Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide
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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. To record a single vocalist, you should use the Sphere plug-in. You could record two vocalists at
once using the Sphere 180 plug-in.
Professional Studio
In a professional studio with excellent acoustics, you can use the Sphere LS22 microphone just like a
normal mic. If you have already produced a great vocal sound with a conventional mic, you can just
swap in the Sphere mic and select a mic model and polar pattern.
To accurately capture the character of the original mic, Sphere technology models the mic’s full polar
response, including its on- and off-axis frequency responses, and proximity effect. Accurate modeling
of proximity effect means the artist can
work the mic
in all the familiar ways: closer for a more intimate,
warm sound, and further back for a brighter more diffuse sound. Sphere technology also offers
tremendous flexibility
after
tracking, such as selecting from a wide range of mic models and polar
patterns.
Proximity Effect
If a mic model does not have the desired amount of proximity effect, Sphere technology allows you
to change it. The
PROXIMITY
control is not simply an EQ, but actually changes the amount of
proximity effect. Using EQ can be somewhat effective, but the
PROXIMITY
control is usually an easier
and better sounding option.
Since the proximity effect only occurs for directional mics, this control has no effect when an omni-
directional pattern is selected. Partly for this reason, there is also a
PROXIMITY
EQ
control that
approximates the sound of proximity effect by using carefully tailored equalization at the output of
the plug-in.
Axis
Sometimes recording engineers position a mic a bit off-axis to modify a vocal sound that is too
sibilant or bright. This works because mic capsules are typically less sensitive to high frequencies
entering from the side.
The
AXIS
control lets the user model this effect without rotating the mic or shifting its polar pattern.
For example, with
AXIS
set to 45°, the frequency response of the modeled mic at 45° is used as its on-
axis response.
