thanks for this video ! Sanjay, can you pls tell you us the difference (if any) between the old SPHERE mic vs the new UA DLX ? 1) is the mic been designed again or just sold with the UA TAG now? 2) do the 2 mics sound similar? 3) to clarify, the LX does not record stereo? so we get a regular mic cabke thats only inserted into 1 pre amp in our audio interface? thanks so mnuch!
It's hard to argue with the value of these mics and their software. Some of the best emulations I've heard in a demo. I know that if I was running a small commercial studio, I might be tempted to record every singer on the Sphere, then choose the mic later. It would be more efficient for the client to not have to waste their time trying out a bunch of mics and just start recording takes.
Also Great for individual amateurish vocalists or one man home recordist that might not have great vocals or mic technics but somehow get's a GREAT Take once in a while. That awesome Take can then be used to identify a suitable mic for the song being recorded. it's a very great tool to have in the studio. Even for Professionals. You can even go to client homes and have them record a session, then bring the vocals back to the Studio and audition the voice on several mics. So many flexibilities.
I bought the Townsend L22 shortly after it came out. I've went into my mic locker maybe twice since. The versatility and great sound you get from these mics is beyond valuable and worth the purchase.
Brilliant test and rare to find a Sphere & Slate comparison. Thanks for not just using a 47 emulations like everyone else seems to. I use the Slate FG-800M version as I found the normal FG-800 to be a bit too harsh on my voice. I do think the real Sony was best but I’m still impressed with the Sphere which is definitely on my radar after your tests so thanks!
Thanks for this review on the UA Sphere Microphone, i purchased the Sphere DLX about 2 years ago when it was still under the name Townsend. The time I was looking to buy a new mic for vocal recordings, i used to use the AKG C 3000 for years, but always wanted the Neumann U87, anyway i came across this amazing UAD Sphere DLX Modeling Microphone, and after hearing some direkt test results, i was blown away. The sound of the Mic even without the emulation is terrific, though i love to use it with the Neumann U87 emulation, which is just the sound i have preferred. I am definitely going to try the Sony G 800 emulation too, since it's also a great sounding mic. The fact that these emulations are so good and very close to the real thing, it's very very hard for anyone to tell the difference between the real original mic to the Sphere DLX emulated versions, especially after the vocal recorded has been placed in the mix. This purchase is definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made, thanks to UAD, they have saved me lots of money trying to hunt down rare legendary Microphones. The fact that one can combine various types of microphones together on the fly is amazing. I preferably keep my workflow very old school, I find the mic i love using for vocals (Neumann U87), and print that recording permanently as a Mono channel, then run the result through a vocal chain, which consists of compressor, limiter, Deesser, and SSL EQ, and lastly a Studer A800 uad emulation. I must add that when knowing exactly what sound you are looking for and then applying the UAD Apollo emulation plugins (DBX, Neve, EMS SSL) on the Sphere DLX mic. The results are amazing it's kinda scary aaaaaahahahahaha 🤣😂... LOVE IT ❤️👍🏽
Another thing about these modeling mics is they don't have to sound perfectly like other mics, they only have to emulate good enough to make the purchase worthwhile for most users. I have an ML-1 and I've been strongly considering getting a Universal Audio Sphere too.
Extremely interesting comparison. The emulations of the other mics are pretty convincing! The possibilities opened with this software are countless, aren't they? Good job, Sanjay! 🎯
Great video. I did notice that when comparing Sphere with your actual U87 and 414 you have IsoSphere enabled. Obviously that makes it's more of an apples to oranges comparison. The main difference I here is in the low-mids so adjusting the Distance control should dial that in better. Also, worth keeping in mind that it's really hard to set up a listening test so multiple mics get exactly the same input and no two mics even of the same type sound exactly the same.
Very interesting. I think Sphere doesn't sound perfectly like original mics, but the sound quality and software themself are amazing. Many possibilities opened with these mics.
Messing with the Townsend mic and some real counterparts. To be honest… by the time it’s mixed to fit the track the differences disappear. It will sound as the mixer intended. Did a project where we used a Manley gold chandler redd, slate mic, townsend. By the time we heard the final product we almost forgot which vocalist and song used what.
What a beautiful cover of one of Maxwell’s classics. Loved the video. I have the ML-1 and I enjoy it but I’m saving up for the WA-8000 for my lead vocals.
Thank you for recognizing Maxwell's classic. Huge Maxwell fan here. I saw him in DC when he performed to a dinner crowd before he got big. I'll never forget it.
So, I have an L22, and While I have some of these mics, hearing them side by side, with headphones, I can really hear the difference. The Sphere sounds fairly similar on all emulations, while the actually mices seem to have more depth and presence, but lack the spittiness and air that the Sphere seems to always add. ....time to start selling blood to get some better mics.
Even on phone speakers, the real mics offer added clarity across the spectrum; however each emulation definitely captures the vibe of the original. In the end, I believe that it comes down to the final delivery platform(s) and audience for the recording for choosing the right mic.
Sanjay, great work. I'd love to hear some more shootouts with different people and more mics. Here's my experience with both the Slate and the Townsend Sphere: These mic emulations, in the majority of cases do a bad job at emulating their counterparts. Sure, is the general tone similar? Yes. But the sibilance and plosive resistance, the "compression" that each capsule offers (especially on higher-end mics) and the general "width" is completely off. It sounds like what it is: a cheap mic masquerading as an expensive mic. When Slate released the VMS (back when you could only buy the mic and the preamp together), I was one of the first people to buy one. The proposition seemed incredible and at the time, there were little to new reviews online. When the mic arrived, I was shocked at how light, flimsy and cheap it felt. The sibilance was terrible. Absolutely horrible, worse than cheap mics I've owned. As luck would have it, I'd eventually get to work with one of the developers from the original software development team who shared with me that the capsule was just a modified chinese one and that everyone complained about sibilance to Slate. I returned my mic and got a decent mic locker instead. Nothing too expensive, but it sounded much better. The Sphere (previously by Townsend) is a bit better, a bit more accurate and a bit less cheap feeling, but still incapable to deflect sibilance problems and unable to step away from the cheapish chinese-manufacturing open, harsh sound as shown especially well in the u87 emulation. I didn't buy this one - one of my colleagues got one and I got to experience it for a week and a half. My other big concern is: What's gonna happen when these mics stop getting support on the software side? They're gonna be incredibly useless paperweights (because they're too light). In audio, "Buy once cry once" is very real. There's a lot of great sounding, properly built mics for a 1000 dollars, or you can save and get a proper mic that'll retain its value. There's so many great options. Here are some of my personal favorites around this price point: - Lauten 357 Clarion - TLM 103 or 107 - Lewitt 940 - Austrian Audio OC818 Finally, if you got any of these mics and were able to make it work, great on you - it speaks to the quality of your work and the vocalists you work with. So don' take what I'm saying as an attack on your choices - It's merely my experience as someone who was fortunate enough to work with some of the stuff they try to emulate.
Great feedback and particularly the list of microphones. I have a Slate ML-1/VMS and I was nearly sold on the Sphere, but I'm wondering if the Lauten 357 Clarion will be a better investment as I nearly always use the U47 emulation.
Yeah, imho neither of these two emulations sounded very close to any of the 3 genuine articles through my focal cms50's. Not a waste by any stretch - the hybrid mic approach can serve many levels of production well enough, and could perhaps "save" a gig/session in a pinch - but it is not a viable substitute for the originals in critical listening situations. We already have bottle mics that can change capsules, sound considerable better and co$t like it, too. Each mic's circuit can matter a hell of a lot, also. You simply can't replace any and every mic from a PZM to a ribbon to a U47 to M49 to U87 to C800 and far beyond, in every pick-u pattern _all with only a single microphone._ Come close to many of them? OK, perhaps in time - but to replace them all or even most of them?...not impossible in theory, but oh-so-difficult in practice. Similar goals have been chased for decades in emulating classic synthesizers and amplifiers digitally. The progress using modeling, IRs and other forms of DSP - while admirable and able to overlap in momentary sounds - are otherwise less capable of behaving as (m)any of the originals will. On the 'cool mics' tip, try the *beyer M160* on any acoustic source that can be difficult to capture smoothly or is overly bright. Correctly positioning the double ribbon (oriented in top-address) took me a bit of practice, but once I found it's sweet-spot range it's ability to stay smooth and 'easy on the ears' is remarkable. A very mid-60s vibe to how it likes to take to EQ-ing and/or handling variable capacitance to get more detail vs dark-creaminess.
This is a really good comparison! I’ve been looking for this type of video for a while. I have a TL Sphere and its great if you need that versatility. It’s valuable when You’re recording other artists, but if you decide to get a specific mic clone most of the time it’ll sound a little better. Especially if you get a tube mic. Its hard for software to imitate the depth you get from a tube. There are plenty mic clones in that price range. Warm Audio is pretty cool but I would get the Telefunken TF51 or TF47. They are made by the same company that makes the Elam 251 and U47.
Man this is great... Maybe others have already mentioned this but i've heard the Putnam and Oceanway collections level up significantly from the stock emulations that come with it. I'd love to hear those comparisons.
I dunno guys. I’ve been reading the comments, but I hear a clear difference between sphere and actual mics. All of the “Real” mics sounded fuller, sphere sounded thinner. If I was just starting out, I can see getting sphere, because you don’t know what you’re missing, but as a long time mic user, that “fuller” sound and feeling from “real” mics translates well, or better into a recording or in a mix. I feel like I would need to try hard to EQ and process the sphere into equivalent sound. Is it just me? Everyone here sounds so complimentary, I however, am a little disappointed. I was really hoping sphere could be a mic replacement. But maybe if hear it with more discriminating monitors/headphones I’ll hear/feel something different. I’m certainly no expert. If I do, I’ll return and modify my comments accordingly. Keep fighting guys. Don’t give up on your music, don’t give upon your dreams.
Great video - and I suggest you hold onto the Sony mic! I felt in each case, the original mics were smoother and better - however, the emulations did a good job, and all those features are very cool. May be will wait for this modeling tech to get a little more mature.
i am finally getting an upgrade on my headphones. I have $20 sony headphones and will go to beyerdynamics dt 770 pro 32. My birthday gift to myself. Thanks to your reviews and others I am choosing that. I cannot wait to get it. thanks again. 🔥fellow producer here! 🎹keep loving yourself. ✌from Japan 🍣
@@SanjayC plus-1 on the voice. Every time I hear Sanjay sing I wonder what the hell he’s doing on UA-cam instead of at the Grammy’s. Superb, unique voice.
With all the effects going in, I believe Sphere is a great Mic to have... Sanjay C, your videos are very engaging always and thanks for taking time to doing them and sharing your world. I bought a Townsend a month back and yet to start using and I am in the process of building my studio.. I am sure it would give me some amazing sound. Luv from Prasanna... Bangalore, India.
Go to audio test kitchen, where they painstackingly take all variables out in a true fair comparison of mics. There is no noticeable differences... especially whatever "better" means. There's a UAD exclusive version of the Sony C800G modeled in Sphere w a stronger low end that would've gotten closer to Sanjay's C800g.
Ok, being an emulation mic everyone will focus on how (marginally) better the original mics are. And that’s fine. But if you do that you might overlook how great it is to have so many different sounding mic at your disposal in this 1 mic! Not changing actual mics, but changing them in the plug-in. And better yet, even changing them AFTER the recording! In the end having the coolest original mics will do you no good if you cannot sing properly or not mixing it correctly. So, I would focus on the creativity this 1 mic brings and the many different flavors of vintage mic sounds (or close enough sounding). Ps do not get rid of your mic collection, using them can definitively add to the production value for clients 😉
I can't help it as interesting as this is. I'm up to the Sony mic and to me the difference is night and day the Sony mic just sounds better. but! I'm still excited about this! Also love your voice bro ❤️ (Edit) every original mic sounds better than the emulation mics to me but it's an interesting direction to see. Although the software is tailored for the respective modeling mics. I would still be super interested to hear the difference the software makes with the original mics and maybe what difference it doesn't make?
@@pedrosilvaproductions definitely true bro can almost anything sound like anything with enough play to be fair ... I really want a Neumann ... So bad 😁
You analyse are amazing ❤ In my opinion the ML1 is totally crab. I don’t feel it sounds like 800G. The UA one is still a bit different from your 800G. However the UA one sounds like a custom edited model 800G. It tone is a bit warmer. I have tried a really custom edited 800G in a hi-en studio. In your video, it sounds like that one. It is really amazing ❤ So I think is the time for you to consider to sell your 800G👍
Great job! For the home recording artist (which is most of us), the emulation mics will do the job. Unless you're doing a solo job, it will be difficult to tell the difference among all the rest of the tracks. There's reverb, echo, EQ, and compression adding way more to the vocal sound. The listening audience are using computer speakers etc., and the media platform will be adding there own sound. Looks like a good deal to me!
Great shootout, though I definitely preferred the originals over the modelled version. Though since you can alter the sound after the fact, it still might be a worthwhile investment
Hello, I must say, you have some serious connections in the industry! Regardless, it’s impressive that you have access to microphones that most people will never get to handle. I recently received the SPHERE DLX PRO, but I haven’t unboxed it yet because the DA87i has piqued my curiosity. Have you had a chance to test the Dachman mic? I would love to hear your thoughts on it. By the way, this is my first time here, and I want to commend you on your voice. You have a pleasant tone and excellent vocal control. I truly appreciate a singer who consciously strives to achieve the best recording quality. The ability to articulate clearly, enunciate words, and manage breathing effectively makes a significant difference during the mixing process. I would certainly prefer working with someone who possesses these skills over someone who can simply hit vocal runs without the same level of awareness. Looking forward to your insights! Best regards, Eugene Meadows CEO COOLHOUSE PRODUCTIONS dba All Pro Mastering
Very nice video, Sanjay. Love that you include the soloed tracks with the exact same lines. I think there is still some way to go for the modeling mics. I hear a clear difference in the Sony comparison, the U87 and 414 a little closer. You dont have a 251 comparison, do you? The best to you!!
@@SanjayCI listen to a very good comparison of the Warm Audio version of the 251 and the original just sounded way more smooth, unfortunately. Would love to hear how this mic modeling fares. (this is the video I mention: ua-cam.com/video/HAEI1kdmoFo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Masterclaes ) ... but man, your Sony mic sounds amazing. Did you really buy that thing, Sanjay!? SO_EXPENSIVE_ :D
Great help for sibilant vocalist, but the software is just teaching you why you did it wrong. Pay attention to what it does so that when you use the real mic you can mimic microphone placement techniques.
was a mistake possibly made in recording these examples? I’m curious about the signal chain, as in engaging pre amps and compression etc, plug in or physical, because every comparison had the same issue, the UA examples all lacked med low mids, I can’t imagine the engineers at UA would miss this simply because their monitoring would be very exacting and they would put many many ears on it in listening tests etc. I doubt the mic would universally have the same issue in every test.
Same thing I was wondering, maybe he left the Proximity down from earlier in the video? They all had a very similar thinness I could hear on my TV speakers, I’m not ruling out flaws in the product but it doesn’t track with my experience with UA
surprised how far off it sounded from the real mics. was expecting better. as for the LX not having the stereo option, I find it hard to believe you couldn't just do it manually. Copy the track, reverse the left and right channels, pan the tracks opposite.
Selling the original Sony? Only if you‘re short of money! 😜😉 an emulation can never reach the quality of the original, I think. But if you don‘t have the original mic, it‘s worth thinking of a mic emulation like these? But your voice sounds great on every mic!
After this price tag, it should do more like be able to have a software patch to download and update the mic to allow it to add the microphones included in the DLX model. That would be too cool.
Merci pour ton tuto excellent ! Vends le Sony, le Sphère est trop trop bien ! J'utilisais que mes Neumann U497, aujourd'hui, je ne les utilise plus et j'enregistre uniquement avec le DLX...
If you're willing to pay $124 for either the Bill Putnam or Ocean Way mic collection plugin you'll also get all the Sphere DLX microphones AND the DLX Sphere 180 plugin for full stereo recording, *_even with the LX._* At least this was the deal UA was offering at the time of this post.
It sounds good, I’m almost decided to by one but just seen a video where it’s recorded against original Mics and they sound not alike , not even close.
AKG 414 still sounds great to me. I love the idea of this UA Sphere Mic and I think I will get it, just probably not sell off my AKG 414 or others I have in my mic drawer. You have an impressive collection of mics it seems. Did you borrow mics for this video?
I have the Sphere. Here’s the thing. Of course the original mics are gonna sound better just going through the Apollo Preamps/Unison plugins. I added a pair of Neve 511 preamps to use with my Sphere. Total game changer. I still want the Manley Reference though and change the tube in it.
Imo, it comes down to budget, how crazy you are for quality, and whether you wanna experiment with different mics. I could tell the difference even through blown out laptop speakers, and to me it sounds even little "bad" compared to the real ones (especially with the headphones on). But regardless, unless I could borrow all these expensive mics for a few months, and play around with them first, I would buy the sphere first, and make up my mind about which iconic mics I truly want.
Many microphones are used in conjunction with a good channel strip or mic pre. I would like you to compare the Sony or Neumann with hardware channel strip and the UA mic with emulation channel strip. Please SanJay
A friend is mixing a song for me, but he doesn’t have the mic neither the plug-in. The question is, how do I export the track from pro tools for him to mix the song? Do I bounce the stereo track to a mono track through a bus? in order to get the sound from the mic I choose previously in the plug in?
Fantastic video. I am thinking of buying this mic, I love to hear your personal opinion on my story so I can make the best decision. I am an professional opera singer and do my recordings at home. I have a apollo x4 and most of the UAD pre amp emulations and other good plug ins for vocals and mixing. I bought the Charteroak SA538 I think 20 years ago, it is that old, however, I didn't use it on a daily basis. The challenges I run into using this mic is that my voice sounds diminished, like it is locked up in a box and the power of the voice and also the clarity is not there - it sound completely different from what my real voice is. That means if I want to bring power in and clarity I have to do tons of processing to get the sound a little better, it is kinda frustrating for a 1700 euro mic. I made a vocal booth using professional materials hoping the sound would improve by getting rid of my living room over-acoustic frequencies. No difference on the power of the voice. There the vocal booth is closed with the professional blankets I get even more muddy sound. I recorded close by 3 inches, and 6 inches, 12 inches to see if it is because the mic cannot handle the operatic sound - the farther I stand away the thinner the sound becomes....I have no idea if it is the type mic I bought, or, that 20 years made it warn out although it always diminished my vocals. The DLX, do you think in your opinion and experience with the mic that it would be the solution for me and finally get my voice recorded as it is, or, do you think that the mic without any processing and even without the UAD different mic options, that it would capture my voice a lot better than what I described about the charteroak studio microphone! Mostly opera singers are recorded with 2 mics to get that wider kinda stereo field sound as you hear on classical albums, or Pavarotti's recordings. The DLX plug in does have a stereo option to record with and I wonder if that would mimic the way opera singers are recorded. What do you think? You can hear the vocals sound FREE and not boxed in and weak - I think you know what I mean...I think they probably not do a whole lot of wild processing on opera voices beside maybe some compression and reverb if it is not recorded in a hall - Hope you can shine some light into my recording world 🙂and looking forward for a positive reply hopefully that the DLX will make a big difference for my recordings...Thanks in advance...
To be honest (and no intent of hating, I've been there too): Your room sounds horrible, even with the halo. The super expensive C800g is of no use in that room.
I own the Original TL Sphere. If you are a purist and have the $$$ to spend on the original, then you should seek your intended mic. Otherwise, , I can 100% recommend either version of these. You are paying for flexibility and the mics themselves sound great without all the processing.. Your average consumer isn't checking for which mic you recorded your song with. They will like a good song no matter what.
I have the M-1 and L22 Sphere - the original. The L22 is lightyears ahead of the M-1 for the recording quality and adjustments you can make after the recording take. The M-1 is an outstanding clear and detailed condenser mic without the emulations for the price (on sale $399). BUT - after you do all the editing and adding a ton of plugs - most modern pop vocal plug chains- tell me - Who really can tell the difference of what mic you really used? It comes down to the talent of the engineer/mixer. Neumann and Sony high end mics have a perfect placement in the stereo field that is that pro polish feel that all mic makers try to emulate but only the Sphere UA mics have been able to achieve with the tools they have. That being said - I love the L22 - which is just like the UA mics tested here. Theres no greater feeling for the vocalist than having no latency recordings with an Apollo and exceptional quality unison plugs with the real pro recording quality of the L22. Use this with LUNA and the universe is the limit! Great reviews again Sanjay C! Keep up the good works!
I run into similar problems when choosing speakers, you can’t really create the acoustic properties digitally, you can change the EQ, do impulse correction and all of this, but the inherent acoustics signature can’t really be replicated electronically. Not yet anyway, although I have a feeling it going to be possible with AI
4:14 the slate in my 1000x5 sounds closest to the c800. I have the slate, but imma get a DLX too. Some of of the emulations are better in one or the other.
The sphere does a good job of emulating the sound of the microphones. But in all of the originals, I heard a distinct texture that was missing from the sphere emulation. Even in the 414, which is cheaper than the DLX. Overall seems like a bit of a gimmick for now. But these are gen 1 of the technology. Will probably be a lot closer in 10 years after revisions.
Wow this was a great review I have one question what preamp was you using for the references ? I know the slate Mice comes with its own preamp did you use that ? just curious what you used and why ?
How you doing brotha, Trying to make an educated decision between a Higher End mic purchase my dream mic is the sonyc800g , some of my music is on my page I like the U67, U87i and the blue bottle b6 as well. If you would be the first person on UA-cam to do a shootout between the highest tier of mics maybe throw some telefunken or wunder mics or any you feel could compete with the most famous top tier : highest price range , that would be hella cool. I would like to see how they sound on your voice
I noticed you own a sony c800g a u87 Manley reference and a couple other top tier mics I would love to see how they sound in comparison for real! Keep the videos up they are helpful 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Although the Sphere/UA microphone sound better than the Slate ML 1 IMHO they both have similar characteristics in the high air frequencies. Slate has a slightly brittle sound whereas the Sphere/UA has a slightly colder sound. Nothing that can’t be sorted out with EQ. But both microphones are different in that respect to the microphones they are emulating. On most cases they are fine but I could imagine with some nasally female vocals that the discrepancy becomes more obvious.
Close but no cigar. They can’t really emulate the way the mics handle dynamics yet, just notice the attack on your words and mouth sounds with the Sphere vs the real 416. There’s a smooth creaminess the emulation can’t really nail. They can for sure nail the EQ and polarity to get freq response and mic body resonance close, but I think there’s a certain characteristic of the pickups, that little 5 or 10 percent difference that will probably take the AI revolution to actually model perfectly if it’s possible.
Definitely keep the Sony mic! Considering it's discontinued, what it's worth and that it's the real thing.... I feel you'd regret it pretty quickly and would need to pay way more if you'd reconsider buying it back further down the line. Now. For people like me, the LX (dare I say the DLX) could be a good option as there's no way I could afford one of the high end microphone! I'll see, further down the line, whenever I manage to save decent amount of money 🤑 😂
Keep your sony c 800 sanjay. the cost will go up on it and it will become rare in time. Great review sanjay you covered a lott in a very short time.. Think i like the flexibility of the sphere mic's and the sound. the slate is nice but its bare bones compared to the sphere's, due to the fact that its an older mic, im thinking david slate may up his game & develop a newer emulation. The digital era is here & im wondering how the next ten years in pro audio will evolve. We may just see an eve anna manley mic emulation on a slate mic .. there one thing i know for certain that these digital mic emulation wont how there value like the old analog mics..
It seems a great mike, but the fact that it needs software worries me. A lot. My UAD-1 and its software are unsupported on modern Windows and are totally obsolete. With all the money I spent to buy the emulations, I could've bought a vintage Neve compressor; real hardware which would have lasted and remained in my hands today.
Hi thank you so much for your video ! Do i buy Neumann or this fantastic micro? If I don't do the emulation, does the microphone sound professional without adding anything? If we compare to a brand for example AKG or other. Thank you so much
I mean the c800 does sound a little fuller than uad but all the other features are awesome! And let’s not forget with vintage mics not all of them sound identical anyways
Interesting, I have a Slate ML1 and I was nearly sold on the UA Sphere - it's clearly better than the Slate to my ears - and more expensive, of course, and I do love my Slate, I've released 3 albums using it, don't be put off. But hearing the comparison against the real things is interesting - they are again clearly better than the Sphere to my ears. I mainly use the U47 emulation so maybe I'm better opting for a high quality U47 copy for around the same price.
⬇ Get the mics in this video ⬇
1. Universal Audio Sphere (Zzounds) www.zzounds.com/a--3971854/prodsearch?q=universal+audio+sphere&key=q&form=search
Universal Audio Sphere (Sweetwater) bit.ly/3Wd0vH7
Universal Audio Sphere (Thomann Europe) bit.ly/3GLLnLb
2. Slate ML-1 Modeling Mic (Zzounds) www.zzounds.com/a--3971854/item--SLAVMSML1?siid=273090
Slate ML-1 Modeling Mic (Sweetwater) bit.ly/3iSXVIy
Slate ML-1 MOdeling Mic (Thomann Europe) bit.ly/3XEKOtu
thanks for this video ! Sanjay, can you pls tell you us the difference (if any) between the old SPHERE mic vs the new UA DLX ?
1) is the mic been designed again or just sold with the UA TAG now?
2) do the 2 mics sound similar?
3) to clarify, the LX does not record stereo? so we get a regular mic cabke thats only inserted into 1 pre amp in our audio interface?
thanks so mnuch!
It's hard to argue with the value of these mics and their software. Some of the best emulations I've heard in a demo. I know that if I was running a small commercial studio, I might be tempted to record every singer on the Sphere, then choose the mic later. It would be more efficient for the client to not have to waste their time trying out a bunch of mics and just start recording takes.
I totally think this is awesome for a studio. Makes so much sense depending on the artist you're recording.
It’s not as efficient as you think because you have to record in stereo to be able to change the mic emulation in post
@@ChaceBonanno It's pretty easy to sum it to mono once you've dialled in the sound you like. In logic anyway.
Also Great for individual amateurish vocalists or one man home recordist that might not have great vocals or mic technics but somehow get's a GREAT Take once in a while. That awesome Take can then be used to identify a suitable mic for the song being recorded. it's a very great tool to have in the studio. Even for Professionals. You can even go to client homes and have them record a session, then bring the vocals back to the Studio and audition the voice on several mics. So many flexibilities.
I bought the Townsend L22 shortly after it came out. I've went into my mic locker maybe twice since. The versatility and great sound you get from these mics is beyond valuable and worth the purchase.
It get’s the vibe right but when hearing them side by side, every mic compared to it was so much smoother and fuller.
Brilliant test and rare to find a Sphere & Slate comparison. Thanks for not just using a 47 emulations like everyone else seems to. I use the Slate FG-800M version as I found the normal FG-800 to be a bit too harsh on my voice. I do think the real Sony was best but I’m still impressed with the Sphere which is definitely on my radar after your tests so thanks!
Q:
It's hard to argue with how damn good the actual U87 sounds, especially smoothing out the sibilants
Thanks for this review on the UA Sphere Microphone, i purchased the Sphere DLX about 2 years ago when it was still under the name Townsend. The time I was looking to buy a new mic for vocal recordings, i used to use the AKG C 3000 for years, but always wanted the Neumann U87, anyway i came across this amazing UAD Sphere DLX Modeling Microphone, and after hearing some direkt test results, i was blown away. The sound of the Mic even without the emulation is terrific, though i love to use it with the Neumann U87 emulation, which is just the sound i have preferred. I am definitely going to try the Sony G 800 emulation too, since it's also a great sounding mic. The fact that these emulations are so good and very close to the real thing, it's very very hard for anyone to tell the difference between the real original mic to the Sphere DLX emulated versions, especially after the vocal recorded has been placed in the mix. This purchase is definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made, thanks to UAD, they have saved me lots of money trying to hunt down rare legendary Microphones. The fact that one can combine various types of microphones together on the fly is amazing.
I preferably keep my workflow very old school, I find the mic i love using for vocals (Neumann U87), and print that recording permanently as a Mono channel, then run the result through a vocal chain, which consists of compressor, limiter, Deesser, and SSL EQ, and lastly a Studer A800 uad emulation.
I must add that when knowing exactly what sound you are looking for and then applying the UAD Apollo emulation plugins (DBX, Neve, EMS SSL) on the Sphere DLX mic. The results are amazing it's kinda scary aaaaaahahahahaha 🤣😂... LOVE IT ❤️👍🏽
Another thing about these modeling mics is they don't have to sound perfectly like other mics, they only have to emulate good enough to make the purchase worthwhile for most users. I have an ML-1 and I've been strongly considering getting a Universal Audio Sphere too.
Get it...you won't regret it. Love the Sphere so much. I mean, it got the Sennheiser spot on in my opinion!
Extremely interesting comparison. The emulations of the other mics are pretty convincing! The possibilities opened with this software are countless, aren't they? Good job, Sanjay! 🎯
Thanks, André
Great video. I did notice that when comparing Sphere with your actual U87 and 414 you have IsoSphere enabled. Obviously that makes it's more of an apples to oranges comparison. The main difference I here is in the low-mids so adjusting the Distance control should dial that in better.
Also, worth keeping in mind that it's really hard to set up a listening test so multiple mics get exactly the same input and no two mics even of the same type sound exactly the same.
Very interesting. I think Sphere doesn't sound perfectly like original mics, but the sound quality and software themself are amazing. Many possibilities opened with these mics.
I own an OG Townsend and it’s definitely one of the best investment’s I’ve ever made.For it’s price range I feel nothings touching it.
Messing with the Townsend mic and some real counterparts.
To be honest… by the time it’s mixed to fit the track the differences disappear. It will sound as the mixer intended.
Did a project where we used a Manley gold chandler redd, slate mic, townsend. By the time we heard the final product we almost forgot which vocalist and song used what.
Dude THANK YOU for this comparison. Very thorough, and was exactly what I was looking for!
Glad it was helpful!
We not going to act like this man doesn’t have an outrageous mic locker😂
I wish I actually owned all these. I borrow a bunch of mics for videos usually.
I want to know your friend who keeps lending you these mics! I want them as my friend too! 😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah I literally wanted to jump into the vid and hold a pillow under the 800 when he was holding it 😂
😂😂😂
@@sigma_zmusic rental companies. Fyi.
wow. the features on this mic are ridiculous. great video sanjay!
Thanks so much! 🙏🏼
What a beautiful cover of one of Maxwell’s classics. Loved the video. I have the ML-1 and I enjoy it but I’m saving up for the WA-8000 for my lead vocals.
Thank you for recognizing Maxwell's classic. Huge Maxwell fan here. I saw him in DC when he performed to a dinner crowd before he got big. I'll never forget it.
the wa800 is 🔥 and if you get it modded it sounds pretty identical to the c800g. way better than the sphere
@@poindextertunes right on. I’ll have to look into modding it
Comprehensive and effective review right here - Sphere L22 was definitely the choice for me when it came free with the rackmount Apollo X6!
Omg that would be such an awesome deal… I would have bought it in a heartbeat
So, I have an L22, and While I have some of these mics, hearing them side by side, with headphones, I can really hear the difference.
The Sphere sounds fairly similar on all emulations, while the actually mices seem to have more depth and presence, but lack the spittiness and air that the Sphere seems to always add.
....time to start selling blood to get some better mics.
Excellent mic comparison video SanjayC! Thank you!!
Thanks so much
Even on phone speakers, the real mics offer added clarity across the spectrum; however each emulation definitely captures the vibe of the original. In the end, I believe that it comes down to the final delivery platform(s) and audience for the recording for choosing the right mic.
I'm definitely getting the Dlx. Very cool. I wasn't expecting it to do as well as it did. Not perfect, but for the money excellent. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Dude...thank you for the Super Thanks! You're too kind. These mics are totally worth the investment. I'm a huge fan now.
Sanjay, great work. I'd love to hear some more shootouts with different people and more mics. Here's my experience with both the Slate and the Townsend Sphere:
These mic emulations, in the majority of cases do a bad job at emulating their counterparts. Sure, is the general tone similar? Yes. But the sibilance and plosive resistance, the "compression" that each capsule offers (especially on higher-end mics) and the general "width" is completely off. It sounds like what it is: a cheap mic masquerading as an expensive mic.
When Slate released the VMS (back when you could only buy the mic and the preamp together), I was one of the first people to buy one. The proposition seemed incredible and at the time, there were little to new reviews online. When the mic arrived, I was shocked at how light, flimsy and cheap it felt. The sibilance was terrible. Absolutely horrible, worse than cheap mics I've owned. As luck would have it, I'd eventually get to work with one of the developers from the original software development team who shared with me that the capsule was just a modified chinese one and that everyone complained about sibilance to Slate. I returned my mic and got a decent mic locker instead. Nothing too expensive, but it sounded much better.
The Sphere (previously by Townsend) is a bit better, a bit more accurate and a bit less cheap feeling, but still incapable to deflect sibilance problems and unable to step away from the cheapish chinese-manufacturing open, harsh sound as shown especially well in the u87 emulation. I didn't buy this one - one of my colleagues got one and I got to experience it for a week and a half.
My other big concern is:
What's gonna happen when these mics stop getting support on the software side? They're gonna be incredibly useless paperweights (because they're too light). In audio, "Buy once cry once" is very real. There's a lot of great sounding, properly built mics for a 1000 dollars, or you can save and get a proper mic that'll retain its value. There's so many great options.
Here are some of my personal favorites around this price point:
- Lauten 357 Clarion
- TLM 103 or 107
- Lewitt 940
- Austrian Audio OC818
Finally, if you got any of these mics and were able to make it work, great on you - it speaks to the quality of your work and the vocalists you work with. So don' take what I'm saying as an attack on your choices - It's merely my experience as someone who was fortunate enough to work with some of the stuff they try to emulate.
Great feedback and particularly the list of microphones. I have a Slate ML-1/VMS and I was nearly sold on the Sphere, but I'm wondering if the Lauten 357 Clarion will be a better investment as I nearly always use the U47 emulation.
Yeah, imho neither of these two emulations sounded very close to any of the 3 genuine articles through my focal cms50's.
Not a waste by any stretch - the hybrid mic approach can serve many levels of production well enough, and could perhaps "save" a gig/session in a pinch - but it is not a viable substitute for the originals in critical listening situations. We already have bottle mics that can change capsules, sound considerable better and co$t like it, too. Each mic's circuit can matter a hell of a lot, also.
You simply can't replace any and every mic from a PZM to a ribbon to a U47 to M49 to U87 to C800 and far beyond, in every pick-u pattern _all with only a single microphone._ Come close to many of them? OK, perhaps in time - but to replace them all or even most of them?...not impossible in theory, but oh-so-difficult in practice.
Similar goals have been chased for decades in emulating classic synthesizers and amplifiers digitally. The progress using modeling, IRs and other forms of DSP - while admirable and able to overlap in momentary sounds - are otherwise less capable of behaving as (m)any of the originals will.
On the 'cool mics' tip, try the *beyer M160* on any acoustic source that can be difficult to capture smoothly or is overly bright. Correctly positioning the double ribbon (oriented in top-address) took me a bit of practice, but once I found it's sweet-spot range it's ability to stay smooth and 'easy on the ears' is remarkable. A very mid-60s vibe to how it likes to take to EQ-ing and/or handling variable capacitance to get more detail vs dark-creaminess.
This is a really good comparison! I’ve been looking for this type of video for a while. I have a TL Sphere and its great if you need that versatility. It’s valuable when You’re recording other artists, but if you decide to get a specific mic clone most of the time it’ll sound a little better. Especially if you get a tube mic. Its hard for software to imitate the depth you get from a tube. There are plenty mic clones in that price range. Warm Audio is pretty cool but I would get the Telefunken TF51 or TF47. They are made by the same company that makes the Elam 251 and U47.
The U47 is my favorite emulation on the Sphere. I really wanna try the real thing.
@@ChaceBonanno the Warm Audio Verison is considerably better so look into that. I do like the ocean waves expansion tho it’s really good
Man this is great... Maybe others have already mentioned this but i've heard the Putnam and Oceanway collections level up significantly from the stock emulations that come with it. I'd love to hear those comparisons.
I really like the sound of the Sphere! Thanks for the review 👍😁
Glad you enjoyed the review. Get the Sphere. You'll love it.
I dunno guys. I’ve been reading the comments, but I hear a clear difference between sphere and actual mics. All of the
“Real” mics sounded fuller, sphere sounded thinner. If I was just starting out, I can see getting sphere, because you don’t know what you’re missing, but as a long time mic user, that “fuller” sound and feeling from “real” mics translates well, or better into a recording or in a mix. I feel like I would need to try hard to EQ and process the sphere into equivalent sound. Is it just me? Everyone here sounds so complimentary, I however, am a little disappointed. I was really hoping sphere could be a mic replacement. But maybe if hear it with more discriminating monitors/headphones I’ll hear/feel something different. I’m certainly no expert. If I do, I’ll return and modify my comments accordingly. Keep fighting guys. Don’t give up on your music, don’t give upon your dreams.
I have a Townsend Sphere L22 and picking up a Sphere LX tomorrow! Absolutely love these mics
Great video - and I suggest you hold onto the Sony mic! I felt in each case, the original mics were smoother and better - however, the emulations did a good job, and all those features are very cool. May be will wait for this modeling tech to get a little more mature.
Loving your videos. Was looking forward to this review. As someone who has a weakness to mics, this may be something I'd be interested in.
The Sphere is soooo worth it. I'm in love the more I use it
i am finally getting an upgrade on my headphones. I have $20 sony headphones and will go to beyerdynamics dt 770 pro 32. My birthday gift to myself. Thanks to your reviews and others I am choosing that. I cannot wait to get it. thanks again. 🔥fellow producer here! 🎹keep loving yourself. ✌from Japan 🍣
What a fabulous mic comparison and video. I loved listening to your rendition of Maxwell’s song. You have a beautiful voice Sanjay C.
Hey, thanks so much! I love Maxwell. So happy I could cover one of my favorite songs from him.
@@SanjayC plus-1 on the voice. Every time I hear Sanjay sing I wonder what the hell he’s doing on UA-cam instead of at the Grammy’s. Superb, unique voice.
With all the effects going in, I believe Sphere is a great Mic to have... Sanjay C, your videos are very engaging always and thanks for taking time to doing them and sharing your world.
I bought a Townsend a month back and yet to start using and I am in the process of building my studio.. I am sure it would give me some amazing sound.
Luv from Prasanna... Bangalore, India.
The sphere mic sounded smoother in comparison wow 😯
Original mics certainly sound noticeably better, but great value for money, and amazing versatility and functionality on the Sphere mics.
Go to audio test kitchen, where they painstackingly take all variables out in a true fair comparison of mics.
There is no noticeable differences... especially whatever "better" means.
There's a UAD exclusive version of the Sony C800G modeled in Sphere w a stronger low end that would've gotten closer to Sanjay's C800g.
@John Bach Thanks John. I'll take a listen. With my budget constraints, there's not even a question as to which one I'd buy 😀
I was looking for a good video on these. Thank you!
Anytime!
Ok, being an emulation mic everyone will focus on how (marginally) better the original mics are. And that’s fine.
But if you do that you might overlook how great it is to have so many different sounding mic at your disposal in this 1 mic! Not changing actual mics, but changing them in the plug-in. And better yet, even changing them AFTER the recording!
In the end having the coolest original mics will do you no good if you cannot sing properly or not mixing it correctly.
So, I would focus on the creativity this 1 mic brings and the many different flavors of vintage mic sounds (or close enough sounding).
Ps do not get rid of your mic collection, using them can definitively add to the production value for clients 😉
I'm totally on board with you.
Sell the Sony? Absolutely... NOT!!!! I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger on the Slate. The UA is much better to my ear.
Wonderful video, my man!
Yeah, I agree the Sphere really gives you so much more.
wow ! for real this is a real interesting option for me , thank you for the review !
Anytime! Thanks for watching, Henz!
I can't help it as interesting as this is. I'm up to the Sony mic and to me the difference is night and day the Sony mic just sounds better. but! I'm still excited about this! Also love your voice bro ❤️
(Edit) every original mic sounds better than the emulation mics to me but it's an interesting direction to see. Although the software is tailored for the respective modeling mics. I would still be super interested to hear the difference the software makes with the original mics and maybe what difference it doesn't make?
Thanks so much Holy Hearts. Yeah, the Sony mic sounds awesome! Can’t deny that. But seriously…I don’t think most people need this Sony mic.
@@SanjayC that's true having a great selection of mics to suit different situations in one mic is a fantastic premise
I agree the Sony sounds good, also the U87 for me was such a huge difference as well, but i'm pretty sure with some EQing you can get them even closer
@@pedrosilvaproductions definitely true bro can almost anything sound like anything with enough play to be fair ... I really want a Neumann ... So bad 😁
@@pedrosilvaproductions they definitely didn't sound bad that's for sure!
You analyse are amazing ❤
In my opinion the ML1 is totally crab. I don’t feel it sounds like 800G.
The UA one is still a bit different from your 800G. However the UA one sounds like a custom edited model 800G. It tone is a bit warmer. I have tried a really custom edited 800G in a hi-en studio. In your video, it sounds like that one. It is really amazing ❤ So I think is the time for you to consider to sell your 800G👍
Great job! For the home recording artist (which is most of us), the emulation mics will do the job. Unless you're doing a solo job, it will be difficult to tell the difference among all the rest of the tracks. There's reverb, echo, EQ, and compression adding way more to the vocal sound. The listening audience are using computer speakers etc., and the media platform will be adding there own sound. Looks like a good deal to me!
Great shootout, though I definitely preferred the originals over the modelled version. Though since you can alter the sound after the fact, it still might be a worthwhile investment
Hello,
I must say, you have some serious connections in the industry! Regardless, it’s impressive that you have access to microphones that most people will never get to handle. I recently received the SPHERE DLX PRO, but I haven’t unboxed it yet because the DA87i has piqued my curiosity. Have you had a chance to test the Dachman mic? I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
By the way, this is my first time here, and I want to commend you on your voice. You have a pleasant tone and excellent vocal control. I truly appreciate a singer who consciously strives to achieve the best recording quality. The ability to articulate clearly, enunciate words, and manage breathing effectively makes a significant difference during the mixing process. I would certainly prefer working with someone who possesses these skills over someone who can simply hit vocal runs without the same level of awareness.
Looking forward to your insights!
Best regards,
Eugene Meadows CEO
COOLHOUSE PRODUCTIONS
dba All Pro Mastering
Very nice video, Sanjay. Love that you include the soloed tracks with the exact same lines. I think there is still some way to go for the modeling mics. I hear a clear difference in the Sony comparison, the U87 and 414 a little closer.
You dont have a 251 comparison, do you?
The best to you!!
I don't actually...I may have to find a 251 to try it! :-)
@@SanjayCI listen to a very good comparison of the Warm Audio version of the 251 and the original just sounded way more smooth, unfortunately. Would love to hear how this mic modeling fares. (this is the video I mention: ua-cam.com/video/HAEI1kdmoFo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Masterclaes )
... but man, your Sony mic sounds amazing. Did you really buy that thing, Sanjay!? SO_EXPENSIVE_ :D
Great help for sibilant vocalist, but the software is just teaching you why you did it wrong. Pay attention to what it does so that when you use the real mic you can mimic microphone placement techniques.
was a mistake possibly made in recording these examples?
I’m curious about the signal chain, as in engaging pre amps and compression etc, plug in or physical, because every comparison had the same issue, the UA examples all lacked med low mids, I can’t imagine the engineers at UA would miss this simply because their monitoring would be very exacting and they would put many many ears on it in listening tests etc. I doubt the mic would universally have the same issue in every test.
Same thing I was wondering, maybe he left the Proximity down from earlier in the video? They all had a very similar thinness I could hear on my TV speakers, I’m not ruling out flaws in the product but it doesn’t track with my experience with UA
surprised how far off it sounded from the real mics. was expecting better.
as for the LX not having the stereo option, I find it hard to believe you couldn't just do it manually. Copy the track, reverse the left and right channels, pan the tracks opposite.
Selling the original Sony? Only if you‘re short of money! 😜😉 an emulation can never reach the quality of the original, I think. But if you don‘t have the original mic, it‘s worth thinking of a mic emulation like these? But your voice sounds great on every mic!
Thanks so much, GAD!
After this price tag, it should do more like be able to have a software patch to download and update the mic to allow it to add the microphones included in the DLX model. That would be too cool.
Merci pour ton tuto excellent !
Vends le Sony, le Sphère est trop trop bien ! J'utilisais que mes Neumann U497, aujourd'hui, je ne les utilise plus et j'enregistre uniquement avec le DLX...
If you're willing to pay $124 for either the Bill Putnam or Ocean Way mic collection plugin you'll also get all the Sphere DLX microphones AND the DLX Sphere 180 plugin for full stereo recording, *_even with the LX._* At least this was the deal UA was offering at the time of this post.
It sounds good, I’m almost decided to by one but just seen a video where it’s recorded against original Mics and they sound not alike , not even close.
would have loved to hear ribbon comparison. great video though
AKG 414 still sounds great to me. I love the idea of this UA Sphere Mic and I think I will get it, just probably not sell off my AKG 414 or others I have in my mic drawer. You have an impressive collection of mics it seems. Did you borrow mics for this video?
I have the Sphere. Here’s the thing. Of course the original mics are gonna sound better just going through the Apollo Preamps/Unison plugins.
I added a pair of Neve 511 preamps to use with my Sphere. Total game changer.
I still want the Manley Reference though and change the tube in it.
Hi Dewayne...thanks for sharing your experience with Sphere. I agree...putting almost any mic through the Neve 511 is going to make it so much better!
Imo, it comes down to budget, how crazy you are for quality, and whether you wanna experiment with different mics. I could tell the difference even through blown out laptop speakers, and to me it sounds even little "bad" compared to the real ones (especially with the headphones on). But regardless, unless I could borrow all these expensive mics for a few months, and play around with them first, I would buy the sphere first, and make up my mind about which iconic mics I truly want.
Many microphones are used in conjunction with a good channel strip or mic pre. I would like you to compare the Sony or Neumann with hardware channel strip and the UA mic with emulation channel strip. Please SanJay
A friend is mixing a song for me, but he doesn’t have the mic neither the plug-in. The question is, how do I export the track from pro tools for him to mix the song? Do I bounce the stereo track to a mono track through a bus? in order to get the sound from the mic I choose previously in the plug in?
Hey Sanjay, i'm torn between the Slate and the UA! I'm guessing you prefer the Sphere to the ML-1, in terms of sound quality, right?
Fantastic video. I am thinking of buying this mic, I love to hear your personal opinion on my story so I can make the best decision. I am an professional opera singer and do my recordings at home. I have a apollo x4 and most of the UAD pre amp emulations and other good plug ins for vocals and mixing. I bought the Charteroak SA538 I think 20 years ago, it is that old, however, I didn't use it on a daily basis. The challenges I run into using this mic is that my voice sounds diminished, like it is locked up in a box and the power of the voice and also the clarity is not there - it sound completely different from what my real voice is. That means if I want to bring power in and clarity I have to do tons of processing to get the sound a little better, it is kinda frustrating for a 1700 euro mic. I made a vocal booth using professional materials hoping the sound would improve by getting rid of my living room over-acoustic frequencies. No difference on the power of the voice. There the vocal booth is closed with the professional blankets I get even more muddy sound. I recorded close by 3 inches, and 6 inches, 12 inches to see if it is because the mic cannot handle the operatic sound - the farther I stand away the thinner the sound becomes....I have no idea if it is the type mic I bought, or, that 20 years made it warn out although it always diminished my vocals. The DLX, do you think in your opinion and experience with the mic that it would be the solution for me and finally get my voice recorded as it is, or, do you think that the mic without any processing and even without the UAD different mic options, that it would capture my voice a lot better than what I described about the charteroak studio microphone! Mostly opera singers are recorded with 2 mics to get that wider kinda stereo field sound as you hear on classical albums, or Pavarotti's recordings. The DLX plug in does have a stereo option to record with and I wonder if that would mimic the way opera singers are recorded. What do you think? You can hear the vocals sound FREE and not boxed in and weak - I think you know what I mean...I think they probably not do a whole lot of wild processing on opera voices beside maybe some compression and reverb if it is not recorded in a hall - Hope you can shine some light into my recording world 🙂and looking forward for a positive reply hopefully that the DLX will make a big difference for my recordings...Thanks in advance...
Thank you for the video!! To my ears the difference between c414 & emulation is too obvious in favor to real c414
There was a difference but general audience will never know the difference its just us creators !
Absolutely!
To be honest (and no intent of hating, I've been there too): Your room sounds horrible, even with the halo. The super expensive C800g is of no use in that room.
I own the Original TL Sphere.
If you are a purist and have the $$$ to spend on the original, then you should seek your intended mic.
Otherwise, , I can 100% recommend either version of these. You are paying for flexibility and the mics themselves sound great without all the processing..
Your average consumer isn't checking for which mic you recorded your song with. They will like a good song no matter what.
Absolutely agree with you.
I have the M-1 and L22 Sphere - the original. The L22 is lightyears ahead of the M-1 for the recording quality and adjustments you can make after the recording take. The M-1 is an outstanding clear and detailed condenser mic without the emulations for the price (on sale $399). BUT - after you do all the editing and adding a ton of plugs - most modern pop vocal plug chains- tell me - Who really can tell the difference of what mic you really used? It comes down to the talent of the engineer/mixer. Neumann and Sony high end mics have a perfect placement in the stereo field that is that pro polish feel that all mic makers try to emulate but only the Sphere UA mics have been able to achieve with the tools they have. That being said - I love the L22 - which is just like the UA mics tested here. Theres no greater feeling for the vocalist than having no latency recordings with an Apollo and exceptional quality unison plugs with the real pro recording quality of the L22. Use this with LUNA and the universe is the limit! Great reviews again Sanjay C! Keep up the good works!
The c800g sounds really good. We got a c48 with the same capsule, so much better than a u87ai
The sony is sounding best to my ears. But the sphere looks like a cool option to play with. 👍
I mean, if the Sony wasn't that good it wouldn't be $10k....BUT getting a sound close enough is worth $999 IMO
I run into similar problems when choosing speakers, you can’t really create the acoustic properties digitally, you can change the EQ, do impulse correction and all of this, but the inherent acoustics signature can’t really be replicated electronically. Not yet anyway, although I have a feeling it going to be possible with AI
Though I prefer the sound of the origial mics more. This mic has it's place(especially if you travel a lot)
thanks for the test. with the isosphere the dlx is closer to the original, almost impossible to tell them apart for me.
Dude, you sound like an angel singing through the Sony C800
4:14 the slate in my 1000x5 sounds closest to the c800. I have the slate, but imma get a DLX too. Some of of the emulations are better in one or the other.
The sphere does a good job of emulating the sound of the microphones. But in all of the originals, I heard a distinct texture that was missing from the sphere emulation. Even in the 414, which is cheaper than the DLX. Overall seems like a bit of a gimmick for now. But these are gen 1 of the technology. Will probably be a lot closer in 10 years after revisions.
Wow this was a great review I have one question what preamp was you using for the references ? I know the slate Mice comes with its own preamp did you use that ? just curious what you used and why ?
Strange... I like Slate better. But nothing can replace original.
Agreed
Yep 👍🏾
It does sound different from original... especially on u87
Great video and nice singing 💯
How you doing brotha,
Trying to make an educated decision between a Higher End mic purchase my dream mic is the sonyc800g , some of my music is on my page I like the U67, U87i and the blue bottle b6 as well. If you would be the first person on UA-cam to do a shootout between the highest tier of mics maybe throw some telefunken or wunder mics or any you feel could compete with the most famous top tier : highest price range , that would be hella cool. I would like to see how they sound on your voice
I noticed you own a sony c800g a u87 Manley reference and a couple other top tier mics I would love to see how they sound in comparison for real! Keep the videos up they are helpful 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Dope review! The Spheres is 🔥plus a little eq tweak.... solid, but sells nada tho. Ps what preamp did you use on these?🙏🏿
Ran them straight throw the Apollo interface. Nothing else.
@@SanjayC quick question .. do they work on pre recorded vocals? Thanks in advance
Although the Sphere/UA microphone sound better than the Slate ML 1 IMHO they both have similar characteristics in the high air frequencies. Slate has a slightly brittle sound whereas the Sphere/UA has a slightly colder sound. Nothing that can’t be sorted out with EQ. But both microphones are different in that respect to the microphones they are emulating. On most cases they are fine but I could imagine with some nasally female vocals that the discrepancy becomes more obvious.
Close but no cigar. They can’t really emulate the way the mics handle dynamics yet, just notice the attack on your words and mouth sounds with the Sphere vs the real 416. There’s a smooth creaminess the emulation can’t really nail. They can for sure nail the EQ and polarity to get freq response and mic body resonance close, but I think there’s a certain characteristic of the pickups, that little 5 or 10 percent difference that will probably take the AI revolution to actually model perfectly if it’s possible.
Thanks the Sphere is amazing
❤Love my Townsend,bought a UA mic collection also ,I think there great
Definitely keep the Sony mic!
Considering it's discontinued, what it's worth and that it's the real thing.... I feel you'd regret it pretty quickly and would need to pay way more if you'd reconsider buying it back further down the line.
Now. For people like me, the LX (dare I say the DLX) could be a good option as there's no way I could afford one of the high end microphone!
I'll see, further down the line, whenever I manage to save decent amount of money 🤑 😂
I honestly really love the Sphere LX...I think its totally worth it. Such a versatile mic. Nice to see you here always, Fernando!
Keep your sony c 800 sanjay. the cost will go up on it and it will become rare in time. Great review sanjay you covered a lott in a very short time.. Think i like the flexibility of the sphere mic's and the sound. the slate is nice but its bare bones compared to the sphere's, due to the fact that its an older mic, im thinking david slate may up his game & develop a newer emulation. The digital era is here & im wondering how the next ten years in pro audio will evolve. We may just see an eve anna manley mic emulation on a slate mic .. there one thing i know for certain that these digital mic emulation wont how there value like the old analog mics..
It seems a great mike, but the fact that it needs software worries me. A lot.
My UAD-1 and its software are unsupported on modern Windows and are totally obsolete. With all the money I spent to buy the emulations, I could've bought a vintage Neve compressor; real hardware which would have lasted and remained in my hands today.
I love your videos dude
I appreciate that, Mauricio!
I have this plugins on my Uad collection it’s very nice on my WA~8000 microphone 🎙️ 😊
Hi thank you so much for your video ! Do i buy Neumann or this fantastic micro? If I don't do the emulation, does the microphone sound professional without adding anything?
If we compare to a brand for example AKG or other. Thank you so much
I mean the c800 does sound a little fuller than uad but all the other features are awesome! And let’s not forget with vintage mics not all of them sound identical anyways
I think the modelling is pretty good... With that said, Sony C-800 giveaway soon? 😁
Very useful. Thank you
Yo he cutting up singing 😂
So this compares to the sony c800 but what is more accurate out of WA-8000
Tube Condenser Microphone and UA Sphere DLX??
Interesting, I have a Slate ML1 and I was nearly sold on the UA Sphere - it's clearly better than the Slate to my ears - and more expensive, of course, and I do love my Slate, I've released 3 albums using it, don't be put off. But hearing the comparison against the real things is interesting - they are again clearly better than the Sphere to my ears. I mainly use the U47 emulation so maybe I'm better opting for a high quality U47 copy for around the same price.
Keep the Sony and the Sphere. I think Slate has some more work to do on the VMS.
There's some phasing on the emulation around the S and T range especially with the U87 Ai
Nice studio brother 👍🏼
Love your videos
Thanks Malian! What do you think of the sphere mics?
@@SanjayC Very nice