VK Shootout

Back in August, storied microphone maker Neumann announced the release of the M 49 V, a stunning recreation of its legendary M 49 condenser mic. The M49's silky sound holds a special place in recording history, capturing everyone from Miles Davis to Adele. The only problem is there aren’t many around and vintage models can cost a pretty penny. Enter the M 49 V! Continue reading →

A few weeks back, we did a shootout comparing the Urei/Universal Audio 1176 to a reproduction, plug-in emulations and some guitar pedals based on the classic compressor. We're back at it again in our latest VK Shootout, but this time we're using another beloved piece of outboard gear, the dbx 160. If you're like us and spend a lot of time visiting recording studios, the dbx 160 is a very familiar sight. The wooden cheeked beauty was first introduced in 1971 and features three dials for threshold, compression and outboard gain. Try to find an album from the 70s and 80s that doesn't feature this compressor on the mix... Go on, we'll wait. This thing has glued together more than Elmer's. Continue reading →

The Urei/Universal Audio 1176 is an icon in the recording studio and has had a profound influence on modern gear makers. So it's no surprise that many companies have sought to remake and add to the 1176 since it was first released in 1967. How do these 1176-influenced compressors compare to the original? That's what we set out to find in our latest shootout. Continue reading →

When it comes to classic studio and live microphones, the Sennheiser MD 421 II and MD 441-U have been staples since their release in the late 1960s. In our new VK Shootout, we're pitting the dynamic microphones against each other in a session, as we use both the MD 421 II and 441-U on vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and drums. The Sennheiser MD 421 II has a large diaphragm, directional cardioid response and is capable of handling extremely high sound pressure levels. That's the reason you'll most likely see this classic in front of a guitar cab or on a drum set (particularly toms). The microphone features a five-position bass roll-off switch, which can control proximity effect for close-miking situations. Continue reading →

Universal Audio is responsible for creating some of the most accurate emulations of classic pro audio gear, including the Fairchild 660/670 , LA-2A, and Neve 1073. Add another essential preamp to that list, as the TAB/Telefunken V76 has recently got its own UAD plug-in. The V76 has some history behind it, which is chronicled in great detail over on our new Pro Audio Hall of Fame page. It all starts with the foundational block of the V41 mic pre, which was the design basis for the V72. The V76 is essentially two V72s in series with 76 dB of gain. Continue reading →