Record BOTH Wet & Dry 2023: Townsend Labs Sphere L22, UA DLX, LX in Pro Tools & Studio One w/ Apollo

[@JCASHES1]

It must be absolutely wonderful to be able to understand one single word of this

[@aeiplanner]

It's actually pretty straight forward. All Matt is doing here is routing the same signal to an AUX and recording that AUX along with the Mic inputs on a separate track. The effects he's placing on the actual mic channel, are not being "printed" on the Mic channel, hence the blue dot above the effects rack in Apollo Console, but because that signal is also being routed to an AUX, the fully processed signal will record into that second track. This is a very smart way to work if you're not sure about mic selection for specific sources and want to leave it to the mixing engineer.

[@petecampbell963]

Awesome video. I tried it today and it worked perfectly. I have been going back and forth between wet and dry and now I get to do both at the same time! UAD should put this in the manual for sure.

[@MattHepworth]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@coldestconcept6711]

Never even thought about this, will be buying that l22 in the future, but the wet and dry on my apollo for now will help alot. Genius

[@MattHepworth]

Thank you very much!

[@68Snaps]

Brilliantly simple! thanks 🙂 Where did you find the sample count differential (73)? BTW, your voiceover mic (not the sphere) sounded better to my ears... What mic was it?

[@MattHepworth]

Sadly, I can't find my notes on that video. It was either an old AMR ERC-12, or a Slate ML-2. As far as measuring the aux delay, check this video out - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5icl5Vmnrt5gNksi=E-A7_WAHbtVv9yim

[@68Snaps]

@@MattHepworth Thank you! You rock!

[@jaydekaytv]

Great info thank you! I was looking for a way to get some compression during tracking and you gave me some ideas.

[@MattHepworth]

Glad it’s helpful!

[@teddybeargram3]

My question is how do you tell how much delay the processed sound is gonna have compared to the unprocessed sound. Make a video about that please

[@MattHepworth]

On it. Stay tuned.

[@pepelatsrecords5483]

Great video, thanks. I have some questions: In which case we should use Townsend lab sphere, and Sphere 180? And totally don't understand about mono/stereo that plugins. 1. We linked 2 input, and its become stereo - then we put Townsend lab sphere for example - and its still stereo or?? Then we record it Mono?? Or should be in stereo too? 2. If we linked 2 input and get stereo - then use Sphere 180 - Then we record mono? or ?? 3. Which way is the best for record acoustic guitar ? Mono, stereo? with processing or made post processing with that plugins.. Thank you!!

[@MattHepworth]

Sphere 180 is when you want Sphere to work like having two microphones to record in stereo. 1. Technically stereo, but both channels are identical, so we only need one (mono) 2. Since you'd effectively be using two microphones you want to be stereo 3. It depends on whether you want to record the guitar stereo or mono. If I'm going to have two guitar parts I usually record in mono. If I'm only going to have one guitar part in the song then I usually go with stereo.

[@Vocalisto]

Great Video! Thanks! But can I use this way more Inserts for Processing on the Aux Track? Unfortunatelly there are only 4 Insert Slots on every channel available but if i route the processed Track to an Auxillary Track I can have 8 Inserts for processing right? This would be great!

[@MattHepworth]

Thanks! Yes, you can use this method to add 4 more slots. You may want to check out my Apollo Quick Tips vids for similar techniques.

[@flores-Taylor]

Insta sub !!! Super detailed,professional

[@MattHepworth]

Many thanks!

[@littlewinsmusic]

I keep coming back to this video - love it! Do you recommend the Putnam collection vs Ocean Way for expansion? I mostly record modern pop but I like flexibility 😎

[@MattHepworth]

Thank you! Each has its strengths, that's for sure. Maybe, for me, it's a slight edge to Putnam because it has the two 251s I really like and the great 47 and 67, but the C12s and 269 in Ocean Way are beautiful, too, as is the C800!

[@shaunblack3142]

Great info this helps. I see you turned on phantom power on console but not the high pass filter ... do i need to turn on the high pass filter for vocal recording? That yellow orange looking icon next to the phantom power on console? Thank You!

[@MattHepworth]

That's up to you and what your voice sounds like. I typically don't use high pass on male vocals during tracking.

[@xforeverwarx]

Great video! So I’m wondering if this would work: Record the raw signal and aux1 like you did, mute both those channels and have some reverb on aux2 and make this also the monitoring channel for the singer?

[@MattHepworth]

Thanks! Yes, that works just fine.

[@Realmtrotter]

Cool. What would be the compensation for delay in Logic Pro x?

[@MattHepworth]

Should be the same, but I'm not sure where to compensate it in Logic.

[@BillBene67]

Awesome video! So helpful. Quick question. My Pro Tools Stereo Track (Sphere Dry) does not show Mic 1 and 2. Only Mic 1. Do you think I need to ensure I/O are set to default for my Appollo Twin?

[@MattHepworth]

Is it recording stereo and the each channel looks different, like expected?

[@BillBene67]

@@MattHepworth Well, it seems like it's definitely a Stereo track as it has separate left and right signals to pan. But the input when I click on it shows MIC/LINE/HIZ/MIC/LINE (Stereo) in your video, yours showed Mic 1 and 2 and when you armed it, it armed the Sphere wet too. Mine did not so not sure if it's just a matter of having Pro tools recognize the I/O of the appoloo since I do use a few different interfaces. Your video was super helpful regardless, thank YOU!! Last quick question. I love the Capitol reverb from UAD. I have it in Aux 1 in Console. Even if I choose UAD REC and not UAD MON in Insert Effects, it does not print to Pro Tools. Is there a way to change that or would I just have to use the Capitol reverb in Pro Tools? Much appreciation

[@MattHepworth]

Cool, then you're set on the inputs. Mine are probably just custom named. You can print that aux as its own stereo track in PT, or, I'd recommend running it a different way using PT's persistent sends - check it out here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/maOTf6eorKiIhdE

[@BillBene67]

@@MattHepworth Thanks for the excellent info Matt. Really awesome stuff. Keep up the great content bud!!

[@chrisbistrishki]

awesome video dude, thanks! Just a quick question: how were you sure about those 73 samples of latency - where dis you see/calculate that? Cheers!

[@MattHepworth]

Thanks! Getting a lot of questions on that! I'll post a vid in the next few days on how to get that offset. Sometimes it's in the manual, but it's worth verifying because it will change based on certain factors.

[@chrisbistrishki]

@@MattHepworth awesome can’t wait for the video :)

[@grandrmusic4691]

So, no needs to record in a stereo track with the L22 if we are going to commit to the effects? I think I've seen in other videos that this mic has to be recorded on a stereo track to capture the front and back line, and that it is not an actual stereo but two mono identical signals that are recorded even when two waves forms are displayed. this is so confusing!!

[@MattHepworth]

Great question. If you're using Sphere for a mono source both sides of the aux are identical, so you only need to record one channel of that aux. The dry/safety track always needs to be stereo, though. If you're doing all the proccesing on the channel directly (not using auxes) and you're just commiting from there mono is also fine, since the output of both channels will be identical.

[@benibbq]

nice vid! Have you used Sphere like this with Luna? Would love a vid on that~

[@MattHepworth]

LUNA doesn't have the same aux settings, but great idea! I'll see what I can do. Thanks!

[@jwalker99us]

Great video. Rather than use the Aux and need to deal w delay compensation, can you record enable , commit and use the same la2 and 1176 compressors without delay compensation

[@MattHepworth]

Thanks! You can. They add zero latency. Sphere adds 0.5ms. The aux itself has inherent delay, which is all I compensate for normally.

[@HB-xv8hx]

Hi Matt ! Fortunately you are there ! My sphere and my appolo will work thanks to you 😄🙂🙂. For version 10.1.0 (May 18, 2022) do the modifications for latency are the same? Another question knew you : I don't know how to get the voice back please ? A big thank you from France for your videos ❤️

[@MattHepworth]

Thank you very much! Yes, the current UAD version 10.1.0 will use the same latency as shown in this video. Regarding how to get the voice back - Do you mean how do you hear the voice while recording?

[@HB-xv8hx]

@@MattHepworth Okay ! Great to have answered so quickly 😉. Yes: How to hear the voice during recording ?

[@MattHepworth]

During recording I monitor from the main channel input in Console, but on playback and punching in it will be the channel recorded from the aux.

[@CalmDownJack]

hope this works! can't get my sphere to have both channels show up, and its EXTREMELY low volume (im in logic, was sorta considering getting a diff soundcard/mic)

[@MattHepworth]

You have phantom power on on both channels (front and back)?

[@trayoibry8246]

🙁 Dude your channel is awesome...i am a S1 user and I also got me a Sphere L22 but i do not have any UAD stuff...i will have to learn how to get a nice Momo Signal without all that ambient stuff 😰 I still didn't fully understand how it works stereo>mono...

[@MattHepworth]

Thanks! For S1 without UAD, just set up a stereo channel in S1 and insert the stereo to mono Sphere VST plugin. You can monitor through it, too. The stereo to mono plugin makes it so that you effectively have a mono track for mixing.

[@saucedupfrost]

Why is it only -1.52 in studio one when it was a different number in protools. And how would someone figure out those numbers on there own?

[@MattHepworth]

In Pro Tools we offset in samples, but in Studio One it only allows offset in milliseconds.

[@gkash941]

Do I need to link the channels in the uad to record with sphere? Or can I record in mono

[@MattHepworth]

You can record in mono if you don't want to use Sphere processing (raw, front capsule only).

[@cowabungaw9958]

Does the 74 samples take into account the latency of the L22? Is there a way to determine latency (delay) via the DAW? Be nice for comparison if both tracks were unmuted when played back.

[@MattHepworth]

Since the Sphere plugin is added to the channel you're sending to the aux the 73 sample value will reflect any processing on the channel (keeping in mind I keep Console IDC off).

[@cowabungaw9958]

@@MattHepworth Apologies - 73 samples & tks for your recording method. Seen it differed from the one a few yrs back. Just a bit confused. Townsend labs states Apollo Console has 1.1ms of latency @ 96khz resulting in about 105.5 samples. + 0.5ms of plugin latency =1.6ms. Native plugin DAW latency may be higher along with lower sample Hz. Whewww. Somehow I did find the 1.5ms in the ballpark for all intents & purposes

[@MattHepworth]

In UAD 9.10 UA made a change that more than doubled aux latency. 73 samples is now the standard. What you're HEARING, though, is the lower latency non-aux version. Roughly 1.6ms latency at 96kHz and between 2.68 and 3.49ms latency at 44.1kHz, depending on the Apollo you're using (with X series being the latter), and which out, because they're all different!

[@cowabungaw9958]

@@MattHepworth Those are about the numbers I'm getting & why I'm curious in determining the actual track latency in the DAW. Plugins like Little Labs IBP is convenient & quick but is limited to 2ms of delay & take up some DSP.

[@MattHepworth]

The simplest way is to just compare in the DAW. Use something transient like a click, zoom in, and look at the offset. Maybe I'll do a really quick vid on doing this in PT.

[@taum496]

awesome! but no signal when I link two channels, I turn on 48v, check aux 1 and all my output, it just doesn't work.

[@MattHepworth]

Make sure the aux is set to Pre not Post?

[@taum496]

@@MattHepworth I set pre, but not work too, I did even not see any signal to my ANALOG 1/2

[@MattHepworth]

@@taum496 Does your Sphere light up? You might have to reach out to UA/Townsend. XLR ins on Apollo, right?

[@taum496]

@@MattHepworth Yes, everything is ready, just my mic like death when mono turn to stereo(LOL), I will reach out to UA, thank's your time!

[@bigpartyorchestra]

how do you know how much the Aux in console is delayed? Is it always the same amount of delay?

[@MattHepworth]

I have a quick vid on this that'll be love really soon.

[@MattHepworth]

@bigpartyorchestra Hoping to get time to do this vid tonight after my session.

[@Acearmaniboy]

why when I group the tracks & press record, they both don't turn on red for record? what am I doing wrong! I just want expand my template the best of my ability... @Matt Hepworth

[@MattHepworth]

This may be something I've taken for granted, as I've gradually tweaked PT over the 15 years I've been using it. In the group settings something must not be set to include record. I'll look a quick vid tip on things like this. Thanks!

[@Acearmaniboy]

@@MattHepworth Also Matt! I’m using the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 microscope & I have the Apollo twin. When placing the sphere plug-in on a insert to the console, is says It has to be on stereo. Which is fine, but I want to know HOW DO I RECORD & CONVERT MY AUDIO FROM STEREO TO MONO with the Townsend labs⁉️ I haven’t seen anybody make videos about this like, when I record on a mono track Left or right. The output Audio is going thru one of the headphones🎧. Could you explain to me or drop a video link that may resolve my issue please🙏🏾 !

[@MattHepworth]

Ah, great questions! If you're using Sphere mono, rather than Sphere 180/Stereo you'll pan both channels to center. In the DAW, just record the left input (both left and right will be identical).

[@allengoyne]

How did you know by how much the aux was offset by?

[@MattHepworth]

That's a great question! I've had a few people ask me the last few days. I'll have a quick vid that'll include how to do that in the next few days.

[@damionhill3249]

The 1176 should be before the leveling amp

[@MattHepworth]

I did it 1176 first for probably 15 years, but then I was always left with the same situation: lots of spikey transients left because of the slow attack of the opto. Doing it with the opto first and 1176 after it eliminates that issue, and gives me a result much closer to what I like. *Sylvia Massy* and many others seem to also like the opto first like I do - uadforum.com/community/index.php?threads/stacking-compressors-la2a-1176-660.25107/

[@cowabungaw9958]

No preamp between sphere and comps?

[@MattHepworth]

Apollo preamps this time. Whatever the source needs.

[@wilmartin9178]

Can this be done in Logic?

[@MattHepworth]

Most likely. I'm not sure how to apply the offset, though, since I rarely use it.

[@mahinmiah9404]

Is sphere L22 all model work with other interface.??

[@MattHepworth]

You can use native or AAX DSP versions of the standard plugin. The Ocean Way Mic Collection and Putnam Mic Collection can only be used with UAD.

[@allengoyne]

my aux channel doesn't show up in my DAW

[@MattHepworth]

You'll want to update your I/O matrix. Check out step 1 in this vid - kzbin.info/www/bejne/maOTf6eorKiIhdE

[@allengoyne]

@@MattHepworth Thank you!

[@MattHepworth]

You're welcome!

[@JohnGauge790]

Hearing a weird reflection

[@MattHepworth]

On the normal voice, right? My pencil condenser is on the glass desk. Sphere is only used during the few seconds of examples.