I think the idea is to capture the "character" of the mics, not to sound exactly the same. If that's the case, then job well done! From my understanding even two of the same mics can sound different so a slight variance is completely unavoidable. I honestly couldn't hear a difference with my eyes closed, when watching the switch however you can hear a slight difference. For someone like me who could never afford even one of these high priced mics, let along all of them, the slate VMS is a dream come true. Steven State is like a hero to me and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!!
From a price standpoint, the difference is negligible, but from an engineer standpoint, the difference is there. Slate does an extremely good job though. He definitely didn't slack. If anyone makes it out to be a huge difference, they're just full of themselves. It's incredible to have these legendary mics for a fraction of the price.
We watched this video 5 times in the studio to get an accurate opinion on the comparisons.Theres a slight difference with slate but it's so close that any engineer can get a great recording at not even a fraction of the price.The slate ML1 is one of my most prized investments in the last years for vocals.
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum. The word "potato" may refer either to the plant itself or to the edible tuber. In the Andes, where the species is indigenous, some other closely related species are cultivated. Potatoes were introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century by the Spanish. Potato has become a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following maize, wheat, and rice. The green leaves and green skins of tubers exposed to the light are toxic. Wild potato species can be found throughout the Americas from the United States to southern Chile. The potato was originally believed to have been domesticated independently in multiple locations, but later genetic testing of the wide variety of cultivars and wild species proved a single origin for potatoes in the area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia (from a species in the Solanum brevicaule complex), where they were domesticated approximately 7,000-10,000 years ago. Following millennia of selective breeding, there are now over a thousand different types of potatoes. Over 99% of the presently cultivated potatoes worldwide descended from varieties that originated in the lowlands of south-central Chile, which have displaced formerly popular varieties from the Andes. However, the local importance of the potato is variable and changing rapidly. It remains an essential crop in Europe (especially eastern and central Europe), where per capita production is still the highest in the world, but the most rapid expansion over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia. As of 2014, China led the world in potato production, and, together with India, produced 37% of the world's potatoes.
Thank you for this comparison!! Comments about the singing are ruthless haha. I just did a blind test between the Slate and a $5000 mic, and used my wonderful wife's voice as part of the comparison after seeing the comments on this video. LOL!!!
the vintage mics sounded smoother to my ears. its important to hear them with extra processing on top also as you will draw out the character of the mic with comp, eq, limiting etc.. my verdict is slate is pretty good, but not there yet..
indeed Dub....for a good comparison you must adjust the volume....else the U47 has no way to be compared....the slate sounds more amplified, certain frequency reponses differences etc,,,n the U47 flatter n less volume..I keep the U47 in the case of the first musician..so complex..it depends on the singer, instrument..how it is played etc...same for the AKGC12...I hear some voice minor resonances on the Slate.....the AKG12 is flatter...appears the sony mic had its best reproduction
My conclusion: comparing the ML1 to the U47, 67 and C12, the originals had a bit more warmth in the low mids, the ML1 a bit more sibilance around the Ts and esses. Comparing the C800 to the ML1, the C800 had more detail and depth. but the ML1 does get really close indeed! Yes, in all cases I did prefer the originals, but considering that they're all about 10x the price, I think the ML1 did a great job. An interesting question would be if it takes processing, compression, EQ as well as the originals. Thanks @sound on sound for taking the time to do this comparison!
I'm glad you realized that every vintage mic has its own signature sound. You also realize that the Slat VMS could be adjusted to more closely match any one particular vintage signature to get the comparison much closer to a specific mic. In the end, listening to Slate's tweaked versions, I really can't tell any difference between mics. However, I'll also admit that as I get older my ear can't distinguish the subtle higher-frequency sounds and harmonics as I could when I was younger and my ears were less damaged by listening to too much Rock and Roll ;-) For the price, and the fact you have a huge variety of mics to test to best fit a specific person's voice in a specific song mix, the Slate VMS is very impressive. I was really blown away with the Sony C800G sound. I've never used one but I saw a video that David Gilmour used the C800G on his album On and Island. It is so much airy and brings out the lows so smoothly. In comparison with the U47 and the others, they came across quite a bit muddier, which surprised me a lot. Thanks for doing this comparison, it was a real ear-opener. I'm definitely picking up a Slate VMS based on this comparison. I figure it will save me $50k +/-, so the real question is really, why would I NOT go with the Slate VMS? Cheers
You can’t tell until you have an actual experience. I went to a studio to test a VMS, I could not believe how good the Sony 800G emulation sounded, I sounded expensive. I bought it in a heartbeat. That’s my experience, don’t know what yours would be.
I thought that this was an extremely informative, well done comparison. Thank you. I am a studio engineer and have been thinking of investing in the VMS for a while now.
Definitely getting an ML-1, it sounds amazing and so super close to original mics even without EQ or FX at 2% of its pricetag. I made up my mind definitely getting one. Thanks for the review.
Very good take on the original mics . I do find the top end sounds cheaper on all the clone mics , needing a deesser most probably, but you cant complain when you see the price difference.
Generally the first thing I'd notice is the VMS emulations always sound a bit "harsher" and more excited in the top end. If I had a better playback system, I'd probably hear all the small stuff like differences in depth graduation and impulse response probably, but of course you can't emulate on axis response aswell as off axis response on so many different mics (and therefore capsule designs). And of course, anyone who knows how to mix will probably have no issues making the emulations sound really good in a mix. I think the "drawback" of not perfect emulations is vastly smaller than the pros that the option of "choosing the mic" in post give you. Thanks for the History lesson and the great comparison!
its worth remembering that all these old mics vary in character, no 2 are the same, and, as is the case here, some have had parts replaced that are not original. The Slate emulations were taken from specific mics they chose in the US. I have been researching the VMS system for myself and i know that Slate were pissed off at this review, as these hire mics were in some cases filled with different capsules etc. Slate now offer a 2nd, less bright version of an older Sony mic as they realized that the older c800's were warmer than the new one they has first copied. Personally, i have never owned any of the classic mics and never will. But if a £499.00 black friday deal gets me a bank of pretty great sounding emulations then i'm very happy with that.
Fact is... You could add an SM58 to this test and 99% of the people here couldn't tell you which was the high end mic, the Slate or the SM58. Environment, setup and mixing are the keys.
@@barneyrubble8255 I can tell you for a fact that very few people would be able to tell the difference... even most in the music industry... assuming you know how to get the most out of recording with the sm58.
On the sony C800G, my favorite microphone of all time. Listening thru a pair of Genelec 8030A: On the first one, i feel like the sony has a warmer low mid and the sound really crisp on the highs. The slate sounded to boost a little on the lows. On the second, i feel them very similar but again, the C800G sound a warmer on the mid low. On the third, i can't really hear any relevant differences on this type of use. For podcast or radio, either of them are OK. After all, people saying that "okay, it does not worth 10x the price comparing to the slate". On my honest opinion, i love the originals, but in a mix context, it would be really difficult to distinguish the two microphones. If you record in a home studio and want to have a really great recording of vocals, the slate is really amazing but if you're a professional musician you'll always go to a recording studio with the real thing.
I feel like it's easier to hear how similar the Slate really sounds to the vintage mics on the female singer's voice because of how repetitive and consistent her song is. The first guy hits an excited boom right when you switch mics. Other than that, great video and thanks for a well informed presentation.
Very impressive. It would be nice to see a comparison between this and the Townsend Sphere, both seem to be have their benefits. That said, apparently the Slate system uses iLok which is a huge negative.
Si bien las emulaciones de Slate Digital no suenan 100% igual que los originales, sí se acercan mucho, cuando menos rememoran de alguna manera los micros que pretenden imitar, hay que tener claro que de todos modos dos micros de la misma marca y modelo no suenan igual, lo he comprobado con los Neumann U87, que son los micros de gama alta que he podido usar en un par de oportunidades, como sea e independientemente de que las emulaciones suenen igual que los originales o no, hay que decir que, Steven Slate ha hecho un gran trabajo, como acostumbra con la mayoría de sus productos, debo agregar que el Sony C800 es un sueño de micrófono, simplemente magnifico!
Yo solía manejar Audioforce en NYC y fui unos de las primeras casas de renta que tubo el Sony c800 y debo decir que grabo voces de muchos famosos y todos los studios grandes desde Hit Factory y Electric Lady enloquecidos por el mic hasta que varios lo empezaron a comprar a su vez tenia un mic locker con todos los otros mics que se presentan en el video y el Sony ganaba lejos en solides y Highs un súper mic esas eran las. Épocas que se grababa con la Sony Dash 3348 otra increíble invención de Sony en mediados de los 90 hasta que llego protools y la cago
Listening to these tests and my overall thoughts are that the Slate solution just sounds better. Now of course ‘better’ is a very subjective perspective so my opinion can be taken with a pinch of salt. However I do have two originals of the mics tested, (the Sony and the 67) so if there was an opportunity to be biased think I’d take it 😅. I’ve made a career out of the 67 and in many ways it’s like a 35 year old friend that has been tried and tested, (Kiss From A Rose) but the bottom line is the Slate solution sounds so close that the convenience aspect of it far outweighs what differences there are. I use the Slate all the time and couldn’t be more impressed. My name is Seal (as in the recording artist)
Thanks for the review. There are some unique features you can find in a mature voice of a professional singer. It would be great to test this amazing mic with professional voices. Thanks!
Agreed. The girl "singing" is an odd choice. I was hoping to hear professional male and female voices to show the range of timbers and nuances that often define which mic is chosen, and how the VMS system holds up.
Proof that the source is far more important than the microphone. If you can afford a U47 fair enough buy one. It will either compliment your abilities or confirm the opposite in detail. If you want a top sounding mic/pre setup buy an AT4047 and a GAP pre 73 MKII. I had to sell mine and most of my recording gear when I fell on hard times but even if I won the jackpot tomorrow and could afford more expensive gear I'd buy an AT4047 and a GAP pre MKII straight away. I miss them dearly.
Omg... Apparently only bored profis here which look at this here. Both vocals and recording professionals. On the one hand it is very mean what some write about the performance. First make better. On the other hand, you have chosen for the video-conscious amateurs as it seems. Which is completely ok. Sympathetic ... to the hater: of course, you work naturally with the stars of the scene. Only top people with you in the studio. And you do not even know where to go with your money and your grammys for the best sound record. So you also look at the video here. How to digitally emulate all the good microphones of this world. affordable... So by the way: good concept of slate. I already have a u47, u87 and a brauner valvet. But as a quick and flexible solution for all recording scenarios well imaginable. An affordable workhorse. Horses for courses.Thanks for the video and greetings from germany.
I’m just waiting for another Slate discount: the fact you can have a multitude of different sonic options on one mic system for a reasonable price is a deal-breaker. If a song has a great production, no listener would ever say: “yes but the vocal just didn’t cut through with this obviously digital mic emulation” 😂
Well made test! The sound pressure in 7:00 is too low for VMS so the original Mic sounds automatically better. The C12 modeling from Slate seems better to me than the original, probably because of a difference between the original modeled mic and this one. As always, the U47 sibilances sound not-natural for me. Very good modeling system. AND the narrator could have been miced/EQed better, he seems to lisp because lack of sibilance.
I can clearly hear a difference from a dynamic point of view, the Slate is much more aggressive to the ear, I don't know if it's volume or bass response but one is aggressing my ears on headphones. All the expensive mics have the same characteristic : they seem to have a natural compression/flat dynamic. But as for the tonal aspects, it's the same !
The slate mics have been eq’d to sound like the originals through emulation and is extremely close but the originals have more body, stability and smoothness. I must say he’s nailed the Sony c800.
It seems like the VMS has a bit more low end and even sounds like it has a bit of natural compression in all examples. Nothing sounded bad at all, but that's just something I noticed. I'm looking into getting a VMS system so thank you for the informative video. I also really enjoyed the history lesson!!
for a good comparison you must adjust the volume....else the U47 has no way to be compared....the slate sounds more amplified, etc,,,n the U47 flatter n less volume
I think the AKG- C12 was still better but the VMS is insanly close, theres just a warmth that it didn't quite catch. That is In my opinion. The overall tone quality though, I think is still pretty great on the Vms
The one of Slate in comparison with the originals there are differences although they are very minimal but there are the one of Slate. But in comparison of prices pyues the quality is not the same but it is very acceptable Slate Good work ...
I can hear a difference between the VMS & the original mics.. The timbre is stunningly close with the VMS's models but the soul/warmth/body/size/spirit is not all the way there as compared to the originals.. I have been an engineer for 35 yrs and own a vintage Neumann U47 and U67. There is a magic sound with a healthy U47 or U67 that so far, has not been achieved or equaled. That being said, a professional studio will have many clients with extremely different sounding voices and instruments so, the ability to acurately swap out classic mic sounds on the spot is alone, well worth the money... But does the bit of difference between the VMS and the real thing justify 10 to 15 thousand dollars? it's all relative...
Morrie Louden Thanks for your informative comment! I know you ended saying it’s all relative, but would you recommend it? That is, is the difference you perceive between the VMS and the U47 tested here greater than the well-known variance between original U47s? Would most people be able to tell in a blind test? Thanks!
@@Zarabozo It is what people who own vintage gear want you to believe cause they wasted half their wage on snake oil. I have been an engineer for 37 years.
William Blackmon The Sony sounded more rich present of the higher notes of the women. It’s like the sound didn’t didn’t hit the same the same on “cheap or my love isn’t free”.
What if they told you that the mics where never switched from the originals... LOL There is a natural low mid vibrato in the original U47 and U67 that is not replicated in the VMS.
Sounds too me like the Slate mic is a tad boomier than the original mics. Still damn close to the real deal though. The c800g also sound clearer and more present than the slate mic. but considering the price difference...
Disclaimer: I'm no purist as I both use Mesa Boogie and Victory amps but I also use Fractal Axe-FX. I was thinking about buying the Slate VMS but here is the deal: I did a blind test and spotted each time which microphone was used, and I do not own any of the vintage microphones tested, therefore I do not know them by heart, just by listening to them in records and tests. VMS loses in the mid-range, the difference to the U47 is huge. VMS is duller, less lively, fewer harmonics, sadder, somewhat 'shure-like'. For the voice over it actually sounded better, somewhat more suited for this type of work, it reminded me of the Shure 7B (I have one of those). Comparing to the AKG, the originals mid-range harmonics are richer and have natural compression. The VMS is more dynamic, the pressure differences are more pronounced as low velocity is way down and high velocity is sort of 'in your face'. I don't think that's good for editing, as we need more subtle pressure differences to get a well balanced lively fresh airy vocal performance. It is said «One cut is worth a thousand boosts» and the membranes of the VMS are just not the same as the originals. I think that software, at the present state of development, just cannot compensate for the physics phenomena involved in a U47 or the AKG response and tone. So, as I have a Shure 7B (VMS sounds like a large membrane dynamic microphone), I am quite inclined to try another sort of microphone based on a 47, perhaps Warm-audio, which clones the U47. Still not decided yet, although VMS didn't convince me it would be able to replace any of those classics, the software emulation possibilities are very interesting, in the other hand buying VMS would set me back 1000 euros, which may be used to get 1/3 of a top microphone. I so much fear the disappointment of buying something that gives me buyers remorse. In any case Slate VMS will never be a U47 no matter what I would tell myself. «Sometimes you have to make tough decisions to hold the line on spending»
This girl sings like she has a real disease. As for results, this is very good really. With that being said, all those mics are also very similar, in a blind test not many could tell which is which.
Christian Loudieu that is because the mics they tested are different from the mics they model. No two U47 will never sounds the ssame. Steven also said that the tube mic they model explodes after they have finished model, and when they re-tube it, he tested again with their model and never sounded alike .
I checked with spectrum analyzer, far from subtle difference. We're speaking of 5-6db in the 8-13khz range. And it's the same for all emulation. As for a lot of people, brighter is better, I think there is a little hype ...
Christian Loudieu as i have said it before no two mics will never sound the same...i bet i will be accurate if you compared it to the actual hardware they modelled
Don't speak to me, like I don't know anything about mics and gears, as I own a lot of it. Of course, no two mics sound the same, but we're speaking 6db, witch is outside the tolerance range of the mic. Could be possible for a U47, but for a C800 which is Japanese and modern mic, It would have been rejected by quality check. There clearly something wrong.Or as usual, a little hype on the lows and highs.
of course you don't hear 10000 dollar difference. price of these equipment is exponential. which means you get 90% of all the performance you can possibly get with a 200 dollar mic.
Is that a history lesson on microphones or a test? I'm 5 minutes in and all I hear is the history of the neuman microphones and I could't care less😂 I want to HEAR the real vs slate!!! Oh and now these singers!!! What is that??? Ok at least I saw the slate stuff sounds quite identical.
I was quite optimistic and actually considered buying this mic since I liked the concept.....But this video proves that this unit doesn't come close to the real gear it's trying to emulate :/ The U47 has crispy (yet tamed) Highs, Defined mids, a nice fluffy low end.......Meanwhile the slate mic has harsh and metallic highs, weak and brittle mids and strange sounding lows.
Esta es una clara demostración que el mic. slate es solo una buena imitación de todos ellos. Es notorio la coloración metálica que slate añade a todas las imitaciones. Gracias por esta excelente demostración
The slate is more heavy handed in the bass. The ear likes it, but in a mix would be scooped out. One of the reasons these classic mics worked within the context of a mix. I think Slate is doing to mics what facebook has done to society. Missing the point of mics and society. The homogenization of art.
I am shocked. VMS is ALWAYS... and I mean REALLY is ALWAYS so much more bassy and brighter. (All test). Maybe it could handle some small equing, but why?? Is that a proper emulation? I am not talking about some minor changes. The difference is just massive!!! Better buy some cheaper, good mic or replica Price range 400-800USD. This Slate Digital emulation is nonsense + you have to buy their preamp too (extra costs)
I very much doubt that this system can emulate the off axis response at all, since that would require magically recreating information that's not in the signal. I could be wrong but as I said, doubtful. In general I feel that this product is surrounded by mystical marketing language and we are given very little information about what it's actually doing.
Man I was ready to buy, I'll do more research because I love the concept, I think it's genius.... but uggggggggggg PASS. I love slate. I've worked with Jack Joseph Puig to give context. Every time they switch it sounds digital and choked... I'm actually bummed by this. I never hate on artists but it is hard to compare without REAL context with current trends. I appreciate the knowledge and background which was great but it proves.... You can't teach taste. You can teach empirical knowledge and 1's and 0's to anyone but you can't teach taste.... couldn't finish this and was upset enough to write this. EASILY could've done a more impactful and relevant shootout sending two texts here in LA. I'm more upset about being let down about the VMS than anything. Let's be honest... a great performance is more important than gear not vice versa BUT.... UGGGGGG I'll stick to my BLUE KIWI-MANLEY VOXBOX - Distressor combo. I think this video did it's purpose but let me down about how they chose to do it. I expect better. If "I" can do better you need to figure a few things out because I don't want to be the one doing these videos. But you have convinced me that the vintage ones are still the unicorns, for that... thank you. (but you can do better, why this?) I would've recorded modern current tracks and done the shootout FYI to give better context. It's hard to even discern what's happening because we are all re-calibrating to just the source material. Why? Find an artist with a huge social media following for free and do the test. Its not 1972...
In fairness, it's worth downloading the updated sound files from our site. With a little bit of tweaking, Slate was able to model the mics we rented more closely. Try a blind test with those files and see what you think.
Slate is really killing it with their emulations. If I had the choice and I didn't have to maintain them, I'd obviously choose the real thing across the board...but factor in everything and it's obvious Slate is bringing their A game here. You have an entire vintage locker for a quarter of a SINGLE cheaper vintage mic. And think about it--they're not known for their poor quality or anything. None of the "shortcomings" are mistakes. Maybe some are limitations or compromises, but not mistakes. They've surely AB'd with several references for each model painstakingly and in all ways imaginable. A blind test done cold would likely show how well they've done.
The biggest difference I can hear is that all the originals pick up more room noise, and buzz more, propably due to more sensitivity. Especially the Sony. But jeez, 95-99% of ALL the classic mics for 1/10th the price? Buying any of the original mics at this point seems pretentious and wasteful, fetishizing the past and valuing it over the quality of your sound tools.
Somehow the guy talking about potatoes was the most musical thing to listen to...
I feel like he raised these people in captivity.. and only allows them out to test equipment.
nicholas pichardo that made me chuckle
that is funny.... HS!! ...................Come listen to my ditty!, I'm a rambling coma!
Hahahahahah
😂😂😂😂😂😂
HAhahahahahahahahah
The potato knowledge was the best part of this.
Looooooool
That's what I came here for
I literally fell to of my chair
I read the comment first then watched the video. When I caught on to what you was talking about. I couldn’t stop laughing. Lol
Hahaha
After listening to this video I've learned that I'm the best singer in the Universe. Thanks for the confidence boost.
I think the idea is to capture the "character" of the mics, not to sound exactly the same. If that's the case, then job well done!
From my understanding even two of the same mics can sound different so a slight variance is completely unavoidable. I honestly couldn't hear a difference with my eyes closed, when watching the switch however you can hear a slight difference. For someone like me who could never afford even one of these high priced mics, let along all of them, the slate VMS is a dream come true. Steven State is like a hero to me and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!!
Bingo
From a price standpoint, the difference is negligible, but from an engineer standpoint, the difference is there. Slate does an extremely good job though. He definitely didn't slack. If anyone makes it out to be a huge difference, they're just full of themselves. It's incredible to have these legendary mics for a fraction of the price.
yeah bra I have the mic and I love , people that complain just stuck in they ways
slate is fine but sphere do the job better
I listened to this video without watching it and didn’t even know you were switching to the models in the takes.
"VMS Microphone System" = Virtual Microphone System Microphone System
same with "LCD Display"
@@olafkliemt1145 Or MLB Baseball
@@SiliconeGrown or ATM Machine
I own this and I make that faux pas constantly XD
We watched this video 5 times in the studio to get an accurate opinion on the comparisons.Theres a slight difference with slate but it's so close that any engineer can get a great recording at not even a fraction of the price.The slate ML1 is one of my most prized investments in the last years for vocals.
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum. The word "potato" may refer either to the plant itself or to the edible tuber. In the Andes, where the species is indigenous, some other closely related species are cultivated. Potatoes were introduced to Europe in the second half of the 16th century by the Spanish.
Potato has become a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. It is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following maize, wheat, and rice. The green leaves and green skins of tubers exposed to the light are toxic.
Wild potato species can be found throughout the Americas from the United States to southern Chile. The potato was originally believed to have been domesticated independently in multiple locations, but later genetic testing of the wide variety of cultivars and wild species proved a single origin for potatoes in the area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia (from a species in the Solanum brevicaule complex), where they were domesticated approximately 7,000-10,000 years ago. Following millennia of selective breeding, there are now over a thousand different types of potatoes. Over 99% of the presently cultivated potatoes worldwide descended from varieties that originated in the lowlands of south-central Chile, which have displaced formerly popular varieties from the Andes.
However, the local importance of the potato is variable and changing rapidly. It remains an essential crop in Europe (especially eastern and central Europe), where per capita production is still the highest in the world, but the most rapid expansion over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia. As of 2014, China led the world in potato production, and, together with India, produced 37% of the world's potatoes.
Thank you for this comparison!! Comments about the singing are ruthless haha. I just did a blind test between the Slate and a $5000 mic, and used my wonderful wife's voice as part of the comparison after seeing the comments on this video. LOL!!!
please do a test with the Universal Audio Sphere DLX
the vintage mics sounded smoother to my ears. its important to hear them with extra processing on top also as you will draw out the character of the mic with comp, eq, limiting etc.. my verdict is slate is pretty good, but not there yet..
dub!!! hahaha, what is pretty good in your opinion? any examples on virtual mic and non virtual ones?
indeed Dub....for a good comparison you must adjust the volume....else the U47 has no way to be compared....the slate sounds more amplified, certain frequency reponses differences etc,,,n the U47 flatter n less volume..I keep the U47 in the case of the first musician..so complex..it depends on the singer, instrument..how it is played etc...same for the AKGC12...I hear some voice minor resonances on the Slate.....the AKG12 is flatter...appears the sony mic had its best reproduction
I mean, it’s doubtful that the Slate will be 100% the same. But for people with a budget, getting 90-95% of the way there is pretty sweet.
@@Skkyyyyyyyyyyy of course not the same you can hear it BUT i think it is a great product and a must have
This is a great video! Very informative. A+
My conclusion:
comparing the ML1 to the U47, 67 and C12, the originals had a bit more warmth in the low mids, the ML1 a bit more sibilance around the Ts and esses.
Comparing the C800 to the ML1, the C800 had more detail and depth.
but the ML1 does get really close indeed!
Yes, in all cases I did prefer the originals, but considering that they're all about 10x the price, I think the ML1 did a great job.
An interesting question would be if it takes processing, compression, EQ as well as the originals.
Thanks @sound on sound for taking the time to do this comparison!
The history of the mics was fascinating. Thanks.
I'm glad you realized that every vintage mic has its own signature sound. You also realize that the Slat VMS could be adjusted to more closely match any one particular vintage signature to get the comparison much closer to a specific mic. In the end, listening to Slate's tweaked versions, I really can't tell any difference between mics. However, I'll also admit that as I get older my ear can't distinguish the subtle higher-frequency sounds and harmonics as I could when I was younger and my ears were less damaged by listening to too much Rock and Roll ;-) For the price, and the fact you have a huge variety of mics to test to best fit a specific person's voice in a specific song mix, the Slate VMS is very impressive. I was really blown away with the Sony C800G sound. I've never used one but I saw a video that David Gilmour used the C800G on his album On and Island. It is so much airy and brings out the lows so smoothly. In comparison with the U47 and the others, they came across quite a bit muddier, which surprised me a lot. Thanks for doing this comparison, it was a real ear-opener. I'm definitely picking up a Slate VMS based on this comparison. I figure it will save me $50k +/-, so the real question is really, why would I NOT go with the Slate VMS? Cheers
You can’t tell until you have an actual experience. I went to a studio to test a VMS, I could not believe how good the Sony 800G emulation sounded, I sounded expensive. I bought it in a heartbeat. That’s my experience, don’t know what yours would be.
yes sir I love that vms
I thought that this was an extremely informative, well done comparison. Thank you. I am a studio engineer and have been thinking of investing in the VMS for a while now.
On each of the mics the slate seems like an expanded version of what it's emulating, though it does make them sound less smooth.
agreed I think the first two were pretty spot on though.
17:02 u67
13:16 sony
10:32
7:14 47
Definitely getting an ML-1, it sounds amazing and so super close to original mics even without EQ or FX at 2% of its pricetag. I made up my mind definitely getting one. Thanks for the review.
Very good take on the original mics . I do find the top end sounds cheaper on all the clone mics , needing a deesser most probably, but you cant complain when you see the price difference.
Generally the first thing I'd notice is the VMS emulations always sound a bit "harsher" and more excited in the top end. If I had a better playback system, I'd probably hear all the small stuff like differences in depth graduation and impulse response probably, but of course you can't emulate on axis response aswell as off axis response on so many different mics (and therefore capsule designs). And of course, anyone who knows how to mix will probably have no issues making the emulations sound really good in a mix.
I think the "drawback" of not perfect emulations is vastly smaller than the pros that the option of "choosing the mic" in post give you.
Thanks for the History lesson and the great comparison!
Fantastic piece Hugh, thank you
its worth remembering that all these old mics vary in character, no 2 are the same, and, as is the case here, some have had parts replaced that are not original. The Slate emulations were taken from specific mics they chose in the US. I have been researching the VMS system for myself and i know that Slate were pissed off at this review, as these hire mics were in some cases filled with different capsules etc. Slate now offer a 2nd, less bright version of an older Sony mic as they realized that the older c800's were warmer than the new one they has first copied.
Personally, i have never owned any of the classic mics and never will. But if a £499.00 black friday deal gets me a bank of pretty great sounding emulations then i'm very happy with that.
Period!!!
"Brief History"
Goes ahead to tell entire microphone history
Fact is... You could add an SM58 to this test and 99% of the people here couldn't tell you which was the high end mic, the Slate or the SM58. Environment, setup and mixing are the keys.
Dudley DooRight sm58 sounds good but definitely doesn’t carry a vocal like a C12...
Are u saying one sm58 is just as good for recording as this slate mic system?
@@barneyrubble8255 I can tell you for a fact that very few people would be able to tell the difference... even most in the music industry... assuming you know how to get the most out of recording with the sm58.
I used the ml1. If you use the U47 preset for the ml1 it sounds like u47
On the sony C800G, my favorite microphone of all time.
Listening thru a pair of Genelec 8030A:
On the first one, i feel like the sony has a warmer low mid and the sound really crisp on the highs. The slate sounded to boost a little on the lows.
On the second, i feel them very similar but again, the C800G sound a warmer on the mid low.
On the third, i can't really hear any relevant differences on this type of use. For podcast or radio, either of them are OK.
After all, people saying that "okay, it does not worth 10x the price comparing to the slate".
On my honest opinion, i love the originals, but in a mix context, it would be really difficult to distinguish the two microphones. If you record in a home studio and want to have a really great recording of vocals, the slate is really amazing but if you're a professional musician you'll always go to a recording studio with the real thing.
Check out Oak Felder's Sorry Not Sorry song's deconstruction video on youtube, he used Slate ML-1 and preferred over his Telefunken 251.
@@harshverma7531 I’ve seen ML1 beat the u67 in a mix
NICE! 3 minutes of demos, 15 minutes of history lesson...
My next Investment ! Very very good !
I feel like it's easier to hear how similar the Slate really sounds to the vintage mics on the female singer's voice because of how repetitive and consistent her song is. The first guy hits an excited boom right when you switch mics. Other than that, great video and thanks for a well informed presentation.
actually, they got the Slate a bit louder (I would guess about .5dB), which is barely noticeable, but your brain does pick it up
Very impressive. It would be nice to see a comparison between this and the Townsend Sphere, both seem to be have their benefits. That said, apparently the Slate system uses iLok which is a huge negative.
Si bien las emulaciones de Slate Digital no suenan 100% igual que los originales, sí se acercan mucho, cuando menos rememoran de alguna manera los micros que pretenden imitar, hay que tener claro que de todos modos dos micros de la misma marca y modelo no suenan igual, lo he comprobado con los Neumann U87, que son los micros de gama alta que he podido usar en un par de oportunidades, como sea e independientemente de que las emulaciones suenen igual que los originales o no, hay que decir que, Steven Slate ha hecho un gran trabajo, como acostumbra con la mayoría de sus productos, debo agregar que el Sony C800 es un sueño de micrófono, simplemente magnifico!
y cual me recomienda a mi? el slate tiene buena calidad o el sony tiene más?
Yo solía manejar Audioforce en NYC y fui unos de las primeras casas de renta que tubo el Sony c800 y debo decir que grabo voces de muchos famosos y todos los studios grandes desde Hit Factory y Electric Lady enloquecidos por el mic hasta que varios lo empezaron a comprar a su vez tenia un mic locker con todos los otros mics que se presentan en el video y el Sony ganaba lejos en solides y Highs un súper mic esas eran las. Épocas que se grababa con la Sony Dash 3348 otra increíble invención de Sony en mediados de los 90 hasta que llego protools y la cago
id love to see these mics all used as drum overheads in a comparison.
Listening to these tests and my overall thoughts are that the Slate solution just sounds better. Now of course ‘better’ is a very subjective perspective so my opinion can be taken with a pinch of salt. However I do have two originals of the mics tested, (the Sony and the 67) so if there was an opportunity to be biased think I’d take it 😅. I’ve made a career out of the 67 and in many ways it’s like a 35 year old friend that has been tried and tested, (Kiss From A Rose) but the bottom line is the Slate solution sounds so close that the convenience aspect of it far outweighs what differences there are.
I use the Slate all the time and couldn’t be more impressed.
My name is Seal (as in the recording artist)
Thanks for the review. There are some unique features you can find in a mature voice of a professional singer. It would be great to test this amazing mic with professional voices. Thanks!
Agreed. The girl "singing" is an odd choice. I was hoping to hear professional male and female voices to show the range of timbers and nuances that often define which mic is chosen, and how the VMS system holds up.
bruh where do u find these ppl
Proof that the source is far more important than the microphone. If you can afford a U47 fair enough buy one. It will either compliment your abilities or confirm the opposite in detail. If you want a top sounding mic/pre setup buy an AT4047 and a GAP pre 73 MKII. I had to sell mine and most of my recording gear when I fell on hard times but even if I won the jackpot tomorrow and could afford more expensive gear I'd buy an AT4047 and a GAP pre MKII straight away. I miss them dearly.
I really wanted to like the Slate mic but boy it sounds harsh and distorted. This would be a big pain to mix.
I really Appreciate more in depth,informative videos like this.💯💯💯💯
Great video, great information
Omg... Apparently only bored profis here which look at this here. Both vocals and recording professionals. On the one hand it is very mean what some write about the performance. First make better. On the other hand, you have chosen for the video-conscious amateurs as it seems. Which is completely ok. Sympathetic ... to the hater: of course, you work naturally with the stars of the scene. Only top people with you in the studio. And you do not even know where to go with your money and your grammys for the best sound record. So you also look at the video here. How to digitally emulate all the good microphones of this world. affordable...
So by the way: good concept of slate. I already have a u47, u87 and a brauner valvet. But as a quick and flexible solution for all recording scenarios well imaginable. An affordable workhorse. Horses for courses.Thanks for the video and greetings from germany.
Why re-upload this video?
I’m just waiting for another Slate discount: the fact you can have a multitude of different sonic options on one mic system for a reasonable price is a deal-breaker. If a song has a great production, no listener would ever say: “yes but the vocal just didn’t cut through with this obviously digital mic emulation” 😂
It’s actually on sale for 500 on sweet water until December 4th so if you haven’t yet ad you’re still looking, then I would pull the trigger!
Well made test! The sound pressure in 7:00 is too low for VMS so the original Mic sounds automatically better. The C12 modeling from Slate seems better to me than the original, probably because of a difference between the original modeled mic and this one. As always, the U47 sibilances sound not-natural for me. Very good modeling system. AND the narrator could have been miced/EQed better, he seems to lisp because lack of sibilance.
great job on the C12 model. The slate u47 sounded nothing like the Neumann, i literally LOLd
I can clearly hear a difference from a dynamic point of view, the Slate is much more aggressive to the ear, I don't know if it's volume or bass response but one is aggressing my ears on headphones. All the expensive mics have the same characteristic : they seem to have a natural compression/flat dynamic. But as for the tonal aspects, it's the same !
The slate mics have been eq’d to sound like the originals through emulation and is extremely close but the originals have more body, stability and smoothness.
I must say he’s nailed the Sony c800.
In my experience you get better result with the ml1 if you sign abit closer then normal
It seems like the VMS has a bit more low end and even sounds like it has a bit of natural compression in all examples. Nothing sounded bad at all, but that's just something I noticed. I'm looking into getting a VMS system so thank you for the informative video. I also really enjoyed the history lesson!!
for a good comparison you must adjust the volume....else the U47 has no way to be compared....the slate sounds more amplified, etc,,,n the U47 flatter n less volume
I think the AKG- C12 was still better but the VMS is insanly close, theres just a warmth that it didn't quite catch. That is In my opinion. The overall tone quality though, I think is still pretty great on the Vms
this u67 sounds excellent
thanks for the knowledge!
I’d like to see Mics from the VMS system compared to Random Mics in these classics To really get an idea of the variance.
I could say I heard more proximity effect from the Neumann U47, more dynamics when the word potato was said too.
The one of Slate in comparison with the originals there are differences although they are very minimal but there are the one of Slate.
But in comparison of prices pyues the quality is not the same but it is very acceptable Slate Good work ...
I can hear a difference between the VMS & the original mics.. The timbre is stunningly close with the VMS's models but the soul/warmth/body/size/spirit is not all the way there as compared to the originals.. I have been an engineer for 35 yrs and own a vintage Neumann U47 and U67. There is a magic sound with a healthy U47 or U67 that so far, has not been achieved or equaled. That being said, a professional studio will have many clients with extremely different sounding voices and instruments so, the ability to acurately swap out classic mic sounds on the spot is alone, well worth the money... But does the bit of difference between the VMS and the real thing justify 10 to 15 thousand dollars? it's all relative...
Morrie Louden Thanks for your informative comment! I know you ended saying it’s all relative, but would you recommend it? That is, is the difference you perceive between the VMS and the U47 tested here greater than the well-known variance between original U47s? Would most people be able to tell in a blind test? Thanks!
Can you explain, in actual technical/reproducible/factual/not-subject-to-personal-interpretation terms, what soul/warmth/body/size/spirit refers to?
@@Zarabozo It is what people who own vintage gear want you to believe cause they wasted half their wage on snake oil. I have been an engineer for 37 years.
Great video
I most definitely cannot pass a blind triangular test on the C800. On the U67 it's also close, the male speech section is almost identical to me.
William Blackmon The Sony sounded more rich present of the higher notes of the women. It’s like the sound didn’t didn’t hit the same the same on “cheap or my love isn’t free”.
It's me or the VMS sounds better ?
That was rough.....All things aside, the Slate kind of lacked the open top end of those nicer mics......
What if they told you that the mics where never switched from the originals... LOL There is a natural low mid vibrato in the original U47 and U67 that is not replicated in the VMS.
This girls voice is just so annoying lol
She's got a disease, it's laryngitis
Why do I read their magazines again?
Hey Chris, are you not into the video?
The magazine is still stellar, the videos just need the same standard of quality.
isnt there a very clear difference in bass response? Slate has more bass that still sounds smooth though
Sounds too me like the Slate mic is a tad boomier than the original mics. Still damn close to the real deal though. The c800g also sound clearer and more present than the slate mic. but considering the price difference...
FreeDooMusic Definitely undeniable. Would definitely be looking into the update.
Disclaimer: I'm no purist as I both use Mesa Boogie and Victory amps but I also use Fractal Axe-FX. I was thinking about buying the Slate VMS but here is the deal: I did a blind test and spotted each time which microphone was used, and I do not own any of the vintage microphones tested, therefore I do not know them by heart, just by listening to them in records and tests. VMS loses in the mid-range, the difference to the U47 is huge. VMS is duller, less lively, fewer harmonics, sadder, somewhat 'shure-like'. For the voice over it actually sounded better, somewhat more suited for this type of work, it reminded me of the Shure 7B (I have one of those). Comparing to the AKG, the originals mid-range harmonics are richer and have natural compression. The VMS is more dynamic, the pressure differences are more pronounced as low velocity is way down and high velocity is sort of 'in your face'. I don't think that's good for editing, as we need more subtle pressure differences to get a well balanced lively fresh airy vocal performance. It is said «One cut is worth a thousand boosts» and the membranes of the VMS are just not the same as the originals. I think that software, at the present state of development, just cannot compensate for the physics phenomena involved in a U47 or the AKG response and tone. So, as I have a Shure 7B (VMS sounds like a large membrane dynamic microphone), I am quite inclined to try another sort of microphone based on a 47, perhaps Warm-audio, which clones the U47. Still not decided yet, although VMS didn't convince me it would be able to replace any of those classics, the software emulation possibilities are very interesting, in the other hand buying VMS would set me back 1000 euros, which may be used to get 1/3 of a top microphone. I so much fear the disappointment of buying something that gives me buyers remorse. In any case Slate VMS will never be a U47 no matter what I would tell myself. «Sometimes you have to make tough decisions to hold the line on spending»
The real mics are so much better sounding. The VMS just sounds like something that's been EQ'd be somewhat similar.
#PotatoGuy4Life
This girl sings like she has a real disease. As for results, this is very good really. With that being said, all those mics are also very similar, in a blind test not many could tell which is which.
I learned more about potatoes than I did about proper singing in this video.
Was that Sam Inglis singing and playing guitar? Or his stunt double?
the slate mode is clearly much brighter than original one. Far from being a close replica
Christian Loudieu that is because the mics they tested are different from the mics they model. No two U47 will never sounds the ssame. Steven also said that the tube mic they model explodes after they have finished model, and when they re-tube it, he tested again with their model and never sounded alike .
I checked with spectrum analyzer, far from subtle difference. We're speaking of 5-6db in the 8-13khz range. And it's the same for all emulation. As for a lot of people, brighter is better, I think there is a little hype ...
Christian Loudieu as i have said it before no two mics will never sound the same...i bet i will be accurate if you compared it to the actual hardware they modelled
Don't speak to me, like I don't know anything about mics and gears, as I own a lot of it. Of course, no two mics sound the same, but we're speaking 6db, witch is outside the tolerance range of the mic. Could be possible for a U47, but for a C800 which is Japanese and modern mic, It would have been rejected by quality check. There clearly something wrong.Or as usual, a little hype on the lows and highs.
Christian Loudieu i am saying with great respect.. have you a/b it from the offical website? i would really love so see your comment about that.
I listened to the examples with my eyes closed and couldn't hear any major difference.
I especially could not hear a $10,000 difference
It's goes really close, but it seems like the VMS has inherently MUCH more mids than any of those mics. It's not good or bad, just different.
of course you don't hear 10000 dollar difference. price of these equipment is exponential. which means you get 90% of all the performance you can possibly get with a 200 dollar mic.
The VMS is $999, not $200...
same here, just felt slate mic is lil heavy at bottom
Is that a history lesson on microphones or a test? I'm 5 minutes in and all I hear is the history of the neuman microphones and I could't care less😂
I want to HEAR the real vs slate!!!
Oh and now these singers!!! What is that???
Ok at least I saw the slate stuff sounds quite identical.
I was quite optimistic and actually considered buying this mic since I liked the concept.....But this video proves that this unit doesn't come close to the real gear it's trying to emulate :/ The U47 has crispy (yet tamed) Highs, Defined mids, a nice fluffy low end.......Meanwhile the slate mic has harsh and metallic highs, weak and brittle mids and strange sounding lows.
The Slate is OK, but not up to the standards of the originals.
But, remember, the differences in the prices are huge.
It's more than ok
it's funny how the original models used here are all jacked.
where is the spectrum
Esta es una clara demostración que el mic. slate es solo una buena imitación de todos ellos.
Es notorio la coloración metálica que slate añade a todas las imitaciones.
Gracias por esta excelente demostración
The slate is more heavy handed in the bass. The ear likes it, but in a mix would be scooped out. One of the reasons these classic mics worked within the context of a mix. I think Slate is doing to mics what facebook has done to society. Missing the point of mics and society. The homogenization of art.
I am shocked. VMS is ALWAYS... and I mean REALLY is ALWAYS so much more bassy and brighter. (All test). Maybe it could handle some small equing, but why?? Is that a proper emulation? I am not talking about some minor changes. The difference is just massive!!! Better buy some cheaper, good mic or replica Price range 400-800USD. This Slate Digital emulation is nonsense + you have to buy their preamp too (extra costs)
VMS not as refined sounding.. C12 sounded rounder and warmer VMS sounded slightly brittle in comparison.
I very much doubt that this system can emulate the off axis response at all, since that would require magically recreating information that's not in the signal. I could be wrong but as I said, doubtful. In general I feel that this product is surrounded by mystical marketing language and we are given very little information about what it's actually doing.
Bloody hell Hugh talks fast!
Man I was ready to buy, I'll do more research because I love the concept, I think it's genius.... but uggggggggggg PASS. I love slate. I've worked with Jack Joseph Puig to give context. Every time they switch it sounds digital and choked... I'm actually bummed by this. I never hate on artists but it is hard to compare without REAL context with current trends. I appreciate the knowledge and background which was great but it proves.... You can't teach taste. You can teach empirical knowledge and 1's and 0's to anyone but you can't teach taste.... couldn't finish this and was upset enough to write this. EASILY could've done a more impactful and relevant shootout sending two texts here in LA. I'm more upset about being let down about the VMS than anything. Let's be honest... a great performance is more important than gear not vice versa BUT.... UGGGGGG I'll stick to my BLUE KIWI-MANLEY VOXBOX - Distressor combo. I think this video did it's purpose but let me down about how they chose to do it. I expect better. If "I" can do better you need to figure a few things out because I don't want to be the one doing these videos. But you have convinced me that the vintage ones are still the unicorns, for that... thank you. (but you can do better, why this?) I would've recorded modern current tracks and done the shootout FYI to give better context. It's hard to even discern what's happening because we are all re-calibrating to just the source material. Why? Find an artist with a huge social media following for free and do the test. Its not 1972...
In fairness, it's worth downloading the updated sound files from our site. With a little bit of tweaking, Slate was able to model the mics we rented more closely. Try a blind test with those files and see what you think.
Will do thank you for your response... I can dig that
At least! VMS One- fair :)
Dude... great video, but uhhh... I really wish we had different artist that don't make me cringe
VMS has more high end.
The Slate nails and is eerily close to the original microphones except the Sony mic. Granted, no mic has a top end like the Sony mic 👌🏽
Meanwhile there's 50 comments saying they nailed the Sony more than all the rest lol. Horses for courses
@@J77199 funny enough, it’s my favorite one though. I’ve seen a comparison to the real Sony mic and I always prefer the Slate.
Listening to this woman sing is a top 3 regret of my life.
Slate is really killing it with their emulations. If I had the choice and I didn't have to maintain them, I'd obviously choose the real thing across the board...but factor in everything and it's obvious Slate is bringing their A game here. You have an entire vintage locker for a quarter of a SINGLE cheaper vintage mic. And think about it--they're not known for their poor quality or anything. None of the "shortcomings" are mistakes. Maybe some are limitations or compromises, but not mistakes. They've surely AB'd with several references for each model painstakingly and in all ways imaginable. A blind test done cold would likely show how well they've done.
i think that thats the worst shootout ever made/
The biggest difference I can hear is that all the originals pick up more room noise, and buzz more, propably due to more sensitivity. Especially the Sony.
But jeez, 95-99% of ALL the classic mics for 1/10th the price? Buying any of the original mics at this point seems pretentious and wasteful, fetishizing the past and valuing it over the quality of your sound tools.
Slate loses some of the body of the vocal
Can we hear it with people who can sing.. seriously
P R I C E...?🤷♂️