Lauten Audio Eden LT-386 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone Reviews

This mic sounds good on everyone's vocals I've used it on. While tracking it cuts through the mix so well and really brings out the performance. I have a 500 series rack with a Heritage 73, a Carnaby Harmonic Eq, Chandler Little Devil Compressor, and probably my favorite the Neve 542 Tape Emulator. Coupled with the 542 and the saturation really cranked, it really warms the sound even in the forward setting and brings out all the best parts of this mic. This mic is very smooth, and people who may sound harsher on a mic like a TLM 103 won't have those issues with this mic. The more musical the performance is, this mic really makes it standout in a special way. The build of the mic is like a tank, but the chrome look really adds the style in person. Only problem I have run across was with a small piece breaking on the shockmount when I was putting the mic back on the stand. I just emailed Lauten directly, got a response right away and a part shipped that day (they did offer to fix it, but of course fixing it myself would be faster). He sent me instructions and offered to help me on the phone but the directions were solid and it was back up and running and sounding great again.

Get yourself a heavy mic stand, cause this bad boy has some weight to it. It has a clean, thick, yet very natural warm sound to it. What you sound like in real life is what you get, only better, and sexier. I'd say the only knock I have is kicking up my de-esser in a mix. The transients are a hair heavier on the T/P/and S compared to a darker mic, like a SM7B. Not a problem at all though, because it's very minimal. I run this through my Twin-Finity 710(on solid state), to give it a vintage vibe, and good Lordy. I'll pretend it's a vintage U67 until I can buy the real thing one day. Forward position is my favorite, but love neutral for those acoustic/singer songwriting performances, and Gentle for louder, more powerful singers. My next purchase to my home studio is a solid compressor (Sweetwater take my money)!

Compared to the Atlantis, cause I tried it before pulling the trigger. The Atlantis is more thin and brighter sounding, which could be great if that's the sound your leaning towards. None the less, I'd add it to my arsenal if I win the lottery. I just wanted a mic that didn't need much if any EQing, and was in your right in your face, and that's what the Eden delivers.


This is gonna to be a Hall of Famer microphone for our generation, I guarantee it. Much love to those reading

It is nice and clear the different settings from forward, neutral, and gentle are fun I find that it molds itself well to whatever analog gear I put it through and does well with it even in tracking after a year of use I find myself still surprised how heavy it is definitely plan accordingly when buying a mic stand for it something with a counterweight isn't a bad idea what surprises me is with a the right chain it is pretty hard to sound bad with it

This one
So clear so natural omg every vocal every bass everything sits on the mix so well and minimal editing is needed! 100% super recommended

I dunno what to say that hasn't been said. It's a masterpiece of a microphone. Build quality is amazing, sound quality is incredible. One thing I was worried about was the shock mount being attached to the mic. Some Reviews had made it seem like it was not adjustable, but it is quite easily with a hex

really well built mic with amazing performance. wont regret ever!
ty Sweetwater for an amazing service

I was torn between this mic and couple other high end popular mics that I'm sure we all heard of. I'm more than happy with this choice. The crispy smooth highs big bottom and aggressive mids .... etc I can go on and on. All I needed and more can't wait to start playing with the different polar pattern and kick or vocal shaper.

I have been using an AKG 414-ULS as my main vocal mic for several years and it has always produced good recordings but I thought it was finally time to explore the market for something more high-end, preferably a tube mic. I was looking on the Sweetwater website and came across a Vocal Mic Shootout page with 50 vocal mics where you could hear recordings made by the same singers side by side. So I proceeded to listen to almost every mic when my wife came into the studio and asked what I was doing. She thought it was me singing at first because the male singer's voice had similar characteristics to my own. Because of this coincidence, I thought this mic shootout may have some real value and continued to go back and forth between the mics that stood out to me, until I finally narrowed it down to the Telefunken AK-47 MkII, the Soundelux U99, the Manley Reference, and the Lauten Oceanus.

Because this was the early days of the Covid lockdown, it was pretty impossible to find a place where I could live audition mics, so I did a lot of online research and finally decided on the Lauten Oceanus, partly because Lauten was having a sale at the time. When I went to order the Oceanus, I found it was temporarily out-of-stock, and it was then that I found out about the Lauten Eden, that is actually their flagship model. I was intrigued by the design philosophy and the 3-way switch that changes the character of the mic voicing from Vintage to Neutral, and to a Modern Present sound. So I decided to order the Lauten Eden and have never regretted it for a second. I've coupled it with a Manley Core channel strip and use it mainly for vocals and acoustic guitar. It's been a few months now and I still get excited each time I turn it on and warm those tubes up, knowing that I'm going to capture some sweet emotions.

I've had my Eden for 3 years now, one of the 'early adopters' I guess and I don't think I will ever sell this mic - it's just so good sounding and versatile!
I really love the different voicings this mic offers, all of them sound good, they help get the 'right' sound for the source. The 'Gentle' mode will remind you of some vintage mics, while the 'Forward' setting evokes some of that modern sparkle.
The best thing I can say about this mic is that I have brought it to sessions at three different studios as part of a mic shootout and it has never lost - even against mics that cost more than thrice the price. It always holds up, even if not chosen for the session. In fact, the different voicings really make it competitive because if one setting isn't right for the source, often you can find another that is. (especially when trying different preamps to compliment the Eden)
For me this is my most expensive mic in my personal mic locker, but even when working in studios with a much bigger mic selection I still bring the Eden because it really is unique. If you are reading reviews trying to decide, I can highly recommend the Eden for a variety of vocalists and vocal styles, as well as a tasty mic for other sources. The quality of the build is incredible - sturdy body, mount, large diaphragm, and tube warmth. You will need a solid stand and possibly a counterweight since it is such a rugged build.
Just get it!

I remember when this microphone was announced, and how excited I was to get my hands on this microphone! I immediately contacted my Sweetwater agent, Ben Porter, and had many conversations with him about the sound and functionality of this microphone. Previously, I had already purchased the Oceana's and the Atlantis, and had them inside of my mic cabinet always ready to go. I would use those two microphones on just about every recording session before I got my hands on the LT-386 Eden! I remember the day this beautiful microphone arrived! It was amazing to see how well put together the packaging was, especially the flight case and included a letter which let me know that I was one of the first 20 people to purchase this microphone. I remember plugging it up and running it through a Rupert Neve Portico channel strip! I was immediately blown away by the microphone, so I scheduled sessions with artists who are ready to give this microphone a run for its money.


What I found was on singers it would add some mojo to the voice that I had never encountered with previous microphones. I have owned the Neumann u87, Manly Reference C, and several other notable microphones, But none of them came with the ability to feel good on just about anything I put in front of them. The Lauten Audio LT-386 quickly became my go-to microphone for any session, with any artist, in any situation. For rappers, I found put it in FORWARD (F) position gave it a lot of air which gave it a modern sound, but at the same time added a rounded bottom to vocals that was hard to get in many other microphone designs. Sometimes utilizing this microphone has made me think that it is the cheat code to those professional vocals I would hear all the time! This microphone changed the way I view tracking, and elevated my ability to track confidently in situations where time is of the essence, in deadlines must be met with some of the most professional-sounding vocals or instruments for me to deliver. I've even utilized this microphone in situations where I would normally utilize a pencil or small diaphragm mic. On guitars, I've been able to tame some of the harshest transients coming out of an amp using the (G) setting.


I remember contacting Brian himself and explaining to him what I had just encountered while recording guitars. It was as if the harder I pushed the microphone, the more gluey and thick the sound became! Therefore we have two of these microphones in my studio right now! These microphones are some of the best microphones that you can pick up and use in your workflow! If you don't have any other microphone of this caliber in your cabinet, I encourage you to pick it up, because it can beat out microphones costing three times as much with ease! Not only that, but the customer service you receive from the company surpasses any that I've dealt with previously! There have been times I've reached out to companies, via social media, via NAMM, and have had none appropriate correspondence! Anytime I hit up this company about this microphone, not only do I learn new things, but I learned that they care for their customers!

After lots of research and listening tests both in person and online, we decided to invest in a pair of these as our new top shelf mics at Studio Sassafras. We couldn't be happier. We used them as drum overheads, on male and female vocals, guitar amps, acoustic guitar, flute, violin, viola, acoustic bass, and percussion. The three voicings are truly useful. The Edens routinely win our mic shootouts.

This Mic is absolutely Incredible!! The microphone Cuts Extremely clean pure vocals. I have no complaints. I use my Manley Core preamp with this amazing mic, and the mic simply shines & Performs at the highest levels. This mic sits in the mix perfectly, the forward position is my favorite on this bad Boy!! The mic is beautiful, it's really stunning the details of the mic. It's very sturdy, please get a heavy duty mic stand the mic is very heavy. Please purchase you will never regret it! This mic will definitely become your bread & butter, it's Ice Cream Cold

Yes, my other mics sounded fine until I popped the Eden on a vocal track. Front, crisp, not harsh and wide and full were my first thoughts...smile.

This is my favorite mic of all time and I have tried the Neumann U-87, TLM 102 and 103, Manley Reference mic, SM7b, and a ton of others. It"s hard to explain, but this mic does a fantastic job of catching the character/flavor/grit/airiness of a vocal. It is amazing!

I bought this microphone after hearing David Crosby"s "Lighthouse" album. David chose this as his vocal mic over his usual vintage U47 for this recording and I now understand why. I am just scratching the surface of getting to know this microphone, but I am absolutely floored with the realism and clarity that this mic provides. HUGE vocal sound and captures acoustic guitars like no other I have heard. While
It is not inexpensive, you have to understand that the selectable "voicing" and high pass filters give you essentially 3 different microphones in one beautifully constructed package. So much flexibility. This is a very well built piece of gear and I expect it"s going to be spending most of its time on my Latchlake stand ready for the next session. By the way, you need a heavy duty mic stand with a counter weight for this beast. Absolutely stunning microphone.

Best Vocal Mic I have ever used - Love the 3 Setting Filter Options - So Recommended!!!

This mic gives me what I've always wanted from a top shelf tube mic. It has warmth, weight, and a unique character that is undeniably high-end. It's the type of boutique flavor that would be in the same conversation as a Bock 507 or a U47. It doesn't sound like those mics of course, but that sonic signature of a luxury mic is there just the same. Then there's the added benefit of the gentle/neutral/forward circuit paths which makes this mic flex in all the right directions - something the other guys don't do. It's not cheap, but considering it's a lot like having 3 different boutique microphones - and it's 1/3 the price of the other mics I mentioned - how can I not give it 5 stars? I had one minor issue with one of the shock mount bands. That might have been enough to knock half a star off, but Brian Loudenslager (the founder of the company) returned my email personally the same day I contacted the company and had a replacement band in my hands within a couple of days. So no deductions. 5 stars all the way.

This was my first expensive large diaphragm condensor mic purchase and I couldn't be happier. No sibilance, no cheap sounding top end, a very pleasing distance, close mic'd AND proximity effect (You've got to hear this thing on a vocalist singing up close! Gorgeous, intimate, just butter!).
Anyways, the forward setting is the truth. Outrageously clean, modern and bright in the best way. The mids are creamy and the lows are full but not muddy and the 3 settings and polar patterns make this beast a flexible workhorse. Pair it with a great preamp and add some high mid punch with an ssl eq and you'll be on your way to a completely modern pop sound!!!

IM BACK FOR ANOTHER REVIEW because after my Eden started to age the experience got sooooo much better!.... (like a true vintage microphone) now compared to my Miktek CV4 the Eden is alot more gentle in the upper hi-mids 3kHz-8kHz to avoid harshness with thin and/or pointy voices. It also sports a unmistakably solid mid range and thick low end kinda similar to a U47 but unlike a U47 when EDEN is switched into "forward" mode its top end is completely modern sounding and sweet in the right places giving you the crispiest sheen of air on a vocal that sounds hifi but doesn't really increase sibilance at all!
I call it my secret Sony c800g killer because it delivers almost the same vibe as a c800g recording but so much smoother from the mids all the way up!!! Paired with Chandler Little Devil Pre with "bright" switch on the module and you have a simply AMZING MONSTER!!! <3

This microphone is not exactly what I thought it was been right outside of the box. I've own the Miktek CV4 for almost 5 years now and I had expectations of this sounding very similar to that so that I can maybe replace the Mikek and move one with my live getting a FET mic along with owning this but THAT WAS NOT THE CASE! This LT 386 has thrown me for a loop. At first I wanted to return it because in neutral it was a very untyped sound similar to a U87 but very smooth and warm with out sounding boomy... but for the Urban Pop and R&B / Rap record I was tracking I found my self working hard to let it sit on top of things compare to the CV4 so I put the LT 386 away for a few days. Then one day I found that an acoustic guitar was sounding too thin and bright thru my CV4 and I instantly thought this would be a chance to try the LT-386! Soon as I put it up and turn up the mic pre MAGIC happened in "Neutral" the strings was not overly bright and the body of the guitar sounded warm big and natural. Then I started using it on vocals again. I had a gospel singer blow her brains out on this mic less then a foot away and this mic took her high notes like a champ! He vocals was lush, smooth crispy and cut thru the mix with out being harsh even in the "Forward" position! I call this review "the secret handshake" because it really pays off to know when and what settings to use on this microphone for it to do whatever it is you needed it to do! I feel like I definitely enjoy this microphone now and I'm going to fall in love with it in the future! Thank you Fab you're meticulous ears in the making of this microphone! =)

First off the sound of the Lauten Eden is lush, silky and versatile.
None of that matters however if you are unable to mount the mic to a stand when it comes time to record. The Shock mount has broken 3 times on me now!! I contacted sweetwater and shame on them for not knowing the mic dimensions and being able to suggest a suitable high-end replacement. "Send me something that works" I asked. Instead they contacted Lauten and shipped me out replacement parts so I could repair it my self (which I never asked to do). Ok so no big deal!… Easy fix right? wrong! the mount takes 3 different sizes of hex wrench to assemble mixing both standard and metric sizes. And the smallest size is nearly impossible to attain. So I had to do this all in the dark with no instructions. At least I got the repair done and back to the sultry tones of the Eden and we ride off into the sunset… If only it were that simple.
2 months after the first repair the mount breaks again, and then again a third time as I was trying to re assemble it from the 2nd repair. This time a piece of the cheap metal snapped clearly in half as I was simple tightening down a bolt.

Like I said the mic is excellent but a cheap and poorly designed mount that easily breaks and is a bear to repair makes the 3k investment into this mic a crap shoot.

Its not a bad mic but I would not have priced it at $... I got mine on sale... at Sweetwater and even that is a high price point considering many of the parts including the capsule are Chinese origin. I was initially impressed with the shockmount in the photos but mine was not such a pleasant experience. Lauten offered to exchange the mic but I offered to fix the mangled mess myself. The shockmount had been installed such that access to several switches could not be accessed. I uninstalled the shockmount and re-installed it with slightly better results but the mic was still a bit off-kilter. Lauten has no torque specs for the shockmount. To add to the confusion there are several different versions of the shockmount's band configuration on line. The tightening lever on our shockmount was loose and rattled when the bass amp or bass drum were played. Lauten was not able to solve that issue. Gaffer's tape worked. Gross. I may get a washer to fix that rattle permanently. I am not a big fan of putting the pattern switching on the mic. Be prepared to lower your monitor levels - the mic emits an extremely loud pop each time one switches polar patterns. Nothing in the manual warning about that design flaw and we almost lost our tweeters in our expensive monitors. For the price this mic SHOULD NOT blow out our tweeters when switching patterns! Even my cheap MXL mics don't do that! The mic has a sound of its own and I will maybe be using it for some vocals ... without the bass amp or drum playing at the same time ...