Headliner Magazine’s Paul Watson reviews Lauten Audio’s Multi-Voicing Vacuum Condenser, the Eden LT-386.
Read the full review here.
A recording session with UK rock band Fuzz Skyler proved the perfect opportunity for Headliner Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Paul Watson to test drive the Lauten Audio Eden LT-386, as part of a review of Lauten’s stunning flagship microphone.
Part of Lauten Audio’s Signature Series, the Eden is a large-diaphragm, valve condenser microphone. Described as “three microphones in one”, the Eden uses Lauten’s Multi-Voicing technology which provides three different microphone “voices” at the flip of a switch.
With its three distinct sound signatures, harmonic sound shaping filters and high quality craftmanship, the Lauten Audio Signature Series is regularly called upon by top engineers and producers such as Darrell Thorp and Fab Dupont (who was himself involved in the design of the mic).
The Eden’s Multi-voicing technology was also recently put to the test by Production Expert – who recorded an entire song using only a Lauten Eden microphone – and confirmed each of the Eden’s three voices to have “their own flavour of colouration”.
Read the full Headliner review
“When you open the box, Eden immediately has the wow factor”
Lauten Audio Eden LT-386 – “A stunning piece of kit”
Designed and crafted in Silicon Valley, California, the Eden’s workmanship and build quality is something that immediately caught reviewer Paul Watson’s attention.
“It’s a stunning piece of kit, aesthetically, and its heavy duty shockmount is as solid as I’ve ever seen on any mic,” says Paul. “No corners have been cut here, and it is clear that this is a very serious piece of engineering all round.”
Multi-Voicing Technology
As Paul notes in his review, finding the right microphone for the right singer is a task in itself, a potentially time-consuming process that can eat into precious studio time.
With the Lauten Audio Eden LT-386, a ‘different microphone’ is only a switch away. Each of the Eden’s three “voices” actually has its own discrete circuit path within the mic, providing three fully distinct tonal options, and speeding up the process of matching the microphone to the vocalist during a session.
When the neutral position is selected, the Eden provides a smooth sound, merging modern and vintage timbres, and serving as a fantastic starting position for a large number of recording applications. If a bold sound is required, the Forward setting offers plenty of punch and clarity, and is perfect for really bringing vocals into the foreground of any modern mix. Finally the Eden’s Gentle voicing brings a warm tone with a slightly darker edge – useful for reducing any harshness that can come from brighter sound sources.
During his time with the Eden, Paul primarily tested the microphone with the rock vocals of Fuzz Skyler, alongside some acoustic guitar.
Starting off with the Gentle setting on Fuzz Skyler’s in-your-face rock vocal, Paul was clearly impressed from the get-go, finding the Eden’s warm and rich tone to offer “genuine character”.
Next up was the Forward setting. “It’s brighter, it adds air, and now has that bite I was craving” writes Paul. “Yet it retains the smoothness that I know I’ll need when I’m processing it in the box later.”
Harmonic Sound Shaping – More than a filter
Aside from the versatile Multi-Voicing technology, the Lauten Audio Eden also features two high-pass filter options that provide further sound shaping possibilities.
The Soft or “Kick-Shaper” setting reduces any overbearing low-end frequencies. As the name suggests, this filter is useful for kick drums and boomy sources, helping to reduce any murkiness in the low end. This helps to create low-end sounds with far greater punch.
The Hard or “Vocal Shaper” highlights the midrange and can help with improved articulation for vocals, as well as being useful for instruments that benefit from extra accentuation such as piano.
The “Vocal Shaper” became an incredibly useful setting for Paul during his time with the Eden. On re-recording vocals for Fuzz Skyler, Paul notes the difference that the filter option makes to the vocal sound.
“After a few takes, I decided that actually moving Fuzz from F (Front) to N (Neutral) with a Hard cut provides the magic sauce: a sharpness in the attack with punchy, focused mids creates a vocal that sits in the mix way better than any of our previous efforts.”
“There is simply nothing not to like about this microphone;
it will deliver, no matter who or what you’re capturing.”
Having spent only a short time with the Eden, Paul sees it as “not only as a new studio centrepiece, but also as a creative production tool.” Its sound shaping capabilities make the LT-386 the perfect microphone for a variety of different vocal styles, as well as a broad range of instruments.
“It is a breath of fresh air, and a genuinely exciting microphone to work with,” concludes Paul, “with all the qualities you’d expect of a great mic, and an abundance of colour up its sleeve – it’s up to you how much you choose to untap it. There is simply nothing not to like about this microphone; it will deliver, no matter who or what you’re capturing.”
Learn more about the Lauten Audio Eden LT-386
Lauten Audio Signature Series
Designed and built in Silicon Valley, California, the Signature Series from Lauten Audio represents the pinnacle of their microphone design. Made to last a lifetime, the Signature Series brings Lauten’s vintage-meets-modern edge to three beautifully crafted microphones, producing fantastic results across a wide range of sound sources.
Alongside the Eden LT-386, the Lauten Signature Series comprises two other microphones – the Clarion FC-357 and Atlantis FC-387. Both the Clarion and Atlantis feature a three-way gain stage, offering -10dB for use with loud sound sources and a +10dB switch for when more microphone character is desired.
Learn more about the Lauten Audio Signature Series
Our thanks to Paul Watson and Headliner for the great review.
If you’d like to know more about Lauten Audio microphones, give us a call on 01727 821 870 to speak to one of our team or to arrange a demo.
You can also contact us via email.