and high SPL handling excel at capturing brass, drums, piano, strings, and acoustic guitar.


The ECM-87 Virtual Mic Locker emulates the tone, frequency response, and character of iconic vintage microphones. This microphone modeling system uses a cardioid condenser microphone and included Mic Clone plugin to emulate eight mics from Neumann, AKG, and Sony.


Moreover, Gauge Precision Instruments offers two versions of their ECM-87 microphone bundles: the ECM-87 Classic Virtual Mic Locker and the ECM-87 Stealth Virtual Mic Locker. These kits come with either the ECM-87 or ECM-87 Stealth cardioid condenser microphone and the Mic Clone plugin that emulates the vintage microphones.


The Townsend Labs Sphere Precision Microphone plugins give you access to over 30 emulations of the most prized microphones in recording history. This microphone modeling suite accurately captures the rich detail of revered microphones from Neumann, Telefunken, AKG, and more.


The Townsend Labs Sphere plugin requires the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 condenser microphone (sold separately). Together, this microphone modeling suite delivers impressive accuracy and sound quality. It even accurately models the response of each mic, including transient response, harmonics, proximity effect, and three-dimensional polar response.


Mic Mod EFX also gives you control over the specific options of each microphone emulation. Each option results in the same sonic effect produced by the actual hardware microphone. The plugin also features tube saturation control to add that final touch of perfection.


Whether it is for improving the character of a microphone while recording, helping you find that touch of magic that makes a recording shine, or taming the unfavorable aspects of a signal, plug-ins can be an affordable godsend for those unable to afford hardware counterparts.


The plug-in offers recreations of three microphones used by the royal family during the 1920s and 30s for public addresses. Thankfully, today the historical microphones are looked after by The EMI Archive Trust.


The Bill Putnam Collection plug-in for UA hardware and interfaces offers the tones of a few vintage and well-used microphones from AKG, Neumann, RCA, Sennheiser, Shure, Sony, and Telefunken. Its capabilities are great for capturing variety with less effort.


Speakers, by AudioThing, transforms your audio to emulate the textures and characteristics of a variety of loudspeakers and microphones. From the piezo pickup of a 1960s dial-up telephone to megaphones to the child-like sound of a toy microphone.


Enter digital emulation software, specifically Speakers. The plug-in offers a vast library of modeled speakers and microphones for you to process your audio through. In addition, it includes an FX chain, routing options, and background noises to add to your audio.


The Sphere microphone plug-in by Townsend Labs is a companion to their Sphere L22 modeling microphone. Using the modeling mic, you can emulate the sounds of many rare or expensive professional microphones using just a single mic.


The base plug-in for the Sphere L22 Microphone can be a great, cheaper alternative to amassing your microphone collection. Instead of multiple physical microphones with their characteristics and requirements for maintenance and care.


Adding to the microphone modeling train, if you are open to investing in both the hardware and the software, Universal Audio and Townsend Labs offer a potential one-stop treasure trove of tonal options with their collection of plug-ins for the Sphere system.


Enter the Townsend Labs Sphere L22, which has two outputs which can be recorded separately and then combined later on to change the recording after the fact. Where mics such as the Lewitt LCT 640 TS enable you to combine the front and rear capsules in order to change the pickup pattern after the fact, the Sphere L22 goes one step further, enabling you to change the tonality of the microphone as well, in order to model one of a number of classic mics.


By including the mic and the software, Townsend Labs is able to ensure that the recorded signal is of sufficient quality to enable accurate modelling of each of the microphones. The only stage Townsend is not controlling is the preamp. To ensure quality emulation, Townsend suggests using two matched preamps, preferably with digital gain control, in order to ensure that both the front and rear capsule are treated equally.


And furthermore, how useful the other features of the Sphere system are, since this can not only model different microphones, but also allows you to setup two different models simultaneously, to create a blend, and alter the proximity effect, recording axis, and even make stereo recordings with the single microphone.


A slight blend of the RB-4038 into the LD-47 helped create a completely new mic option. However, the output of the standard Sphere plug-in is mono, so there is no option to pan the two mics separately. To do this, you have to use the Sphere 180 plug-in. This version of the plug-in has stereo outputs, and lets you setup a single Sphere microphone as a stereo microphone to create recordings, which can then be further manipulated in the plug-in.


This series doubles up on some of the microphones, and provides another U 47, M49, two AKG C12s and a prototype Sony C800, as well as more small-diaphragm and ribbon options, adding to the already incredible range of possibilities that the Sphere L22 offers as standard.


The Slate Digital VIRTUAL TUBE COLLECTION is a set of three plugins for Virtual Mix Rack that recreate the sound of classic vintage tube circuits. Each module can act as a preamp, a saturator, and even a virtual tube summing console. Using VTC, you can add color, warmth, depth, and vibe to your mixes and masters. VMS users can also use VTC preamps with the microphone models for rich and vibey tone on their tracks.


The RME 12Mic-D features twelve microphone and line level inputs with digital, no-compromise, studio-quality conversion; remote controllable gains; integrated MADI and Dante connectivity; plus a multitude of additional functionality, designed for use in high-end studio recording, live audio, and location sound and music recording.


Recently, a heterogeneous FDAS, consisting of a diverse range of instruments was developed to support acoustic flight research programs at NASA Langley Research Center. In addition to a conventional GPS to measure latitude, longitude and altitude, the FDAS also utilizes a small, light-weight, low-cost DGPS system to obtain centimeter accuracy to measure the distance traveled by sound from a sUAS vehicle to a microphone on the ground. Acoustic flight testing using the FDAS installed on several different sUAS platforms has been conducted in support of the NASA CAS DELIVER and ERA ITD projects (Reference 1). The first FDAS prototype was assembled and implemented in the acoustic/flight measurement system in December 2014 to support DELIVER acoustic flight tests. Evaluation of the system performance and results from the data analyses were used to further test, develop and enhance the FDAS over a six-month period to support acoustic flight research for the ERA. 2ff7e9595c


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