In this video, pro audio specialist Chuck Giardino runs us through the many benefits of the brand-new Soyuz 013 Tube SDC microphone. We tested this amazing microphone on acoustic guitar and piano, using the talents of Sound Pure guitar specialist Michael Buckley. Here, Michael plays “Confessing,” a song he wrote and recorded with his band, Ekiim Ariara, for their 2015 debut album “Dead Man’s Song,” (you can find it on iTunes, Spotify, and Bandcamp). Guitar and piano were recorded through the Soyuz 013 Tube, while the vocals were captured with the sE Electronics RNT Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone.
All takes were run through a Rupert Neve 5211 2-channel mic pre, and a Lynx Aurora(n) converter. For the full mixes (vocal & non-vocal), we also used a Manley ELOP+ stereo electro-optical limiter, and Millennia’s NSEQ-2 stereo EQ.
Soyuz 013 Tube Small-Diaphragm Tube Microphone
The Soyuz 013 Tube small diaphragm condenser melds audio precision and transformer color into a combination of unparalleled musicality. Best-in-class transient response and the ability to capture precise detail make them ideal as drum overheads as well as for the recording of acoustic guitar, piano, choral ensembles, strings, orchestras: in short, any application in which clarity is necessary and character desired.
The 013 Series combines the best elements of classic SDC designs with a unique character of its own. Both tube and FET versions capture sound with precision while imparting a warm sonic signature. The smooth top end and a midrange accuracy that is musical – never clinical – enable the recording of complex, transient-rich instruments and sounds that span the frequency spectrum and dynamic range (a -20db pad is included, correctly placed in the signal path between capsule and electronics) in a warm, pleasing way.
Additional Gear Used in This Demo
Goodall Traditional Spruce/Mahogany Dreadnought
Rupert Neve 5211 2-Channel Mic Pre
sE Electronics RNT Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Mic
Millennia NSEQ-2 Stereo EQ
Manley ELOP+ Stereo Electro-Optical Limiter
Lynx Aurora(n) 16-Channel Thunderbolt D/A & A/D Converter
Want the Hi-Res Audio Files?
If you are interested in getting ahold of the hi-res audio files from this comparison, or would simply like to hear more about these and other amazing microphones, don’t hesitate to give us a shout. Our pro audio specialists live for talking gear, and would love to connect you to the perfect microphone for your needs.