Slate ML-1: One Budget Microphone to Rule Them All...

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The Slate ML-1 Microphone claims to be over 10 microphones in one. Using emulation algorithms, this microphone aims to remake classic sounds from Neumann, Telefunken, AKG, you name it! How good are these emulations? I guess we'll find out....
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(Please note these rankings represent my subjective tastes. These lists would change with different applications, so this is a bit of an oversimplification.)
TOP THREE BUDGET CONDENSERS:
🥇Lewitt 440 Pure - amzn.to/3imNwRh
🥈Neat King Bee II - amzn.to/3JOYATU
🥉Rode NT1 - amzn.to/2NUoBJK
TOP THREE BUDGET DYNAMICS:
🥇Shure SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC
🥈Behringer XM8500 - amzn.to/3utvKmp
🥉Shure MV7 - amzn.to/3BfewuF
TOP THREE CONDENSERS
🥇Austrian Audio OC818 - imp.i114863.net/qnGXBO
🥈AKG C414 XLS - amzn.to/3lMAgXq
🥉Soyuz Bomblet - amzn.to/3BDy2Sx
Honorable Mention: Roswell Pro Audio Mini k67x - amzn.to/3BeT9Mt
TOP THREE DYNAMICS:
🥇ElectroVoice RE20 - amzn.to/2UFdyaM
🥈Shure SM57 - amzn.to/2P1pUXC
🥉Sennheiser MD 441 - amzn.to/3S6st6b
MY CAMERA SETUP:
Lumix S5 (w/Kit Lens) - amzn.to/3xKHLVQ
85mm F1.8 for B Roll - amzn.to/3y8GcBF
My (weirdly expensive) ring light - amzn.to/3LIK164
MY STUDIO GEAR:
Audient iD4 - amzn.to/3Svvxst
Audient Evo 4 - amzn.to/3UxLZtL
Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen- amzn.to/2P4SXtl
KRK Rokit 5s G4 - amzn.to/3dIKubA
Elgato Low Profile Boom Arm - amzn.to/3DNyZKS
MY HEADPHONES -
Audio Technica M30x - amzn.to/3feOfE6
Status Audio CB-1s - amzn.to/3IfcOeX
Hifiman Sundara - amzn.to/3JvDkm1

[@HomeStudioPro]

Audio quality speaks for itself... I'm here to compliment you on the video production value! Well done.

[@AudioHaze]

Thank so much!! Means a lot :)

[@itscarlosreally]

HEY IT'S HOME STUDIO BRODIE BRAZIL

[@legacyShredder1]

That Lauten FC-357 had you sounding like a silver tongued god. I've got a pair of them, and they're among my favorite mics of all time.

[@AudioHaze]

They are absolutely out of this world good

[@legacyShredder1]

@@AudioHaze I agree 100%. They don't get any attention whatsoever from the online community while at the same time I use them side by side with my absurdly expensive mics.

[@petermcginty3636]

100% agree with MAN Network. That mic was brilliant!

[@xyzct]

Mr. Haze, you're channel is super fun. I always look forward to each new video. You are to be commended for your quality (Neumannesque?) output.

[@AudioHaze]

Ah thank you so much!! That means the world thank you :)

[@petermcginty3636]

Great video, Ricky. Thank you. This mic is not for me as I only need 1 microphone. BUT, I always listen to your mic comparisons on my laptop speakers - because that is how my clients here me. Normally , I can barely tell the difference between the mics which you compare; but this time I could. I would suggest that if I was setting-up a music recording studio for clients with low budgets, the SD might be one of the first things that I would purchase.

[@AudioHaze]

I think its a great flexible mic! I feel some people may have a hesitation trusting a digital emulation to do the work, but these days emulations can get really close.

[@sachinwagle9145]

I just got my rode nt1 thank you for so many comparisons

[@somedude8604]

Love ya mate, your videos are pure entertainment.

[@AudioHaze]

Thanks dude!! That’s so nice 😭

[@somedude8604]

@@AudioHaze :)

[@jalew5791]

Would love to see an ML-2 review as well! I've been debating picking one up vs starting an sm57 collection

[@JohnScottB]

Do it, the ML-2 is an outstanding value and I think everyone should have at least one. A pair is even better. Its obviously way worse build quality than an SM57, but if it's for home use, it's a great mic that can do a ton of things, both as a dynamic or condenser emulator.

[@AudioHaze]

Will check it out!

[@KleversonRoyther]

Man, the high end on that FET mic! Kinda soothing in a way

[@AudioHaze]

Oh yeah, it is NICE

[@ReverendGuyWallis]

great video. i have 2 ML-2's and i like but not love them... but for the price i think they're pretty cool. still deciding about ML-1. i think its a tad pricey but pretty cool for a budget version of these high end mics. good stuff. subbed to your channel. cheers!

[@chiter1235]

like always amazing video, stay tune!

[@AudioHaze]

Thanks so much dude!

[@vancouverrob]

Great videos! Keep up the great work!

[@AudioHaze]

Thanks man!

[@annekedebruyn7797]

I personally wouldn't go this route as I like switching out microphones and learning them and with the prices combined of the DLC packs, you can get yourself a healthy mic collection for a home user. But I do have to admire the effort they have put into this. It actually does sound (and even feel) like a different mic. I have to wonder tho, I remember them shipping it with a ultra linear preamp. I wonder what happened to that. Maybe interfaces are good enough now these days?

[@AudioHaze]

Not sure about the preamp! I don't recall, I think I would personally prefer a mic locker too, but you know some people just want a one and done kind of set up, I know plenty of peers who use this mic!

[@benoittissier58]

Nice to mention the OS. As a (mostly) Linux user, I would have enjoyed knowing if the plugin is compatible through Wine. That would be general information, I already have too many mics.

[@AudioHaze]

Haha yeah glad I could help :) never thought your OS would be the bottleneck for a microphone lol

[@joshuadelaughter7968]

Pretty dang cool. Been considering upgrading to this from my trusty Rode NT1-A.

[@mojoiam]

Rode is better

[@CrustaceousB]

Another way to avoid alligator attacks is to eat them before they eat you. Fried gator bites are amazing. 😍

[@AudioHaze]

I see.....strike first and there is no attack at all...

[@edclevel402]

The all-in "ecosystem" price makes this much more directly competitive with the Townshend Labs (now UA) Sphere.

[@AMTunLimited]

Do you think, other than the polar pattern, you could mimic this using something like those reference mics used to tune rooms, along with something like an impulse response?

[@acpoteete9932]

Do Antelope and Townsend Labs/UAD next! I got the Antelope Axino for Christmas. It’s pretty cool!

[@AudioHaze]

I'll make a note of it! :)

[@DapperDanLovesYou]

I've definitely seen Emulation done better. Granted, also at a higher price 🤔 @ 3:23 I have to know what happened, because that recording sounds *so different* from any other example. It sounds like the microphone was being addressed 90° off-axis (or a noise filter or over-aggressive DeEsser was accidentally left on).

[@AudioHaze]

I think its just a matter of the ML-1 not really being and overly complimentary frequency response, since its a blanket of latter emulation, I wouldn't expect it to sound absolutely marvelous without an emulation running.

[@reikondakciu3322]

Great video! I can't help but notice you never made any video on the warm audio wa-47 jr. What is your opinion on that microphone (as I think it's one of the most popular microphones under 300$)?

[@AudioHaze]

I haven't gotten to check it out! I'm not a huge fan of warm audio in general, but I have pretty limited experience with those mics

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Bandrew in his review has not come up with good specs of WA 47 jr.

[@Cu5llen]

WaU47 is ass don’t buy it

[@EricJohnson-fh8zj]

I seriously considered getting a modeling mic, but the more i looked into it the more i was convinced its mostly a gimick. Just a bit of EQ/Filter/saturation/dynamic post processing. If there's a secret sauce its bringing to the table other than that...its very minimal. Wich you can do with any mic. A good recording, EQ and mix is 1000% more beneficial. Just get a decent mid grade ($3-$500 is fine) condensor mic or 2, and a couple cheaper ynamics like the 57 and you'll be good. Above that you're not getting very many benefits and uf you cant record a hit with a $300 mic, you cant record one with a %10,000 mic. Spend rich mic money when you're rich.

[@aquieteveningmusic]

The clarion tho 🤤

[@AudioHaze]

Its an absolute beasttttt

[@mynameprodic2707]

what gain did u use on the slate ml1 cus i own a ml1 and a nt1a by rode and for some reason i think the rode nt1a is louder and can pick up more noise

[@deckstare]

great video

[@skipper4257]

It might be unfair to talk about a different product as an example, but Slate's VSX, their modeling headphone, has been known for being prone to hardware failures. I haven't heard of similar issues with the ML-1, but nevertheless their QC should be something to keep in mind when considering this mic.

[@AudioHaze]

Good to know! Thanks dude :)

[@PeteEdmunds]

Austrian audio was the most pleasing in the blind test. Controlled top end and sibilance every well. Although Your performance on that take was slightly more intimate so might have affected my perception.

[@DiceloCiro]

Need to get my hands on that Lauten🤔🎶

[@AudioHaze]

Its an absolute work of art, review coming soon :)

[@ridingdriving]

the multiple emulation recording is very clever

[@AudioHaze]

Definitely! Cool way to hack the system

[@vladykorleone]

Between this digital slate mic and your Electro-Voice RE320, which one records voice with better quality?

[@CalebxRashad]

Is the ilok dongle required to run emulation?

[@dainiusgaruckas7096]

Would you recomend this one over lewitt 440 pure? I need bright mic. Now it’s discounted,530€. Help 😄

[@ourdogteddy]

Are we going to have a review on nt1 5th generation?

[@francisguyman3819]

I just got one this week and I have been going back and forth on returning it. its cool but im not sure if its worth the money

[@AudioHaze]

Good to know! What's not doing it for ya?

[@mojoiam]

can you please text Rode NT1 with Mic Mod by Antares and compare that to the slate emulation by emulation? I have a feeling Rode would sound better.

[@AudioHaze]

Maybe sometime soon I will! I've moved away from microphone reviews in newer videos though :)

[@MusicChannel-rf5zz]

What is the best setting on the intensity?

[@filmgruppefranktfurt1830]

Don’t mind me, I’m commenting for the algorithm. :D

[@AudioHaze]

Appreciate the work my friend ❤️❤️

[@ThaexakaMavro]

slate vs antelope audio vs Townsend Labs vs antare Mic Mod battle would be epic

[@AudioHaze]

I'll make a note of it :)

[@vancouverrob]

Question. Is your room treated? It sounds very good.

[@AudioHaze]

Its not truly treated no, just a good rug, lots of stuff, and plenty of stuff on the walls and around the room

[@grim143]

Hello, i have a question. What mic ir better? ,,Neuman tlm102" or ,,slate ml-1"

[@mojoiam]

Neumann

[@evolvingevrday]

I am answering before finishing the video. At 3:44, mic 3 is way over-saturated. I would not see the point in this for a modeling mic.. hope it's not.

[@hemanpremiu3848]

Thanks for the video! I'm just wondering if one day, it would be possible to create a Sonarworks soundID but for mics instead. It seems like most of whats happening is just tuning the EQ after the recording. Wouldn't it be possible to just use any mic and tune them into another mic's sound if there are enough mics in a database? With AI nowadays, i think the process should not be that complicated as well

[@AudioHaze]

Its possible! But as mentioned in the vid, the emulation is usually a bit more than that, including proximity response, phase response, and how the emulation deals with a "simulated" harmonic distortion :)

[@CrustaceousB]

You look very post-apocalyptic hackerman in this video. 💜

[@AudioHaze]

That’s the goal, I actually applied for that job ages go

[@theoutsiderjess4869]

That mic is so cool

[@AudioHaze]

Yeah its pretty solid imo!

[@badmiddens]

On your spoken word 1-4... 1 and 4 sounded great. 2 sounded a bit thin and sad, 3 sounded too bassy and lacked detail. Now I'll move forward to see which was which. (get up, feed cat, back now) Oh wow, Slate for the bottom!

[@anim3497]

Is it the Rode NT-USB mini good 🎤 for starting the KZbin? Especially when I don’t want to use any other devices …

[@AudioHaze]

I haven’t personally tried it but I trust that it will work just fine :) take some time with it and if you don’t like the sound, you’ll know where to go when you upgrade to an XLR.

[@legacyShredder1]

That is a perfectly fine microphone for that setup.

[@filmgruppefranktfurt1830]

The Ride NT-USB will last you about 10 to 15 years and you won’t need to upgrade in that time. Ever. Don’t waste your money on overly expensive mics. (Also it too cheap) Learn to use what you have. If you can’t become a famous KZbinr with the NT-USB you won’t become one with an U87!

[@djtoman6875]

Not familiar with the Røde, but I would consider something with both USB and XLR connector options. That way, once you are comfortable creating content using the USB to record straight to your computer, you can upgrade by getting a decent interface using the XLR output. And you’ll always have the USB option for meetings or traveling light.

[@legacyShredder1]

@@djtoman6875 I think the person said they don't want any extra hardware, just plug and play.

[@Mainzeption]

I’ve owned this microphone for almost 3 years now. I think the ilok thing sucks, but overall I’m quite happy with the mic. However it’s a pain in the a** to bounce stems with the software on to send to mixing. If i could get my money back i’d probably buy something else, as the need for the software (and fucking ilok) is a it annoying. There’s other great mics in this pricepoint who is more convenient

[@soundthealarm1622]

That Lauten sounds absurd. Wow.

[@kriLdaChrixt]

Do the Sony C-80!

[@AudioHaze]

Noted!

[@hellopsp180]

Lol on all of them ML-1 was my least favourite in the coomparison. The 818 and the Lewitt were my top choices wth Clarion very close. But the game changer is when you add emulations. It is definitely super cool but the paywall :( is very sad

[@AudioHaze]

Yeah the flat tuning isn't very complimentary, it shines more with the tuning :)

[@garethde-witt6433]

The ML1 does sound rather hissy in the video, but aside from that I wouldn’t purchase it as I’m not a fan of Slate products (also I cannot afford them)

[@xyzct]

Mmmm ... at that price I can (almost) get an Austrian Audio OC18. Edit: I see that you can buy two OC18s for $1100. So with a buddy, you could each get one for $550 !!!

[@AudioHaze]

True! Good way to frame things :)

[@xyzct]

@@AudioHaze, damn, now that I realized I could get an OC18 for $550, I want one _today!_

[@dragonemortale9056]

Idk, sounds so dull to me. I prefere to have 3/4 good mics with their caracter and experimet with tem than have One that promises to do everythink but Is not meat or fish.

[@AudioHaze]

For sure! That’s equally valid if not more so :)

[@omtfiji]

get the at4040 i have the ml1 and at 4040 and i live my 4040 it has the characteristics of a c12 kinda

[@dragonemortale9056]

@@omtfiji great mics, in love with the low end for hip hop. For now i'm with a Nt1 for generic purpose, a tlm 102 with mount for a brighter One and a sex1r for a soft mid/side, cabs, percs, or a parallel mic for creating the delay room. I'm also working with a studio that uses a tlm 49 and a 2050. Maybe i spent more that that mic without all expansions but i'm quite Happy form what i get. Maybe in a future a good pair of lewitts/ATs for stereo will be my go to! Btw impressed by the 4040 sentivity.

[@iowalks]

Noice

[@AudioHaze]

👌🏻

[@MkProductionQ8]

the ml1 sounds artificial and low quality especially with the highs it sounds weird to me even with the emulations ! the Lauten Audio Clarion FC-357 sounded the best and after this video i am going to buy the FC-357 😅

[@Drfresh1402]

I’m look for a mic. Hard no to this one.

[@MastaGOfficial]

That's not a budget microphone in my country. Cost around MYR2999.

[@MrKarlGP]

No Labtec AM-242 emulation, I am inconsolable

[@AudioHaze]

Maybe in the future :/

[@garethde-witt6433]

I couldn’t hear any difference with Eva, it all sounded like one mic. With guitar it was the same again just sounded like one mic (your breathing was also very audible)

[@KeenApollo]

You have untrained ears the c800 emulation alone sounds totally different from the mic having no emulation.

[@smoloms]

if fujifilm made a mic.

[@AudioHaze]

How so? :)

[@annekedebruyn7797]

@@AudioHaze Fujifilm does film emulation on their digital cameras a bit like Steven Slate does mic emulation

[@goaway2174]

IMHO the Slate was not even close in emulation and your other 3 mics all sounded better. Even an NT-1 sounds better. For emulations to be effective they need to start with a better microphone.

[@ScamLikely9327]

Imagine being able to call a $500 microphone budget.

[@hankkingsley9183]

Consider some vintage mics cost $28,000

[@tecno8335]

Something nobody mentions about the Slate ML-1. In order to use the mic emulations, you have to buy a separate $40 iLok key, or else it will not work. NOBODY BRINGS THIS UP. Cheers 🍻

[@gazal6588]

That’s not true, it works with iLok Cloud so you don’t have to buy additional stuff in order to use it

[@glendicky]

@@gazal6588 Only if you're paying for a Slate Subscription. For one-time purchases you do require an iLok dongle

[@robflores5172]

sounded the worst of the the 4