Got Loud Instruments? Get This Mic! Or, rather, get these five mics. You read that correctly, the Universal Audio SD-3 Dynamic Microphone leverages the same Hemisphere technology found within UA’s other Standard series mics, resulting in five of the most iconic dynamic instrument microphones together in a single, sleek package. This dynamite cardioid dynamic mic is poised to become a daily studio staple from the moment you unbox it, with its hand-selected capsule that handles extremely high SPL, easy-to-place design, and all-metal construction that can easily take a whack from a wayward drumstick. Studio engineers are quick to point out that the SD-3 isn’t just for snare drums, however — look at the Hemisphere interface for your SD-3, and you’ll see some familiar faces that have featured on guitar cabs and other loud instruments for decades. Whether you track drums, guitars, vocalists, brass, or other high-decibel instruments, the Universal Audio SD-3 with Hemisphere mic modeling technology belongs in your mic locker.
Included with your new SD-3 microphone, the Hemisphere modeling plug-in takes the concept of UA’s Sphere software and applies it to a dynamic mic meant for snare drums, guitar cabs, and other loud instruments. It spans models of five iconic dynamic mics from the world’s most respected manufacturers. Whether you’re looking for the industry-standard snare drum sound or other unique instrument sounds, Hemisphere has you covered — and then some. Better still, Hemisphere is compatible with every drum microphone in Universal Audio’s Standard series, and includes modeled microphones optimized for the SD-3 snare/drum instrument mic, the SD-5 kick drum mic, and the SD-7 tom/instrument mic.
There’s more to like about Hemisphere beyond the larger-than-life microphone models. The plug-in also offers proximity, axis, and filter parameters. The proximity knob virtually increases or decreases the distance of your microphone from the source, so you don’t have to physically move the mic to achieve an optimal sound. Furthermore, the axis control virtually alters the axis at which the mic is placed — an industry first. This control helps tame harsh, unwanted frequencies on your guitar amps, snare drums, and much more. Most importantly, Hemisphere is so powerful that you can change the filter, proximity, and axis controls even after you’re done tracking. Using Hemisphere is the easiest way to get perfect recordings the first time.
