Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Hardware And Software Manual
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Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Hardware And Software Manual

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Precision Microphone System
Hardware and Software Guide
Version: 161003

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Summary of Contents for Townsend Labs Sphere L22

  • Page 1 Precision Microphone System Hardware and Software Guide Version: 161003...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ..................7 Chapter 2: Installation and Configuration ..........9 System Requirements ................9 Preamp Connection ................10 Plug-in Instantiation ................11 Instantiation in a DAW ............... 11 Instantiation in the Apollo Console ..........
  • Page 4 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Stereo Width (Sphere 180 plug-in only) ........20 Mix (Sphere plug-in only) ..............20 Pan (Sphere 180 plug-in only) ............20 Off-Axis Correction ................21 Off-Axis Correction Enable..............21 Off-Axis Correction Pattern ............... 21 On- and Off-Axis Distance ..............
  • Page 5 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 4: Using the Sphere L22 System ..........26 DAW Signal Chain ................. 26 Preamps ..................... 27 Preamps with Continuous Gain............27 Preamp Modeling................28 Single Channel Usage ................. 29 Monitoring Setups ..................
  • Page 6 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 7: Recording Acoustic Guitar ............ 42 Guitar with Vocals .................. 43 Two Mics ....................43 One Mic ....................44 Stereo Guitar .................... 45 One Mic ....................45 Two Mics ....................46 Chapter 8: Stereo Recording ................

  • Page 7: Chapter 1: Introduction

    This is fundamentally the same as using EQ to process a recorded track, which is inherently limited in how the sound can be affected. In contrast, the Sphere L22 mic has two capsules, each with its own output, which more completely captures the directional and distance information otherwise lost with a conventional single-channel mic.
  • Page 8 If you do not read anything else in this guide, please read this: • Sphere L22 is a dual-output mic that requires two 3-pin XLR mic preamp inputs for mic modeling and other DSP features to function. •...

  • Page 9: Chapter 2: Installation And Configuration

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 2: Installation and Configuration This section shows you how to install and configure your Sphere system: • Establish whether your system meets the System Requirements. • Install the Sphere plug-in software on Mac and Windows.

  • Page 10: Preamp Connection

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Installation and Configuration Preamp Connection To connect the Sphere to your preamp: 1. Connect the 5-pin side of the included breakout connector to your Sphere mic. This cable breaks out into two conventional 3-pin XLR cables that you will connect to the preamp.

  • Page 11: Plug-In Instantiation

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Installation and Configuration Plug-in Instantiation Instantiation in a DAW To instantiate the Sphere plug-in on a DAW track: 1. Create a stereo track in your DAW. 2. Assign your preamp’s output channels to the stereo track’s inputs.

  • Page 12: Instantiation In The Apollo Console

    48 V phantom power is enabled. 2. Select the Townsend Labs Sphere plug-in as the first channel insert (see Figure 2-3 left). Console allows you to choose whether to monitor or record the Sphere plug-in output.

  • Page 13: Preamp Calibration

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Installation and Configuration Although we generally recommend placing the Sphere plug-in first in the effects signal chain, good results can be achieved with the Unison plug-in in a Unison insert slot ahead of Sphere. You must ap- ply identical settings to both channels and avoid overloading the preamp modeling.

  • Page 14: Analog Preamp With Continuous Gain Adjustment

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Installation and Configuration Analog Preamp with Continuous Gain Adjustment To calibrate the input channels on an analog mic preamp with continuous gain adjustment: 1. Connect the microphone to the preamp as previously described and enable phantom power.

  • Page 15: Hardware

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Installation and Configuration Hardware Mono/stereo Usage To record a source in mono, point the front of the microphone (denoted by the bullseye icon and the Townsend Labs logo) at the desired sound source.

  • Page 16: Chapter 3: Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-Ins

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 3: Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins The Townsend Labs Sphere plug-ins are a key part of the Sphere microphone system. The Sphere microphone system can record in stereo or mono. Use the...

  • Page 17: Microphone Type

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Figure 3-2 Sphere plug-in screen Microphone Type plug-in shows the names and images of two microphone types: Townsend Labs Sphere 180 MIC L (see Figure 3-1). MIC R...

  • Page 18: Pattern

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Pattern This parameter lets you adjust the pick-up pattern of the mic model. This is equivalent to choosing a different polar pattern setting on a multi-pattern mic, but with the additional advantage of being able to select intermediate polar patterns that the original mic did not have.

  • Page 19: Axis

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Axis This parameter lets you adjust the tonality of the mic by virtually moving the source off-axis. For example, setting means the on-axis frequency response now matches the frequency response AXIS 45º...

  • Page 20: Align (Sphere Plug-In Only)

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Align (Sphere plug-in only) NOTE: This parameter is labeled STEREO WIDTH in the Sphere 180 plug-in. The plug-in s two mic models are perfectly phase aligned by default. With physical mics, this occurs ’...

  • Page 21: Off-Axis Correction

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Off-Axis Correction All mics have an inconsistent polar response across frequency. For example, even high-quality, large- diaphragm, cardioid, condenser mics are only accurately cardioid in a limited frequency range, such as 1 –...

  • Page 22: On- And Off-Axis Distance

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins On- and Off-Axis Distance Due to the proximity effect, directional mics achieve their stipulated polar pattern for low frequencies at a single distance. This can result in substantial coloration of the mic s off-axis response.

  • Page 23: Polar Meter

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Polar Meter The Polar Meter™ displays the approximate amplitude and direction of sound arriving to the mic. The Polar Meter can be particularly useful to determine where bleed from other instruments is coming from.

  • Page 24: Polar Meter Zoom

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Highly reverberant environments produce a more circular Polar Meter response (see Figure 3-5) show- ing that sound is arriving from all directions. Figure 3-5 Polar Meter showing a reverberant environment The mono Sphere plug-in shows the combined polar response of Mics 1 and 2.

  • Page 25: Setup

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Townsend Labs Sphere Plug-ins Setup Click the gear icon under to access , and other calibration settings. SETUP REAR TRIM, SWAP, AUTO CAL Rear Trim adjusts the input level of the rear capsule in case the preamp levels are not calibrated precisely.

  • Page 26: Chapter 4: Using The Sphere L22 System

    Figure 4-1 shows the correct signal flow using the mono Sphere plug-in. In most cases we recommend routing the outputs from the Sphere L22 mic directly to the Sphere plug-in without any intermediate processing, such as EQ, compression or panning. Generally, additional signal processing, including other plug-ins or analog outboard gear, should occur after the Sphere plug-in.

  • Page 27: Preamps

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Using the Sphere L22 System Preamps Although a Sphere microphone can work with virtually any two-channel mic preamp with 3-pin XLR inputs and 48 V phantom power (P48), we recommend preamps with precision digital gain control or analog stepped gain adjustment so the channel levels can be easily matched.

  • Page 28: Preamp Modeling

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Using the Sphere L22 System Preamp Modeling If you use a software preamp modeling plug-in, such as those from Waves or Universal Audio (when used without Unison hardware), we typically recommend placing it directly after the Sphere plug-in to match the virtual signal chain with the corresponding physical signal chain.

  • Page 29: Single Channel Usage

    Using the Sphere L22 System Single Channel Usage A Sphere L22 microphone is actually two independent, high-quality, back-to-back, cardioid, condenser mics, but it can be used as a conventional single channel mic without DSP modeling. Each output has a cardioid pattern so you can use the microphone just like any large diaphragm cardioid condenser mic.

  • Page 30: Monitoring With The Uad Plug-In On Apollo

    Stereo Link This links the two channels into one stereo channel. 3. Instantiate the Townsend Labs Sphere plug-in on the first insert of this stereo channel. 4. Set the channel output to the appropriate monitor destination. 5. Activate to just monitor UAD effects, or to record and monitor UAD effects.

  • Page 31: Monitoring The Direct Analog Microphone Output

    ’ to risk taking your prized U67 on the road. Instead you can use the Sphere L22 and leave the U67 in the studio. However, to obtain the same sound, you must place the Sphere L22 in precisely the same position as the U67.
  • Page 32 Figure 4-4 shows a close-up view of the Sphere L22 from the front and side, so you can easily see where to align the microphone.

  • Page 33: Chapter 5: Off-Axis Correction

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 5: Off-Axis Correction The polar response of all mics varies across frequency. For example, a typical large-diaphragm, cardioid, condenser mic is only substantially cardioid in the 1 – 2 kHz region. It deviates to omni and figure-8 at lower and higher frequencies.
  • Page 34 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Off-Axis Correction Figure 5-2 compares the frequency response from directly behind a U87ai mic (180° off-axis, 1 m from the source, with -octave smoothing) with a Sphere mic (same position) with Off-Axis Correction enabled.

  • Page 35: Proximity Effect

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Off-Axis Correction Figure 5-3 U87ai measured on-axis frequency response You can also apply any mic frequency response to any polar pattern. For example, you can combine a 4038 ribbon response (normally figure-8) with a cardioid pattern, or take a U87 model and make it hyper-cardioid.

  • Page 36: Setting The Controls

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Off-Axis Correction Setting the Controls The Sphere plug-in’s Off-Axis Correction section has four controls and an enable button (See Off- Axis Correction on page 21 for a complete description of its controls). When the enable button is engaged, the Pattern control in this section overrides the mic model’s pattern, although the mic...

  • Page 37: Rear Miking

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Off-Axis Correction Rear Miking Sometimes it’s desirable to intentionally record tracks with lots of room ambience to create a sense of depth in the mix. For example, background vocals can benefit from more room sound so they sit farther back, while the lead vocal may be easier to hear if left relatively dry.

  • Page 38: Chapter 6: Recording Vocals

    Getting a great vocal sound can be challenging, especially when recording in an environment without proper acoustical treatment. For this reason, a Sphere L22 microphone with Sphere technology offers numerous features to help you get the best possible sound, whether in a professional or project studio.

  • Page 39: The Room

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Vocals The Room Even a studio with good acoustics may not be ideal for your application. It could be too reverberant, dry, or contain unflattering bass resonances. Repositioning the mic and/or artist is generally the best solution, but that isn’t practical if the track has already been recorded.

  • Page 40: Acoustic Treatment

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Vocals There are many hypercardioid mics available with fixed or multi-pattern options. For example, the AKG 414 and Neumann TLM-170 large diaphragm condenser mics have a hypercardioid option, but they are not necessarily the best sounding choices. Mic designers typically optimize the cardioid setting to sound best, followed by the omnidirectional option.

  • Page 41: Setup For Vocal Recording

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Vocals Setup for Vocal Recording To record vocals using the Sphere mic with enabled: OFF-AXIS CORRECTION 1. Setup mic as normal. 2. Select desired mic model/pattern. Feel free to experiment with different mic models and patterns (even after recording) once every- thing is setup.

  • Page 42: Chapter 7: Recording Acoustic Guitar

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 7: Recording Acoustic Guitar The Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System has a number of features that let you obtain a natural, traditional acoustic guitar sound, or something more modern with a wide stereo spread. The Sphere system lets you adjust mic type and polar pattern, even after tracking, which can be extremely helpful for dialing in the right sound.

  • Page 43: Guitar With Vocals

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Acoustic Guitar Guitar with Vocals Two Mics For a guitarist who sings, it is often desirable to record the guitar and vocal at the same time to capture alive performance, instead of relying on overdubs. Typically accomplished using separate mics for the vocal and guitar, this technique can work well but you must consider bleed from the off- axis sources.

  • Page 44: One Mic

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Acoustic Guitar One potential problem is that figure-8 mics tend to have certain sonic qualities, such as significant proximity effect, that can be great for some applications but less than ideal for others. The...

  • Page 45: Stereo Guitar

    For a rich, spacious sound it is often desirable to record acoustic guitar in stereo. A wonderful feature of the Sphere system is recording in stereo with one mic using the Townsend Labs Sphere 180 plug-in. By rotating the mic 90° off-axis, the front and back correspond to the left and right channel outputs, respectively.

  • Page 46: Two Mics

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Acoustic Guitar Another option is to line the mic up with the soundhole but at roughly the height of the guitarist’s head. This can create a more balanced sound, since both capsules receive the same level from the soundhole, but without getting a direct hit.
  • Page 47 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Acoustic Guitar Because the Sphere plug-in lets you change the mic pattern as you work (even after recording), you can switch from XY to Blumlein by simply adjusting the pattern controls from cardioid to figure-8.
  • Page 48 Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Recording Acoustic Guitar A spaced-pair can produce excellent results but like any non-coincident technique, sound arrives at the mics at different times. This can result in comb filtering and mono incompatibility. Figure 7-7 Recording acoustic guitar in stereo using spaced pair technique To minimize phase issues, set the distance between mics to at least three times the distance from each mic to the guitar.

  • Page 49: Chapter 8: Stereo Recording

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Chapter 8: Stereo Recording The Sphere mic provides numerous options for stereo recording. Any stereo miking technique, such as XY, spaced pair, MS, and ORTF, can be used effectively with a pair of Sphere microphones, just as you would with conventional mics.

  • Page 50: Two Microphones

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Stereo Recording Two Microphones Using two mics lets you employ a wider range of stereo techniques. In general, you can use the same stereo techniques you have used before, although there are some advanced features, such as OFF-AXIS ™, which open up new options.

  • Page 51: Proximity Effect

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Stereo Recording Proximity Effect When recording in stereo with directional mics, the distance from the sources are often far enough to cause the bass response to drop significantly, due to the proximity effect. For many directional mics, the flattest bass response is around a 0.5 m from the source.

  • Page 52: Appendix A: Troubleshooting

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Appendix A: Troubleshooting Table A-1 Troubleshooting Guide Problem Possible Cause Solution Microphone is not receiving No signal from Use the supplied XLR breakout cable to connect the mic to the 48-V phantom power from microphone.

  • Page 53: Appendix B: Sphere L22 Specifications

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Appendix B: Sphere L22 Specifications Sphere L22 Microphone Equivalent Noise Level 7 dB-A Max SPL (0.5% THD) 140 dB (with -20 dB pad switch engaged) Pad Attenuation -10 dB and -20 dB...

  • Page 54: Appendix C: Installed Locations

    Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Appendix C: Installed Locations During installation, the Sphere Native plug-ins and uninstaller are copied to these locations on the hard drive. For UAD installed locations, see the UAD System Manual: http://www.uaudio.com/support/manuals.html Windows...

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