Slate Digital VMS ML-1 Large-diaphragm Modeling Microphone Reviews

I absolutely love this microphone. Sounds great as is but when linked with the virtual locker it's sweet. All of the slate digital stuff is quality and they offer excellent support

For the price, this mic far exceeds its competition for anything in this price range. Don't hmm and ha for months on end whether to buy it or not.
If you REALLY want the best sound for under $1,000.00, this is your ticket.
This has actually beaten mics that are even more expensive than that too.
Don't wait for months searching through hundreds of mics on the internet. You get what you give, so I highly recommend you get creative with this.
No pressure but if you ask what my overall opinion is here, I want you to BUY IT.
There are endless opportunities to create with this, and it can mimic other high-end mics with Slate's software through ilok.

A big thank you to Matthew Klopfenstein for the confirmation on this buy, it's worth every penny!

Very versatile and great sounding microphone. What you'll immediately notice with this mic is how regardless of how many different mic models there are, a different microphone will tend to stand out above the rest for recording any given instrument or vocalist. Sometimes even during a chorus a different microphone model could work better just for one part of a song. This taught me that there really is no such thing as a "best" sounding microphone, as in something that consistently sounds better than other microphones. There is only the best microphone that fits your purpose and this microphone is good at having all sound options covered. This microphone is a no-brainer if you record a lot of different instruments and people, and you want to feel like you have options for all of them.
It is a little sad you have to pay extra for the additional mic libraries, like the blackbird mic collection. It's still worth buying and they've been my favorite mic models so far.
Also, you can put the microphone modeled sound on anything! Want your piano to sound like it was recorded through a C12? You can use it as a filter in that way, and you can also put the mic models on other microphones. I have 8 ML2's that have their own models, but I just throw the blackbird mic models from the ML1 on there. There truly isn't any end to the sounds you can get out of this mic.

It took me a while to figure out how to use the software. Sweetwater should add a software/ hardware setup video on their site for this mic. It works easily with my Twisted Wave DAW.

Its a great option if you are like me and end up recording at different studios most of the time not knowing what mics they have available. great peace of mind knowing I can record what I need and then worry about mic selection later.

I bought this microphone because I was having difficulty obtaining a great acoustic guitar sound. With the VMS-ML-1 it was easy. I already had a great microphone, the Nueman TLM 103. But it is bright and picked up fret metallic sounds. With the Slate software emulations, I was able find a clear bright sound and not the fret sounds. My acoustic Taylors all sound amazing. It is wonderful. I also tried in on my deep voice with the U-87 emulation. The Slate produced an amazing sound for my voice. With virtual mixer I can create great sounding mixes. The Slate plug-ins are also amazing. If you need a great sounding microphone that does everything well, this is your microphone! Combine it with All Access pass, you will have all the Pro sounds you'll need.

I ordered the Slate Digital VMS ML-1 during the holiday sale. I'm suffering with Covid right now wasn't really feeling up to talking to anyone. Even so, Nathan kept me up to date with my purchase. Letting me know of a stock issue right away and then updating me when it was back in stock well before it was expected. I then received my item extremely quickly. Especially with the bad weather across the country. I could not believe the great service. I've never had a bad experience with Sweetwater, but this went above and beyond for me and Nathan's updates and the insurance that I would receive the sale price whenever I received my product made a tough time for me much better. Thank you Sweetwater and Nathan.

Ron Peacock

This mic is incredibly pristine by itself but really shines when used with Slate's mic emulations. My favorite is the Sony C800 model ... that's a $10k mic for pennies!!

I'm surprised this doesn't have more reviews. This is the best mic for the price I would argue, because it can do so much. I have used high end microphones and this thing is just as good. It's like getting $20,000 of microphones in one, for a low price.

I predominantly record hip hop vocals, and after several sessions this has become my favorite tracking mic so far. I've recorded a wide range of vocals and have yet to find a voice this mic doesn't work with. Even not using to the mic emulations it sounds fantastic. The mix process becomes far easier as there is less subtractive/corrective eq needed. I highly recommend this mic for vocals. Great sound, honest recordings, easy to mix.

Don't let anyone discourage you from getting this. It's a great investment. As Audio Production graduate, I used this mic for my final project & Portfolio, and won a course award for a song that I produced. So trust me, you're not going have issues mixing your vocals with this guy. Practice microphone etiquette, be sure to gain stage, and 2/4ths of the battle is already done.

If you have a good dry environment & already get great vocals, this will up your quality by far. If you're not already using microphones worth $10k+ then this microphone gives you an entire arsenal of microphones at your fingertips. I highly recommend this for anyone with a home/project studio. It's professional quality on a budget.

This is my 3rd ML-1 and I can't say enough good about it. I pair them with the Slate VMS-1 preamp. The service from Sweetwater AND Slate is outstanding!!!

At this point, I use microphones for myself only so I can't review its versatility on a number of vocal sources.

For myself, put this mic up on a clean pre, and it I'm not in an unhappy place. I'm not desperate to start finding how to get it to fit.

Load up the VMR and start going through the mics and I'm in a very happy place. I can find air, I can find meat, I can find whatever I need quite easily.

It takes EQ and compression well. It's easy for me to get in the pocket.

Will this work for everyone? I don't know. I've owned a lot of mics over the years. I've bought an SM7 once every 6-7 years and immediately sold it. But this mic is staying and will be my go to. And it's got me interested in the ML-2.

I've had this mic for a while and I still think it's the best value for the price range and even quite a bit higher. The mic is perfectly usable on its own, flat and clear. But the emulation software is especially excellent. The different models are quite distinct from each other, so you get a lot of options. I also recently contacted Slate Digital support with a question and they were extremely helpful and responsive. They're a great company and I would recommend the ML-1 to just about anyone.

I was hesitant to get this mic because it sounded too good to be true.
But I also have heard other stuff from Slate, was impressed so I thought that I
would give it a try. It sounds amazing with the mic locker, and no I would not be able
to distinguish many of the software mics with a real and expensive microphone.
Also Like one of the reviewers said above is that even without the software mics, it still sounds really good.
This mic and the mic software is great. I am extremely happy with this purchase.
So good when you get something that works as good as this one does.

I use ML1 and ML2 daily.

If you could only afford one mic,
why not let that mic emulate several other mics?
The Slate Digital ML 1 does that in a magical way!
It emulates several high end and extremely expensive mics.

Take control of your destiny.
Get the one mic that will give you
all of the right choices to create
the sonic pallet that will help you
to create magic in the studio.

I also opted to buy the
"Blackbird Mic Collection" from
Slate Digital. This collection and the
ML 1 can be heard on the hit song:
"Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato!

Bring some magic into your productions,
with The Slate Digital ML1 Mic!

I acquired this microphone when I saw the good comments, versatility and the great opportunity to have even the best classic microphones of all time, but that was not all, when I recorded for the first time with it I was in awe of the tremendous quality of sound and since this mic handled my singer's vocal frequencies across the spectrum, with this mic you don't need to have a closet full of microphones and your budget is limited.

The quality of this microphone...alone...by itself...with no software...is incredible.

I tried it "naked" (no software coloration) and was IMPRESSED. It didn't need EQ or compression. Just use a moderately decent preamp and YOU'RE GOLDEN.

I think it serves all kinds of recording needs. I used it for dialogue and loved the results.

By the way, when I used the emulations, the colors and tones gave super satisfying vibes!

Creo que es el futuro

A very wonderful mic that models very accurately. I enjoyed the sound produced by the various emulations, and i think this is a must to have.
Many thanks to Sweetwater team for fast shipping and most of all thank you Aaron Tremain for the usual customer service.

Where this mic really shines is when you get the extra mic packs in my opinion. The classic tubes extension is absolutely unreal. Between the brighter mics included with the mic and the 49, MK2 47/67 this mic has saved me when nicer mics didn't work out on a voice. Does it have a super smooth top end? Nope. But that's okay, because this isn't the end all, be all microphone. It's about flexibility. While I still plan on getting a U87, this mic is a blessing when working on dense vocal arrangements, and I'd go as far as saying that it's THE mic for backing vocals and harmonies since you can use the different models for different parts. Highly recommended and I've already had one of my friends do one verse through the C12 model and immediately purchase the mic after they left.

I've been fortunate enough to sing in a number of legendary studios on some remarkable microphones. I can't imagine a wiser investment for a professional vocalist or for project studio owners. Slate Digital has achieved something that I never dreamed possible.

Easy to install, and loved the character of the mic emulations so much I added the Blackbird Expansion mics without hesitating! Good job Slate Digital, Thanks for the delivery Sweetwater team!

After buying 4 different mics this is hands down the best mic i have ever used, it gives a nice flat and crisp sound making mixing so much easier, combine that with the slate digital plug ins and it sounds amazing. If your considering buying this mic you will not be disappointed.

After a lot of research, I decided to purchase this mic over all the other great options in the price range. This modeling thing is for real and the versatility this microphone gives me is unbelievable. All the different modules sound noticeably different, the virtual mix rack is super intuitive and also the best looking plugins I've seen. I am now full into the slate digital ecosystem with an active all access pass subscription because imo it is worth it. This microphone was money well spent. Thanks to Skyler McGlothlin and the Sweetwater Team for the amazing service as always!

I had wanted one of these for a long time, and when I finally got one, it did not disappoint.

Even without the mic emulation software, this is a very good-sounding mic, and a notable improvement over my old cheaper mics. However, once you start using the software, the real magic starts to happen!

Since I have never had the privilege of using the real versions of the mics they are attempting to emulate, I cannot say from personal experience just how accurate they are. What I can say is that they all sound exceptionally good!

I was worried that perhaps the mic models would be too subtle to notice, but they actually turned out to be fairly obvious differences, and the ability to over-saturate the sound with the built-in slider can make it even more drastic if you want it to be.

I am using it on a Scarlett 18i20, which is not a 100% clean preamp, so it is probably coloring the sound a little.....but in all honesty, the effect on the mic model sounds seems to be very minimal, and they all sound incredible.

One of the best purchases I have made for my studio in quite some time!

Love this mic so much!!!

This is the greatest investment you will ever make! The quality of the mic and the software it comes with for the price, can't be beaten! BUY THIS MIC AND NEVER LOOK BACK! Slate Digital knocked it out of the park!

I am so impressed with this mic, this is the mic to end all mic lockers. If you are able get this mic, as a producer I highly recommend it, it makes it ten times easier to mic shootout a vocalist with way less set-up. I would recommend the pre-amp along with this because some mice like the 47 and 67 don't sound 100% on point, but have fun with this mic you can do so much with it. I recommend starting with the 800 mic it's so crisp and instantly made me go, "this is a great investment."

This mic is amazing! I really love slate digital and all they have to offer. I use a lot of the products they offer and have loved everything! I would like to acknowledge Sweetwater for the service they provide as well. Great company, with concern for their customers satisfaction. Thanks guys!

I was completely surprised by this mic. I honestly didn't expect it to sound like it does at this price point. I'm running it through a 1073 pre, and with ~12" of proximity, an acoustic guitar sounds like someone is sitting right in front of me playing. The emulations from the software are alright too. The 251 alone makes it worth the download for me. With as clean as it's coming in, the emus on different sources will more than likely open up the palette possibilities as I begin to dig in. FWIW I don't think I've come across a better deal on a piece of gear. Get this.

This mic is everything it is cracked up to be. The emulations are incredibly accurate. I would recommend this mic system for every studio, home or professional.

I was hesitant to get this because of the FG-800 model being a bit harsh in the top end but I figured the other models are probably worth it. They ended up adding the FG-800M which is the exact sound I was looking for, plus the 47 gets the dusty tube sound we all love, and the 251 is super balanced and lively. I really don't see myself upgrading until I can justify getting something like a Manley Reference at 6x the price. The ability to use this on any voice makes it worth a lot more than the price that's listed.

This mic sounds amazing, very good value and very flexible. Aaron Smith has been taking care of me for years, this was no exception.

I had tried this microphone a few years ago, and I found it very interesting. However, just now, I was able to make the decision to buy one for myself.
I don't know if there was any revision in its manufacture, but I'm using it in my studio, honestly, I don't want to use another microphone that I have. (U 87 - C 414 EB). What a fantastic good trip you have with the ML-1.
I don't even mean the VMS (the software), only the microphone itself. It is a very good microphone, much higher than the price range it has.
As for the VMS, I'm still exploring and certainly, the odds are almost endless. Especially if you have a good artist in front of the microphone.
My only regret is not having bought it sooner.

I tried too many mics before but this one is so great . Thanks slate digital

Definitely the best mic I have now. Clean and accurate even without the emulations. It took me until after the weekend to install the Classic Tubes mi emulations as I had ilok problems, I am not a fan of ilok. But Slate delivered and got me sorted Monday morning. During the weekend I road tested the bare bones mic and really like it. I am considering getting the pre amp to get it even better and compensate for my bad room sound.
I would say get this mic if you are considering it, at the price I got it's definitely worth it.

The first ML-1 I received had a grounding / humming problem. I received a new one from Sweetwater less than 24 hrs. after to speaking with tech support (WOW!!).

I've used a couple of other condenser mic's in this price range - the Lewitt 540S and the Neumann TLM-102. The Lewitt is ultra clear with a pronounced focus on the higher registers. The Neumann has a more "vintage" character and excels in the low-mids. The ML-1 is designed to be neutral and it captures a full balance of the frequency spectrum. It lets you accentuate whichever part of the spectrum you want to feature!

I'm quite impressed with this mic. I'm docking a star because I'm not as impressed by the Slate emulations. The ones that come with the mic - Classic Tubes 1 & 2 - are ok. They bring a certain warmth but at the expense of clarity. I tried all three expansion packs. The Classic Tubes 3 is pretty nice - more presence than the 1 & 2 but still a bit of mud. The Blackbird and the Classic 87 packs didn't do much for me. I also tried the Antares and Acustica mic emulations. The Antares was kind of buggy and when I got it to work, the sound was kind of meh. The Acustica emulations, however, really impressed me! For the same price as one of the Slate packs (which feature 3-5 emulations), you get about 100 emulations and many of them sound exceptional! Presence, warmth, vintage - whatever you are looking for, you'll find it.

I have been intrigued by the advertisements for this mic for a while. When I saw the Sweetwater Black Friday Special, I decided to pull the trigger. As usual for Sweetwater, it arrived quickly and well packaged (with candy!). After opening and reading, I realized you can't just download the software from Slate, you have to buy the iLOK dongle. OK....my bad. Didn't do all my homework. The dongle was $, but what was obnoxious about this purchase was the shipping. The cheapest choice for shipping was FedEx at something around $. So, be prepared to pay and extra $ or so to be able to use the modeling software. Then comes figuring out how to download, and install the downloads onto the dongle and what you need to do to use it. It is really not that difficult. BUT, I just wanted to enter my purchase license , download, install, and use instantly. Hey....I'm old fashioned. So how does it sound? I have 2 other condenser mics. One mic I built from micparts.com which is suppose to replicate a U47, and a Warm Audio WA87.....now the Slate ML1. I set them up side by side and did a sound test. I ran them through a Focusrite Clarett 4Pre using the exact same settings. The Slate ML1 is not a power hog. The Warm Audio WA87 requires much more power to get the same output. That said, the WA87 has more character. It sounds like the ML1 going through the U47 setting with a preamp when it is naked. The mic parts.com was in the middle. I also have a Warm Audio mic preamp. It is the WA12, however it is a single channel preamp, so again, the difference in volume between the ML1 and the others was a factor. The ML1 is much more efficient. Bottom line.....I am happy I bought it. It appears to be made well. It is very neutral. Another tool in the sound arsenal, but a lot more experimenting to go. Why 4 stars for the Black Friday sale price......because of the iLok baggage.

Okay so I have to be honest right out of the box this mic sounds pretty dang good. It looks beautiful and the audio it picks up is crystal clear... i should say if you are capturing a vocalist who is singing quietly or speaking then the audio is crystal clear. For me, personally, I am a very dynamic vocalist so I usually can only record with a mic that has a very high max SPL. This was the issue with the product... they have tons of specs for the product except any listing online for the max SPL rating. They advertise how singers such as Demi Lovato have been recorded with this for albums... now I would consider her to have a very strong voice so if it works for her I figured I would be okay... well unfortunately that was not the case. I got serious distortion and clipping with this mic so badly on pop and ballad belting sections of songs that I had to reach out to Sweetwater support as well as Slate Digital directly. After almost a month of trouble shooting and making sure I didnt receive a defective product, plus numerous recording studio location changes, gain staging checks, mic position adjustments, compressors, limiters, vocal chain reconfigurations, etc I finally asked Slate directly if they could please give me the sepcs for the max SPL of this mic because to me it seemed to always be the issue since that information was missing from all of their specs and marketing I was not able to know exaclty... they did eventually get back to me and it was confirmation that I was right the whole time. The max spl for this mic is "about 120" their words and in all honesty I would be surprised if it even were that high. Id guess its closer to 110. So even though this mic sounds stunning on quiet vocalist and softer sections of songs it just wasn't going to work for what I needed. Quickly i want to mention that the mic modeling and digital rack options are incredible and sound freakishly incredible!!! The technology is 1000% there. I just need Slate to create a mic that has a max SPL of 150 to 165... for us very loud vocalists then ill be one of the first to get one!

I've been studying virtual microphone systems, and although I'm a fan at times and I can make this microphone work for myself
(I'm only recording myself at home nowadays, but I'm traditionally trained and got a degree in audio engineering. Worked as an engineer at studios for a few years then went corporate), I'm only really a fan of really 2 of the microphone emulations that are bundled in the software. On top of that, you have to buy an iLok, and if you want access to other emulations, you have to pay (makes sense).

My gripe is, that the Virtual Mix Rack plugin takes a lot of CPU on my computer. Can be a hog if I have multiple vocal tracks I'm working with. Come to find out after digging on some forums, a lot of the microphone emulations in the VMR plugin are based off of harmonics/saturation, and can be EQ based at times in the plugin, which I think is why I end up only finding myself a fan of 2 of the microphones that are bundled. After working directly with almost all the microphone emulations bundled (the only one I haven't worked with is the AKG C12 and they have an emulation of that), they sound more like coloration to what this microphone can sound like. Which isn't a bad thing at all! That can be troublesome or annoying finicky for engineers like me lol.

I bought one of these thinking the same thing you're thinking right now. However, the software that "comes with it" is minimal at best. The trick is, in order to use the modeling features of this, you have to purchase a MONTHLY (or yearly) SUBSCRIPTION. No, thank you. I'm trying to sell mine off now because of this. I'd probably be happier with a UAD mic - at least with those you can purchase the modeling once and not have to fork out money every month. While it's true, you CAN buy the modeling software from Slate outright, the prices are staggering.

the mic emulations are very useful for the money but as soon as you start using the mix rack and emulations you will see 5 minute load times on any project or song you used it on. And 50% of the time it just crashes my DAW entirely. I will likely be returning this system.