Old 01-21-2020, 11:16 AM   #1
cyrano
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Default New 2nd order Ambisonic mic

8 14 mm electrets, 799$, ADAT, USB and headphones out. 8 channels @ 48 kHz, 24 bit.

https://voyage.audio/

There's a Reaper project with a sample recording for download (1.2 GB) here:

https://voyage.audio/listen-to-spatial-mic/

Never heard of Voyage before...
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Old 01-22-2020, 03:17 AM   #2
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Very interesting indeed!
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Old 02-14-2020, 10:25 AM   #3
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Hi there,

I am the creator of this microphone and a Reaper user!

With the latest firmware update, the mic now supports 8 channels streaming to a computer or mobile device at up to 96kHz and 2 channels playback up to 96kHz. The ADAT Lightpipe (8 Channels Streaming to an audio interface) supports up to 48kHz. Also the mic can take up to 131dB SPL before ADC clipping in 'pad mode'.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer!!

Thanks for checking it out.

Colin
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Old 02-14-2020, 10:33 AM   #4
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wait this can be put in a room, and then be mixed surround or ambisonic? ???
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Old 02-14-2020, 11:15 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Brian Merrill View Post
wait this can be put in a room, and then be mixed surround or ambisonic? ???
Yes. The vst plugin for the mic outputs 2nd or 1st order Ambisonics. From there you can decode to any surround format or even complex polar patterns!
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Old 02-14-2020, 11:35 AM   #6
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This looks like something I'm going to have to save for a long time for, but I would definitely be using it, and I'm glad you've done this!!!

I truly wish I wasn't poor right now haha
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Old 02-14-2020, 11:35 AM   #7
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Yes, but it's second order. More definition.

Most until recent were first order (4 channels). Well, there is the Zylia, with 19 mics, but that one always needs software to "downsize" to 1st or 2nd order.

Plus, it's a digital mic. In a totally new price range. Ever looked at the price of a digital Neumann? I know what's on my wish-list!
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Old 02-14-2020, 12:07 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by cyrano View Post
Yes, but it's second order. More definition.

Most until recent were first order (4 channels). Well, there is the Zylia, with 19 mics, but that one always needs software to "downsize" to 1st or 2nd order.

Plus, it's a digital mic. In a totally new price range. Ever looked at the price of a digital Neumann? I know what's on my wish-list!
Yes, you need to consider that you are essential getting 8 mics, each with their own analog signal path, which is calibrated individually so that you are recording with a balanced array. Other mics you mention use MEMs digital output capsules - we use analog capsules for better SNR and gain staging, directivity and well, sound quality! We also support 96kHz and have ADAT connectivity.

Thanks again for taking a look! The feedback is very much appreciated.
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Old 02-14-2020, 12:23 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrano View Post
Yes, but it's second order. More definition.

but that one always needs software to "downsize" to 1st or 2nd order.
Just for clarity here, to go from a higher order to a lower order, you simply leave those channels off. Going up in order can get slightly more complex and there are several different ways of doing that - happy to share details if anyone is interested.

For what it's worth, Spatial Mic being a second order 8 capsule array has better spatial resolution at 1st order than 4 capsule mics! The Spatial Mic plugin can do that, or you simply drop channels 5-9.
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Old 02-15-2020, 12:13 AM   #10
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Too bad that you cannt ship to Europe :-(
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Old 02-15-2020, 07:55 AM   #11
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Quote:
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Too bad that you cannt ship to Europe :-(
We are working on it!
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Old 02-17-2020, 10:14 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Voyage Audio View Post
Yes, you need to consider that you are essential getting 8 mics, each with their own analog signal path, which is calibrated individually so that you are recording with a balanced array. Other mics you mention use MEMs digital output capsules - we use analog capsules for better SNR and gain staging, directivity and well, sound quality! We also support 96kHz and have ADAT connectivity.

Thanks again for taking a look! The feedback is very much appreciated.
It's great to have you here! I'm going to have to look more into this. I'm on the lookout for an Ambisonic mic and have been keenly investigating the Rode SF1 up to this point. Your mic, being second order, is somewhat compelling at the moment though.
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Old 02-17-2020, 02:33 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by ReaDave View Post
It's great to have you here! I'm going to have to look more into this. I'm on the lookout for an Ambisonic mic and have been keenly investigating the Rode SF1 up to this point. Your mic, being second order, is somewhat compelling at the moment though.
It probably will depend on what you want to use the microphone for! What is the application?

I can't speak specifically to the Rode NT-SF1, however when comparing the Sennheiser Ambeo to our 2nd Order Mic, the spatial resolution, pattern decoding, etc will be much improved.

You also don't have to worry about matching gains across mic preamp channels (which could potentially harm your image) since that is taken into account with Spatial Mic.

The cost of the analog mic + cabling + matched preamps + recorder, if you don't already have these pieces, could push the cost of the analog solution much higher.

Finally, if I have to record with the Ambeo or other analog ambisonic mic, it's just such a pain to quickly setup and capture with all the cabling and gain matching as compared to one cable USB to a mobile device!
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Old 04-30-2020, 12:30 PM   #14
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The Spatial Mic Converter plugin has been updated to include a virtual mic with higher order pattern options. Now you can decode all kinds of polar patterns with this new plugin update. The new virtual mic output stage features controls for stereo width (mono to 180°), type (Basic, Max Re, In-Phase & Figure 8) and pattern shape. The update also includes, 15 presets, 2 new low noise filters & more.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/2zD4UhR
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Old 04-30-2020, 07:31 PM   #15
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Hi Colin,

Just seen this post and have had a good look around your site. The mic looks really interesting, congrats on getting to market! The software also looks well done. Would love to have a listen sometime.

I have been using the SF-1 for a while, and really enjoy the sound of the capsules, and for location audio capturing having the XLR's mean I can use it with my MixPre. Given that your Spatial Mic us digital out, is there a way to use an iPad or iPhone? USB to Lightning adapter or something similar? Probably need a USB power bank in between for mic power?

Edit: Update, I just RTFM'ed and this is exactly what your mic allows! Amazing! I am wondering how the handling noise is when out and about?

Last edited by tdc; 04-30-2020 at 07:38 PM.
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Old 04-30-2020, 08:31 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdc View Post
Hi Colin,

Just seen this post and have had a good look around your site. The mic looks really interesting, congrats on getting to market! The software also looks well done. Would love to have a listen sometime.

I have been using the SF-1 for a while, and really enjoy the sound of the capsules, and for location audio capturing having the XLR's mean I can use it with my MixPre. Given that your Spatial Mic us digital out, is there a way to use an iPad or iPhone? USB to Lightning adapter or something similar? Probably need a USB power bank in between for mic power?

Edit: Update, I just RTFM'ed and this is exactly what your mic allows! Amazing! I am wondering how the handling noise is when out and about?
As you found out, you can absolutely record to a mobile device. iPhone requires the USB camera adapter and a battery (but the battery also charges the iPhone). Many Android devices with USB-C allow the mic to be plugged directly into the device, no battery required. I'm hoping someone lets me know if the mic can be plugged into the USB-C port on an iPad Pro.

Another mobile option that I just tested is recording into the Linux version of Reaper on a Raspberry Pi (4 in this case). It works well — you can plug our mic directly into the Raspberry Pi and record 8 channels into Reaper at 24-bit/96kHz and then open that same session on a more powerful system if you desire. Still working on compiling our plugin for ARM though.

We do recommend the Rycote shock-mount if you are concerned about handling noise. However, it may not be needed depending on what you are doing. This setup with the mic in the backpack is one way to record on-the-go without a shockmount: https://bit.ly/3d2wELb

Here is our 360 VR setup, BOM included: https://bit.ly/35npG0F

Thanks a bunch for checking us out!
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Old 04-06-2022, 12:10 PM   #17
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Today we are releasing a long awaited surround sound update to the Spatial Mic Converter Plugin.

Learn more here:
https://voyage.audio/spatial-mic-con...gin-update.../

Decode the following formats directly from the plugin:
5.1
5.1.2
5.2.4
7.1
7.1.2
7.1.4

Under the hood the plugin features dual band decoders inspired by the great work from Bruce Wiggins. For those interested in digging deeper with more output control options, check out his WigWare plugins: https://www.brucewiggins.co.uk/?page_id=78
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