My pleasure. Great work on the microphone. It's awesome that y'all are making these legendary mics accessible to more people to create stuff with. Keep up the awesome work.
@@militarymindentertainment4950 Hello I’m Erik. I am responsible for all delivery times and production at Townsend Labs. I’m on the west coast and would like to speak with you. My personal mobile number is 408-858-0545. -Erik Papp I have some meetings and suggest texting to set up a call.
Thank you for your funny but thoroughly spot on assessment of the L22. I bought mine in August 2020 and waited until November for it to arrive due to being back ordered. Understandably so! Since then, I haven’t looked back and it serves exceptionally well on all sources, especially vocals. Meanwhile, my KM-84 and 414-BULS’s sit in their cases. This was a very wise purchase and I highly recommend it to everyone.
I had a bad attitude with emulating mics and I hated the Slate that my friend had. I thought emulating mics don't have soul. After hearing everybody saying how freakin' amazing the Sphere is, I went and bought it. Now, it's one of the coolest things I've had. Just used it today in stereo mode for drum overheads and it's the best overhead sound I've ever recorded.
@@Townsendlabs, one cannot appreciate these kind of companies enough who actually go on youtube videos and reach out to dedicated youtubers! That's brilliant. This mic will definitely be on my to-buy list. I am a freelance voiceover artist and a podcaster, and wow, this mic seems to be a massive step up from pretty much everything that is available within a reasonable budget without needing to sell a kidney or so... Haven't been this hyped about a mic since the Stellar X2... DEFINITELY looking forward for BJ's review on this one, yeah. Thanks for creating a mic like this. Great for all-around purposes, pretty much. Kudos and respect for that.
I have one and I love it. However.... For VO, there are way too many options. If you are doing pickups and forget to save the configuration, it's impossible to duplicate again. But Mike, I think you would love it.
to me its not about whether it sounds like the original mic.. its always about what sounds the best with a particular voice or sound source.. and being able to audition that many colors, make that change with a few mouse clicks and just move on with sound capture beats all the mic lockers in my world. Huge time saver!
Agreed! I have a few of the original large diaphragm mics and while the emulations are certainly close, I couldn't care less about how accurate they actually are. The emulations all sound good by themselves, but I would like the mic just as much if none of the originals were identified. They all sound great all by themselves. The ability to change the sound of the microphone in post without EQing and being able to change the polar patterns makes it a complete game changer for me. I do miss the discipline and forethought that came with having to commit to sounds to tape in the olden days (I've been a professional engineer for 32 years). It forced an engineer to really think about what was being captured, especially when multiple mics were bussed to single tape tracks. Limitations made engineers think about things that they don't consider any more until the mix. But sometimes it's amazing to have virtually unlimited tracks and unlimited processing. It lets the engineer take chances that he/ she might not have taken in the past. The Sphere lets you do that with mic positioning now. It's almost inconceivable! (and I do think that word means what I think it means) that you have that ability in post. It's like selecting what a photo should focus on after the fact. If I could swap all my large diaphragm mics for a closet full of L22s I can honestly say I would do it. In a heartbeat. Now I just hope they work on a small diaphragm version, a dynamic version, and a ribbon version! And if you're reading this Townsend- making all of the same models available for Pro Tools HDX that are available for UAD would really, really nice. I have actuallly considered purchasing a seat of UAD just so I could have more variation. Please!
Best review yet. I replayed the mic comparisons while wearing headphones and could not tell much of a difference. If anything, some of the original Neumann mics had a slightly deeper tone than the L22 presets had. But WOW! This L22 is fantastic in the way it can emulate these original mics. Hell, it BECAME the mics and did it so convincingly. What a product! (that I can't afford, but still..) And the way that Bandrew was able to set the levels to match both mics was excellent. Great comparison and review!
What I find with the 2 years of using the Sphere L22 is that adding little proximity (in software) helps get the generally more darker qualities out of recordings and perhaps even closer to the original mics. Also UAD Bill Putnam plugin has IMO even better mic emulations ... thoroughly impressed! Thanks Bandrew!!!!
I've watched this video a couple of times. When I'm in a treated studio space listening through mastering converters on really expensive monitors, I can hear the subtle, and not so subtle, differences between the L22 and the microphones it models. But sitting here on my apple airpods, I can't tell the difference at all on most of these. That's crazy to me. I really thought the differences were big enough that I'd really be able to tell on my airpod pros, but honestly I can't. A test I've done with the L22 in my studio is to run it through a matched pair of outboard preamps. To my ears, some of those little differences get a lot smaller going this route. You get a lot of life in the signal chain for the plugin to work with. The EQ and saturation seems to behave in a much more nuanced and subtle way. This is a fantastic mic.
Great review. The one thing to remember about modeling dynamic and ribbon mics is that the L22 is a condenser. It's not just different components that distinguish the mics. They operate using completely different acoustic principles. Head to head comparisons with other large diaphragm condenser mics is where the accuracy should really be judged. Full disclaimer: I have owned this mic for almost 3 years. I have a good mic locker with several other high-end mics it intends to emulate. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well it recreates some of them, but unless you're meaning to punch in over an existing track recorded with one of the mics it models, the accuracy is important only from the standpoint of marketing and proving it can sound like other mics. The fact is that regardless of how well it recreates another mic, the sounds available are simply amazing in and of themselves. The fact that I would use it to re-record parts of a take that was recorded on an an original isn't important. What is important is how good the mic sounds. What is even more important is what you can do with the recording in post. Being able to record in stereo, change the polar pattern to accommodate off axis sounds from other sources in the room makes this worth the asking price all by itself. I recorded a bluegrass band arranged in a large semi-cirle with the Sphere on a guitar next to a fiddle that was being recorded with a Royer 121. In post, the model of mic I had chosen for the guitar (the C-12 in cardioid) allowed some unpleasant honky sounding fiddle. With very little effort I changed the polar pattern to figure 8 and implement a low cut filter to diminish the proximity effect cased by that pattern. I still got to use the model I preferred, but was able to almost completely cut out the fiddle. I hadn't noticed it during tracking, and it saved my butt in the mix. I cannot recommend this mic highly enough.
Some of the emulations are so close that I had to sit with my eyes closed with my audio boosted just so I could tell the difference. That's very impressive.
You can use only one of the diaphragms in the mic. However, it will not then work with the plugin, but it's just a great mic for the price-even if it only had one capsule. In order for it to accurately emulate all those microphones and not sound like that piece of crap from Slate, it has to pick up a 3D sound field. BTW, I think you're almost right about it being the best mic in the world right now. I'd say Soyuz 017 Tube is probably the best sounding mic in currently production if not ever. It is like a U47, ELA M 251, and C-800G had a threesome and the 017 Tube got all the best genes! The emulation on the L22 is pretty good, but so much of the character of that mic comes from the body design, and they can't quite capture that in a different housing. It's still one of my favorite emulations on the L22, though.
This is the review this mic deserves! Excellent job. I was surprised at how different the RE20 emulation sounded to the real dynamic mic. I would have thought they'd have obscured some of the detail and warmed it up a bit. I'm equally surprised at how well the L22 emulates the 416, considering the tremendous differences in build and style. They seem to have got that one spot on along with almost all the others. I love this mic! I don't see myself ever buying any other LDC. So far, I've had the L22 win out over a C12, a U47, and even a C800g in blind test during tracking. This thing is no joke. Erik, Chris, and Julian are doing as much to revolutionize modern recording than the entire team at UAD! Good on you, Spheroids!! [EDIT] In your Overall Thoughts section, you mention using it for VO. That's my primary use for this mic, and I've actually been able to bill a premium to send the raw stereo wav file from the L22 so they can use the plugin to get the sound that works best for the job. Hint: It's usually the Soyuz 017, which is probably the most amazing sounding mic of all the emulations available with the L22 and its best kept secret.
At first I thought "Oh great, another multi pattern all in one budget mic." Oh how wrong I was. This thing costs as much as my last car and I doubt any of my computers could handle the software. But I find myself wanting it nonetheless. Although I'd imagine I'd get super overwhelmed by all the options. Great work, Bandrew. I can't imagine how much work this review was.
Outstanding Review!!! I just upgraded my main studio equipment and bought this mic to go with a UA x4 and ATC monitors. This mic checked all the boxes for me. I feel much better about my purchase after your review. Now I just have to endure the long wait until it ships.
What's really great about this mic is that you can change the 'mic' in post production. I can really see this in home and more budget-friendly studios.
Pretty versatile mic and something I'd most definitely look at if I was in the market for numerous classic tones. It could well be a solid purchase and then become common place for smaller studios seeking to get specific tones on a budget. The software alone is a studio weapon allowing for setups never seen before at a low cost. Good stuff!!
Thanks Bandrew, what a great comparison / review! You should try the Bill Putnam UAD plugin as I find their mic emulations even better than originally supplied (Towsendlab's) emulations. Elam 251 (both versions) in B. Putnam are the true standouts. Love from Finlandia!
If there’s any differences between the Sphere and the actual mics we’re talking 1-3%. The average listening audience will not be able to tell or care. I’m picking this mic up soon so can’t wait to try her out.
Great review!! Bravo. I bought the L22 8 months ago and just loving it. I owned 2 different u87, Tlm170 and others. I still own a Coles 4038 that stays in the box.. I just use the Townsend. So much more versatile. Incredible system.
I'm actually suitably impressed. I don't have $1500 for this mic but if I did, it's a no-brainer. The differences between the Townsend's emulation and the original microphone would be dwarfed by the effects of the environment I'd be recording in. It's an extraordinarily capable microphone. Added to my wishlist for when I win the lottery I keep forgetting to enter.
One thing to note, even among the mics the L22 is emulating, it is very rare to find two that sound exactly the same. This is why pro recording engineers will tell you if you want to do true stereo miking or a Decca Tree with two or three mics of the same make and model, you really want to use mics that were all purchased at the same time. In short, the L22 might possibly sound exactly like at least some specimens out there. If you get a vintage mic that has been improperly modded, serviced, or had to be repaired, who knows what you are getting. And hey, they don't make vacuum tubes like they used to...Vintage mics are still cool, but the L22 is an ace up your sleeve.
First off thanks for doing this video! This mic is quite impressive. I once did a VO session and the studio used this microphone. It was quite impressive how closely it matches the original mics it tries to emulate. The only thing that I can noticeably and consistently hear when doing the side by side comparisons, is that the Townsend mic always seems to have a little high end or brightness punch when comparing side by side. But again, the software and some slight EQ can take care of that. Brilliant concept. Brilliant mic. Might be time to get one 🙂
Great video and review! I've been waiting for my 2 L22's since June. Looks like they are back on track at Townsend (sending best wishes to all at #TownsendLabs after the fire) and will start shipping in Dec. Your review gave me a practical comparison of the features and for that I thank you!
I feel if you were gonna spend 5 digits on a microphone then settling for 'almost as good' was never on the table to begin with... But for everyone else, this seems amazing.
@@freethinksman4393 There is a work around way to print the sound of the mic and it’s emulations in real-time. In any DAW you would create an Aux or Bus track for the input of the Mic and then bus that Aux or Bus channel out to a Audio channel and then record your voice or instrument that way you are getting a printed version of whatever emulation you are using for the recording. That would be one way to get the desired sound on a track done and ready to go and you can tweak it in the mix later for the finish product. That’s just an work around possible way to print. Hope that works for you
I think this microphone is a great example of the inherent characteristics of a microphone, no matter how it is processed it will have a sound to it, just like silk vs aluminum tweeters in speaker design. They just have a sound, and so you must choose the material and design to get the sound you want.
I own the sphere dlx , it’s a decent mic for what it does , but some mics are still better . Imo the sphere plug in , is the bigger asset as you can really dial in your sound before any eq or compression by just adjusting the diff parameters .
I was waiting for this review so bad, sorry man I went ahead and ordered 3 months ago without your approval!😂😂 I have to tell you i love it when a microphone kicks a Newmann in the face , to me the Townsend sounds way better than the actual Newmann!
I was looking through the comments to see if anyone had one, hopefully I can get one soon, if it's good I got a bunch of mics I'm selling to pay back the loan lol
4 года назад+6
I LOVE the idea of a modeling mic and since i use an ISOVOX, having the option to include that into the simulation is so interesting right now that i really want to have this mic :D ... i had the slate ml1 already and right now i use a Antelope Edge duo ... how do they compare ?
I'm surprised only 1 Comment mentioned the Slate VMS system. Would love to see you compare these 2 in maybe like a versus series or something. Really appreciate your efforts on these videos. Been watching your channel for a long long time. (If you remember your online streams.)
They aren't even in the same league. That's kind of like comparing a unicycle and an Humvee. The L22 holds its own in the best studios in the world and almost always get chosen over the “real” mic in blind tests when I take it to a tracking session. The L22 is worth 10 or 100 times the price. I’d pick a RØDE NT1 over the VMS in most cases. Seriously. It’s a better mic. Steven Slate’s business model is to steal lunch money from wannabes and he’ll openly joke about it off camera and I’m not afraid to say it. The team at Townsend Labs continue to work with the best companies, studios, and microphones in the industry to continue adding value to this already insanely valuable mic.
its scary how close the L22 gets to the RE 20 sound, that goes for almost every mic you tested the only one i thought didnt quite get to the same sound was the 87, but that 67 was right near spot on
Great video. I have a question about the dual function. When they record opera singers they usually use 2 to 3 mics. two of the same with a distant between them to give it a wider sound and often 1 small one in the middle for diction. Does this mic in dual give the same effect as it is used for opera singers? --- Normally when you double a voice it is a copy and that doesn't sound that well. With 2 mics there is always a delay from one to the other what sounds more natural. Just wondering if this mic does that
I think the Townsend does a damn good job at emulating the tone of each microphone. It even manages to capture the same kind of tone with microphones that are much more expensive.
$1'500 for insanely close to some $10'000 microphones? Dang! That's actually quite a steal, even if it requires a plugin in the DAW to work without a Universal Audio interface!
Yeah that’s the real selling point. You get nearly all the way there for a fraction of the cost of one of them, and it’s far more reliable than a 60 year old mic. Not going to be for everyone, but for those who are crazy like some of us and want to play with all the mics, it’s a cheaper way.
@@Podcastage That, and for recording engineers who want to have an extremely compact and versatile mic locker (or expansion to a mic locker) for significantly less money :)
This mic will not get you anywhere near a $10000 dollar microphone.. the only thing faker than this product is the idiot telling you its good. At this point i dont believe podcaststage actually knows how to read a frequency response curve.
@@FoxAboutTown Amazing Every single word of that was wrong. This thing won't perfectly recreate the sound, but it *was* really close, Bandrew is *incredibly* genuine, and no one should rely on a frequency resopnse chart. They're measured at one meter away. I'm muting you, now.
Excellent video, thank you! Are there any popular music recordings that use this mic for the lead vocal so we can hear it in the final song production?
Yes! You can watch this video where Jason Goldberg tells how he used the L22 and the UAD emulation of the Neve 88RS to punch in part of a verse that was recorded on a Sony C-800G (around $15K for a good one) and an analog Neve 88RS console for Rich the Kid's "Money Talk". Here's him talking about not being able to hear the difference and verifying that it was the C-800G that was used originally. ruclips.net/video/Fkn42q57oiA/видео.html
I had some doubts about the use case of this thing... until you compared it to the MKH416 ! I do a lot of sound work for a video-maker friend, and it always annoys me when I hear the difference between her voice "on set" (capture with an Oktava MK 012 hypercardioid) and her voiceover (Rode Smartlav+). For a very small youtuber like her, the Townsend mic wouldn't make any sense... But for a larger production, it definitely would ! The results on guitar are impressive too.
It's not even worth the time, to be honest. They don't compare. Check this video out: ruclips.net/video/7yMvjfIwKeU/видео.html All three of the other mics are very close in detail, depth, character, etc., but the Slate sticks out like a sore thumb. It sounds cramped and awful. It was the only one I could easily say sounded massively different. They're not even in the same class. The Slate thingy is toy designed to steal lunch money from wannabe engineers. That's what Slate does. The L22 is not just twice the mic. It's hundreds of times more useful. The software is absolutely amazing, and they keep making it better. It's the best money I ever spent on kit. The couple of people I've known who've bought the VMS took a hit when they went to sell the junk. If you insist on buying one, there are usually lots of people wanting to get rid of them, so get it used! But I highly recommend saving/spending the extra money for the Sphere.
Yeah, it is ML-1, and for what I can tell, it is a great mic with high end emulations of the modeling vintages included in the package. Very affordable. I just got one last month at a very discounted price.
I find this very fascinating. Question: This thing can emulate the sound of various mics, but it does not have the features for example of a shotgun mic. This means that this one would always be visible on the screen if used for video.
I appreciate you doing basically a brief spoken word comparison other than a few seconds towards the end, but it would be very helpful to actually hear comparisons of the Townsend emulations and your 67 and 87 with you singing along to your acoustic for more than a few seconds which would allow us to more easily discern the differences in tone and dimension in the context more will use the mic for than voice over. Any chance you can do a singing comparison of the townsend and classic mic's ? Thanks!
This is definitely more than a gimmick, and while not perfect emulations, they get you close and make this an extremely versatile mic. First and foremost, it's a good sounding mic. One day, it might be nice to have a comparison between the different mics like this, such as Antelope and Slate, though it seems like a monumental task. Thanks for the review.
Really nice, nice to know it also needs two xlr, I have a Spollo Twin so that would be a little issue for me :( ! woulb be curious to know what you think of the Telefunken TF11
Cant wait till i can afford this beauty. In the end the consumer wouldnt say „hey he didnt use the original u87 on this track“. Biggest win also you can change the mic (tone characteristic color) instantly outside the booth without going in packing the first 5k mic away and smack the other 10k mic on. And so on. Its for much faster work and for more versatility in tone color and characteristic. This will be my first over 1k mic (sitting on the nt1a for recording and sometimes borowing the at2020 u87 or tlm103 from different friends when i can) great review thank you.
I’d like to see a shootout between these two mic modeling systems. I know they work differently and are at different price points, but it would be nice to get an idea of what the extra money for the L22 gets you.
Pretty amazing! I could hear a difference in about half of the examples, and it was in the robustness of the low mids and lows. Im wondering if this could be compensated for by adjusting the proximity on the plug in?
Hi sir great video,just few questions if you can answer please,if you recording in an untreated room not a bad sounding room actually but not professionally treated is that safe to go with this mic for tracking vocals,and is it a good investment for someone who isn’t as experienced with mics or will it be too much to handle for a newbie I was just thinking to buy a mic then I thought if you spending 800 pounds on a mic why not stretch your budget a bit and get this mic instead and one more thing when I say tracking vocals I am talking full on pro radio ready finished songs that we going to be recording out there your advise from your experience please. Regards
Shure has a sale right now. What is their best value for non-pro RUclips talking head videos? I have an MV5 against your suggestion and have beat it up and it still works pretty well. I’m a fan of their now.
Great review Bandrew. I'm really thinking of saving up now. What about external mix pres? Would you have to use them in an insert? Btw. I think the emulations were great. The one and only drawback is, that even by now having a ton of great sounding simulations at your hand, you still have one mic :).
Thank you for this incredible review, you did a great job i will definitely buy Townsend mic since i have UAD Apollo and i have needed plugin. Great job, thank you. I subscribed also .
I'm using the Antelope interface, would I get any more latency using the L22 than say using any other mic? I was about to purchase the Antelope Duo, but I would much rather invest in the L22. TOTALLY AWESOME REVIEW BY THE WAY!!
Great video! Watched all the way till the end. SO... I only have a 7b, 57 and an Audix OM3. My interface is the Audient iD44 and I'm running windows. Soon I will have to record female vocals as a gig and I'm in need of a condenser. Should I get a WA-47 or save up to get the L22 and the Apollo Twin USB?
Hey Podcastage! I have a request. Would it be possible to review a Superlux E102 instrument microphone? I would like to see how it performs when micing acoustic guitar. Thank you! The vid was great!
That was a really terrific review Bandrew! I don't know much about how Mics operate or what makes one better than the other. However, the Sphere L22 appears to be an amazing Mic for the money considering all of the Mics that it can closely emulate.... 👍👍🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤👍👍
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much Bandrew for this spectacular review. We're blown away!
My pleasure. Great work on the microphone. It's awesome that y'all are making these legendary mics accessible to more people to create stuff with. Keep up the awesome work.
Take my money.... just looking for a distributor here in Norway now!
Am past frustrated, I am pissed with the whole process. Am close to saying hell with it all.
@@militarymindentertainment4950 Hello I’m Erik. I am responsible for all delivery times and production at Townsend Labs. I’m on the west coast and would like to speak with you. My personal mobile number is 408-858-0545. -Erik Papp I have some meetings and suggest texting to set up a call.
Hi, just a cuestion, if i Buy it.. the mic emulations from UAD are free? or i have to buy it to? i have an Apollo Twin Duo.
I had heard good things about the Sphere L22, but wow - I'm impressed at how well it emulates most of the others!
Maybe a review?
@@ndavies8 I'd love to if I could get my hands on one.
Tha Juddmeister!
@Curtis Judd you should do the M/S review with 2 x Townsend lab L22... Changing centre mic from Hyper-cardioid via cardioid , omni to fig 8 🙂
Thank you for your funny but thoroughly spot on assessment of the L22.
I bought mine in August 2020 and waited until November for it to arrive due to being back ordered.
Understandably so! Since then, I haven’t looked back and it serves exceptionally well on all sources,
especially vocals. Meanwhile, my KM-84 and 414-BULS’s sit in their cases.
This was a very wise purchase and I highly recommend it to everyone.
I had a bad attitude with emulating mics and I hated the Slate that my friend had. I thought emulating mics don't have soul. After hearing everybody saying how freakin' amazing the Sphere is, I went and bought it. Now, it's one of the coolest things I've had. Just used it today in stereo mode for drum overheads and it's the best overhead sound I've ever recorded.
I am looking forward to this!!!
I’ll wait your review then 😂
Please send me an email to julian@townsendlabs.com so we can get you a mic to review. - Julian
@@Townsendlabs, one cannot appreciate these kind of companies enough who actually go on youtube videos and reach out to dedicated youtubers! That's brilliant. This mic will definitely be on my to-buy list. I am a freelance voiceover artist and a podcaster, and wow, this mic seems to be a massive step up from pretty much everything that is available within a reasonable budget without needing to sell a kidney or so... Haven't been this hyped about a mic since the Stellar X2... DEFINITELY looking forward for BJ's review on this one, yeah. Thanks for creating a mic like this. Great for all-around purposes, pretty much. Kudos and respect for that.
Oh, you’re baaaaack, hope to see new vids from you man.
I have one and I love it. However.... For VO, there are way too many options. If you are doing pickups and forget to save the configuration, it's impossible to duplicate again. But Mike, I think you would love it.
to me its not about whether it sounds like the original mic.. its always about what sounds the best with a particular voice or sound source.. and being able to audition that many colors, make that change with a few mouse clicks and just move on with sound capture beats all the mic lockers in my world. Huge time saver!
Agreed! I have a few of the original large diaphragm mics and while the emulations are certainly close, I couldn't care less about how accurate they actually are. The emulations all sound good by themselves, but I would like the mic just as much if none of the originals were identified. They all sound great all by themselves. The ability to change the sound of the microphone in post without EQing and being able to change the polar patterns makes it a complete game changer for me. I do miss the discipline and forethought that came with having to commit to sounds to tape in the olden days (I've been a professional engineer for 32 years). It forced an engineer to really think about what was being captured, especially when multiple mics were bussed to single tape tracks. Limitations made engineers think about things that they don't consider any more until the mix. But sometimes it's amazing to have virtually unlimited tracks and unlimited processing. It lets the engineer take chances that he/ she might not have taken in the past. The Sphere lets you do that with mic positioning now. It's almost inconceivable! (and I do think that word means what I think it means) that you have that ability in post. It's like selecting what a photo should focus on after the fact. If I could swap all my large diaphragm mics for a closet full of L22s I can honestly say I would do it. In a heartbeat. Now I just hope they work on a small diaphragm version, a dynamic version, and a ribbon version! And if you're reading this Townsend- making all of the same models available for Pro Tools HDX that are available for UAD would really, really nice. I have actuallly considered purchasing a seat of UAD just so I could have more variation. Please!
Best review yet. I replayed the mic comparisons while wearing headphones and could not tell much of a difference. If anything, some of the original Neumann mics had a slightly deeper tone than the L22 presets had.
But WOW! This L22 is fantastic in the way it can emulate these original mics. Hell, it BECAME the mics and did it so convincingly. What a product! (that I can't afford, but still..)
And the way that Bandrew was able to set the levels to match both mics was excellent. Great comparison and review!
absolutely agreed! The Neumann's had a slightly deeper Tone and more depth
What I find with the 2 years of using the Sphere L22 is that adding little proximity (in software) helps get the generally more darker qualities out of recordings and perhaps even closer to the original mics. Also UAD Bill Putnam plugin has IMO even better mic emulations ... thoroughly impressed! Thanks Bandrew!!!!
Thank you for your great videos, always made the right technical choices for my live sterams thanks you your great expertise.
LMAO I WAS JUST LOOKING A THIS MIC ON SWEETWATER AND THOUGHT "have Podcastage done a review of it?"
My mind reading skills have reached a new level! EXCELLENT!
I just ordered this microphone a week ago! Man, I was so excited when I saw this video. Still waiting for it to come back In stock.
AMAZING HARD WORK ! not my type of mic but I'm impressed by the energy you put in your review
Just ordered one after six years of admiring it in the display window. Can. Not. Wait!
Been waiting for this, thank you!!!!!
Literally no place I ever need to check when I need mic info. You're the goat.
I've watched this video a couple of times. When I'm in a treated studio space listening through mastering converters on really expensive monitors, I can hear the subtle, and not so subtle, differences between the L22 and the microphones it models. But sitting here on my apple airpods, I can't tell the difference at all on most of these. That's crazy to me. I really thought the differences were big enough that I'd really be able to tell on my airpod pros, but honestly I can't.
A test I've done with the L22 in my studio is to run it through a matched pair of outboard preamps. To my ears, some of those little differences get a lot smaller going this route. You get a lot of life in the signal chain for the plugin to work with. The EQ and saturation seems to behave in a much more nuanced and subtle way.
This is a fantastic mic.
Great review. The one thing to remember about modeling dynamic and ribbon mics is that the L22 is a condenser. It's not just different components that distinguish the mics. They operate using completely different acoustic principles. Head to head comparisons with other large diaphragm condenser mics is where the accuracy should really be judged. Full disclaimer: I have owned this mic for almost 3 years. I have a good mic locker with several other high-end mics it intends to emulate. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well it recreates some of them, but unless you're meaning to punch in over an existing track recorded with one of the mics it models, the accuracy is important only from the standpoint of marketing and proving it can sound like other mics. The fact is that regardless of how well it recreates another mic, the sounds available are simply amazing in and of themselves. The fact that I would use it to re-record parts of a take that was recorded on an an original isn't important. What is important is how good the mic sounds. What is even more important is what you can do with the recording in post. Being able to record in stereo, change the polar pattern to accommodate off axis sounds from other sources in the room makes this worth the asking price all by itself. I recorded a bluegrass band arranged in a large semi-cirle with the Sphere on a guitar next to a fiddle that was being recorded with a Royer 121. In post, the model of mic I had chosen for the guitar (the C-12 in cardioid) allowed some unpleasant honky sounding fiddle. With very little effort I changed the polar pattern to figure 8 and implement a low cut filter to diminish the proximity effect cased by that pattern. I still got to use the model I preferred, but was able to almost completely cut out the fiddle. I hadn't noticed it during tracking, and it saved my butt in the mix. I cannot recommend this mic highly enough.
Holy shit... This thing is IMPRESSIVE when it comes to the emulations of those other mics!
Some of the emulations are so close that I had to sit with my eyes closed with my audio boosted just so I could tell the difference. That's very impressive.
Thanks!
This is the best mic in the world right now imo. really wish they could have made it only use 1 xlr as an option for single mic recordings.
You can use only one of the diaphragms in the mic. However, it will not then work with the plugin, but it's just a great mic for the price-even if it only had one capsule. In order for it to accurately emulate all those microphones and not sound like that piece of crap from Slate, it has to pick up a 3D sound field. BTW, I think you're almost right about it being the best mic in the world right now. I'd say Soyuz 017 Tube is probably the best sounding mic in currently production if not ever. It is like a U47, ELA M 251, and C-800G had a threesome and the 017 Tube got all the best genes! The emulation on the L22 is pretty good, but so much of the character of that mic comes from the body design, and they can't quite capture that in a different housing. It's still one of my favorite emulations on the L22, though.
Thanks for still making videos during these times Bandrew! Really love watching any of your content!
I'm 4 days into my L22 and this really helped me a lot!! I'm blown away with the mic and your review has made me more excited!! Thank you.
This is the review this mic deserves! Excellent job. I was surprised at how different the RE20 emulation sounded to the real dynamic mic. I would have thought they'd have obscured some of the detail and warmed it up a bit. I'm equally surprised at how well the L22 emulates the 416, considering the tremendous differences in build and style. They seem to have got that one spot on along with almost all the others. I love this mic! I don't see myself ever buying any other LDC. So far, I've had the L22 win out over a C12, a U47, and even a C800g in blind test during tracking. This thing is no joke. Erik, Chris, and Julian are doing as much to revolutionize modern recording than the entire team at UAD! Good on you, Spheroids!!
[EDIT] In your Overall Thoughts section, you mention using it for VO. That's my primary use for this mic, and I've actually been able to bill a premium to send the raw stereo wav file from the L22 so they can use the plugin to get the sound that works best for the job. Hint: It's usually the Soyuz 017, which is probably the most amazing sounding mic of all the emulations available with the L22 and its best kept secret.
never miss a Podcastage video!
At first I thought "Oh great, another multi pattern all in one budget mic."
Oh how wrong I was. This thing costs as much as my last car and I doubt any of my computers could handle the software. But I find myself wanting it nonetheless. Although I'd imagine I'd get super overwhelmed by all the options.
Great work, Bandrew. I can't imagine how much work this review was.
This is great microphone. Thank you Bandrew for your great review. Very useful for me
I've been watching you for years and finally you reviewed my microphone! ^^
Impressive review Brandew...just what I was looking for...Thank you!
Outstanding Review!!! I just upgraded my main studio equipment and bought this mic to go with a UA x4 and ATC monitors. This mic checked all the boxes for me. I feel much better about my purchase after your review. Now I just have to endure the long wait until it ships.
That’s quite an amazing setup you’ve got there!
What's really great about this mic is that you can change the 'mic' in post production. I can really see this in home and more budget-friendly studios.
Now we're talking! Great review of an awe-inspiring piece of technology. Also, the mic is great. 🎙️
that is actually mind blowing how good the emulation is.
Pretty versatile mic and something I'd most definitely look at if I was in the market for numerous classic tones. It could well be a solid purchase and then become common place for smaller studios seeking to get specific tones on a budget. The software alone is a studio weapon allowing for setups never seen before at a low cost. Good stuff!!
Thanks Bandrew, what a great comparison / review! You should try the Bill Putnam UAD plugin as I find their mic emulations even better than originally supplied (Towsendlab's) emulations. Elam 251 (both versions) in B. Putnam are the true standouts. Love from Finlandia!
If there’s any differences between the Sphere and the actual mics we’re talking 1-3%. The average listening audience will not be able to tell or care. I’m picking this mic up soon so can’t wait to try her out.
This is an absolutely wonderful review of an excellent product! Thank you kindly. Continue in excellence! Cheers!!!
One of the most informative gear videos I have seen in a very long while. Well done 👍🏼
Great review!! Bravo. I bought the L22 8 months ago and just loving it. I owned 2 different u87, Tlm170 and others. I still own a Coles 4038 that stays in the box.. I just use the Townsend. So much more versatile. Incredible system.
I'm actually suitably impressed. I don't have $1500 for this mic but if I did, it's a no-brainer. The differences between the Townsend's emulation and the original microphone would be dwarfed by the effects of the environment I'd be recording in. It's an extraordinarily capable microphone. Added to my wishlist for when I win the lottery I keep forgetting to enter.
Great review, greta job. Was glad to come across your tests. Thanks for posting!
One thing to note, even among the mics the L22 is emulating, it is very rare to find two that sound exactly the same. This is why pro recording engineers will tell you if you want to do true stereo miking or a Decca Tree with two or three mics of the same make and model, you really want to use mics that were all purchased at the same time. In short, the L22 might possibly sound exactly like at least some specimens out there. If you get a vintage mic that has been improperly modded, serviced, or had to be repaired, who knows what you are getting. And hey, they don't make vacuum tubes like they used to...Vintage mics are still cool, but the L22 is an ace up your sleeve.
Very nice demonstration video, and loved the sincerity of your overall thoughts. No doubt this is a great tool for musicians, producers and engineers.
First off thanks for doing this video! This mic is quite impressive. I once did a VO session and the studio used this microphone. It was quite impressive how closely it matches the original mics it tries to emulate.
The only thing that I can noticeably and consistently hear when doing the side by side comparisons, is that the Townsend mic always seems to have a little high end or brightness punch when comparing side by side. But again, the software and some slight EQ can take care of that.
Brilliant concept. Brilliant mic.
Might be time to get one 🙂
move the 'Axis' control left a bit in the software settings and you will smile again...
Great video and review! I've been waiting for my 2 L22's since June. Looks like they are back on track at Townsend (sending best wishes to all at #TownsendLabs after the fire) and will start shipping in Dec. Your review gave me a practical comparison of the features and for that I thank you!
I feel if you were gonna spend 5 digits on a microphone then settling for 'almost as good' was never on the table to begin with... But for everyone else, this seems amazing.
As well as a Sphere L22, I have 5 various U87s (3 from
@@freethinksman4393 There is a work around way to print the sound of the mic and it’s emulations in real-time. In any DAW you would create an Aux or Bus track for the input of the Mic and then bus that Aux or Bus channel out to a Audio channel and then record your voice or instrument that way you are getting a printed version of whatever emulation you are using for the recording. That would be one way to get the desired sound on a track done and ready to go and you can tweak it in the mix later for the finish product. That’s just an work around possible way to print. Hope that works for you
Should get mine this month, with my new Apollo x4
I think this microphone is a great example of the inherent characteristics of a microphone, no matter how it is processed it will have a sound to it, just like silk vs aluminum tweeters in speaker design. They just have a sound, and so you must choose the material and design to get the sound you want.
That's my individual mics still exist. As good as modeling mics get, they won't be able to replace the actual thing.
holy MOLY that is accurate! I'm blown away... incredible review and test and info thank you so much
I own the sphere dlx , it’s a decent mic for what it does , but some mics are still better . Imo the sphere plug in , is the bigger asset as you can really dial in your sound before any eq or compression by just adjusting the diff parameters .
I was waiting for this review so bad, sorry man I went ahead and ordered 3 months ago without your approval!😂😂 I have to tell you i love it when a microphone kicks a Newmann in the face , to me the Townsend sounds way better than the actual Newmann!
I was looking through the comments to see if anyone had one, hopefully I can get one soon, if it's good I got a bunch of mics I'm selling to pay back the loan lol
I LOVE the idea of a modeling mic and since i use an ISOVOX, having the option to include that into the simulation is so interesting right now that i really want to have this mic :D ... i had the slate ml1 already and right now i use a Antelope Edge duo ... how do they compare ?
I'm surprised only 1 Comment mentioned the Slate VMS system.
Would love to see you compare these 2 in maybe like a versus series or something.
Really appreciate your efforts on these videos.
Been watching your channel for a long long time. (If you remember your online streams.)
They aren't even in the same league. That's kind of like comparing a unicycle and an Humvee. The L22 holds its own in the best studios in the world and almost always get chosen over the “real” mic in blind tests when I take it to a tracking session. The L22 is worth 10 or 100 times the price. I’d pick a RØDE NT1 over the VMS in most cases. Seriously. It’s a better mic. Steven Slate’s business model is to steal lunch money from wannabes and he’ll openly joke about it off camera and I’m not afraid to say it. The team at Townsend Labs continue to work with the best companies, studios, and microphones in the industry to continue adding value to this already insanely valuable mic.
its scary how close the L22 gets to the RE 20 sound, that goes for almost every mic you tested
the only one i thought didnt quite get to the same sound was the 87, but that 67 was right near spot on
The real re20 is more scooped
Great video. I have a question about the dual function. When they record opera singers they usually use 2 to 3 mics. two of the same with a distant between them to give it a wider sound and often 1 small one in the middle for diction. Does this mic in dual give the same effect as it is used for opera singers? --- Normally when you double a voice it is a copy and that doesn't sound that well. With 2 mics there is always a delay from one to the other what sounds more natural. Just wondering if this mic does that
4 month wait (or better) on the sphere right now according to my Sweetwater rep.
the sm7B who emulate the sm7b is very realistic 😀 great review and great mic
So, you did the Edge Go a while back... what are your thoughts on the emulations compared to Antelope or Slate?
Glad you did 90 degrees off axis. It sounds similar from the front but very different from the side.
You are the best mic review channel 😍
I think the Townsend does a damn good job at emulating the tone of each microphone. It even manages to capture the same kind of tone with microphones that are much more expensive.
I watched this video several times before purchase before I realized the video is an informercial, and I have a mic to return. “That’s pretty rad!”
$1'500 for insanely close to some $10'000 microphones? Dang! That's actually quite a steal, even if it requires a plugin in the DAW to work without a Universal Audio interface!
Yeah that’s the real selling point. You get nearly all the way there for a fraction of the cost of one of them, and it’s far more reliable than a 60 year old mic. Not going to be for everyone, but for those who are crazy like some of us and want to play with all the mics, it’s a cheaper way.
@@Podcastage That, and for recording engineers who want to have an extremely compact and versatile mic locker (or expansion to a mic locker) for significantly less money :)
This mic will not get you anywhere near a $10000 dollar microphone.. the only thing faker than this product is the idiot telling you its good.
At this point i dont believe podcaststage actually knows how to read a frequency response curve.
@@FoxAboutTown Amazing Every single word of that was wrong. This thing won't perfectly recreate the sound, but it *was* really close, Bandrew is *incredibly* genuine, and no one should rely on a frequency resopnse chart. They're measured at one meter away. I'm muting you, now.
@@xHadesStamps “im muting you, now” - The mark of a true fan boy
Trying to decide between this and the VRS8 and ML-1
Excellent video, thank you! Are there any popular music recordings that use this mic for the lead vocal so we can hear it in the final song production?
Yes! You can watch this video where Jason Goldberg tells how he used the L22 and the UAD emulation of the Neve 88RS to punch in part of a verse that was recorded on a Sony C-800G (around $15K for a good one) and an analog Neve 88RS console for Rich the Kid's "Money Talk". Here's him talking about not being able to hear the difference and verifying that it was the C-800G that was used originally. ruclips.net/video/Fkn42q57oiA/видео.html
I had some doubts about the use case of this thing... until you compared it to the MKH416 ! I do a lot of sound work for a video-maker friend, and it always annoys me when I hear the difference between her voice "on set" (capture with an Oktava MK 012 hypercardioid) and her voiceover (Rode Smartlav+).
For a very small youtuber like her, the Townsend mic wouldn't make any sense... But for a larger production, it definitely would !
The results on guitar are impressive too.
Can you do a review on the slate digital vms ml-1 mic?
It's not even worth the time, to be honest. They don't compare. Check this video out: ruclips.net/video/7yMvjfIwKeU/видео.html
All three of the other mics are very close in detail, depth, character, etc., but the Slate sticks out like a sore thumb. It sounds cramped and awful. It was the only one I could easily say sounded massively different. They're not even in the same class. The Slate thingy is toy designed to steal lunch money from wannabe engineers. That's what Slate does. The L22 is not just twice the mic. It's hundreds of times more useful. The software is absolutely amazing, and they keep making it better. It's the best money I ever spent on kit. The couple of people I've known who've bought the VMS took a hit when they went to sell the junk. If you insist on buying one, there are usually lots of people wanting to get rid of them, so get it used! But I highly recommend saving/spending the extra money for the Sphere.
Not even close
What about the slate digital mic that does the same thing but cheaper? I think it's called the ML1. Would like to see a comparison.
Yeah, it is ML-1, and for what I can tell, it is a great mic with high end emulations of the modeling vintages included in the package. Very affordable. I just got one last month at a very discounted price.
I find this very fascinating. Question: This thing can emulate the sound of various mics, but it does not have the features for example of a shotgun mic. This means that this one would always be visible on the screen if used for video.
pls do a review of the AKG P820
Between this and Lauten Atlantis, what would you recommend for base flute work. Or any other recommendation.. sorry to ask recommendations.
I haven't ever mixed up a flute so I'm not sure what the criteria for that would be so I'm afraid that I'm as good as useless.
@@Podcastage thanks for your reply..
I appreciate you doing basically a brief spoken word comparison other than a few seconds towards the end, but it would be very helpful to actually hear comparisons of the Townsend emulations and your 67 and 87 with you singing along to your acoustic for more than a few seconds which would allow us to more easily discern the differences in tone and dimension in the context more will use the mic for than voice over. Any chance you can do a singing comparison of the townsend and classic mic's ? Thanks!
When you get a chance please do a mic comparison between the Sennheiser e965 and the Shure Ksm32
This is definitely more than a gimmick, and while not perfect emulations, they get you close and make this an extremely versatile mic. First and foremost, it's a good sounding mic. One day, it might be nice to have a comparison between the different mics like this, such as Antelope and Slate, though it seems like a monumental task. Thanks for the review.
Sounds incredible !
One of the most interesting piece of gear in my opinion. Thanks for the great video... ✌🏼
Really nice, nice to know it also needs two xlr, I have a Spollo Twin so that would be a little issue for me :( ! woulb be curious to know what you think of the Telefunken TF11
Is it just me or did Bandrew seem a little less upbeat than usual for most of this video?
1:08 Didn't know he had a front door
Cant wait till i can afford this beauty. In the end the consumer wouldnt say „hey he didnt use the original u87 on this track“. Biggest win also you can change the mic (tone characteristic color) instantly outside the booth without going in packing the first 5k mic away and smack the other 10k mic on. And so on. Its for much faster work and for more versatility in tone color and characteristic. This will be my first over 1k mic (sitting on the nt1a for recording and sometimes borowing the at2020 u87 or tlm103 from different friends when i can) great review thank you.
Man I wish he could do slate ml1 next to see if other digital mic lockers are good or not
Slate can't touch Townsend Labs with a 40 foot pole.
@@lightafluident.9950 tru but I wanted to know because I’m looking for a cheaper alternative
Bandrew,
What does the interface look like if you want to use preamps and other plugins in addition to the L22 (with its interface as well)?
Great review. Thank you.
I am using ML-1 by slate digital, very happy with the outcome and emulations are great too. affordable too.
I’d like to see a shootout between these two mic modeling systems. I know they work differently and are at different price points, but it would be nice to get an idea of what the extra money for the L22 gets you.
Cool! Please Review Antelope Audio Edge Duo Condensor, Thankyou!
Pretty amazing! I could hear a difference in about half of the examples, and it was in the robustness of the low mids and lows. Im wondering if this could be compensated for by adjusting the proximity on the plug in?
Hi sir great video,just few questions if you can answer please,if you recording in an untreated room not a bad sounding room actually but not professionally treated is that safe to go with this mic for tracking vocals,and is it a good investment for someone who isn’t as experienced with mics or will it be too much to handle for a newbie I was just thinking to buy a mic then I thought if you spending 800 pounds on a mic why not stretch your budget a bit and get this mic instead and one more thing when I say tracking vocals I am talking full on pro radio ready finished songs that we going to be recording out there your advise from your experience please.
Regards
Shure has a sale right now. What is their best value for non-pro RUclips talking head videos? I have an MV5 against your suggestion and have beat it up and it still works pretty well. I’m a fan of their now.
I purchased two Townsend mics, going through the ApoIIo is the way to go!
why no stereo test? it's one of his amazing features! :)
Probably because none of those other mics have that option, so you can't compare it. And, yes! That is one of the best features. Amazing!!
Great review Bandrew. I'm really thinking of saving up now. What about external mix pres? Would you have to use them in an insert?
Btw. I think the emulations were great. The one and only drawback is, that even by now having a ton of great sounding simulations at your hand, you still have one mic :).
Didn't know if you knew that Techzone announced the new Stellar x3 microphone and it looks pretty promising!
I'd like to see a video about whether modeling mics are usefull and worth the price
Thank you for this incredible review, you did a great job i will definitely buy Townsend mic since i have UAD Apollo and i have needed plugin. Great job, thank you. I subscribed also .
I'm using the Antelope interface, would I get any more latency using the L22 than say using any other mic? I was about to purchase the Antelope Duo, but I would much rather invest in the L22. TOTALLY AWESOME REVIEW BY THE WAY!!
Great video! Watched all the way till the end. SO... I only have a 7b, 57 and an Audix OM3. My interface is the Audient iD44 and I'm running windows. Soon I will have to record female vocals as a gig and I'm in need of a condenser. Should I get a WA-47 or save up to get the L22 and the Apollo Twin USB?
Save and get l22 for sure you won’t regret it
@@valorous123 I actually got the Lewitt mics :P
@@NikosPage haha so how you liking it ?
@@valorous123 amazing value for money ⭐
Great Video. Thanks..
Maybe you could test the Antelope and Slate equivilant mics please?
Hey Podcastage! I have a request. Would it be possible to review a Superlux E102 instrument microphone? I would like to see how it performs when micing acoustic guitar. Thank you! The vid was great!
Literally couldn't hear a difference at all with the U67...blown away
Really nice mic!
Would the Apollo Solo work with this?
Thanks!
Yes.
Does the processing software run only when tethered to a uad interface? Ie when I use it outdoors
Impressive.....I would consider picking one up if/when I could.
That was a really terrific review Bandrew! I don't know much about how Mics operate or what makes one better than the other. However, the Sphere L22 appears to be an amazing Mic for the money considering all of the Mics that it can closely emulate.... 👍👍🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤👍👍