Vanguard V1, V1S, V1+LOLLI User Manual
V A N G U A R D V 1
Multi-Capsule FET Pencil Condenser Microphone Systems
Thank you for choosing your VANGUARD V1 System!
Your VANGUARD V1 system is carefully packed at our workshop. The padded pinewood mic box
is designed to protect the microphone during shipping and storage. In addition, before any
microphone is released, the final assembly and testing is performed here in sunny Southern
California to make sure your equipment is ready for you to reliably enjoy in professional
recording situations.
TO AVOID DAMAGE TO YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MANUAL
BEFORE PLUGGING IN THE V1 FOR THE FIRST TIME!
OVERVIEW
The Vanguard V1 is a multi-capsule FET pencil condenser microphone system. Lovingly crafted
by experts over several years, it is designed to be a versatile, reliable, professional tool. With a
“straight-wire” circuit design, premium cryogenically-treated FET componentry, an unparalleled
selection of capsules, and a true heavy-duty shockmount, the V1 will be your new studio
workhorse.
YOUR KIT
Depending on which V1 system you purchased, you will have the following accessories:
©2017 Vanguard Audio Labs, LLC. All rights reserved.
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V1 Kit
•
V1 Microphone
•
Four 22mm Capsules
•
VSSM Shockmount
•
Pinewood Storage Case
V1S Kit
•
Two V1 Microphones
•
Eight 22mm Capsules
•
Two VSSM Shockmounts
•
Pinewood Storage Case
•
Stereo Microphone Bar
V1+LOLLI Kit
•
V1 Microphone
•
Four 22mm Capsules
•
V34C “LOLLI” Capsule
•
VSSM Shockmount
•
Pinewood Storage Case
V1S Kit
•
Two V1 Microphones
•
Eight 22mm Capsules
•
Two V34C “LOLLI" Capsules
•
Two VSSM Shockmounts
•
Pinewood Storage Case
•
Stereo Microphone Bar
PERFORMANCE
We designed the V1 with the character and versatility of iconic pencil condensers in mind, while
also utilizing modern technology & design to meet the demands of today’s recording
professionals.
The V1 kit was created to be your most flexible and adaptable microphone system. The four
small capsules allow tonal & directional variety on any number of sources, but we found them to
be exceptionally well-suited for close-to-medium-range mic’ing of acoustic guitar, percussion,
piano, and stringed instruments. (The wide cardioid capsule in particular deserves special
mention here as our favorite, but each capsule has sources and situations in which it excels.)
The V34C “LOLLI” capsule adds another level to your toolkit by coupling the smooth, lush sound
of our custom-voiced V13 capsule with the precision and detail of the V1 microphone. The LOLLI
excels in almost any recording situation, with vocals being of particular note.
After hundreds of hours of listening and testing exhaustive design variations with world-class
engineers, we can confidently say that this microphone will exceed the performance of other
pencil condenser microphones in its price range, and rival or exceed the performance of
microphones costing several times more.
DESIGN
The VANGUARD V1 is very different from other microphones in its price range. It is designed and
precision-built in limited quantities to “no-compromise” standards, with final assembly and 100%
testing taking place here in Southern California. We spent more than three years designing,
developing, and refining the V1.
Our proprietary small-diaphragm capsules begin with a 16mm 4µm gold-sputtered Mylar
diaphragm, carefully positioned in front of a precision-machined, custom-voiced backplate. We
engineered the housing to bring the diaphragm as close as possible to the front of the capsule
housing, preventing comb filtering.
The V34C “LOLLI” Capsule houses an extra-large 34mm edge-terminated, gold-sputtered 3µm
Mylar dual-capsule assembly which is custom-voiced with a proprietary hand-tuning process. It is
placed in a shockmount saddle nestled in a retro-aesthetic chassis CNC-machined from solid
aircraft-grade aluminum billets. Open-weave mesh, a carefully radiused interior, and precision-
machined venting prevent standing reflections and allow for an “open-air” voicing. We
engineered the V34C LOLLI head to spin 360 degrees while mounted on the V1, allowing for
quick Y-axis positioning adjustments with no futzing around with mic stands.
The capsule is coupled to a transformer-balanced solid-state circuit that matches the unique
musical properties of our capsules and is loaded with premium-grade, over-spec components
sourced from manufacturers all over the world. We cryogenically treat critical components in the
signal & power paths, including an ultra-high-grade hand-biased FET. The circuit is designed with
an “In = Out” philosophy, with only four components present in the signal path.
Aesthetically, we think a microphone should look at least half as good as it sounds. The
precision-machined brass body is coated with our signature Pinot Noir hue, finished with a deep,
lustrous gloss, and accented by polished nickel trim and a precision-cast Vanguard badge. Your
V1’s serial number is laser-engraved on the lower rear of the microphone.
©2017 Vanguard Audio Labs, LLC. All rights reserved.
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The V1 was designed by a team of experts with more than 65 years of combined experience
and vetted by award-winning engineers and producers.
QUALITY
The V1 was designed in the USA, and undergoes final assembly in sunny Southern California. We
perform 100% quality control – every single part of your V1 kit undergoes a series of stringent
audio and visual tests here in Southern California before being hand-packed. We precision-bias
each high-grade JFET by hand on a calibrated analog oscilloscope (a Tektronix 465B, for you
fellow EE geeks).
Every part of the V1 was designed to be robust and reliable. Wherever possible, the circuitry is
over-spec’ed. Deep-cycle cryogenic treatment improves the lifespan and performance of
critical electronic components. Brass, steel, aircraft aluminum, and zinc are part of the heavyduty construction.
You want your recording tools to be reliable, durable, and rugged, and so do we! Your
Vanguard microphone is backed by our FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY.
ACCESSORIES
When you buy a V1, you also get a VSSM Heavy-Duty Shockmount. We wanted to improve on
the standard “tube” design that was popularized by our chief designer in the late 2000s. First, we
created a windowed design for the shockmount. This allows you to access switches on your
microphone without affecting your carefully-placed positioning. Second, we source aerospace-
grade suspension bands that won’t break, sag, crack, or stretch over time. The bands can be
positioned either vertically/horizontally or diagonally, to tightly hold microphones of varying
diameter. The V1 has slight insets machined into the body, so the suspension bands “lock in”
easily to the microphone for a more secure hold. The main body and knob are precision-cast
from a high-grade zinc alloy and finished with a durable powdercoat. The pivot is injection-
molded from high-impact ABS to keep your mic placement locked in place. The pivot is also
inset with both 5/8ʺ-24 and 3/8ʺ-16 threads to be compatible with any microphone stand. This
shockmount was designed to fit any microphone with a diameter below 30mm, so it can be
used with several brands of microphone, including almost any pencil microphone – and even
ribbon microphones.
When not in use, your V1 should be stored in its padded pinewood box.
USAGE
The VANGUARD V1 system excels in a multitude of recording situations. It is a superior choice for
acoustic guitar, strings, drum overheads, and the delicate nuances of piano, choral, and
orchestral recording - essentially any acoustic instrument. The optional V34C “LOLLI” adds
another dimension, and fits perfectly for vocals as well as adding another flavor for instruments.
Tested in a diversity of situations, acoustic environments, styles, and genres, we found that the V1
was often the top option, despite being matched against microphones several times its cost. !
©2017 Vanguard Audio Labs, LLC. All rights reserved.
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