18 vintage microphones in one
Modelling microphones have appealed to an ever-widening audience for quite some time. This is hardly surprising given that emulation technologies now allow a single modelling mic to sound and perform just about as well as a locker full of much more expensive models, for a fraction of the price. They offer exceptional flexibility of use as well as unique features, such as the ability to merge the qualities of different microphones into one. As expected from Antelope Audio, the Edge family of modelling mics are at the upper end of their segment and hard to beat in terms of sound, build quality, and jaw-dropping choice of classic microphones. At its heart, the Edge Solo is a cardioid, large-diaphragm condenser microphone which can be used with any 48V phantom power-providing preamplifier and ships with the Edge Real-Time Modelling software suite, which includes a whopping 18 expertly crafted and surprisingly realistic emulations of world-renowned, studio-classic microphones.
Great sounding large-diaphragm condenser mic
The Edge Solo is a fixed-cardioid, single capsule, large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Its wafer thin, gold-sputtered membrane, only 6 microns thick, captures every last detail and the full sonic character of the voice or instrument, and offers rich, transparent, and natural renditions. On paper, though a tad under the masterpiece microphones it emulates, the Solo’s specifications are nevertheless impressive, with low self-noise and harmonic distortion levels and a wide frequency response. The Edge Solo is a versatile and capable mic that will work wonders on almost any source, including the most delicate ones – and that’s before adding any of the wonderfully crafted emulations to the mix.
Remarkably versatile
The Antelope Edge Solo is a great choice for those wishing to record a great variety of sources using a locker full of high-end microphones but without having to make a huge investment in each one. The Edge Solo will adapt to any situation, from recording vocals and acoustic instruments in halls or small spaces, to simple speech and broadcasting applications, such as voice-overs or webcasting. It can of course be used in combination with other microphones, for example during stereophonic recording sessions. The Edge Modeling Engine interface is extremely intuitive, which saves precious time and allows for a high degree of creativity. While recording, microphone emulations can be swapped out at the click of a mouse without any interruption. It is also possible to record the signal “clean” and select the best microphone emulation during the mixing phase.
Synergy effects and processing for optimum performance
The Edge Solo is designed to work with any regular 48V phantom-providing preamplifier, and the Edge Real-Time Modeling Software emulations can be executed by the studio computer. However, the Edge Real-Time Modeling Software works even more effectively when used in combination with one of Antelope Audio’s Synergy Core interfaces, which not only provide top-of-the-line preamps and AD/DA conversion, but onboard DSP acceleration as well. This dedicated FPGA Real-Time Modeling hardware processes the microphone emulations in real-time, with imperceptible latency and zero CPU load, taking an already impressive setup to the next level.