VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

FinMac

Came across this thing the other night and thought to pass it along for your thoughts...

http://townsendlabs.com/products/sphere-l22/

Usually I am quite skeptical about such stuff, but the reviewer from the "Pro Tools Expert" blog loves this thing.

Not getting any compensation for posting this. It just caught my attention as I would love to have a U87, U47 and C12, but I don't play the lottery Smile

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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

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Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 585 Location: SoCal

Wow. I wasn't expecting that. Certainly seems impressive, and I'd love to check one out. And the price is not too horrifying--in fact it'a amazing if the things actually performs. Wondering if the unit automatically compensates for the differing gain characteristics, though, since he didn't seem to be adjusting gain from, say, a 47 to a dynamic Shure. Anyway, thanks for pointing this out; I now have one more thing to dream about.
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Not to be Debbie Downer but this is like the Slate Mic from a couple years ago. Another microphone vendor selling hardware.

Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 585 Location: SoCal

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 585 Location: SoCal

FinMac · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 10:16 am Post subject: Everyone is welcome to the party

Everyone is welcome to the party, Debbie Downer, Skeptical Sam, or Bob the Builder.

Posted this for your thoughts and hoped to get some feedback.

Yes, this is similar to the Slate System, but it is different.

I've always been leery of claims on these websites that they can produce something that is very close to the sound of a U87, or U47, but this review from the "Pro Tools Expert" guy has me leaning in the direction of, "maybe this can really work".

http://townsendlabs.com/pro-tools-expert-reviews-sphere/

I've seen other blogs by this guy and tend to believe him. Smile

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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

FinMac · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:15 am Post subject: By the way

I recently discovered that in order to use this system you need an interface that has 2 mic inputs. And you need to calibrate them to being the same level for the recordings.

For those with an Apollo Twin interface (which allows you to use the DSP effects in real time), this will work great, otherwise, like me, you might need a new interface for the system to work correctly. Cry

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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Just my humble opinion but this is overkill for what we do.

I know, Bob Buzzkill here but that is what I would say.

Also I just gotta be honest I am not a fan of mic modeler systems. Have never tried one but the concept just doesn't appeal to me.

Call me Old School, it wouldn't be the first time. cool

Bish · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 6:43 am Post subject:

That was an enthusiastic review, wasn't it!

If we cut away the "3D modeling" and the fact that it's a stereo mic with adjustable polar patterns, what is it? For our applications, we can ignore the stereo stuff... and if the mic in the booth is static (and we don't jump around like an over-excited gibbon), then we can forget about polar patterns. If we ignore all this from a user point of view and just accept it as the means/hype/magic or special sauce the mic uses to perform it's emulations, then it all comes down to how well it does it... will this little bugger sound like a u87 when asked or not?

I've seen these emulation/modeling things come and go. I've seen wonderful reviews of stuff that's up for crowd-funding. I've seen sincere people over-impressed by a concept or hardware and then listen through rose-colored ears(?)... You could make an enthusiastic video of someone running through a whole bunch of parametric EQ settings demonstrating the same thing. I'll wait until it's out in the wild and a few VOs give honest opinions.

I'm sure that some motoring journalists and reviewers gave the Yugo good press when it was released.

Cynical Syd Smile

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FinMac · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:37 pm Post subject: Yugo reference

Had to look up the reference to the Yugo Smile

Got a good chuckle from what Time wrote about it.

"Interestingly, in a car where "carpet" was listed as a standard feature, the Yugo had a rear-window defroster — reportedly to keep your hands warm while you pushed it. The engines went ka-blooey, the electrical system — such as it was — would sizzle, and things would just fall off. Yugo. Or not."
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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:07 am Post subject:

When the Yugo first came to the USA, it was sold locally by the Cadillac dealer. I suggested to the owner that he supply all the Cadillacs with a license plate frame that said, "My Other Car is a Yugo."
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