First Listen! Universal Audio SD-3, SD-5, SD-7 Standard Hemisphere Microphones! With Drum Samples!

The Heat studio
13 May 202421:35

TLDRIn this video, Universal Audio introduces three new microphones: the SD-3, SD-5, and SD-7, each with versatile applications for recording loud instruments. Highlighting their sturdy metal clips and polar patterns, the host demonstrates how these dynamic mics excel in capturing high SPL sounds. The unique selling point is the Hemisphere plugin, which emulates different microphone models, allowing for post-recording adjustments and enhancing flexibility in sound engineering. The demo showcases the mics on a drum kit, emphasizing the natural sound and the potential for customized emulations to suit various music styles.

Takeaways

  • 🎤 Universal Audio introduces three new microphones: SD-3, SD-5, and SD-7, designed for various recording needs.
  • 🔊 The SD-3 is a cardioid dynamic microphone, suitable for high SPL instruments like snare drums, guitar cabinets, and horns.
  • 🎵 The SD-7 features a hypercardioid polar pattern, providing better sound rejection from adjacent instruments, ideal for percussion and toms.
  • 🔊 The SD-5 is a supercardioid microphone, capturing low frequencies effectively, making it perfect for kick drums and bass cabinets.
  • 🤝 All microphones come with sturdy metal clips for secure placement and angle adjustment, essential for minimizing vibrations during recording.
  • 🛍️ Each microphone model includes a pouch and instruction manual, ensuring easy storage and setup.
  • 🔌 The microphones are equipped with a Hemisphere plugin, allowing emulation of different microphone models for versatile sound options.
  • 🎵 The plugin offers five different models per microphone, enabling users to select the best fit for their recording needs.
  • 🎚️ The Hemisphere plugin also allows for post-recording adjustments, providing flexibility in the production process.
  • 🥁 A demo showcases the microphones on a drum kit, using additional Universal Audio microphones for a complete setup.
  • 🎛️ The video demonstrates how the Hemisphere plugin can enhance the sound of a single microphone by emulating different models, such as adding a subkick effect.
  • 👂 The importance of using one's ears to select the best microphone model for each drum or instrument is highlighted, emphasizing the subjective nature of sound selection.

Q & A

  • What is the SD-3 microphone from Universal Audio and what are its features?

    -The SD-3 is a cardioid dynamic microphone from Universal Audio. It comes in single or three packs and includes sturdy metal clips for each microphone. It's designed for multi-use, suitable for recording high SPL instruments like snare drums, guitar cabinets, and horns.

  • What is special about the clips included with the Universal Audio microphones?

    -The clips included with the Universal Audio microphones are made of metal, providing a solid and sturdy hold. They allow for angle adjustment and fine-tuning of the tightness of the microphone grip, which is crucial for minimizing vibrations and preventing the microphone from sliding during use.

  • What is the SD-7 microphone's polar pattern and its ideal applications?

    -The SD-7 is a hypercardioid microphone, which offers a more focused polar pattern. It's ideal for instruments where you need more rejection from adjacent instruments, such as percussion, horns, toms, and snare drums.

  • What is the SD-5 microphone designed for and what frequencies does it capture?

    -The SD-5 is a supercardioid dynamic microphone designed to capture a lot of low frequencies. It's suitable for high SPL sources that require a strong low-end presence, such as kick drums and bass cabinets.

  • What is the unique feature of the microphones in the Universal Audio standard series?

    -The unique feature of the microphones in the Universal Audio standard series is the inclusion of the Hemisphere plugin. This plugin emulates other microphones, allowing users to choose from at least five different microphone models, enhancing the versatility of the microphones.

  • How does the Hemisphere plugin work with the microphones?

    -The Hemisphere plugin allows users to emulate the sound of different microphone models. It can be used during recording to emulate the sound as if through the microphone, or it can be applied later in the production process, offering flexibility in the recording and mixing stages.

  • What is the purpose of the DN sub model in the Hemisphere plugin?

    -The DN sub model in the Hemisphere plugin is designed to capture a lot of low end, simulating the effect of placing a subkick outside the kick drum. It extends the decay of the bass drum and adds a significant amount of low-end frequency without simply being a low-pass filter.

  • How does the video demonstrate the use of the SD-3, SD-5, and SD-7 microphones on a drum kit?

    -The video provides a demo of the microphones on a complete drum kit, using additional microphones like the SD-1 for the high hat and SP-1's for overheads. It showcases the raw sound of the microphones and then applies the Hemisphere emulation to demonstrate the variety of sounds that can be achieved.

  • What are the advantages of using the Hemisphere technology in live sound settings?

    -The Hemisphere technology allows for flexibility in live sound settings. It enables the use of the same set of microphones for different instruments without needing to change them. This is particularly useful when bringing tracks back to the studio from a live setting, as the microphone selection can be adjusted in post-production to fit the song's requirements.

  • What is the benefit of having multiple emulation options with the Hemisphere plugin?

    -The multiple emulation options with the Hemisphere plugin provide a significant time-saving advantage. They allow for adjustments to the microphone sound during or after recording without the need for additional EQ, compression, or other processing, making the recording and mixing process more efficient.

  • How does the video demonstrate the blending of different microphone emulations to achieve a desired drum sound?

    -The video demonstrates blending by duplicating a channel with a subkick emulation and then adjusting the volume and blending in another channel with a different emulation to achieve a balanced sound with both attack and low end, showcasing the flexibility and power of the Hemisphere plugin.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Introduction to Universal Audio's New Microphones

The video script introduces three new microphones from Universal Audio. The SD-3 is a dynamic cardioid microphone available in single or three packs, including sturdy metal clips with adjustable tightness for various instruments, especially those with high sound pressure levels (SPL). The SD-7 is a hypercardioid microphone designed for more focused sound rejection, suitable for percussion and toms. Lastly, the SD-5 is a supercardioid microphone that excels in capturing low frequencies, making it ideal for kick drums and bass cabinets. The script also mentions the inclusion of a Hemisphere plugin that emulates the sound of other microphones, offering flexibility in recording and post-production.

05:09

🎵 Demonstrating Microphone Performance on Drum Kit

The script describes a demo of the microphones on a drum kit, using additional microphones like the SD-1 for the high hat and SP-1's as overheads. The raw sound of the microphones is showcased without any processing, followed by an application of the Hemisphere plugin to emulate different microphone models. The slow and fast tempo drum recordings are played to illustrate the natural sound of the microphones and the impact of the plugin emulations. The script highlights the ability to record with or without the plugin emulation, offering flexibility in the recording process.

10:15

🔊 Exploring Emulation Models for Enhanced Sound

The script details the process of using the Hemisphere plugin to emulate different microphone models on individual drum kit components. For the kick drum, the DN sub model is highlighted for its ability to capture low-end frequencies as if a subkick were used. The snare is demonstrated with the SD-3, and the script explains how changing proximity settings can alter the snare's tone. The SD-7's hypercardioid pattern is praised for its ability to isolate the snare bottom from kick drum bleed. Various emulation models are tested on the snare, with preferences for certain models based on the desired sound quality.

15:50

🎶 Selecting Microphone Models for Drum Kit Components

The script continues to explore the use of different microphone models on various drum kit components. For the high hat, the SD-1 is used, and the 88 model is preferred for its sound. On the rack tom, the SD-7 is chosen for its hypercardioid pattern, which focuses on the tom and reduces bleed from other instruments. The floor tom is demonstrated with the SD-3, and the D4 model is highlighted for its performance. The overheads, recorded with SP-1's in an X and Y configuration, are discussed, with the 54 model preferred for its darker sound, although the 421 and 160 models are also considered for their unique characteristics.

20:52

🔧 The Value of Hemispherical Technology in Recording

The final paragraph emphasizes the time-saving benefits of the Hemisphere technology, which allows for flexibility in microphone selection and sound customization without the need for additional hardware. The script explains how this technology simplifies the recording process, especially when working with different instruments and production needs. The ability to change microphone models during recording or later in post-production is highlighted as a significant advantage. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to ask questions, like, subscribe, and engage with the content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Universal Audio

Universal Audio is a renowned company known for its high-quality audio equipment and software. In the video, it is the manufacturer of the microphones being discussed. The company's reputation for excellence is a key factor in why these microphones are of interest to the viewers.

💡SD-3 Cardioid Microphone

The SD-3 is a cardioid dynamic microphone introduced in the video. It is versatile, suitable for capturing high sound pressure level (SPL) instruments such as snare drums, guitar cabinets, and horns. The cardioid pattern helps in focusing on the sound source while rejecting noise from the sides.

💡Polar Pattern

Polar pattern refers to the directional sensitivity of a microphone. In the context of the video, cardioid and hypercardioid patterns are mentioned. These patterns are crucial for recording as they determine how well the microphone picks up sound from the desired direction and rejects unwanted noise.

💡High SPL Handling

High SPL handling is a microphone's ability to capture loud sounds without distortion. The video emphasizes that the SD series microphones from Universal Audio are designed to handle high SPLs, making them ideal for recording loud instruments like drums or amplifiers.

💡Clip

In the video, the term 'clip' refers to the metal mounting fixture that comes with the microphones. It is important because it allows for secure and adjustable positioning of the microphone, ensuring stability and precise angling during recording sessions.

💡SD-7 Hypercardioid Microphone

The SD-7 is highlighted as a hypercardioid microphone, which is more focused than a cardioid pattern, providing better sound rejection from the sides. This feature makes it suitable for applications where more isolation is needed, such as recording toms or percussion.

💡SD-5 Supercardioid Microphone

The SD-5 is identified as a supercardioid dynamic microphone, which picks up a significant amount of low frequencies. It is recommended for capturing low-end sounds from instruments like kick drums or bass cabinets, where a rich low-frequency response is desired.

💡Hemisphere Plugin

The Hemisphere plugin is a unique feature of the Universal Audio microphones discussed in the video. It allows the microphones to emulate the sound of other classic microphones, providing a wide range of tonal options. This flexibility is demonstrated by applying different models to the recorded drum tracks.

💡DN Sub

The DN Sub is a specific model within the Hemisphere plugin that emulates the sound of a subkick drum. It is used in the video to add low-end enhancement to the kick drum sound, demonstrating how a single microphone can be made to sound like it has additional low-frequency support.

💡Proximity Effect

The proximity effect is the increase in bass response as a microphone is brought closer to a sound source. In the video, the presenter adjusts the proximity effect on the snare drum to change its tonal quality, showing how this effect can be used creatively.

💡Overheads

In the context of drum recording, 'overheads' refers to microphones placed above the drum kit to capture the overall sound of the kit, including cymbals. The video mentions using a pair of SP-1 pencil condenser microphones in an X-Y configuration for capturing the overhead sound.

💡Unison Preamps

Unison preamps are a feature of Universal Audio interfaces that emulate the color and character of classic preamplifiers. The video mentions the option to use these preamps for additional tonal shaping, though they were not utilized in the raw recording demonstration.

Highlights

Introduction to three new microphones from Universal Audio.

SD-3 cardioid microphone's versatility for various instruments and its sturdy metal clip.

SD-7 hypercardioid microphone's focused polar pattern for better instrument rejection.

SD-5 supercardioid microphone's specialization in capturing low frequencies for kick drums and bass cabinets.

All microphones in the standard series come with a metal clip for secure attachment.

Demonstration of microphones on a complete drum kit with additional SD-1 and SP-1 microphones.

Hemisphere plugin's ability to emulate other microphones, offering five different models for each microphone.

Option to record through modeling or apply it later in the production process.

Raw sound demonstration of the drum kit without any processing or emulation.

Application of Hemisphere emulation to showcase the microphones' natural state and modeled sound.

Technique to enhance kick drum low end using the DN sub model in the Hemisphere plugin.

Adjusting snare microphone sound with different Hemisphere models and proximity effect.

Use of SD-7 on snare bottom to minimize kick drum bleed with hypercardioid polar pattern.

Selection of microphone models for high hat, emphasizing the 88 model's preference.

Rack tom microphone choice and the impact of polar pattern on capturing focused sound.

Floor tom microphone selection and the D4 model's suitability for this application.

Overhead microphone configuration and preference for the 54 model's darker sound.

Final drum kit sound with all chosen microphone models and Hemisphere plugin enabled.

The time-saving benefits of Hemisphere technology for live sound and recording adjustments.