Sphere L22 Modeling Microphone
Customer Reviews
Sphere L22 Modeling Microphone
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The queen or king of LDC microphones. Tube included. Bar none.
I've used a lot of mics. I've owned many too. And I still own 3 world class tube LDC's.
That said, if I had to have one mic, this would be it—especially because I use an Apollo as my interface, which allows one to load the mic emulations and track with them straight to drive.
I initially bought this to emulate a 251, which I've been wanting for some time, but I didn't feel like dropping the cash on a real one or even a clone.
The Townsend Sphere has left nothing to be desired.
Plus, unlike a real 251, which has you locked into one mic, I can even select from several variations of the 251. All subtle differences, but they ARE different.
Do you want a 251 that's a little more mid-forward with the top ever so slightly softer? Or do you want a 251 that has a slightly brassier, more open top end?
Or maybe you'd like something that is ultra transparent on the top, like a C800G?
I wouldn't say that the Townsend performs well into the "ultra dark" categories... if I want a vintage U47 with a very soft top end from an M7, it doesn't get QUITE there to my ears.
But the amount of times I need that are very few, other mics can do that trick, and even the U47 emulations (let alone the rest of the Neumann palate) are exceptionally life-like to my ears. Like any good tube mic, it's literally just about how it fits the vocalist and the song, and that's exactly how the Townsend works. You click around a few times on the mics you trust most, and you're bound to find one that just "sits" better than the others.
*Except, you didn't have to power up multiple tube mics this time, re-patch your favorite vocal chain for the singer, mute the channels to avoid the pops on your speakers, etc. You just CLICKED between a U67 and a 251, and you decided based on how (spoiler alert) it sounded!
To be fair, I use high quality preamps with my Townsend. Typically, some TG2's or BAE 1023's, but honestly... the mic works no matter what you use.
Chris Townsend has broken the barrier of digital mic emulations—and I know that other great products exist in the same category. But this one is the "Kemper Profiler" of the mic modeling world.
The Townsend simplifies workflow, gives you so many creative sounds and tweaks at your finger tips. It is quiet and consistent, and costs a fraction of what 40+ mics it emulates run in the analog world.
This isn't a cheap product, and there are a LOT of great mics out there today. But if you're looking for something to cover a lot of mic sounds well and just sound damn good, I really don't think anyone with two channels to spare would regret this. No mic does everything, but this comes closer (and better) than any other mic in history.
Thank you, Townsend, and congrats to UA for making what I suspect will continue to be a very successful and strategic investment.
A. Acharya
Akshay Acharya
You will love this one set up in your studio. I have a Neumann TLM 103 and what I am hearing is a huge addition to my creative world.
M. Hughes
The Best Mic investment ever!!!
This is the One microphone that never gets put back in the mic cabinet. Always on the stand ready to go. The L22 is the most versatile microphone I own. So convenient that my other name brand mics costing more are mostly brought out for the big band setups.
M. Abdelqader
Amazing
I was thinking just plug-ins no it’s a microphone it’s amazing very good quality
G. McNeal
Good enough to get a backup!
Everything is true, nothing more I can add other than I can't wait until their next updates and/or new version! I haven't tested against the actual mics other than the online mic kitchen test and I couldn't tell a difference plus even without the emulations - the features alone does it! I've had one since Summer 2019 and a second one is on the way due to that great Apollo X rack series bundle that actually came with a free one!! Plus this mic has went down about $300 since I got it - y'all better get one.
J. Delli Gatti
Very good
The mic is very good indeed. I wish I bought it way earlier.
H. Ismail
One mic to rule them all!
Got this for 2 months now. And damn its not getting off the mic stand! So so good!!
R. Pottorf
Sphere L22 is my 'Go To" mic now!
I had been eyeing this mic for about a year and then decided to "jump in"...the only thing I can say is, why didn't I do this sooner?!?! Will be purchasing 2 more for the vocal booth. This is DEFINITELY a sound investment (no pun intended)!
S. Shaw
No regrets recording yay!!
Tonal quality doesn't work? try another model. Wished to have recorded a little closer or further on some spots? automate the proximity. This mic is so flexible. Must-have for any producer. Only downside is the extra cost of a 2nd channel of the matching preamp.
j. sanchez
Exelente
Estoy disfrutando grabar mi voz con este microfono ES VERDADERAMENTE INCREIBLE!!!
J. Dachel
Great Mic for the $$$
Really an amazing microphone! Sounds great on its own and the models are discrete, yet add a really nice character for a lot of different applications.
My favorite mic I own is a Flea 47 - it adds incredible magic to any track - especially vocals. I bought the Sphere thinking I could potentially replace my flea, but it does not compare. The depth and quality just isn’t quite there with the Sphere.
Probably not a fair comparison when you consider it’s about a third of the price of the Flea. With that said I would highly recommend this mic to everyone! I bought it thinking I could potentially save some money by selling/replacing my Flea, but I ended up spending extra money because I’m going to keep them both!
Y. Zolberg
So versatile, And better than the original mics..
I own u87, c414 and many other microphones. Even without the modeling, the sphere sounds very good. Modeling adds countless possibilities.
L. Bustamante
Best mic ever
Don’t hesitate.
w. Prost
The best modeling mic on the market!
Wel, the L22 is one of the best investments in my studio. Brilliant how you can customize every microphone, very flexible and the big wil is the nearly zero latency when you use the L22 in combination with the Apollo core interface. Also I was surprised with the latest update and the reflection filter you can use.
Great for podcasts.
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Just bought a second one!
This microphone sounds so good without any modeling at all. I love that this system takes the approach of starting with an already very pleasing signal captured by the capsules so that the software has plenty to work with adding saturation and other processing that is applied after. I've used other systems before that have a very average to poor sounding microphone that is supposed to sound just like the real thing after adding the plugin modeling, but inevitably falls short. I've enjoyed using it alongside all of my other microphones in the studio that I've just purchased a second one! The UAD ecosystem really opens up the possibilities for this microphone and I'm grateful for it. If you're on the fence, don't even hesitate. This is a workhorse microphone built sound amazing and last a long time.
A. Werft
Amazing
Sounds fantastic. Software is awesome. This is mic modeling done right
A. EMIXPRO
Microphone nirvana!
Such a great concept and fantastic sounding mic. Brilliantly executed with its supporting software. Took less than a week before I decided to get a second one.