voyage audio spatial mic review

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Review: voyage audio spatial microphone usb.

Voyage Audio Spatial Microphone USB | Sound and Music | RRP: $1679.99

There’s a mere handful of companies that can boast a truly specialist product in the immersive audio sphere, and for Voyage Audio, their Spatial Mic and its accompanying plugin and control app is one such product. 

Read more gear reviews  here.

Anyone even remotely delving into the VR, AR, XR and 360-degree sound design realms understand the importance of the authenticity of the immersive worlds, so it’s interesting that up until quite recently, there’s been the majority focus on mixing and post production technology when a glaringly giant, all be it important hole had been left sitting void – the audio recording and subsequent capture itself. Whilst Blumlein (mid/side) processing and decoding is an age old technique, a truly 360-degree sound capture just wasn’t really being thought of, at least not in a really meaningful way, let alone commercially viable and available to the average Joe wanting to delve into these unexplored territories. 

The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic is, at first glance, a USB microphone, but not exactly geared up for your next podcast. Although it certainly could do that without even batting an eyelid. Upon closer inspection under the head basket are not one, not two or four but eight individual analogue capsules, enabling 2 nd Order Ambisonics. Just wrap your head around that for a quick second – eight capsules. The A-D conversion is pretty great, utilising high resolution Skyworks clocking scheme and built-in 32-bit XMOS processing. The USB streaming can capture at 24-bit / 96kHz, or via the ADAT lightpipe connection 24-bit / 48kHz. 

Connecting headphones to Spatial Mic, you’ll enjoy binaural playback (which is very interesting and entrancing in my testing). The accompanying Spatial Mic converter plugin allows for each access to numerous different formats depending on one’s audio production needs ranging from mono, stereo, surround sound, through to Ambisonics – the latter is achieved via an internal 64-channel filter matrix and measurements from an anechoic chamber. The mathematics required for this alone is worth the price of admission.  

The plugin also allows for the raw unprocessed audio signals from the Spatial Mic USB to be converted a number of different formats suitable for any type of audio production which makes a tonne of sense when we think about the kind of Multimedia applications the Spatial Mic is likely to find itself in. 

Setting up Spatial Mic for recording in a DAW was incredibly easy and yielded some great results of a live gig I recorded in Pro Tools. I simply set input gain, mounted onto a small stand (the included thread adapter is a stroke of genius by the way) and away I went. Simply assigning each of the 8 inputs via USB (when Spatial was selected as the playback device) – I was ready to go.

What I particularly enjoyed when testing before I mounted the mic for recording the gig, was just walking around the space with just ambiance and room sound. The nuance and detail with things like natural reverb tails and room reflections are truly astonishing. Whether it be by sheer virtue of the number of capsules present on the Spacial mic, or the quality of the capsule design and componentry, it’s something that really needs to be experienced to be fully understood. I’ve played with some handheld recorders in the past, which have a couple of omni capsules and an X/Y pair, but I’ve never heard anything quite like this before. The front to back and rear sound capture was absolutely incredible; three-dimensional, to the point where it starts to manipulate your psycho-acoustic perception. 

As a musician’s mic, the quality of the capture, combined with the level of sonic creativity that this spatial mic lends itself to, makes it an awesome choice for anybody with an appetite for experimental micing in the open air. I can imagine the spatial mic being absolutely at home down in the orchestra pit, where it can take the full sonic heft of an ensemble in full swing from a central locale. Endless possibilities.

I was really impressed with this product, the overall package is very nicely put together, with good quality cables, a windscreen and other accessories. And obviously – the mic itself is great. Although the dial, I felt, could have been a little stronger. But realistically, I can’t imagine it causing any serious issues under expected use. 

There is little doubt that immersive and multichannel audio are experiencing a period of mass technical progression, but for the most part this has largely been concerned with the other end of the signal chain: the monitoring and playback end. Voyage Audio Spatial Mic USB is one of the first purely immersive microphones we have seen in the space, and suffice to say, it’s nothing short of a game changer. 

In the not so distant past, to realistically have set up something like what Spatial Mic is capable of doing, a staggering amount of equipment would have been required. From all of the multiple mics, handfuls of pre amps, looms of cabling, subsequent decoding, phase alignment and sheer hours of setup, to final delivery of a truly cohesive 360-degree capture – it would have been immense. So, with this in mind, Voyage Audio have really achieved something quite incredible. Their accompanying plugin does a huge amount of heavy lifting and is not only super intuitive to use, but fun to play with and gives some very insightful visual feedback. A must try for anyone working in immersive, field recording, sound design, live and studio recording. A great addition to the mic locker – and to most audio tool kits. 

For more information, head to Voyage Audio . For local enquiries, visit Sound and Music .

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Spatial Mic Dante: Voyage Audio’s flagship ambisonic mic just got a serious upgrade

“Spatial Mic Dante completely redefines what a microphone can do,” promises the developer.

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Californian developer Voyage Audio has unveiled a brand new version of its 360º ambisonic Spatial Mic microphone: the Spatial Mic Dante.

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Featuring eight capsules for 2nd order ambisonics, the mic promises to accurately capture the complete soundfield with “ unmatched control, versatility and quality.”

With Audinate’s Dante audio networking system built in, the Spatial Mic Dante only needs an ethernet cable to transmit its signal and have its parameters adjusted for optimal recording. It can output complex polar patterns and shift its focus around the soundfield for flexible application when it comes to VR, surround sound, ATMOS and spatial audio – recorded or broadcast live.

“Spatial Mic Dante completely redefines what a microphone can do”, said Colin Ritchie, founder of Voyage Audio. “A multichannel 360 microphone with built-in Dante audio networking, coupled with MicNet Control and Spatial Mic Converter software opens up many exciting applications in broadcast, live and studio recording.”

The new MicNet Control app allows for remote control of the Spatial Mic Dante’s analogue stage and internal DSP processing. As well as providing gain and tone control, it also allows the microphone to switch between unprocessed, 1st order ambisonics and surround feeds and virtual mono or stereo mic pairs, also offering pattern control and make-up gain.

The Spatial Mic Converter Plugin is also included in the package, utilising an internal 64-channel filter matrix and measurements taken from within an anechoic chamber to convert raw unprocessed audio signals from the Spatial Mic Dante or the Spatial Mic USB to various formats, suitable for an array of production applications.

Voyage Audio has also released extensive resources to demonstrate the Spatial Mic Dante in action , including a series of videos featuring engineer Christian Cummings recording the Ed Kornhauser Trio at Signature Sound in San Diego.

Spatial Mic Dante is available now, retailing for $2,899 with software included. For more information visit voyage.audio

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Home › Technology › New Products

Voyage Audio Spatial Mic Launched

Voyage Audio has introduced the Spatial Mic, a 360-degree second order Ambisonics VR microphone sporting eight capsules.

By Mix Staff

Waldlaubersheim, Germany (February 16, 2022)— Voyage Audio has introduced the Spatial Mic, a 360-degree second order Ambisonics VR microphone that combines eight capsules with corresponding internal electronics and outputs its signals digitally via USB-C or ADAT. The microphone comes with a Spatial Mic Converter plug-in that allows for editing of microphone positions in post-production, allowing users to deliver either stereo or first or second order Ambisonics audio.

Intended for game developers and audio engineers that need to create immersive content, the Voyage Audio Spatial Mic offers an integrated amplifier that feeds headphones a virtual 3D signal to allow for optimizing the microphone position in the moment. That signal also provides a binaural live monitoring with Google Resonance HRTFs, qualifying it for direct transmissions via YouTube, Facebook and other social platforms.

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Every capsule is individually calibrated, and the microphone’s body also contains digitally controlled analog preamps, A/D converters and a 16-core DSP, allowing the microphone to be directly connected to the recording computer. The digital resolution available runs up to 96 kHz at 24 bits and can be transferred via USB-C. Both USB-C and ADAT can be used simultaneously.

The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic has an included ball joint, and is also compatible with Rycote InVision shock mounts; a wind screen is also included for outdoor recordings. Level, monitor volume and direct monitoring can be controlled with the front knob, with the LED ring visually representing the gain. When the microphone is set up in a hard-to-reach position, all its features can also be adjusted remotely via software. Remote Control even allows adjusting the direction of the mic from a computer. Power can be supplied via USB-C or micro USB, so standard power banks can be employed for this purpose.

The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic is available with an MSRP of $899.

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You are here

Voyage audio release spatial mic dante.

Voyage Audio have announced the availability of the Spatial Mic Dante , a new version of their second-order Ambisonic microphone which is equipped with built-in Dante audio networking, a feature which Voyage Audio say was the most common request from their customers.

As with the original, the Spatial Mic Dante is built around eight capsules which allow the microphone to deliver a second-order Ambisonic output. Whilst the original offered either USB or ADAT connectivity, this latest version can be connected directly to a Dante network via an EtherCON connector, which also delivers power to the microphone via PoE (Power over Ethernet).

The Spatial Mic Dante boasts up to 32-bit / 192kHz operation, and also features an AES67 mode, which operates at up to 32-bit / 48kHz. A configurable output offers unprocessed, surround sound, and ambiX format options, as well as providing ‘virtual mics’ with continuously variable polar pattern control.

For those wishing to explore the possibilities of the Spatial Mic Dante, there are some Pro Tools and Reaper demo sessions available to download from the Voyage Audio website. These sessions feature performances captured with the microphone, and require the Spatial Mic Converter plug-in, which is also available as a free download.

For more information on the original Spatial Mic and Spatial Mic Converter plug-in, take a look at our review from the November 2020 issue of SOS.

Pricing & Availability

The Spatial Mic Dante is available now, priced at $2899.

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The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic Kit 360-Degree Ambisonics Microphone with Dante Connectivity is a high-end solution that was designed for audio engineers, game-sound designers, AR/VR producers, and 3D audio pioneers

The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic Kit is a professional second-order ambisonics VR microphone capable of single-wire connectivity to your Dante network. It employs an array of eight 14mm condenser capsules to record in 360°, allowing the sound your viewers hear to change as they move and look around in a Virtual Reality or 360° video.

The Spatial Mic’s design helps streamline the recording workflow associated with multi-channel microphone arrays. It employs built-in Dante network connectivity, with no external mic preamps, multi-channel cables carrying analog signals, or converters needed. A calibration profile is stored within each mic to ensure consistent purity of signal. Dante recording quality supports resolutions up to 32-bit / 192 kHz.

The mic works in tandem with two powerful apps (free downloads available separately). Used in postproduction, the Spatial Mic Converter DAW plug-in (VST, AAX, MacOS X, and Windows 10) transforms the raw capsule output to first- or second-order Ambisonics in AmbiX or Fuma formats, offering the capability to change the microphone’s aim to the point in space where the audio was initially recorded. The Spatial Mic Control app allows for remote operation of all hardware controls and more (MacOS X and Windows 10).

The microphone is light, compact, and durable, and it features high-quality aluminum and nylon construction. The Dante connector supplies power over ethernet (PoE). To get you recording right out of the box, the Spatial Mic comes in a kit that includes a metal mini swivel ball head mount and a foam windscreen.

Key features

• Record the Entire Sound Field with Precision
• Eight 14mm condenser capsules for second-order Ambisonics
• Dante audio networking at 32-bit/192 kHz resolutions
• Sample rates USB: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz
• ADC: 114 dB per channel at 24-bit
• Individual calibration stored in each mic for balanced array sensitivity
• DSP: 32-bit XMOS with 16 real-time logical cores
• DSP modes: Unprocessed up to 192 kHz, all other decoding modes up to 96 kHz
• Output filters, selectable within the Spatial Mic Converter plug-in, have been carefully constructed for precise audio conversion
• Streamlined 360° Workflow
• MicNet Control provides remote control of the analog stage and internal DSP processing of Spatial Mic Dante.
• Computers on the Dante network running MicNet Control can change the parameters of any microphone on the network.
• MicNet Control can change the audio output format, which is accomplished in the microphone itself via DSP
• Output options include unprocessed (for Spatial Mic Converter Plugin), first-order Ambisonics, surround feeds, and virtual mic mono or stereo pairs.
• A 1/4-20 thread mount on the back of the mic allows for mounting to a standard microphone stand using the included ball head mount.
• For isolation from unwanted vibrations, the mic is designed to fit the Rycote InVision shockmount (available separately).

Price & Availability

The Voyage Audio Spatial Mic Kit 360-Degree Ambisonics Microphone with Dante Connectivity retails for $2,899 USD and it will start shipping on October 19th, 2022.

Matthew Allard is a multi-award-winning, ACS accredited freelance Director of Photography with over 30 years' of experience working in more than 50 countries around the world. He is the Editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing on the site since 2010. Matthew has won 49 ACS Awards, including five prestigious Golden Tripods. In 2016 he won the Award for Best Cinematography at the 21st Asian Television Awards. Matthew is available to hire as a DP in Japan or for work anywhere else in the world.

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Quick Download Links

• Documentation
• Spatial Mic Converter Plugin
• Spatial Mic Control App
• MicNet Control App

Spatial Record App

Documentation:.

• Spatial Mic USB/ADAT User Manual.pdf
• Spatial Mic USB/ADAT Quick Start Guide.pdf
• Spatial Mic Dante User Manual.pdf
• Spatial Mic Converter Plugin User Manual.pdf
• Spatial Record App User Manual.pdf

USB Audio Driver Note:

USB drivers are not provided for Spatial Mic.

For macOS Spatial Mic works out-of-the-box with built-in core audio drivers – simply plug Spatial Mic into a free USB port on your computer.

For Windows , we recommend using ASIO4ALL . Please see the Spatial Mic User Manual for more information on setting up ASIO4ALL and the guide: Installing and Using ASIO4ALL for Windows . In order for Spatial Mic to be recognized by Windows 10 the operating system must be updated to the latest version and OS build. The release version must be later than 1703 to include the driver named: usbaudio2.sys  and the associated inf file is  usbaudio2.inf .

For Linux , Spatial Mic has been tested to work on Raspberry Pi 4 w/ Raspbian Buster (32-bit) and Ubuntu 20.04  (64-bit) using built-in ALSA drivers.

Spatial Mic Converter

The Spatial Mic Converter plugin transforms the raw audio signals from Spatial Mic to first or second order ambisonics, Surround Sound (up to 7.1.4 ATMOS) or virtual mic patterns including mid-side for mono or stereo output.

Download Software installers for Spatial Mic Converter Plugin (AAX/AU/VST3) for macOS and Windows:

• Spatial Mic Plugin Setup for macOS.dmg
• Spatial Mic Plugin Setup for WIN.zip

Last updated: 6-12-2023

Spatial Mic Control

The Spatial Mic Control app provides remote manipulation of various hardware parameters on Spatial Mic USB/ADAT via USB.

Download Software installers for Spatial Mic Control app for macOS and Windows:

• Spatial Mic Control Setup for macOS.dmg (Apple M1 processors)
• Spatial Mic Control Setup for macOS.zip (Intel processors)
• Spatial Mic Control Setup for WIN.zip

Last updated: 4-6-2022

MicNet Control

The MicNet Control application enables users to remotely monitor and adjust the output settings of Spatial Mic Dante. Instructions for using MicNet Control can be found in the Spatial Mic Dante user guide.

Download Software installers for MicNet Control app for macOS and Windows:

• MicNet Control Setup for macOS.dmg
• MicNet Control Setup for WIN.zip

Last updated: 06-01-2023

The Spatial Record app provides a seamless method to record and preview multichannel audio files to devices like iPhones, iPads and laptops.

Download the Spatial Record App for iOS, macOS and Windows:

• Spatial record App for Windows.zip

Last updated: 10-18-2023

By clicking the "I agree" button below, you confirm that you have read and accepted the Voyage Audio LLC End User License Agreement located at the following link: Voyage Audio LLC EULA

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