Antares MICROPHONE MODELER User Manual

©2000 Antares Audio Technologies. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
All names of microphone manufacturers and microphone model designations

appearing in this manual are used solely to identify the microphones analysed in
the development of our digital models and do not in any way imply any association
with or endorsement by any of the named manufacturers.

Antares Audio Technologies
464 Monterey Avenue, 2nd Floor
Los Gatos, California 95030 USA

voice: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
web: www.antarestech.com
Printed in USA Rev 1.5-02/2000

The Obligatory Legal Mumbo-Jumbo

The Antares Microphone Modeler software and this User’s Manual are
protected by copyright law. Making copies, adaptations, or derivative
works without the prior written authorization of Antares Audio Technolo­gies, is prohibited by law and constitutes a punishable violation of the law.

Antares Audio Technologies retains all ownership rights to the Microphone
Modeler software and other software offered by Antares Audio Technolo­gies and their documentation. Use of the Antares Microphone Modeler is
limited by the following license agreement.

Please carefully read all the terms and conditions of this license agreement.
At the time of installation of the Antares Microphone Modeler software
you will be presented with a copy of the agreement and asked whether or
not you agree to it. Continuing with the installation process beyond that
point constitutes such agreement.

Antares Microphone Modeler License Agreement

Antares Audio Technologies grants you a non-transferable, non-exclusive
license to use the Antares Microphone Modeler under the terms and
conditions stated in this agreement. Use of Antares Microphone Modeler
indicates your agreement to the following terms and conditions.

License

You may:

1. Use Antares Microphone Modeler on only one computer at a time;

2. Physically transfer the program from one computer to another, pro-

vided that the program is used on only one computer at a time.
You may not:

1. Make copies of Antares Microphone Modeler or of the user manual in
whole or in part except as expressly provided for in this agreement. Your
right to copy Antares Microphone Modeler and the user manual is limited
by copyright law. Making copies, verbal or media translations, adaptations,
derivative works, or telecommunication data transmission of Antares
Microphone Modeler without prior written authorization of Antares Audio
Technologies, is prohibited by law and constitutes a punishable violation of
the law.

2. Make alteration or modifications to Antares Microphone Modeler (or
any copy) or disassemble or de-compile Antares Microphone Modeler (or
any copy), or attempt to discover the source code of Antares Microphone
Modeler.

3. Sub-license, lease, lend, rent, or grant other rights in all or any portion
of Antares Microphone Modeler (or any copy) to others.

Term of the Agreement

This agreement is effective until terminated by you or Antares Audio
Technologies. You may terminate the agreement at any time by notifying
Antares Audio Technologies and destroying all copies of the manual, and
erasing Antares Microphone Modeler from all machine-readable media,
whether on-line or on archival copies.

In the event of breach of any of the terms of this agreement, you shall pay
the attorney’s fees of Antares Audio Technologies that are reasonably
necessary to enforce the agreement plus resulting damages.

Limited Warranty and Disclaimer

ANTARES MICROPHONE MODELER AND ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS ARE
PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Antares Audio Technologies does not warrant that the functions contained
in the program will meet your requirements. The entire risk as to the use,
quality, and performance of Antares Microphone Modeler is with you.
Antares Audio Technologies warrants the media on which the program is
furnished to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under
normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the day of delivery to you
as evidenced by a copy of your receipt. Antares Audio Technologies’ entire
liability and your exclusive remedy as to the media will be the replacement
of the media.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN
IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY
TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. YOU MAY
ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDIC­TION.

Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT WILL ANTARES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING
LOSS OF DATA, LOST PROFITS OR OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSE­QUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE OF ANTARES
MICROPHONE MODELER OR ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS. THIS LIMITATION
WILL APPLY EVEN IF ANTARES OR ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE LICENSE FEE REFLECTS THIS ALLOCATION OF RISK. SOME JURIS­DICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION
MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Whew! Now that that’s over, let’s get on to the good stuff.

Contents

Getting Started Chapter 1

Installing AMM 8
Authorizing AMM 8
Technical Support 9

Introducing the Antares Chapter 2
Microphone Modeler

Overview 10
About the Technology 11
So What Exactly Does It Do? 11

Operation Chapter 3

Live or Mixdown 12
Signal Flow 12
Controls 13

Input Section 13
Source Mic Section 14
Modeled Mic Section 17
Preserve Source 20
Tube Saturation 21
Output Level 22

The Microphone Models Chapter 4

The Mic Model Files 23
Customizing Mic Menus 24
Automation 24

Realistic Expectations Chapter 5

Choice of Input Microphone 26
Microphone Variations 26
Microphone Technique 27
Excessive Frequency Boost 27
Polar Pattern Selection 27
Off-Axis Response 28
Transient Response 28

Get Creative Chapter 6 30

Appendix 31

Acknowledgments 37

Index 39

Welcome!

On behalf of everyone at Antares Audio Technologies, we’d like to
offer both our thanks and congratulations on your decision to
purchase the Antares Microphone Modeler.

Before you proceed any farther, we’d like to strongly encourage you
to fill out and return the Microphone Modeler registration card. To
make it as easy as possible, we’ve included a sticker with your serial
number to attach to the card. The serial number also appears on the
bottom of the box, but it’s probably a good idea also to write it in
your manual for future reference.

As a Microphone Modeler owner, you are entitled to receive notifi­cation of any software upgrades, technical support, and advance
announcements of upcoming products. But we can’t send you stuff
unless we know who and where you are. So please, send that card in.

At Antares, we are committed to excellence in quality, customer
service, and technological innovation. With your purchase of the
Antares Microphone Modeler, you have created a relationship with
Antares which we hope will be long and gratifying. Let us know
what you think. You can count on us to listen.

Again, thanks.
The Whole Antares Crew

7

Chapter 1: Getting Started

Installing Antares Microphone Modeler

Instructions for installing Antares Microphone Modeler for your
specific platform are located in the Microphone Modeler Read Me
file on the CD ROM. This file may also contain any last-minute
Microphone Modeler information that didn’t make it into this
manual.

Authorizing Antares Microphone Modeler

Authorization (the process by which the Microphone Modeler
software installed on you computer is allowed to run) is accom­plished by a technique called “Challenge/Response.” This is de­scribed in detail in the Read Me file, but basically, the first time you
launch Microphone Modeler you will be presented with a string of
letters (the Challenge) and will be asked to enter another string of
letters (the Response).

To receive the appropriate Response, you will need to provide us
with both proof of purchase and your Challenge string. Here are the
options for accomplishing this:

Proof of Purchase:

• Fax a copy of your warranty card with the serial number sticker
attached to [phone]. This is a preferred option in that you
can be certain that it has arrived prior to your requesting your
Response.

• If you have access to a scanner, scan your warranty card with the
serial number sticker attached and send it as a JPEG attachment
in the same email as your Response request (see below).

• Mail us your warranty card with the serial number sticker attached.
You should only rely on this if you don’t have access to either of
the other options, as you can never predict when it’s actually
going to arrive. (However, you should still mail the warranty
card in any case, so that we can have it physically on file.)

8

Challenge String:

• Once you have reason to believe that we have received your

• If you do not have access to email, fax us your Challenge string

When initially installed, Microphone Modeler will run for ten days
without authorization, so even if your can’t contact us right away
you can still use your software in the meantime. (During this period,
click the ”Continue“ button whenever you are presented with the
Authorization dialog box.) But don’t procrastinate too long. After
those ten days are up, you will no longer be able to launch Micro­phone Modeler until the correct Response is entered.

Technical Support

In the unlikely event that you experience a problem using Antares
Microphone Modeler, try the following:

proof of purchase (or if you’ve attached it as a scan), copy and
paste your Challenge string into an email along with your name,
the product name (e.g., Microphone Modeler for MAS) and your
serial number and send it to: [e-mail]. You will
receive your Response string by return email, usually within 24
hours (unless you have sent the email over a weekend, in which
case you should receive it the following Monday).

along with your proof of purchase as described above. Be sure
to include your fax number, We will fax the Response string back
to you at that number.

1. Make another quick scan through this manual. Who knows?
You may have stumbled onto some feature that you didn’t
notice the first time through.

2. Check our web page for tips, techniques, or any late-breaking
information: www.antarestech.com

3. Call your local Antares dealer.

4. Call us at [phone], or [phone] Monday through
Friday between 9am and 5pm USA Pacific Standard Time.

5. Email us at: [e-mail]

For options 3, 4 and 5, please be prepared to provide the serial
number of your copy of Antares Microphone Modeler.

9

Chapter 2: Introducing the Antar es Microphone Modeler

Overview

If you’ve spent any time lately flipping through the pages of pro
audio magazines, you have almost certainly noticed the intense
focus on microphones. From the proliferation of exotic new mics to
the almost cult-like following of certain historical classics, never has
the choice been greater. But amassing a substantial collection of
high-end mics is financially prohibitive for all but the most well­heeled studios.

Enter the Antares Microphone Modeler.
Using our patented Spectral Shaping Tool™ technology, we’ve

created precise digital models of a wide variety of microphones,
from historical classics to modern exotics, as well as a selection of
industry-standard workhorses. Simply tell the Microphone Modeler
what microphone you are actually using and what microphone
you’d like it to sound like. It’s as simple as that.

10

With the Microphone Modeler, you can afford to record each track
through a model of the specific mic that will best produce that ideal
sound you’re looking for. Or use it in live performance to get the
sound of mics you’d never consider using on stage. You can even use
it during mixdown to effectively change the mic on an already
recorded track.

Not only do the models reproduce all of the subtle sonic characteris­tics that make each microphone unique, but they also give you
control of each mic’s specific options. Does the mic have a low cut
filter? If so, it’s in the model. Wind screen on or off? Close or far
placement? Each option results in the same sonic effect that it
would have with the actual modeled mic. And for that final touch
of perfection, you can even add some tasty tube saturation.

And with the ability to download new models from our web site,
the Microphone Modeler will always keep you at the forefront of
the microphone art.

About The Technology

The models employed by the Microphone Modeler are not derived
from theoretical considerations. They are generated by a proprietary
analysis process that is applied to each physical mic modeled. Not
only the sonic characteristics, but the behavior of other parameters
such as low-cut filters or proximity effects accurately reflect the
specific performance of each individual microphone we model.

The precision of these models allows the Microphone Modeler to
reproduce even the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) sonic
variations that one often finds in different samples of the same
model of microphone. Consequently, for some important mics,
we’ve provided multiple models, each based on measurements
taken from individual mics.

Another advantage of our model-based approach is that there is
essentially no processing delay apart from the natural phase effects
of the microphones being modeled and any delay inherent in the
operation of the host application or hardware environment.

Finally, the quality and signal-to-noise characteristics of the process­ing are pristine. Because of our commitment to model-based pro­cessing, there are none of the limitations or distortions characteristic
of FFT-based algorithms. The quality of the output is limited only by
the quality of the input.

So What Exactly Does It Do?

While there is a lot of fairly complicated stuff going on under the
hood, the essential functionality of the Microphone Modeler is
really quite simple. Basically, audio from a microphone is input to
the Microphone Modeler where it is first processed by a “Source
Model” which serves to neutralize the known characteristics of the
input mic. The audio is then processed by a second “Modeled Mic”
model which imposes the characteristics of the modeled mic onto
the previously neutralized signal. Finally, the audio is passed
through a model of a high-quality tube preamp offering the option
of classic tube saturation distortion.

The details are found in the next chapter.

11

Chapter 3: Operation

Live or Mixdown?

The Microphone Modeler functions equally well processing audio
during its original performance or later during the mixdown pro­cess. However, if you have the choice (which you typically will for
everything but a live stage performance), we strongly recommend
using the Microphone Modeler as an insert effect during mixdown.
This will allow you to experiment with mic choice and various mic
settings while auditioning their effect in the context of the entire mix.

If you do choose to work this way, it is important that you carefully
document all mic data for each recorded track. This should include
the mic used, any settings such as low-cut filter and/or response
pattern selected, as well as the average distance between the mic
and the signal source (singer, instrument, etc.). This information will
be required to properly set the Source Mic controls during the mix.

Signal Flow

12

The Microphone Modeler is divided into a number of discreet
functional blocks as follows (in the order of signal flow):

Input

For setting the input level of the audio to be processed.

Source Mic

For indicating the mic (and the state of its various parameters) that
was actually used to record the audio.

Modeled Mic

For selecting the mic (and the state of its various parameters) whose
sound you would like to model.

Tube Saturation

For adding a model of analog tube saturation distortion.