Great mic for any sititution

Great microphone to add to your collection if you can't afford to buy numerous mics fora variety of different tones and sounds which is my circumstance. I took a chance on it and I'm not sorry I did.

When this mic first came out, I kept an eye on it for years. People in the UAD Group on Facebook were constantly talking about how good the Sphere is. I'm like there is no way that mic is this good. To me, mic modeling was just a bunch of EQ Curves. I told myself that I would never get this microphone because it's not a real microphone.

Mind you, I've recorded rap vocals on many different microphones. The U87, Manley Reference, C414, Audio Technica 4050, Red Chandler Tube Mic, Austrian Audio OC18, SM7B, Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387, Blue Baby Bottle, Mojave, SM7B, and Warm Audio 8000. I'm like there is no way the Sphere is just as good as any of those microphones I just named.

Back in October 2022, Universal Audio did a promotion. With the purchase of an X6 Interface, you get a free Townsend Sphere. So now my curiosity is on full blast. So I ordered the X6 and got the free Townsend Sphere.

Two days later, my shipment arrived and I hooked everything up. To my surprise, the Sphere and mic models were good but I still felt something was misssing. I like recording vocals with external microphone preamps but unfortunately you need two external preamps for the Sphere.

What did I do? I added two 500 series Vintech 73s so I could use the Sphere with two external preamps. What a difference that made. This worked so well that I ended up selling my main microphone that I had paired with my Neve Shelford Channel.

Having the Sphere paired with the two Vintech 73s is making me enjoy the Sphere and the mic models more.

If I didn't have the two Vintechs. I would use the UAD 1084 Unison Preamp into the software CL1B for tracking.

I don't see myself ever buying another microphone unless it's one that I really want to pair with my Shelford Channel like the Elam 251.

But yeah. The Sphere is that good. So good that I'm thinking about getting another one.

My friend has a huge studio with a nice size microphone collection. I let him use my Sphere for one of his sessions. Let's just say that he's buying a Sphere for his studio.

I've been recording for 45 years or so and playing for longer. I've had the opportunity to try all the great mics in my career.
I'm a multi instrumentalist, recording engineer, producer with my own studio. This microphone, just as a microphone is above and beyond many.
When you add in the amazing software that is included, and the shear tweak-ability, it's practically unstoppable. If you can only afford one microphone, this should be the one. If nothing else it should at least be in your collection.
It's certainly worth more than what they're asking for it and it comes with a strong box storage case.
More than pleased with this purchase.

The Sphere L22 is the perfect mic for my home project studio. Being able to scroll through and gently tweak the emulated models (if desired) provides a crash course in both the similarities and differences between the different mics. They all sound great depending on the source being recorded and mic placement.
I was skeptical but after reading endorsements from A-list engineers who are using the L22 mic and software convinced me to give it a try. So I did and I'm sold on the results.

Best Mic what can I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I declined to try the L22 out for years. I generally don't like when the nuts n' bolts type tools depend on a computer to work. Well, when I moved and downsized my own studio from console / tape / tons of outboard / Pro Tools, to a laptop and a couple Apollos, this mic suddenly became more appealing and fit with my new simplicity mind set. With an Apollo x4 and my laptop, I can take this mic to a client's house, track vocals, guitar overdubs, whatever, and have a library of great sounding mics at my disposal, rather than have to carry a tote full of mics with me. I have some mics in the $2-3k range, and tracks done with the L22, with the models applied totally stand up. Have I done scientifically controlled A-B tests? No. Have I done tracks with this mic that I'm totally happy with, maybe even surprised by how great they sound? Yes. And that's what counts. It's a great, creative recording tool. Just having the option of adjusting virtual rotation, patterns and proximity remotely while tracking, rather than have to go in the room, interrupt the singer and futz with the mic, is a huge bonus. Oh, and you can continuously blend two virtual phase-accurate mics together on the fly??!! Too cool. As a freelance producer / mixer dude, who often works with folks long distance, I have had some of my clients buy this mic for their home recordings. I ask them to track with their Apollo set to Monitor, and record the dry signal from the L22. When I get the tracks from them, I start with whatever model they were using while tracking, but then I have the freedom to audition other mic choices to hear what fits in the mix best. This also allows me to shape the lead vocal tone & proximity differently from say harmony or backing parts, which I'd normally track myself with different mics. When artists are recording at home, and sending tracks to me, so often I wish they had something different to record with. Now I get their vocal and I can audition all the best mics in history *AND* manipulate things to really make it fit. Have I sold my fancy tube mics? No. I still love em and use them. But I probably use the L22 more these days just for how simple and efficient it makes tracking sessions, and the flexibility it can afford me later, if needed. In a hurry? No more putting up 5 mics to audition on a singer! Let it rip with a model the singer likes in the cans, print it if you're loving it, or choose your favorite mic flavor later. I've been at this over 20 years, and that's just crazy. This thing is stupid good. Might need a 2nd one! ...I would also concur with other reviews that mention the mics in the UAD Putnam Collection being special. They sound great to me, and seem to have the most "vintage vibe" going on.

This mic rules. Absolutely changed my studio work flow and as a result I get quick, consistent, clean recordings with ease. Works great for vocals, horns, guitars, and in 180 setting as an XY on drums as well. The included software is great for small adjustments and can be used to seat something without starting in on eq or panning. Also, if you are on uad, get the Putnam collection. It's amazing. I use it most.
Congrats to the boys at Townsend for an absolutely top notch mic. Probably saved me 50k in mics in the long run. I am planning on buying another.

This mic is a must have in the studio. I've actually had the mic for a few years and have been using the L22 almost on every vocal take. This modeling mic has to be the best mic of this digital age. Try it you, you would Like it.

This mic is fantastic. I've only had mine for a couple of months, but the quality is killer, it's built like a tank, and I like it so well I plan to get another. To my ears, it performs well beyond its price point, and I'd stack it against many other more expensive mics. The virtual mic capabilities is great.
I'm a fan. This will be my go to for years to come.

What can I say? I've actually had the mic for a few years and have been so busy using the L22, I've not given myself a chance come back to Sweetwater to pen a review. It is definitely my workhorse mic. I use it on everything! I'm now looking forward to see what manifests between Townsend and UA - seems like a smart pairing. GREAT MIC, best I've ever had.

So far I've only tracked vocals with this mic but I'm extremely psyched about it. After them being in short stock for a while, I saw a demo available on Sweetwater and pulled the trigger immediately. The ability to audition different mic models, polar patterns, etc. especially during the mixing process is truly next level. It's so satisfying to have such a wide ranging "color palette" available to you in just one (relatively inexpensive) microphone. The mic itself sounds fantastic even without the modeling. Super linear, gorgeous top end, no harshness whatsoever.

I know a lot of people like to use this mic with the UAD system, but personally I use RME products for their superior, rock-solid driver stability and low latency. This mic pairs perfectly with my RME Babyface Pro FS which has extremely low roundtrip latency and two very clean, digitally controlled preamps that can be stereo paired.

While the zero latency aspect of running the sphere plugin in UAD console is cool, I'd prefer to monitor through my DAW anyways because the plugin adds a miniscule 22 samples (1/2MS) of latency, is M1 native, and then you have the flexibility to change your mic selection after recording versus printing it through UAD console. I have already been in several situations where this is useful and saved me from needing to use an EQ, and given me a lot more creative flexibility. To me this is one of the major selling points of the mic -- not only do you have a whole mic locker at your fingertips, but it remains at your fingertips even during mixdown! Old-school engineers always say to "get it right while tracking" or "mix while you're tracking." This mic allows you to "mix while you're tracking" but also to "track while you're mixing."

The fact that this mic also lets you record in stereo and then use the DSP to run parallel processing chains for each side of the stereo image is something that is still blowing my mind. In other words, even though the mic has a "front" and "back" capsule, you still retain full control over both mic models when using the stereo sphere plugin (mic, polar pattern, filters, proximity effect, etc.) I can forsee many applications for this -- recording drum overheads, acoustic guitars, percussion, pianos, pretty much anything you can think of where a neutral phase XY style configuration is desired. And then its your choice to use a perfectly "matched pair" of mic models for your stereo recording, or, say, combine a ribbon and an LDC model to widen the stereo image. The creative freedom is yours!

Finally I want to mention the "isosphere" feature which is really quite cool. I work on the go, often in sub-optimal acoustic environment, and this mic is extremely sensitive. Normally I would say the Kaotica Fatboy is a ripoff but for the Sphere it is a worthwhile investment. The "isosphere" section of the plugin tunes the frequency response and polar pattern of the mic to sound natural with several mainstream "isobooth" products like the Fatboy and to my ears it sounds very natural and makes the mic even more versatile for mobile recording or for people working in sub-optimal acoustic spaces.

All in all, I'd 10/10 recommend this mic to just about anyone. I haven't tried the Slate VMS but to me, the Sphere L22 is basically in a class of it's own right now.

I've been following Townsend Labs since the beginning a few years ago and I've always known that it was a step above all the other mic emulations. It comes with a lot of great sounding emulations and the ability to switch polar patterns after the recording. Not only that but you can also combine different mics with different polar patterns or axis after the recording as well.

This makes it a really good microphone to have when in need of some different flavors, it's pretty much impossible not to find the right sound/tone for the right application.

The mic itself is really well built, it comes with a great shockmount, it looks and feels sturdy. Let's not forget that it's a stereo microphone too, which will help in a plethora of different scenarios, first that comes to mind
is drum Over Heads.

The native plugin that was released at launch is the main one and it comes with a great amount of microphones and an extra feature called IsoSphere which is a groundbreaking technology that minimizes early reflections caused by microphone filters and small booths to make sure the recording is free from those problems. It works pretty great.

Now here comes the catch: Townsend Labs was sold to Universal Audio not too long ago. We know that UAD plugins are "exclusively powered by UAD hardware", if you want to use UAD plugins you'll need an Apollo interface or their DSP cards, which is great.

But for the people who bought the Sphere22 microphone without owning any UAD hardware? Well this microphone is still a great purchase for the great emulations that were included with it when it was released, but...

There are 2 libraries of great sounding mics that you won't be able to try if you don't own also a UAD interface. At the moment there are no announcements of them unlocking the newer emulations (which apparently sound better than any of the ones that came with the mic), so if you decided to invest into this technology keep in mind that in order for you to expand it's potentials you'll need to invest minimum in an Apollo Twin. A little bitter sweet feeling overall, but a great microphone for the money, it definitely can sound a lot better than most other microphones in the same price range.

Hopefully Universal Audio is listening and will make some of the future libraries native too (price them higher, who cares), otherwise it's a $ stereo mic with about 34 good rare microphones emulations and a bunch of unique features that will always be useful no matter what, and 34 different microphones is a lot of options.

I have been considering purchasing this microphone for over a year now and finally had the opportunity to purchase this a few weeks back. If you are on the fence about this and have the funds - you will not be disappointed!! The modeling of the microphones are top notch and give you ultimate control over many aspects of each microphone. This gives you a huge microphone locker of vintage and modern microphones that I know I would never be able to afford on their own. I have a UAD x8 and it pairs perfectly with this microphone and comes with the UAD plug in Sphere and Sphere 180 for the UAD realm that makes tracking seamless (I track in and mix in LUNA).

All I can say is that all this time later, the Townsend Sphere still delivers.

Do I sometimes wish it was just a mono tube mic for practical + emotionally nostalgic reasons? Yes, I do. And I still don't think that the mic gets overly dark.

Still, the proof is in the listening, and the mic simply performs as advertised: really solid emulation of various mics that leaves nothing lacking. Use some good pres and an Apollo X, and you're set.

Hard to get a bad sound out of this.

Every time I use it and dial in a setting/model for a song, I find myself impressed. I don't really even know that all the UAD additional models are necessary. But either way, they're cool to have, and the mic is a winner because it just works every time.

I downloaded the mic emulation plugin and test files from Townsend Labs before I bought this mic and even tried the plugin on some files that weren't recorded with the L22. It was and still is the best mic emulation plugin I've ever tried. The L22 sounds great even without the emulation plugin, but the engineered integration between the two has a synergistic effect that is uncanny. I don't worry whether it can *precisely* emulate a particular mic, I just relax knowing I can fundamentally change the sound of tracks after recording if I want to and get them to sit right in a mix before I turn to other FX and automation. It takes so much hassle out of recording vocals. As with any mic though, a professional quality mic pre and A-to-D converter are necessary to get the most out of it. Five stars!

Transient response is everything in a mic and this is 90-95% as good as anything I own. Km184 u67 or r121 this can't exactly duplicate but it gets pretty close eq wise. The really great thing about this mic is the polar pattern options.

This mic is insane! I gaff be ent even started treating my room yet and this mic does an amazing job of rejecting unwanted noise.
Yeah, it's a considered purchase but I'd have no hesitation in recommending it. I'm glad I managed to get one. Stock had been short for quite some time.

The L22 is an innovative and unique microphone. But Townsend made a huge misstep when they decided on the policy of charging customers for product updates, and even worse, to arbitrarily limit those updates to UAD users only. I was a very early adopter of the L22— I think I may have purchased the first one sold by Sweetwater— and since the microphone was put on the market, Townsend has released exactly one significant update for free.

Like many other L22 owners, I feel betrayed by the promises of additional microphone models and continued product improvement. The contrast between Townsend and a company like Kemper, who is constantly refining their products and adding awesome new features and free updates for their customers, could not be more stark.

The news that UAD has acquired Townsend is disappointing, but not surprising. I have absolutely no interest in UAD plugins and their antiquated Sharc units, which in the age of high core counts, mostly just serve as hardware dongles. It now seems evident that the full potential of microphone modelling will be realized by a different company.

OMG, yes!
Look no further, honestly!
I have two now and love them...they sound amazing and offer so much flexibility!
Really THE perfect microphone.
Do yourself a favor and grab one immediately!

I meant to write this review a year ago and got busy. This mic is magnificent! Townsend (Eric Papp and the team) is amazing in providing great customer support. This is the best investment a pro, novice can make regarding a microphone. The emulations are incredible and, frankly, unless you have money to burn, you won't need another mic for years, possibly, decades unless Townsend makes something more fantastic. You cannot go wrong with this microphone. Pair it with an Apollo (Universal Audio's Unison Technology incredible, too), a treated environment, and you have a mic (chain) that can rival anything in a professional studio. No wasted money here, at all! Buy it then pat yourself on the back. ;-) Also, shout out to my Sweetwater customer service sales rep, Jonathan Appleton, who provides knowledgeable recording tech information!

I really really wanted to like this mic. But for some reason I didn't feel the mic emulations really stood up on their own. I don't own any vintage mics, so I'm not trying to see how faithful to the original it can be.

I was looking for something versatile and yet this just retains so much of the sphere mic itself, which isn't a bad sound by the way, it just wasn't as versatile as I thought it would be.

I ended buying the Lauten Audio Atlantis. This to me is personally a better solution to having versatility in one mic because the hardware is just more straight forward for workflow. I use digital technology extensively in my production workflow, but the microphone is just one place where it didn't feel or sound right.

First of all, I should be ashamed of myself for just now writing my first review after doing business with Sweetwater for well over 10 years. What brought me to do so? The Townsend Labs Sphere! I love microphones and their different characteristics. For the sphere to sound as good as it does in all of its mic modeling (even as a mic without the modeling), this has been the best money I've spent on gear in a long time. The wait was well worth it. My Sweetwater sales rep (Jon Krempel) has the best customer service I've witnessed. The folks over at Townsend Labs are outstanding as well. Via social media, they've answered all questions I've had in regards to the Sphere, prior to purchase. These two teams combined gave me the push to write my review. Great Product and Great Service!

If you're in the market for a new mic and/or on the fence about the Sphere, let me tell you that it's well worth the $.

There's a reason basically every review is 5 stars. This mic is perfect. It recording in stereo if you want. It emulates. It's sturdy. I love it

While I don't think the emulations sound EXACTLY like the real mics, I do think the emulations sound somewhat better in a lot of the cases. For instance, the emulation of the u87 vintage sounds ever so slightly brighter than a real one (though I'd never be able to tell without A/Bing the mics back to back) though I personally think this makes it sound even better than the real deal. So to anyone who challenges the accuracy of the emulations, I will counter that just because it's not exactly the same, doesn't make it worse. In many cases it can actually make it better. Just my opinion though. I'll likely grab another one of these somewhere down the line

We live in a new renaissance era where technology is easing the burdens of those who cannot afford vintage equipment, expensive gear, or don't have enough space to have this.

To me, Labs Sphere 22 is one of the best tools that a modern creator can have, not only for his affordability but because it's a fantastic piece of creativity and technology.

This is the sign of the times, adapt or perish.

Best investment this year

I have several high end mics that I use for my home studio and I will continue to use them but this mic has endless possibilities. First I've never had a Neumann u 87 so I can't A/B it or any of the others for that matter but I do have Shure, AKG, Warm Audio, and several matched pair MXL and Tube mics. I have not had this mic long but it has a low noise shelf and picks up every bit of Sibilance in my vocals, can't wait to try it on other voices. As long as the digital world continues to exist I should have a great mic for a long time. I'm not usually a fan of extra frills but the lights inside the mic are cool!

Are you totally bored by people bickering endlessly over what mics sound like their favorite classic Neumann or whatever? You could almost say it's a fetish that gets in the way of actually getting things done. But worry not, the Sphere sounds like every mic you desire and more. I've had the Sphere for many months now and use it every day for VO. I have cut hundreds of commercials and narrations with it and it has been near flawless. What I love is the ability to blend 2 different mics to get the desired sonic characteristics of both, like the 416 and the TK87 combined is pretty great for VO. Plus, I can change mics on the fly. I always print the modeled sound and I don't hear any latency. I've tried dozens of mics trying to find my sound and the Sphere's ability to make new mics by combining two great mic models together makes the Sphere a versatile mic I will keep in the booth forever.

Without a ton of hyperbole, let me just say this piece of gear is probably one of the best purchases I have made. When I listen back to the sound/sounds of this mic, I could not be happier. My mic locker is now filled with some of the best microphones ever created, albeit virtual.

Astoundingly good technology.

Amazing just buy it no microphone can do what this thing can do.

I purchased this microphone almost 2 years ago. Love it and use it as my main mic in my home studio.

On one of my last recordings, I noticed that there was a crackling sound coming from the cable where it was attached to the mic. I hopped on the Townsend Labs Facebook Group page and asked if anyone else had that issue. Within minutes, Erik from Townsend Labs himself messaged me asking for my address so he could send me a new cable. I explained that I'm sure my warranty period had expired and I would be happy to purchase a new one. A few days later a brand new heavier duty cable showed up at my door... no charge.

That is the kind of attention to detail and appreciation they have for their customers. You can expect class A customer support and service from this company. I HIGHLY recommend this companies product. Thanks Townsend Labs!!!

I use this mic every day. I even travel with it when i have to work in other studios. Its amazing. Also Timbaland posted a video with it in the background soooo, if you see it, grab it while you can.

I took a trip Sweetwater in person to buy a mic. The salesmen who greeted me in the pro audio department demo'ed the L22 and all of the software for me. I was impressed enough to purchase it and upon getting home and conducting my own experiments I am blown away by the features and power of this bad boy. I am pleased to tell you that this is the one mic to rule them all. 10/10

I've owned this mic for almost 3 years now & I've put it thru its paces. I'm also one of the lucky few to have used that majority of originals that this mic is emulating. This mic is worth every penny it costs & more! If I had $50k to spend on mics, I would be enough of these to cover the job & keep my leftover cash. That's how much I trust this microphone. If you use this microphone and doubt it, you have not discovered all the nuances that take quite a bit of time to realize. There is no better mic for the home, project, or pro studio. It just works!

Absolutely worth the money. Granted, I have no personal experience working with many of the mics that it models but I can say for sure that the characteristics that these models impart are everything they are hyped to be. The deep and smooth tones it can capture, the silky highs, the broad and equal frequency ranges are all what you'd expect or hope for. On top of that you're able to change the mic model after tracking (unless you print in a Universal interface) so that you can audition mics and polar patterns after the fact.

I have zero hesitation in buying it. I have a TLM49, a WA87, an Avantone, and other mics in the $600-$1400 range and this absolutely stacks up to those.

Easy to use interface and pretty much no longer curve if you have an DAW or recording experience.

If you have a giant box of vintage mics you probably don't need anything the modeling offers. If you don't, it's well worth spending the money on this.

Great stuff.

im not an engineer who has done a/b comparisons of this against vintage mics but the applicability of this mic is unrequited. Buy an Apollo, the mic expansion packs, and this mic and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. Customer service is fantastic and Chris Townsend is a cool dude with an amazing vision of the future of digital mics. SERIOUSLY BUY THIS!!!!

I've been recording at home and in studios since 1969, when I was lucky enough to gain a new friend who had a "state of the art" Ampex four track recorder, along with a mixing board and a Neumann U47 and U67 microphones and no place to set them up -- so we set it all up in my basement.

I've skimmed these reviews and am in complete agreement with their descriptions of the basic quality and amazing flexibility of this truly innovative microphone system. I've used it on vocals, bass (miking a Genz-Benz/SWR amp) and acoustic guitar in both modes - mono and stereo. It's truly amazing.

But I hope this review can illuminate a major reason this microphone is so amazing, the dedication of the folks at Townsend to produce and support an excellent tool for musicians and recording engineers/producers. After a great deal of handling, my cable failed. I contacted Chris Townsend and he immediately offered and they are shipping out a new cable. It's immediate caring service like that that impresses me almost as much as the superior quality of the product.

Thanks again Townsend for the beautiful sounding microphone and excellent service!

FYI: Since the cable is a standard 5 pin XLR to "left/right" 3 pin XLR connectors, the cable from my Rode NT4 filled in during yesterday's recording session with the Townsend.

I think this might be the first review I've ever written, but the Sphere deserves one. I've had this mic for 2 years now, use it all the time and it sounds amazing. I love the versatility of being able to adjust the things afterwards. The fact that it can also record stereo also makes life much easier. I have a small but eclectic mic locker (including a 70's Neumann probably worth more than my car) and I use the Sphere most of the time these days. Highly recommend

This was a great purchase. It was time to upgrade things around the studio, and the mic was the last item that needed to be addressed.

What I like best about it is that it can easily be adjusted for violin/fiddle to guitar/mandolin without having to mess with a huge boom stand mic that hangs so high in the air. Actually, this particular mic works best when you are not so far away from it like you may have been used to with other mics. Perhaps this has something to do with the modeling technology.

Nevertheless, it has a great sound and can be tweaked for however you want. One thing I will mention is that you should track with the Apollo in Rec mode rather than adding the plug-in later. I can 100 percent say that the sound is better when tracking with Rec mode activated rather than applying the plugin post recording. This is even with the same settings applied. What you should do is find the settings that works best for you and do all of your tweaking with an unaffected take on your designated instrument, and then save that preset and when you get ready to record, just make sure your Apollo is in Rec mode to get the best sound.

I highly recommend this mic to anybody for its sound, versatility, and customer support from Townsend.

Take care,

I've been following Townsend labs since this mic was a kickstarter, but couldn't get it at the time...or the other three times I tried to get it. Finally, it is mine! Definitely worth the money, and the wait. I've missed the beautiful sounds of all the mics this one can model. I've worked in major studios using the actual mics this one modles, but never could afford one so this was a smart buy for me. It's spot on, and no other mic gives you this... and the pattern change capability. Vocals sound outstanding!

I was going to buy a new high end condenser mic but had no clue which one to go with...then I came across this one. This mic is very versatile and immediately made me sound so much better because I had the flexibility to choose what mic suited my voice. I was about to buy a U87 and am glad I didn't because when I bought this mic I tried out the U87 emulation and it sounded terrible on my voice. This gave me the flexibility to try out various pre amp, mic, mic placement combinations until I found some that fit my voice. I have a breathy voice so I ended up with warmer sounding mic emulations on my vocals. The stereo mic feature in the "180" mode is very impressive on guitars and I don't have to worry about phase issues.

This mic just really sounds good and is extremely efficient work flow wise. Would recommend to anyone...even professional studios that have all of these fancy mics because of the workflow/efficiency improvements of being able to flip through mics.

Twenty years of experimenting with condenser mics and I'm utterly blown away by the L22. Just on its own, it's an excellent mic. Paired with the UA modeling systems, it's peerless at its price range, easily competing with mics five times its cost. Of course it doesn't quite have that last 5% that makes a vintage 47so magical. But that's why those cost tens of thousands. No matter what level of experience you're at, you really cannot go wrong with this amazing piece of gear.

I was skeptical until I read the reviews and decided to take a chance. Can't say I have ever owned any of the models that are represented in the software so this is only based on my opinions but I do own a Neumann TLM 49, a Warm Audio WA87, and an Avantone Tube Mic and the Townsend definitely stacks up. One of the best features is being able to change not only the mic model but the polar patterns and proximity effect after the fact. Also being able to blend 2 different mics is really worthwhile. You may have a whole stash of $1500-$10,000 microphones but if not this represents itself really well.

I am actually blown away, and that hasn't happened with a piece of gear in a very long time. Not only the amount of control, the mic models, etc. but just the mic itself when using Sphere Direct mode sounds fantastic before you even get into the digital modeling.

Also, the stereo capabilities are far greater than I expected. I was thinking it would just be a 180° spaced pair of single capsules, but each side uses both capsules to still give you full control of each polar patterns as you have when you are using mono. It's an UNBELIEVABLE stereo microphone in that respect.

The Sphere L22 truly is a groundbreaking progression in microphone technology.

I have never owned a great mic. I finally decided to upgrade my interface and mic. For mic, I saw so many great reviews about U47 clones. There was a mental draw to purchase one for the 'look'. But, I have a husky midrange-heavy voice and I was afraid a U47 may make me 'honky'. So I considered C12/251 clones. In my price range, I couldn't decide... Mic dilemma!!!

Then I stumbled across a YouTube review about why people, novice and pro, should buy the mic. I fall in the category of 'I know audio and have mixed/recorded a bunch of songs, but have never been around old vintage mics.' That review sold me. So I caved and bought the L22, hoping to find the desired tonal quality for my weird voice.

Only had the mic a few hours. Spent 5 min overdubbing a new vocal, and another hour listening to the various mic models, playing with polar pattern, proximity, axis. So many options! I'm SO GLAD I didn't buy a U47 clone. If the tonal quality is anything like the emulation, I would have been very disappointed with that upper midrange presence. It sounded like I was singing holding my nose. But the C12, ELAM251, Sony C800? Magical. Bright, airy, open, but not overly sibilant and tinny. It was the first time I didn't need any EQ for my voice to sit in the mix. I usually hate the sound of my own voice, but now I'm actually excited to record!


Also- Sweetwater rocks. TJ was so helpful. When I purchased, it said 'More on the Way,' but no ETA. TJ communicated immediately about it. Not more than a few hours later, the mic was back in stock and got to my house in Seattle a few days later. Great service!

The Sphere L22 is the best purchase of my musical gear career. Not only did my commitment years ago to go Universal Audio turn out to be a smart move. The seamless integration with the Sphere L22 has made my home studio a complete joy to work / play in.
These guys have flipped the audio world on it's head.

I was a skeptic. I'm not green. I've got some sharp ears. I did my research and I bought the mic. I still can't believe it. This microphones capabilities are astonishing! This is the only microphone that's ever brought a tear to my eye. A $30K mic could't buy that tear. This is the future. The future is f$%^ing cool. Dissenters haven't read up on it, haven't tested it, and possess these silly prejudiced biases/false presumptions toward the microphones capabilities; because they simply aren't up to date and haven't invested the time to understand. This is not a gimmick.

In short: Buy the mic. It's the real deal. You won't regret it.

I actually was going to purchase another microphone modeling system until I happen to check my email and there was the Sweetwater newsletter with a spotlight on the Townsends Lab Sphere L22 microphone system. I thought, "Dang", this looks... impressive. This looked like something strictly for a pro.. I'm a pro. So I had to have it. Before purchasing the L22, I had to check out the other guys mic system. A friend of mine had it and rave about it.. But to be honest he doesn't know anything about about microphones.. He's never owned a microphone.. So, I went with my mind and called my main man at Sweetwater, Dan Van.... and when it arrive I installed the plugin and hooked it up to my Apollo and I was floored .. this mic is awesome.

James Masterson, my sales rep here at Sweetwater, recommended The Sphere to me when I was asking questions about another mic. I'd honestly been saving for a few high end Neumanns, and slowly building out a mic locker, but I trust James and so I ordered. The Sphere is incredible. Being able to hone in your sound with so many options, and with one of the smoothest VSTs in my arsenal to boot...really helps capture your sound precisely then dial in the dynamics you prefer to really make it pop in your mix. To be able to make these kind of changes even after you've recorded is really mind blowing. No more recording extra takes to try out different mics.

I've had the pleasure of recording with some serious gear, and can tell you, it's highly doubtful you'll be able to tell the difference in the models from the real things. It's truly exceptional.

Even better, you get incredible service and support if you have any questions or concerns...and when I say incredible I mean world class. I encountered a minor issue on weekend, while I was in full inspiration mode, and not getting my vocal track the way I wanted it. So I wandered over to Townsend's website, looked through a few things and when I couldn't find the answer sent an email. This is like late night Saturday. I was totally expecting it would be Monday/Tuesday before hearing back. I'm sure you can imagine how floored I was when I got a response in less than an hour. No one in any industry does this!

If you're on the fence about the Sphere L22, I'll tell you, you'll really be glad if you get one. It will be the workhorse in my studio for many years to come. And just like Sweetwater, Townsend Labs has made me a lifetime customer.

As a relatively new engineer who's just starting to grow a microphone collection, the L22 offers me a lot of versatility in the studio. For a fraction of the price, I have the opportunity introduce the sounds of legendary microphones into my recordings. The fact that you can test multiple microphones for a source (even after you have recorded a track) and do so accordingly to better fit the mix, is just amazing. My workflow has greatly benefited since using the L22.

I highly recommend this microphone.

So sad that 5 stars are the limit here. There should be an option to go higher on ratings for some products.

Previous and current owner of a Shure 57 and a Neumann TLM 103 I was looking to purchase another mic because certain material simply didn't fit the tonal qualities or either of these mics.

After some research (I mean really really deep research) I committed to make the purchase.

I was initially impressed with the stylish and classy design of the case and mic. But after plugging it in and hearing what it did.... WOW!!! Totally was amazed at the many tonal qualities I could get out of if. Add to that the ability to deviate as much as I desired from the original models it provided by tweaking proximity, polarity and other parameter; being able to use 2 models in a stereo effect. What more can I say, this mic is beyond phenomenal and the ability to have so many models worth thousands of dollars at my immediate disposal gave me a very satisfying Return On my Investment. Put all those things in perspective and the price more than pays for itself many times over.

Also...... ended my trips to the local music store ;-)

Highly recommend this mic. I promise you won't regret the purchase

I can’t add anything technical to the prior reviews, so let’s focus on the people for a sec. Chris Townsend and Erik Papp did a double solid to the music industry with Sphere. They melded insane new tech with tradition, and made sure the most important part of the hardware - the user - remained front and center. From the newsletters and videos (which go so far beyond the casual did you know offerings found in other online newsletters that they’re closer to an interactive graduate course than a customer perk) to same day, even same hour email responses, you pretty much join a family when you buy a Sphere. I’m finding that between the modeling, the educational content and the customer service, Sphere isn’t a product - it’s an ecosystem. No wonder they sync so seamlessly and (it would appear) philosophically with UAD. I have the same rich, robust and customer-centric experience with both companies whenever I engage them. Townsend joins a growing group of CLASS ACT vendors that Sweetwater has introduced me to, with nothing less than phenomenal results, which is what Stuart Niven at SW promised me in the first place. (Chandler, RND, UA Apollo, Townsend, etc.)

If you’ve got 5k for a mic, get this one. If you’ve got 700 bucks, wait two months and get this mic. But get this mic ... and start living the reviews you’re reading here.

I purchased this microphone last year (after having another mic modeler). The Sphere is incredible. You can do things with this microphone (and software) that seems nearly impossible! Besides being able to change the microphone model after a track is recorded, you can change the axis, the polar pattern, the proximity effect. So many options in the software that gives the recording artist exactly what is needed to get that final touch!

Don't just buy one microphone for your studio. Buy this one and get many classic microphones. Also, Chris and Erik (the designers and owners) are extremely decent people who go out of their way to improve the product and they stand by it 100%.

(we used the Sphere as our microphone for the video attached).

I bought this mic after using a Rode N1 for vocals and some acoustic guitar recording. I was blown away when I redid vocals on a song with this mic. I could instantly hear the difference. It wasn't a subtle difference, it was obvious. The team at Townsend are very helpful. They gave me a list of their thoughts on which mic models work best for vocals and acoustic guitar. I can't wait to dive into all this mic can do. I would definitely recommend this mic to anyone looking for a great sounding mic and all the great options you have before and even after recording with it. Just amazing.

I'm an audio engineer. I have a degree and have worked in the top studios in my area for about four years now. I've been exposed to alot of high end mics. I recently decided to start my own professional studio. I didn't have the funds to duplicate alot of the studios I've worked out of but wanted something of high quality. With most of the local studios having a akg c414 or Neumann tlm 103 I wanted something different and better and I feel this microphone did just that! Having worked with alot of the mics this mic models I don't feel it has the same exact sound but I feel it is pretty close, especially for the price!

One think I love about this mic that I was unaware about before purchasing is how the mic lights up. OMG it's awesome! All my clients love it and helps me stand out! The thing I don't like about it is, it uses a special cable to record. It only comes with 15ft cord and recording with this mic is a different process than other mics. All in all I am satisfied with this mic. It is a great mic for the price and VERY versatile. I would recommend this mic

First of all, I love the Sphere. It absolutely changed the game for me once I purchased it a year or so ago. Funny enough, I had a VMS system for a few months and it wound up having capsule failure in the middle of a record. Coincidentally my friend had purchased a Sphere prior and he brought it over for me to finish the record and I was in love. I Immediately went to Sweetwater and purchased this one that I've been using for every record since then.

I've worked with so many different mics working in different studios (Neumann, Telefunken, etc.) and I'll say this does them all perfectly!! Most of the time I'm using the C800 model on Teddy Swims, unless it's a more old-school jam. I believe the "Rock With You" cover and the "Mercy Mercy Me" covers were the NOS u67, just to match up with the vibe of the original. Also really liking the Soyuz!

We recently put out a cover of Sarah Smile where we did the whole song live, full band. For this project I wound up using my Sphere and my friends in conjunction with a few other mics. I was considering using the second Sphere as a room mic, but wound up using it right above the kick in stereo to make the drums have some width between the ride and the hi hat and it turned out GREAT!! Still want to give it a shot in the kick one day!

I will say that I've put on about 3 - 4 other people to the Sphere system and they're all incredibly happy with their results, so you've definitely got something special on your hands!!

Incredibly quiet (7db self noise A weighted), highly flexible, FAST + easy to use, and rich sounding microphone (especially in tandem with the modeling).

There are a few mics that (I think) it doesn"t quite replace, even just in terms of modeling the specific mics" polar patterns, but hey... that would be an incredibly tall and (currently) challenging feat to accomplish.

Ex: a U47 mic with an M7 style capsule... in my opinion, it doesn"t nail this for me. Not when I"ve got the real deal. It just sounds noticeably smoother on the top, and the polar pattern doesn"t reach in the same way.

Ribbons just don"t quite have the smoothness/roll off of a real ribbon. It"s a good approximation emulation, but from my tests, anyway, it doesn"t really do the same thing. *Again, the actual polar patterns themselves are so unique from model to model (in real life).

What I think the Townsend mic IS:

1) An unbelievable value. If you have a UAD system, this belongs in your rig. It just does.

2) An undoubtedly unbelievably good sounding mic that gets you arguably 90-95% there (of what"s needed, anyway) when it comes to replicating the sounds of several classic microphones. In particular, I love the various C12"s and C800 mics. I mean: you couldn"t buy even ONE of those in real life for the price of 3-5 of these (easily), so for this reason alone, for a primary or alternate LDC for vocals, it"s simply not a question: just buy it.

The entire team at Townsend should be absolutely proud of this combination hardware mic and integrated software. You end up paying about 2K for the mic with two additional UAD suites, but gosh... once you hear it, you know it"s worth it.

Other than Slate, I don"t know of a similarly performing system that is low noise (Townsend is the quietest) and is so easy and satisfying to use. If I had to sell all my other mics, this would be the one I"d keep.

This thing is absolutely amazing. I have used 20 grand mics in the studio, Townsend is toe to toe with these microphones.

Electronic digital wave forms do not give a flip about the label on the microphone, Digital waves are digital waves. It does not matter if the wave forms where made by Neumann or Townsend the wave is going to respond the way it is laid down digitally. This microphone is absolutely worth every dime. I wish I had found it sooner so I would not have spent thousands of dollars on microphones.

It's the best modeling microphone on the market available right now, bar none. The level of control you get with this mic is unrivaled, and the key abilities of being able to change polar patterns AFTER recording has for me been the killer feature. This system also helps when you have less than desirable rooms to record in as it lets you dial in with surgical precision on recording targets better than anything else available, so you can help dial down unwanted room noise on a vocal track by emulating a pickup pattern from a tighter pickup pattern for an emulation that did'nt previously offer it.

The team at Townsend Labs are also incredible to work with (Ordering from Sweetwater, the icing on the cake) and are continuing to develop new and incredible Microphone emulations to give you a mic locker rivaling even the biggest studios.

Plain and simple.... if you are shopping for the best mic to rule them all..... JUST GET IT.

Greetings, I purchased this mic roughly 2 months ago and cannot explain how happy i am with its performance and options. A question i had regarding the plugin was answered immediately when i called the townsend Labs customer service number... thank you for help...

Townsend Labs sphere is the ONLY microphone worth paying over $1000 for. Not only is it able to exactly model the microphone characteristics of vintage legendary microphones, it gives you unprecedented new age flexibility in the recording process. The technology in the microphone and plugin combo allows you to do things that are physically impossible, like get the sweet buttery sound of a ribbon mic with a hyper cardoid pickup. The microphones modeling system comes with a ton of microphones to choose from, so you can record the vocalist and then flick through microphones to find out what mic sounds best on their voice. Townsend support is incredible as well, I emailed them with some questions and they got back to me very quickly and were extremely helpful. Don't waste your time with other more expensive less flexible microphones, and also don't waste your time with less expensive cheaper mics. Save your money, and buy this one. It's that good, and you'll never need another microphone. It's also a no brainer if you have UAD, as the mic comes w a voucher for the UAD plug.

Love the mic. Now it's time to start selling the rest of my locker on ebay!! The Sphere is gorgeous even before the plugin! Well built mic, very sensitive, and easy to set up.

I thought it couldn"t get better than UAD products for my small project studio, then I tried Townsend Labs, Sphere L22 microphone. This is an awesome example of technology that leans toward the future of music recording and audio production. It's an incredible microphone in itself. From the UAD Townsend, Bill Putnam, & Ocean Way collections, you have access to all the mics you could ever dream of and more! The adjustments you can make to the proximity, polar patterns, etc., It's the future!

The ability to create the legendary sound and charisma of the recording industry"s iconic microphones is a real value. Being a composer and instrumentalist I can use a U47 like Rudy Van Gelder used on many of the most famous jazz records on sax, or pull up a RCA 44 Ribbon mic like John Williams may have used on his Oscar winning film scores for flute.

Finally, if you need customer support, you can expect extraordinary service from everyone at Townsend Labs from the owner, CEO, on down. Overall experience in one word, Amazing!

I"ve been through the home recording process.. Garage band.. to Logic Pro X ..now -Pro Tools..
And it went parallel with gear..mics&boards with usb inputs.. to presonus ...now. UAD audio... I"m a singer songwriter production guy that doesn"t wanna pay for studio time so nice vocals and acoustic guitar are important. I started with some OK mics like the ST77,SM7B,AKG"s and TLM 103 it"s an ok home demo setup .. still love them! But having this in my back pocket is truly amazing! It"s the future of mics. No question! Yikes! If I could have gone back in time and had this it would have been game over. The Apollo Interface and the sphere L22 mic is are like forrest and Jenny together building shrimp"n boats for singer songwriters to float across an open ocean of love and opportunity...ok ok... not really but this mic is all you need... peas and carrots kids! Grab that stuff thang and never look back! You"ll thanks me.. but I don"t need thanks... because I already own this mic! Bammm! Mic drop... but not this one... I like it too much.

The more I use my Sphere L22 the more I love this mic. Its capabilities seem almost endless and my production level/performance in studio has increased significantly. Additionally the Townsend Sphere community is very tight knit and supportive. Very happy with my purchase!

Had this mic up and running in 10 minutes. Recorded an acoustic guitar and a vocal just to test my hookup...Wow!, This thing sounds great all by itself and could easily sit in a fine mic locker all by itself, but this software...man, it is unreal how cool this software is. I cant afford 3K mics and honestly my ears probably couldn't tell the difference, but I do know a great sound when I hear one and this mic software has a bunch of them. Can't wait to hear it on a drum overhead...incredible!!!!

I've been a Townsend Labs Sphere L22 owner for the past year. I started with the original mic set that came with the L22 in May '18. It has proven ideal for tracking a percussive "deep tissue" acoustic guitarist over the past months. The L22 perfectly captures his Martin D-28 and J-40 guitars.

Right off the bat, my mind was completely blown by the versatility offered between the modeled mics, powerful polarity options beyond the polarity options of the original mics, the L22 running as two different mics in stereo, and the ability to alter the proximity via Sphere! To be able to to track the two channels, and then later while mixing, to decide which mic is the best for that vocalist, instrument etc. Townsend has implemented some amazingly great science, but it still seems like super cool futuristic magic! And then a few months later, Townsend added more mics to the core collection for free!

I was so impressed by the L22 and Sphere, and Sphere180, that I bought the Oceanway mic collection, and later the Putnam collection. So now I have a dream mic cabinet with tons of amazingly beautiful modeled classic mics. Realistically, I could never afford to find, much less buy these original stellar mics.

So last week I learned I will be working on a larger recording project in July, and it was clear it was time to buy a second L22. Thank you Chris and Erik for developing and supporting such a fantastic mic and killer software!

I can't say enough good things about the Sphere L22. Townsend Labs have outdone themselves with this system. The modeling is spot on. The flexibility is unparalleled. The technology behind it is one of the few true advances in microphone technology in decades. The plugin runs great with low overhead even without the UAD version. I can't find anything not to like about this thing. OK the supplied cable is too short (10ft) but that is easily remedied. Their website has a comprehensive FAQ that has a number of replacements and/or extenders. They even give you the pin outs to make your own. They also have a good blog going with a large number of tips and articles. I'm impressed. This one's a keeper.

A word on Sweetwater's customer service. Fedex actually lost the first order and my rep Mason Boisvert and his colleague Randy had another one in my hand within a couple of days. Thanks again guys! You are the reason I shop here!

I have been using the Sphere L22 for a year now in various genres of music and applications ranging between experimental electroacoustic music as well as classical and popular music recording.

I can say with confidence that this is one of the best sounding mics I have had the chance to play with AND BY FAR the most versatile microphone system I have ever used!

If had to choose one moment as a highlight here is real life scenario: picky client, wanted to record really fast without giving me enough time to soundcheck (saxophone). I placed the mic in front of the sax, took levels, and hit the record button. In the studio, he didn't particularly liked the bright sound of the default sound. I picked "Dual Mode" and blended a Neumann49 with the Coles4038....job done!
In all honesty, I don't know of another microphone/pre-amp combo that could provide me with safer and such great results.

The latter is especially true when recording large ensembles such as orchestras and choirs. Usually we don't have much time to bring the Decca tree down and switch mics and polar patterns considering we have a 40-90 people waiting on us. However, when using the Sphere that is not an issue as I can change polar patterns and mic models instantly (good isolation headphones required for this application).

To conclude, I have used the Sphere as a stand alone mic (doing all of the heavy lifting on its own), in combination with other mics (mainly stereo array of ribbons), and as a filler mic in a more extensive mic array when recording classical music. I haven't had a single instance where this Sphere + Software couldn't give me great results.

Strongly recommended!

I"ve had my Sphere l22 for almost a year for in a half and have been nothing but impressed. My other mics include an Advanced Audio CM47 and a stereo matched pair of AA CM414"s. I also have a handful of typical dynamics (sm57"s/58"s, sennheiser and Audix). I am not someone who has had experience with the myriad of vintage (and often rare) mics modeled in the three Townsend collections (2 of which are currently UA exclusive) so my own perspective is limited. However, I have done shootouts with the various u47 models and the CM47 as well as the CM414"s vs the Townsend 414"s. The results with the Townsend are entirely convincing based on what I understand of the Advanced Audio iterations paired w/ my notions of the sound & characteristics associated with the mics modeled in the Townsend collections. I merrily use the Townsend Sphere for drum overheads, acoustic guitars, upright bass, guitar cabinets, saxophone, violin and of course, vocals. It is now my go to. I love the 180 (stereo) possibilities (as well), plus - the ability to select polar patterns and proximity AFTER having recorded the source - fabulous. This is my work horse mic and couldn"t be more pleased.

This is an amazing system. It is the future for sure. I now have all of the classic mic sounds I wanted in one system for a fraction of what I would spent on just the 2 mics I was looking at. Customer service has been top notch as I learn all that this amazing Microphone can do. I am anxious to dig deeper as I have only scratched the surface of what this thing can do. Don't wait buy it and enjoy it with confidence.

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to have your hair blown back. Prepare to close the door on the many mics in your mic locker. For the Sphere will become your "go to mic. This is as much a work of audio art as it is simply a microphone. It is a Shakespearean sonnet. This mic was suggested to me by Carson McClain, my man at Sweetwater!!. Carson has NEVER steered me wrong, at any time, and the Sphere continues that tradition of absolute trust. I pulled the sample audio files into Pro Tools and listened to the samples through my studio monitors so that I could really critically listen. . I was blown away, I have not used any of my other mics (large and small capsules, condensers, ribbons and dynamics since) regardless of source, vocals, guitars, percussion. Why would I? I instantiate the Universal Audio plugin on the track, and both direct in from my interface and through a UA 4-710d mic pre(s). Stunning on both. The modeling allows you to become the kid in the candy store. Frankly it has to be experienced. This takes mic modeling into another dimension (a sphere if you will). Don't forget that it is requires a stereo input on your track, regardless of the mic modeled, and two channels from your interface and or mic pre's. How do I love thee? In so many ways it is hard to count them! (apologies to the Bard) Thank you Carson and thank you Townsend!

I can"t recommend the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 enough! I own 3 of them and It has been a total game changer for us at Gurari Studios. It integrates perfectly into the UA system with its low latency monitoring and the ability to commit or not. I own or have used many of the microphones modeled and they are spot on! I"m particularly fond of the Bill Putnam collection. My studio specializes in critical/high end classical recordings and we have been using the L22 since it first came out back in August of 2017 on everything from narrations on documentaries to opera singers, strings, piano, etc. Every client has been BLOWN away by the results! The ability to choose a microphone, polar pattern, adjust axis, and off axis correction after it has been recorded is a total game changer. With Opera singers, every note counts…No more wasting time setting up multiple microphones and having them repeat phrases to find the right mic. Just audition all the models after the fact and pick the mic and polar pattern that suits your needs. When recording opera singers, I tend to use a modified M/S array. I put one L22 in stereo handling the sides and the other L22 in mono typically with a figure 8 pattern handling the middle. I tend to make the sides ultra-wide (using the provided software) and then fill in the center with the mono mic. This gives me incredible depth and "air" to the sounds which is very desirable in classical music. Also, because the SPL can be so high at times (especially from coloratura and dramatic sopranos) that it can cause distortion at the diaphragm, but with the ability to turn the mic in stereo with the diaphragms pointed to the sides, it rarely ever distorts. The ability to automate and rotate the axis also helps create more "air" in the sound when they hit those ear shattering high notes. The L22 is one of the most important pieces of gear we own and we own A LOT of gear.

Hey everyone! I wanted to share this with you in case anyone is considering a mic modeling system. Part of me was skeptical, and of course it probably isn"t as good as the real things, but the practicality of it appealed to me as well as the price. Also, plugins are getting so good that a lot of traditionally analog mixers are now mixing in the box. So I thought I would give it a try.

I set it up yesterday and I am loving the Townsend labs mic so far. Tried it on vocals and acoustic guitar and sounded amazing. I used the Ocean Way 47 model on lead and backing vocals and on strumming and finger picking acoustic I used a 251.

Both really sound like the real thing (the 47 took me back to when I recorded vocals with Sylvia Massy on a vintage Telefunken 47; the 251 reminded me of when we used one at Jackson Browne"s studio recording acoustic guitars.

Using the UAD Apollo 8 as my interface and mic pre, I used the 1073 unison preamp before the mic plugin, which of course technically is wrong but Townsend say people are getting good results like this. I tried no 1073 but it definitely adds something... hopefully UAD make console app have a mic slot before the unison one day.

I had the plugin in monitor mode so could change the mic after if I wanted, which is such a cool feature in itself. I think next time will just commit but since was first time using it I didn"t.

The singer, who is a super successful singer songwriter based here in LA, and who has recorded at a lot of studios, was blown away by the mic and wants one already. I didn"t really have to eq after for the mix, mainly just high pass filter. Was awesome to be able to get things right at the source...

Exceptional value for money too...

Flexibility is great too. To be able to have this mic setup all the time and then switch models depending on what I am recording - I also used it in stereo mode and recorded a solo acoustic finger picking part which was going to be the only guitar on a song, and was great to have this not just be in mono for when it came to mix... I also recorded hand percussion in my live room with it in stereo mode which gave my claps some room/depth which I would otherwise have had to fake...

I highly recommend this mic!! Andy Rice my sales engineer was so great as always in getting this mic to me so quickly in time for a session and also his advice is always accurate and I also recommend him if you don't have someone you already work with a Sweetwater. Thanks Andy!!

This mic really is the future. Total game changer. The fact that I can perform mic shootouts AFTER tracking is such a time saver for me and the client. Also, what I thought might have sounded like the magic combo initially can be changed once I really start diving into the mix. Thought a U67 was the way to go? Well, just swap that mic out for a ELAM 251 and now your vocal is gold! Acoustics in stereo Sphere 180 sound like a dream! Perfect phase and richness. I even messed up once while tracking a violin and didn't have the right capsule xlr plugged in. Still sounded killer even when it has have way plugged in and off-axis. You really can't lose with this beast!

A fantastic mic even if you disregard the modeling. Very clean and detailed. I bought it primarily for vocals and the ability to flip through variations of mics quickly to try out different sounds. But after putting it on acoustic guitar, using the 180 stereo version of the plugin... instantly blown away with the result. So simple to get a spectacular recording. The Sphere is definitely my new favorite mic. That it just happens to also have the ability to change its character at the click of a button through software, well, added bonus.

I have a locker of very nice mics that I have collected over the last 25 yrs, including AKG, Schoeps, Blue, Earthworks, Lawson and others. I no longer reach first for any of them for critical tasks.

My 24K gold 47 tube clone is great, but this mic has less than 1/2 the self noise and far superior transient pickup -- right there with the Earthworks. Oh, that is just the mic with no use of the emulation software.

The included clones:
-the 47 is meaty and classic 50's-60's-70's
-the 67 is great on electric guitar cabs
-the modified 87 sounds IDENTICAL to one owned by one of my clients.
-the 12? clear and present, but no harshness
-the 251 is simply to die for. This purchase is worth it for this one clone. My Lowden dreadnaught never sounded so good. A singer this week said, "this mic scares me!", because of the incredible nuances and rich timbre.
-the 800 is purity defined
-the tube emulations are dead on

Yeah, I could go on, but I would buy this again just for the 251 emulation.

Revolutionary is the best word.

It delivers on it"s promises...I use it on the UAD platform and I"m extremely happy with the build quality, sound choices and flexibility.

This Microphone is INCREDABLE !! thu my Universal Audio Interfaces. There is Nothing you can NOT Accomplish with this Microphone ,Universal Audio Interfaces and Control 1 Controller .I Love them All !! All Bought with at Sweetwater . Good Prices and Equipment that can accomplish anything I Demand. What more could you ask Except a Free One for Writing this . :-)

On it's own, this mic has a great sound. Smooth, nice even response, gentle proximity effect, a really nice mic. Then you start experimenting with the L-22's plugin and man, oh, man it's an amazing mic! Changing mic emulation after I cut a track really helps me shape the take for the voice I'm trying to be. It's subtle but powerful at the same time. Its a quality piece of gear with great documentation and a very user friendly plugin interface. The best thing I ever bought in 2018 will be the future of my success in 2019!

First off ... the mic emulations are amazing. Discernibly distinct, each and every one. Plus their most recent expansions (Ocean Way / Bill Putman). Really boundless.

What I REALLY love is the recording chain. So many creative possibilities. Record such interesting harmonies using face-to-face vocalists on either side of the mic. Instruments as well. Then manipulating the stereo tracks with the emulations ... watching the Queen biopic at the theater this past week and the scene where they are recording the vocals for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' I am thinking, "What if Queen had access to these capabilities?!?!?"

This microphone is incredible. On its own the balance, warmth, and tonality are just wonderfully clear, but what truly makes this the future is the plugin that comes with it. I am able to set so many different parameters to get the perfect tone, polarity etc.

GET IT!

I don't write a lot of gear reviews. Life seems so busy. When the Sweetwater email came in asking "Please Share Your Thoughts" about this purchase, I marked the email as "unread" so it would stay at the top of my inbox till I could write a review, because I wanted to write one.

I'm a big fan of Universal Audio: the Apollo series, UAD-2 plugins, Thunderbolt Satellite OCTO units, etc. Universal Audio and Mac Pro are my jam! And I've owned a lot of mics. My most-loved mics -- and most-missed, if sold -- have been: seElectronics RNR1, several vaunted Blue microphones, Shure SM7B, Avantone large diaphragm tube mics, and a smattering of other mics, from well-known to obscure. I haven't owned any really high-end mics, like the Manley Reference Gold large diaphragm (etc.), but I have spent well over $2K on a single microphone purchase several times over the past few years.

When I first heard about the Sphere L22, I just made mental note. I wasn't interested because I had good mics.

More recently, I began planning my next recording project. I started thinking about how best to record my vox and acoustic instruments (ac guitar, percussion, and various found noises). In the past, I had good luck using matched pairs of sE Electronics SE5s for ac guitar. And the RNR1 worked great for vox and ac guitar. But my time is limited. I started thinking about efficiency. What's the least amount of setup with the most flexibility? Ironically, I dreaded auditioning all of my mics! "If only there was a way to do this quickly and virtually..." The Sphere L22 "seed" had been planted months earlier, and now it sprouted! I read a lot of reviews, which seemed universally positive. So I took the plunge. (And thanks to Sweetwater's Richard Whittington! Long overdue shoutout.)

My first recording session was for a friend. A mutual friend of ours was going to lay down vox at my studio. This was a great chance take the Sphere L22 for a spin.

The mic has proprietary connector -- similar to XLR but with more (and much smaller) pins. That cable splits into two XLR-M balanced cables. Those go into separate channels of your board or interface. (The Sphere L22 should be recorded on both of these channels; Townsend Labs recommends putting them on a single stereo track in your DAW.) In my case, I plugged them into channels 7 & 8 of my Apollo 8p. In the Universal Audio Console app I linked 7/8 to behave like a single stereo channel. I added the UAD-2 Townsend Labs Sphere plugin to that channel, and UAD-2 Pure Plate so the vocalist would sound great in her headphones. I made sure the Console app was set to "UAD MON" (Monitor Only) so I would not record the effected signal.

In the DAW, I used the same plugins. Days later, I tried I tried several other virtual mics on recorded vocals, and decided to go with a different mic for mixing. (This seems to be one of the most powerful aspects of the Sphere L22: choosing a different mic or mics after the fact.)

Sound: as far as I can tell, this microphone captures everything beautifully. It's seems like a very well-made, well-designed microphone.

Absolutely stunning in every respect. This mic is brilliant out of the box, but when coupled with the UAD modeling plugins, (I broke my bank and bought all three UAD mic modeling suites, but I don't give a hoot after hearing these beauties). Thank you to Chris and Eric at Townsend for their genius and creativity in creating this. I only dreamed about even trying to hear what I sounded like on a "real" 87, but this gives me the full experience - plus many, many more... it is insane. For $... you are literally investing in a mic locker that would set you back over a $100K, if you were actually lucky enough to find them in usable condition. This is the democratization of music production at its best. Is $... expensive... it's all relative to what you're getting, and for this beauty (and the treasure trove of sonic options it unlocks), it's essentially a giveaway!

I'm a total tech novice and I was nervous of being actually able to use it, but let me tell you, it works so seamlessly and flawlessly with the UAD system, that a well-behaved and responsible child could figure it out in seconds. Unbelievable.

I had a question about one aspect of the system and so I emailed the Townsend support website. Well, the inventor and owner of the company, Chris Townsend himself, emailed me personally within ten hours with the answers I needed. I have never had the actual owner/CEO of a company interact with customers like that. Brilliant service and support from Townsend Labs. Support this company because they are truly doing it for music - it is a creation of love for all of us who cannot begin to afford tends of thousands of dollars on the "actual" mics. I promise you, these emulations (from the included Townsend Labs, to the UAD Ocean Way and Bill Putnam collection) will leave you breathless.

And, Sweetwater, of course, were amazing in their service and shipping of this gem. Shoutout to Brian V, my point man at SW!

So, I had budgeted to buy a U87 and C800G, which are the current go to for Hip Hop/R&B/Gospel. I love everything UA has done so far and they have not disappointed, so I figure I should give the Townsend Labs a try (since UA did). This thing just completed my mic cabinet...with 1 Mic (well a pair, but you get the point). My ears can't tell the difference on U87/C800G/C12/414/Coles and these are all that I ever use (except for D112 on kick). They even got the SM57 right (someone had too much time on their hands to model $100 mic with a $1500 mic). I was skeptical to buy a mic that relies so heavily on tech (because on longevity), but the L22 sounds great without anything else. Forsake all others and get this mic. Just remember to commit to your sound going in, or else you will spend days auditioning different mics after the recording (and I can't get those days back). Chris Townsend and Erik Papp, I am hugging you over internet right now!

I took along time to make the decision (I was skeptical). I had ordered the U67 reissue (2 month wait) and I needed a mic for a big session so I decided to bite the bullet and purchased this baby from sweetwater. It is such an amazing mic that I cancelled the order for the U67 reissue and saved my self $!!!!

I have used most of the original mics like Neumann U67, U47,U87 and the Telefunken 251 in recording studios that the Sphere L22 emulates and I am extremely amazed with each emulation, Townsend Labs have achieved what companies like Antares has been trying for over 10 plus years and we thought was impossible but today we have a masterpiece! This Mic sounds amazing even without the emulation, the mic looks very nice and the Sphere plug in is easy to use.

The first recording I did with it was through a pair of Neve 1073's going in to the Apollo 16 MKII directly to the Townsend Labs Plugin using a U47 emulation routed to a pair of LA-2A's with the same settings and from there to the DAW and the results where astonishing. I also tried by-passing the LA-2A's for a clean signal directly from the Neve's to DAW and placed the Townsend Labs Plug in on a stereo track and was amazed with every mic emulation and how easily I could change a mic, the proximity effect and the polar pattern with just a click even after the recording was done!!! Do not hesitate just do it your recordings will not regret it and you bank will thank you for it!

I was worried about ordering this mic for two reasons. First, I was worried the emulations wouldn't live up to the feel of the real thing. Secondly, I was concerned that the endless mic choices would cause choice-paralysis and make it harder to commit to a sound. Well, I've had this mic for seven months now, and I can safely say that neither of those fears were realized. It is fantastic. At the surface level, it does excellent recreations of the mics it emulates. I've compared it directly to a number of really nice valve mics and I was always able to find a model on the Sphere that was as good or better. I don't want to trash any of those valve mics (I still haven't sold any of mine, as they still are fantastic and have their use), but the Townsend really is top-notch. It's really nice to be able to pull any of those models out when needed. It would be worth the price just for the fantastic emulations. The Sphere mic without any emulations is also a really solid, balanced condenser mic.

But the fun is really only beginning. Where it really shines is in its versatility. A lot of my clients work with me from the songwriting phase all the way up through demoing and then master recording. This means that I need to be ready to capture a great performance at any point in the process. The best vocal take just might be the initial demo version. Maybe we decide to bang on the desk and stomp and clap instead of recording drums for the demo and the sound ends up being perfect for the song. I used to stress about selecting the correct mic (or mics) for these occasions because there's no worse feeling than poorly recording a fantastic performance. This meant that I would often have to choose between going with whatever mic I kept out for quick demoing (usually an Sm7b) and keep the inspiration going or testing out other mics to find the "right" one.

With the Sphere, that stress is gone. I can record a vocalist I've never recorded before with the Sphere and be fully confident that I can pick the right mic for her or him later using the Sphere plugin. Maybe they were a little too close to the mic for a perfect tone? No problem. Just back off the proximity effect in the plugin. Some of the 's sounds are a little harsh. NBD, just move the singer slightly off axis in post. Ok, i just recorded a vocal but now I need stereo mics to capture some claps. Easy, since the Sphere can be used in stereo. Now it's time to mic a guitar cab and I don't want to lose the inspiration while I run and grab my ribbons or my 57. Simple, just move the Sphere to the guitar cab.

Even better, because I run the Sphere through the preamps on my Apollo, I can save presets in Console to get back to the same settings quickly and easily. Not only do I save presets for particular singers, but I have starter presets for micing an acoustic or micing a guitar amp, etc that make it even faster to get great results. If I like the sound I've got, I can just print the Sphere emulations on the way in to ProTools. Boom. No issues with choice-paralysis.

And we still haven't gotten to the more wild, creative uses of the Sphere plugin. I can get a great "lo-fi" sound by flipping the singer/amp/guitar 180 degrees off axis. You can get cool phase-cancellation effects with the Sphere 180 plugin . . . you can even automate them to create your own chorus-like effect. One trick I tried recently that I thought produced cool results was to use the Sphere as a drum overhead and have it in mono for the first verse before flipping it to stereo when the chorus hit. The drums went from tight to huge in an instant.

Anyway, the bottom line is that the Sphere is a truly great mic for both the beginner and the seasoned pro. Beginners can skip all the fancy settings and just go with the stock emulations. Pros, on the other hand, will probably come up with some wildly inventive uses for the more complex parameters. Most mics that can do it all aren't necessarily great at any single thing. This mic really can do it all and do it really well.

I'll make this short and sweet. I owned two Slate VMS, and although they were nice, I had to get the Townsend Sphere when I heard my buddy's. Not only does it integrate seamlessly with my UA Apollo system, but it sounds incredible. It's also pretty handy to have a stereo mic for certain recording applications. This mic is MOST DEFINITELY the definitive modern emulation microphone. Sure, it's more expensive, but you get what you pay for. This thing is solidly built and doesn't feel like some cheap Chinese import. Can't recommend it enough.

I was auditioning several preamps just to give me a different flavor and tone for my vocal tone (Heritage HA-73, Manley Core, LA 610) and that was cool but people have always said that you get more variety of tone with different microphones but that was not economical for me to buy several different mics just to have different tones. I went to Gear Fest a couple of weeks ago and I was able to audition the Townsend L22 mic for myself and I was very impressed. I was impressed by the different tones that were available without harshness in the high frequencies (like I"ve heard from the Slate microphone). I went ahead and purchased it and when I got home I was very happy with my decision. I have recorded several people with it so far and the first thing that everyone says is "wow, this mic sounds nice". I was initially worried about buying a virtual mic that is paired with software, what if they stop development of the software or if it becomes incompatible, but I was already looking to buy a Neumann TLM103 and this mic without the software sounds better than that, infact it has been compared to the U87 microphone. So even if the software stops being developed (which I don"t think that"ll happen) then you"re still left with a great sounding mic.
I am using the Townsend L22 along with UAD preamps which is giving me a huge palette of different tones for my vocal chain, I am very happy.

I can't get over how great it is to instantly compare classic mic models, positions, axes, etc. to each other as well as to mics in my own locker. The ability to make decisions either before OR after tracking (or both!), and with the excellent variety of UAD preamp models available.. well the word "revolutionary" gets thrown around a lot, but this does represent a truly new way of working. It's seriously FUN, as well.

The sound quality of the Sphere mic is amazing on it's own.. then the Townsend mic models and UAD plugins only add to this experience. I've already "discovered" classic mic models to be regularly used in my sessions. The only challenge for me, really, is how best to handle this wealth of riches and make decisions quickly without getting too caught up in the fun of auditioning all this sonic goodness!

I don"t know if this sounds like all the mics being modeled, mainly cuz I will never be able to afford the real things, but this sounds really great to me. HOWEVER, as impressed as I was, I wasn"t blown away u til I downloaded UAD ocean way mic pack trial. A couple of those models really did it for me.
I usually use a 416 for VO. It"s fantastic and cutting but this another flavor. Richer mids. Sounds expensive. Unfortunately for my wallet, I must keep both. Really love it.

The Townsend Labs Sphere L22 has been a game changer for me in my daily studio work. I have been tracking myself on multiple instruments with multiple mics on a regular basis for years. The setup, positioning, takedown, and handling of multiple channels has been worth it, but very time consuming. I have long seen microphones as a way to lend different colors to my sonic palette. When I ordered the Sphere mic, I was hopeful that I would find some more useful colors to record with.
Now that I've worked for months with the Sphere mic, I am able to work much more quickly, with many more options than I had before. The different models sound excellent, and the ablility to blend two different microphone models in real time, while tracking through my UAD Apollo interface, has helped me get the feel I'm looking for during a take. Then, the ability to work on the models, the proximity and the off-axis response after the fact, as the arrangement and mix comes together, has meant that I am so much more able to get the color and energy I want for a song.
Since the UAD plugin of the mic models from Ocean Way has been available for the Sphere mic system, I've not only got a whole other locker's worth of mics incredible vintage mic models to choose from, I've also been able to seamlessly place my recordings in the Ocean Way Studios plugin to get an even greater variety of choice re: reverbs and re-shaping of my acoustic environment.
Basically, I now leave the Sphere mic up all the time during tracking, and I am free to work as fast as my ideas and energy will allow. This mic system has exceeded my expectations, and I do not say that lightly. Thank you Townsend Labs and Sweetwater, I'm really grateful.

...To my friends who shop with Sweetwater: This isn't just another microphone that can sound like classic microphones, it's the studio microphone re-imagined, with the latest in materials, manufacturing processes, and digital signal processing. There's nothing else like it and never has been. Sure, it can do stunning reproductions of classic microphones, my personal favorites being the ELAM 251 and the U47. But there's a lot more to it than that. The most relevant for my vocal work is the ability to vary the pattern and, proximity effect to suit the situation. For example, there's a breathy part needed and you ask the singer to get close to the mic for effect. Usually this creates a buildup of low frequencies that isn't easily tamed with an eq. But now I can do this by reducing proximity effect via software. It can handle 140db but is quiet as can be. You can put it on a loud combo amp, in front of an orchestra, close to trumpet, or sneak it tight to a drum kit, no problem, it can handle it. This is only my first one but I plan to get more!

So I get my L22, first impression, solid build, greatly packaged. I register it, download the plug ins, and I"m up and running in less than 30 minutes. Right off the bat the software is extremely intuitive, visually appealing, and extremely flexible.
3 days later I plug it back in and the calibration light doesn"t come on... uh oh. I call Townsend and am lucky enough to speak with the cofounder himself, Erik. Right away Erik lets me know, god forbid we don"t fix the problem right now, we"ll ship another one right away, no questions asked. After we troubleshoot every possible scenario we find out my outboard preamp was not giving a full 48v to the mic. The mic worked fine! Now I have to replace my pre but thanks to Erik I know that! Also thanks to Erik and team I have the most amazing sounding and versatile mic I"ve ever owned/been in the presence of. Townsend rocks! Killer product, killer customer service! Don"t think twice and buy one...NOW!

I just love my Sphere L22. I can"t say it enough, I just love Sphere! I"m getting my studio organized and the Sphere L22 has become the centerpiece of it all. Don't wait.. buy this awesome mic system now!!

This mic modeling system is astounding. Beautiful models of classic mics. But you can also essentially create your own mic, by combining two different mics and mixing them in any percentage you want (I prefer and 50/50 split between a U47 and an AKG C12). It's also great to be able to track with the setup I like, OR process the recording later. And to be able to play with various polar patterns (especially after recording), including patterns that don't exist on the original classic mics, is a real treat and a very useful tool. Sure, it might seem expensive, but given what it does (did I mention the L22 is an awesome mic all by itself, and the modeling software is included in the price) I think it's a great deal and a great investment.

I didn't even know this type of microphone existed, but the more I learned about the microphone the more I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I purchased 2 L22's and when I tried them out for the first time I realized this microphone is a game changer. It gives you all the sounds of the classic hard to find microphones and so much more. I even think that the sound of the microphone itself without trying to sound like the classic microphones sounds amazing. I thank all the great minds at Townsend Labs for bringing this great product to the masses, and I'm thankful to my Sweetwater rep, for getting this microphone to me A.S.A.P

I have a vintage u47, M49 and C800 (the 800 not the g). I built a new studio a few years ago and was thinking when I paid off the construction which I will do in about a month or 2 from now. I was going to buy a Telefunken C12, 251 and a Sony C800g. I still want to buy those three mics but I can just see them sitting in the closest not getting used with the Sphere. I guess the money will be better spend elsewhere. What really blows me away with this mic is you can change the polar pattern later. This is such a big deal to be able to change this when you have the mix at 95%+ finished. Picking what mic version version I like to do that in the start of the mix and not change it throughout. What you think sounds good when you are recording can change quickly when you get to mixing the vocals after the music is set up with the mix. I own two of the counter brand mics and have to say this one is better. I have plenty of different pres but I like this through a 1071. If you are looking into this mic I am sure you already know you need two channels of mic pres with this mic.

Maybe the real deal mics are 1% or so better but when you get that close does it really even matter? I say it is much more important to be able to change mics/polar patterns later then get the other 1% or so in better quality. Also, singers do not like spending a hour a/bing different mics. Just set this up and go.

This Mic technology is definitely a game changer. I'm sure we will see even some of the well know companies following suit. What a bold leap forward. I am very impressed with this Mic. It just sound stunning! You can get what ever you are looking for with the combination of Mic types and the many possible tweaks. I put it up against my Neumann M149 and my Chandler Redd Mic and it holds it's own. It is now my go to Mic. Forget about all the other Mic Sims out there and get this one! You won't regret it! It can be clean and warm at the same time and it's got to be one of the quietest Mic's I've ever heard. Its like having a hybrid Mic of modern and vintage at the same time or even one or the other. I will be buying a second one. For those who say some Mic's are a tool and some are an instrument, well this one is both. It is very easy to get the sound you are looking for and it is almost effortless. Also there are many good demo's of this Mic out there but nothing is like hearing and working with it in person.

Absolutely stunning mic. The sound of the Townsend and the and flexibility provided by the modeling is simply astonishing. It's a brand new era in mic technology!

This microphone is AWESOME. The plugin is extremely easy to use, and the versatility of the microphone is on some next level stuff. Combining different microphones is a really cool feature.

As far as the microphone emulations go, my colleague and I did our own shootout. We put this thing up next to a real U47 and C12, and after twisting some knobs and doing a little bit of dialing in, it does sound extremely close. "Close" is the key word.

With the individual tracks solo'd out, the Sphere does seem to almost exactly match the tonality and reactiveness of a U47 or C12 microphone. Where the real microphones took the lead was when it came to being dropped into a mix. There's just something about real tube power that etches out a perfect pocket in a mix without the need for processing (or at least, as much), which is something that Sphere doesn't do quite as well.

BUT, this is a difference of roughly $7,000 that we're talking about here. For $1,500, as close as the tone is to the original microphones, this thing is a steal, and after a little processing, I'd be willing to bet that the Sphere could pull a fast one on most engineers.

I have a Flea 47, Beesneez Arabella, AKG 414s, plenty of great pres and other mics. I bought this to think of as a utility mic that could be thrown on anything and sound good/versatile, and I was excited about the software/ability to change so much about the sound later. I didn't expect it to necessarily be quite in the same league as my Flea or Beesneez. It's without a doubt, JUST as good on every level. The U47 model is not exactly the same as the Flea 47, as to be expected, considering the Flea uses an M7 capsule and EF-12 tube, while the LD47 is supposed to model a vintage U47 with VF14 tube and K47 capsule. The 251 is phenomenal! I used the mic interchangeably with the Flea 47 on an album I'm doing for a client, and I have to say, I LOVE having two different, but qualitatively equal U47s! I also did a rap session with the C800. Dayum! I hate to say it, but I have a feeling my other mics are going to be spending a lot more time in the mic locker. :(. I may have to get a second Sphere... Thanks Chris and Erik, and thank you Dennis Konicki for helping me put this order together! Worth the wait!

I fell in love with this mic as soon as i heard it (and everyone else i let hear it have also, and are believers now. in fact, they're buying for themselves as well ). First off the Mic itself sound wonderful, and in a mix it sounds"expensive"not thin and brittle. the versatility of it when used with the software makes it Incredibly useful and usable. In the short time I've had it I've already put it up against a vintage telefunken u47 going through the manley voxbox ( Hardware) and was able to carve out basically the same tone using the townsend sphere and the plugin version. I've even did a head to head with "the competitor" and believe me there is no comparison. if you're on the fence don't be... its worth every penny. i love mine and you'll love yours.

I have a mic locker of about 10 types of microphones, between ribbons condensers and some cardioids. Most fall under the $1,500 range. I've been using the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 mic for about 3 months straight now and I love it. I use two of them and they are great. My other microphones are feeling neglected.

I love that I can just switch the microphone model so easily, change proximity effect, and even where the mic would have been facing and way more. These are killer microphones.

These microphones save me a ton of time, I can now quickly A/B different mic models with the same mic. It's superb.


Thank you Townsend Labs for creating this beast!

I had the opportunity to use the Sphere microphone on a recent recording session.
I used the LD-12 mic emulation on a female vocal. The Sphere had a nice, airy quality like the real mic. In fact, I didn’t have to give an EQ boost to the high end at all, which I usually do on female vocals.
I tried different emulations on other sources and it performed very well.
Bottom line…I highly recommend this mic for someone who wants to have one great mic that can be used in a variety of situations.

Maybe it’s slightly deeper than that, but I’ve been a recording engineer for nearly two decades and Sphere has changed the way I record. Over the past few months I’ve recorded some great vocals and instruments: metal screams, female pop & contemporary rock vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, crazy hand percussion, piano and just about everything else you can think of. What was mind blowing is I was able to do it all with the same microphone and it was practically perfect every time.

Sphere is kind of the ideal mic. It’s stereo, it’s mono, it’s an old tube condenser, it’s a ribbon, and it’s modern and pristine. You get to pick.

Working with a pre-production Sphere for multiple albums as one of the Sphere test studios, it really got to where Sphere became part of my workflow. I could just put it up and trust it. I knew I could get it to do whatever I wanted, and more than I even expected.

What I found was so unique about the Sphere microphone system is the way it can be used as a creative tool—not just as a world-class mic locker—to achieve the perfect sound and bring back the experimentation that’s been somewhat absent in the fast-paced modern audio production world.

Case in point: I put the Sphere L22 on a guitar amp, recorded it and mult'd/duplicated the track. On one track I'd select whichever one of the well-done mic emulations I thought sounded best on for the track like usual. On the mult copy, however, I would then VIRTUALLY flip the mic so it was pointed directly away from the amp, allowing me to capture and blend in this great ambience. Not a new recording, simply using the track I already had. Using the Off-Axis Correction control, and also shaping the polar pattern a bit, I could reject the direct sound almost entirely, and add a lovely new dimension to the guitar tone. And this was all done AFTER THE FACT FROM A SINGLE MIC!

For your critical vocals and instruments or those times you need just one more pair of mics for capturing something in stereo glory Sphere has you covered. The only downside to using Sphere is that it needs two identical preamps with identical settings. A pair of Sphere mic systems will eat up four preamps, so be prepared.

The Townsend Sphere is a microphone system unlike any other. Having had the pleasure of using it on several records I don’t want to ever do a record without at least one.

Townsend Labs definitely has a winner on it's hands. As a beta tester my client and myself was blown away by the tonality and flexibility of this microphone system. We even listened to the microphone itself without the software and it is fantastic. I would describe the tone as a crispy u87 on steroids. With the software, tone and polarity options are endless! You have control over polarity patterns, proximity affect, microphone modeling and even dual microphone blending. For the price, this system is a steal!