When not in use, your V13 should be stored in its padded pinewood box.
The black aluminum locking carrying case with the V13 keeps your microphone, cables, and
power supply in one place, and includes a slot for an extra vacuum tube. 12AX7, 12AT7, and
12AY7 tube types will work with the V13 microphone. Folks who experiment sonically with NOS
tubes can feel safe using these tube types.
USAGE
The VANGUARD V13 excels in a multitude of recording situations. It is a superior choice for studio
vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, drum overheads, room mic’ing, the delicate nuances of
piano, choral, and orchestral recording - essentially any acoustic instrument. Tested in a diversity
of situations, acoustic environments, styles, and genres, we found that the V13 was often the top
option, despite being matched against microphones several times its cost! Through our hundreds
of hours of testing, research, and listening, we’ve found a few particular uses we would like to
share with you.
VOCALS
The V13 is particularly “forgiving” when it comes to vocal style and timbre. Oftentimes,
microphones can be a bit choosy when it comes to how they mesh with different vocalists, but
we have found that the V13 sounds great with almost any vocal complexion. If you’re having
difficulty dialing in “that” sound for your vocals, try experimenting with the different polar
patterns via the selection knob on the power supply. One of our favorite polar patterns for
smooth, open vocals is two clicks to the right of Cardioid mode.
IMPORTANT - for any vocals
recorded within 12 inches of the microphone, it is imperative that you use a professional-grade
pop filter to protect the capsule of the V13.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
The V13 is superb for adding warmth and detail to your acoustic guitar tracks. We tested the V13
on a variety of acoustic guitars from several price ranges. We found that even when tracking
overly-bright and mid-rangey guitars, the V13 brought out the very best in each instrument.
Once again, polar patterns play a huge role in finding the perfect tone - try widening or
narrowing the pattern for different results.
PIANO
The custom-voiced capsule of the V13 gives it incredible low-frequency depth while providing
an open, smooth top end, and allows you to capture the nuanced performance of the entire
range of the instrument. In a good-sounding room, the omni-directional pattern allows for an
incredibly spacious and lush piano recording, even on a mono track!
©2015 Vanguard Audio Labs, LLC. All rights reserved.
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