Universal Audio SC-1 Hemisphere Mic Modeling Is a Behringer

[sumitagarwal]

Here you are! Should work in Space Designer. Let me know how you get on.

Phenomenal! I'm getting a B-1 as soon as I'm back from Thanksgiving travel. For now to test out the workflow and proof-of-concept I'm using a Rode NT1-A which I don't remember buying...

Over on the UAD forums I seem to have gotten confirmation that the Hemisphere software comes with the models for all of their source mics, not just the source mic that was registered. This seems to mean that a $100 SD-3 would unlock all of that modeling (including B-1 modeling) plus you get a free dynamic mic with it

Makes me wonder what other UA mics may be simple rebrands of existing ones. From what I'm seeing UA doesn't list specs like diaphragm size, which makes narrowing things down trickier.

Will keep you posted on how the IR works, thanks again!

 

[SubSpec]

Makes me wonder what other UA mics may be simple rebrands of existing ones.

https://groupdiy.com/threads/300-universal-audio-sd-1-is-the-60-t-bone-bc500.79887/
https://groupdiy.com/threads/disassembling-a-ua-sp-1.87004/

 

[sumitagarwal]

https://groupdiy.com/threads/300-universal-audio-sd-1-is-the-60-t-bone-bc500.79887/
https://groupdiy.com/threads/disassembling-a-ua-sp-1.87004/

Hah, I'm a dummy. How did I not find this before?

On the plus-side: now we know all it takes is a cheap used SD-3 to make any of those other cheap mics perform a bit better.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Following on that last thought, it seems like for folks who want to use UA/Townsend's modeling tech to get in the ballpark of a lot of classic mic sounds there are a few different options:

1. Sphere LX - $800: dual diaphragm, most advanced option. UA claims you need the DLX to get stereo processing but that doesn't make sense to me. Couldn't you just run it into two separate tracks, run two instances of the Sphere plug-in, and configure one plug-in for the front diaphragm and the other for the rear?

2. SD-3 plus a 797 Audio mics - $450: The SD-3 is the cheapest Hemisphere mic and unlocks access to the other sources as well. So far it's believed that three other mics are suitable replacements for UA mics: $180 MXL-603S pair ~= SP-1, $80 BC 500 ~= SD-1, $80 B-1 ~= SC-1. Netting out 5 total modeling mics of various specialization averaging $90/mic

3. DIY CY002 capsule build + Townsend 1.5.2 plug-in: ~$100 + ~8 hours of effort? Should be roughly comparable to Sphere LX results, vastly cheaper. And, as a bonus, geekier too!

Are there considerations I'm missing, or options I've overlooked?

Obviously, when factoring in used pricing all of the above looks significantly different.

 

[wanderingengineer]

This is my version of your option 3. I am deeply indebted to this forum’s grandees for the necessary pointers that helped me put it together and it’s not really original because of the work they’d already done. With @kingkorg and @Wordsushi deserving special mentions, as well as Jules Rykebusch for the circuits.

So it’s dual OPA Alice, CMOS inverter at 80v on a 797 CY002 in an “Ali ‘47” housing. I have also used kingkorg’s / Wordsushi’s foam mod at the base of the capsule, around the pedestal too because there is perhaps a touch of resonance in this headbasket.

I own the OG Townsend L22 since a few years but I now no longer have to bring it between my studio and my home because I’ve got another option! It sounds almost identical.

Costs: Capsule at £40, body about £60. Circuits built for about £40 (can be done for less I expect). Misc connectors, wiring and adaptation for fitment brings it to about £150 plus my own labour.

View attachment IMG_4942.jpeg

This is closest to the L22 / DLX in my view. From what has been discovered by kingkorg, the LX no longer has a hardware de-emphasis built in because the UAD version of the latest plugins does that work in software. Therefore, you need to run the EQ curve before the old plugin to get the best emulation accuracy, I think. If you already have access to the UAD plugins, you can just select the LX as the input mic and you're off to the races. The view seems to be that a slightly smaller "LX" sized body would make a better match for this, though.

Inspired by those with incredible knowledge on this forum, I am spurred on to try more ambitious projects. A K-47 based mic next I think. Probably all old hat to the trailblazers but exciting territory for me and hopefully a distinct flavour of microphone compared to what I have already.

 

[kenwallace]

Wow, that would be amazing! Much appreciated, and I think likely a very useful resource for anyone looking to use non-Townsend mics with the free Townsend plug-in, regardless of DAW.

Hello i have Townsend mic but i don't have the plugin .. of you have can you please send it to me.. thank you KW

 

[wanderingengineer]

Hello i have Townsend mic but i don't have the plugin .. of you have can you please send it to me.. thank you KW

I believe it’s referenced on the thread if you look carefully. It was a freely available plugin before the UA acquisition but I would still be careful about publicly sharing it directly in case of falling foul of licensing. However if you look at the UAD forums link, it’s been posted by someone else.

The great thing is it’s the latest 1.5.2 version which was Apple Silicon compatible. Unfortunately no AAX for our Pro Tools friends due to Apple Silicon issues at that time.

 

[SubSpec]

Hello i have Townsend mic but i don't have the plugin .. of you have can you please send it to me.. thank you KW

You can register the Townsend mic directly on UAs website and get your license for the latest versions straight from the source.

 

[sumitagarwal]

This is my version of your option 3. I am deeply indebted to this forum’s grandees for the necessary pointers that helped me put it together and it’s not really original because of the work they’d already done. With @kingkorg and @Wordsushi deserving special mentions, as well as Jules Rykebusch for the circuits.

So it’s dual OPA Alice, CMOS inverter at 80v on a 797 CY002 in an “Ali ‘47” housing. I have also used kingkorg’s / Wordsushi’s foam mod at the base of the capsule, around the pedestal too because there is perhaps a touch of resonance in this headbasket.

I own the OG Townsend L22 since a few years but I now no longer have to bring it between my studio and my home because I’ve got another option! It sounds almost identical.

Costs: Capsule at £40, body about £60. Circuits built for about £40 (can be done for less I expect). Misc connectors, wiring and adaptation for fitment brings it to about £150 plus my own labour.

View attachment 140326

This is closest to the L22 / DLX in my view. From what has been discovered by kingkorg, the LX no longer has a hardware de-emphasis built in because the UAD version of the latest plugins does that work in software. Therefore, you need to run the EQ curve before the old plugin to get the best emulation accuracy, I think. If you already have access to the UAD plugins, you can just select the LX as the input mic and you're off to the races. The view seems to be that a slightly smaller "LX" sized body would make a better match for this, though.

Inspired by those with incredible knowledge on this forum, I am spurred on to try more ambitious projects. A K-47 based mic next I think. Probably all old hat to the trailblazers but exciting territory for me and hopefully a distinct flavour of microphone compared to what I have already.

That's a beauty. With the legwork already having been done, how much actual labor would it take for someone to follow this lead?

 

[wanderingengineer]

That's a beauty. With the legwork already having been done, how much actual labor would it take for someone to follow this lead?

If I can do it, it can’t be too hard.

You can buy the circuits from JLI Electronics, fully built SMD. Once you have the other parts, it’s basic soldering, a few AWG 24/26 wires and care!

I made my first one in a couple of hours or so.

 

[sumitagarwal]

A lot of interesting options out there. Interestingly, on the SD-3 + MXL + Behringer + T.bone setup there are no overlapping models between them as Hemisphere sources, so in theory it nets out at 23 models (plus the raw outputs of the four mics). That makes for more models than the Sphere LX, but fewer than the DLX. Additionally, all the models for a given source would all have the same response patterns as it they can't model nuanced dofferences in response patterns like the Sphere can. But with their inherent patterns based on their designs (LDC, SDC, dynamic) they're probably decent at modeling mics in their category

Here's what you get, theoretically:
SC-1 = Behringer B-1:
LD-12
LD-47K
LD-67 NOS
LD-87 Vintage
LD-103
LD-251
LD-414 US
LD-800

SP-1 = MXL 603 or Takstar CM60 (more similar housing and no switch on MXL):
SD-54
SD-56
SD-84
SD-86
SD-451


SD-1 = T.Bone BC500:
DN-7
DN-20
RB-77DX Satin
DN-88
DN-441

SD-3:
DN-4
DN-57
DN-409U
DN-545
DN-604

I know this forum is DIY audio and this isn't really DIY...