Virtual Mics Battle: Sphere L22 vs NT-2A + Acustica Audio LAVA (+ a really nice DISCOVERY!)

[@sandroflute]

Thanks a lot for this comparison! I am pretty disappointed with the Lava emulations in this video since I was planning to buy the Lava plug-in as there are two of my microphones in its source list: Beyerdynamic M201N C and Microtech Gefell UM70s. What I am missing here is a comparison starting from the very same source mic! Since the lava plug-in has the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 mic in its source list it would have been obvious and fairer to include a comparison using this mic.

[@audiomayor924]

Will prefer a video comparison between Sphare and Lava mic collection with on Microphone

[@LukeGarfieldMusic]

Hi Paul, thanks for taking the time to put this together. An interesting test but I can't help but think it was a little unfair to Lava. I don't own Lava, I am considering it though. The issue I have is the choice of source mic for Lava. Having used the NT 2 many years ago, it unfortunately had quite a brittle quality to the high-mids (as you point out) and requires serious post processing. Ideally it maybe would have been fairer to use one of the sampled source mics, especially the inexpensive ones SM58, AT2020 etc. I understand you used what you had on hand but the Townsend Labs mic works on this principle of having a set source mic and transforming it into the sound of the modelled mics. Thanks again for taking the time to do this, the Sphere L22 sounds very very good. (Love your intro to your video too 😆)

[@Pridonmusic]

Nt2a is a pretty harsh microphone, Lava is not gonna make the harshness go away, i think your test should have been using the sphere mic for both cases, from my experience Lava can give better results than sphere if you use a better mic than sphere too, on my Neuman tlm49 for example (sphere is sibilant in comparison). I think Lava opens up many interesting possibilities and its not based on a proprietary hardware system and I'm enjoying using it so far, thanx for your effort.

[@MarkVO]

Even with my laptop speakers I can hear the NT2A sounds hollow with LAVA U87 model and muffled with other emulations. The L22 sounds good in pretty much every mode and is a fantastic tool for the variety of artists that may enter your studio and seems absolutely perfect for use case + HOMC modeller adds so much flexibility. MUCH better than the LAVA models. My heart is still set on a TLM67 (one day) though, to contrast my MKH 416. As a voice over artist I can definitely appreciate your friend's lovely mixed British/Polish voice. Wonderful! Thank you for the comparison, Paweł. It was very informative.

[@FoliaSound]

Thanks, Mark! Always a pleasure to read a competent comment like yours!

[@matteonolli]

14:58 --> YES MY FRIEND 👌

[@johnbach2380]

I love the Townsend sphere

[@johnnyvegas2015]

To my ears even tho I don't really use the mics in my home studio, Henry Olonga's Mic Collection sounds great. Thanks for sharing this video and I hope you feel much better than last week...cheers

[@FoliaSound]

Yep, I'm much better now and fully back to work!

[@bilalrobin]

why not have done the test with the L22+lava tale L22+sphere? I don't know if it was already available in lava at the time of your test, but it is now. It would be very interesting as a comparison, especially on the brauner VM1 ;-)

[@mayzter8765]

Thanks a lot. I coupled my Lava with HO mic collection using my SM7B and wow. Much better than lava alone.

[@karma_moths]

Nice One! I've spent hours scouring gearspace and other forums to see if anybody had tried that - I had the same idea myself in thinking that HO mic emulations would make Lava sound even better - do you still use both?

[@mayzter8765]

@@karma_moths No, I use UAD Sphere now:)

[@karma_moths]

Thanks for your quick reply man - all the best with your music@@mayzter8765

[@mayzter8765]

@@karma_moths It sounded better to me, but using Nebula was a headache, that's why I chose UAD. Closed system, working very well for me. Especially with the UAD Unison preamps.

[@karma_moths]

Cool - I have UAD also - an X6 - great interface and ecosystem even if it is a bit expensive to get into - the unison stuiff is superb, and like you say the workflow is straightforward. UADS has definitely some of the best itb plugs I've heard... although I must say, when I did a shoot out between an external pre (Bae 1073mpf) and the Unison Neve 1073, even my girlfriend could hear the depth and 3d ness of the hardware compared to the unison. That's why nebula peaked my interest, having a reputation of being the closest you can get to hardware I'm just getting into trying it out. I know you mentioned it's a headache and I get that - have you tried some of the stuff that Azzimoz has done skins for, I think it's made the workflow a lot more user friendly although still more convoluted than the uad stuff.. @@mayzter8765

[@user-ge2ri7zo4j]

Probably, it's not correct to compare these to mics, because nt-2a is quite cheaper and has specific metal sound. Try please with more expensive mic, that will suit the cost of sphere. I've tested lava with souyz 0-17 fet and it sounded fantastic, in my opinion real mics sounds worse then emulation

[@julesalexander2583]

Thanks so much for this excellent review. I am listening on Ollo S4X open back cans that have a practically flat curve so the differences are loud and clear. I have been using EMC 87 Mic Clone plugin which does a passable job however it does not have a linearize function. Would you recommend a plugin that has that function? Thanks again.

[@FoliaSound]

Hey, Jules! I think that Lava does quite a decent job on linearising the mics, try it!

[@valgimorais602]

lol the best mic we can have is a preamp a match eq a proximity eq and a transient designer like sonible entropy proximity eq and a free polar pattern plugin i nail any voice all the time better than what they do you are a honest guy to see at work bro you really cool not like other guys whit channels making reviews to sail products or they presets raspect if people pay attention they can really learn somethings here keep up

[@valgimorais602]

mister olonga has another mind set to is products like timpatrick sou how can they sail a 239 euros emulator that sounds that worst on the key models

[@mayzter8765]

HO Premap collection is also very good.

[@glennloopez]

I was impressed with the Sphere sound. For me the Rode isn't very good in your examples or in my own experiences. I have mixed a ton of vocals recorded on that mic and it is a lot of post work to make it sound decent - emulations or not. if you want a great mic for vocals and no emulations I would recommend JZ mics Vintage 12. It is on sale a couple of times a year, with 40% off you cant get better mics for that price

[@FoliaSound]

It looks really interesting, thanks!

[@maurodimario1423]

Hi, very interesting video... I don't undestand how to use Henry Olonga I.R., is it possible to use it, after Lava to linearize the source mic, wth only Q-Clone, without Nebula ? Why did you use an Eq before Lava and not on Sphere ? (Not consistent compare..).When comparing source mic with the emulated one, in general, the optimal choise is with mics having the same polar diagram...

[@FoliaSound]

Hello! I did adfitional EQ-ing, because Lava didn't fully linearise the mic. I explained that in the vid while shooting. Cheers!

[@maurodimario1423]

@@FoliaSound Great, if you are able to compensate Lava with additional Eq you didn't need Lava ! :-) It would be intersting the procedure how to ;-)

[@EntireHistory]

Have you tried axino synergy core??

[@FoliaSound]

Nope, I'm afraid.

[@georgezorbas9036]

@@FoliaSound I agree

[@felixshaposhnik5269]

HI!! FIRST OF ALL I REALY APPRECIATE YOUR VIDEO, BUT I THINK YOU DOING A BIG MISTAKE WHEN YOU PUTTING EQ BEFOR LAVA. I ALSO TRIED THE SAME MIC(NT2A) WITH LAVA AND IT WOKED VERY WELL!!! SO , SUGGEST YOU TO TRY IT THAT WAY!!! SORRY FOR BAD ENGLISH, WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!!!

[@FoliaSound]

Hey, Felix! This eq is just cutting off below 30 Hz, that's all it does ") Seriously!

[@felixshaposhnik5269]

@@FoliaSound a ok, I got it 😊 Thanks for reply!!!

[@CheloScotti]

Lava had proximity effects, do you twerk that?

[@Fwuzeem]

Maybe it's just that the NT2-A is not the best mic for LAVA

[@FoliaSound]

Might be, but still - this is not the best news for Lava users...

[@Fwuzeem]

@@FoliaSound give another mic a go?

[@johnnyvegas2015]

Paul, let’s rock …

[@FoliaSound]

Johnny, I've been just thinking about you, man! Seriously! GOOD TO BE BACK!

[@johnnyvegas2015]

@@FoliaSound likewise sir and I ordered Neumann headphones from Thomann that you really liked, should get them next week. Keep up great work and enjoy rest of the weekend.

[@FoliaSound]

@@johnnyvegas2015 , thanks, same for you! Tell me how do you like your NDH30s when they arrive!