The “VMS” is a hybrid system that utilises an extremely transparent condenser microphone and state-of-the-art digital processing suite that recreates the tone of classic microphones and preamps. The Virtual Microphone System collapses the wall standing between audio engineers and expensive world-class audio tools, allowing them access to the virtual microphone locker of their dreams for under a thousand dollars.
The ML-2 microphone is the second model in our award-winning Virtual Microphone System. This small diaphragm microphone is capable of recreating the tone of an entire mic locker of instrument mics – including dynamics like the 57 and 421, cardioid models of classic ribbons like the 121, other famous small diaphragm mics like the 451 and 222, and even large diaphragm mics like the famous 414 and tube 67.
Like its big brother the ML-1, the ML-2 microphone was designed to have an ultra linear response with no distortion, so that it can serve as a blank canvas for our modelling software.
We tested a large number of mics during the development of the ML-2, and we found that even the most expensive small diaphragm microphone designs saturate when micing very loud and transient-rich sources like close mic’d drums. Therefore, we added a proprietary switch on the ML-2 called “Dynamic” which attenuates the mic’s output and repolarises the capsule, allowing the ML-2 to be used in extremely high SPL situations without overloading or saturating. As a result, it can be used just like a dynamic mic on drums, guitar cabs, and more.
Streamlined Design
Thanks to its smaller diaphragm and body design, ML-2 can be used in smaller spaces than its larger sibling such as within pianos, next to toms or hi-hats during drum recording, or to capture ambient sound in loftier spaces.
Intelligent Pad Function
By flipping its pad switch a limit is imposed on the ML-2’s input circuit while simultaneously depolarising the capsule. This allows the ML-2 to capture lively sources with higher volume while ably dodging any distortion.
Latency Free Processing
The Virtual Microphone System software consists of the Classic Tubes microphone module, which contains eight classic tube microphone models, the FG-73 British discrete preamp module, and the FG-76 German tube preamp module. None of these processing blocks add any latency to the audio signal, so if you use a low latency interface with VMS you can track through the VMS software without any audible monitoring delay.
To accomplish this, we recommend a Thunderbolt or fast USB interface, recording at 96khz with the lowest buffer size possible. The combination of the 96khz sampling rate and low buffer size ensures the lowest possible latency.