User Manual

Townsend Labs Sphere L22 Precision Microphone System Guide Using the Sphere L22 System
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Single Channel Usage
A Sphere L22 microphone is actually two independent, high-quality, back-to-back, cardioid, condenser
mics, but it can be used as a conventional single channel mic without DSP modeling. Each output has
a cardioid pattern so you can use the microphone just like any large diaphragm cardioid condenser mic.
When only one output of the microphone has phantom power applied, only that corresponding chan-
nel is enabled. The sound quality of the front mic output is essentially equivalent to the rear output, so
you can use either side. In single channel mode the mic indicator LEDs do not turn on.
NOTE: Single channel mode should be used without the Sphere plug-in, and therefore no modeling or
other DSP processing is applied.
Monitoring Setups
There are three recommended workflows for monitoring Sphere, which include monitoring the plug-in
output using your DAW, monitoring with the Apollo Console and monitoring the direct microphone
output.
Live monitoring of the Sphere mic can be done in your DAW from the Sphere plug-in output. This can
be preferable if you normally use your DAW (UAD, VST, AU, AAX Native) to manage monitoring, but
will typically have longer processing latency than when monitoring using the Apollo Console or the
direct microphone output.
Monitoring with your DAW Plug-in
You can set up monitoring in your DAW the same way as any other software monitoring configuration.
See your DAW
’s user manual for more information about how to create monitoring paths.
To set up monitoring in your DAW:
1. Disable low-latency processing mode in your DAW (if it has that option).
2. Instantiate the
Townsend Labs Sphere, UAD Putnam Mic Collection, or UAD Ocean Way Mic Collec-
tion plug-ins on an input-enabled stereo track.
3. Route the output of this stereo track to your headphone or other monitoring output stem.