Lauten Audio’s Large-Diaphragm FET Condenser microphone is put through its paces by AudioTechnology reviewer Greg Walker.
Read the full review here
Lauten Audio’s Signature Series microphones have been put to the test by a wide range of engineers and reviewers and shone flawlessly even under the most rigorous conditions. The popular Eden LT-386 became a hit with Headliner’s Paul Watson whilst Pro Tools Expert recorded an entire session using only the Eden to test its Multi-voicing technology. Now, Asutralian Magazine AudioTechnology have been testing out the Atlantis FC-387.
Alongside its growing popularity with reviewers, Lauten’s profile has been growing amongst recording engineers, with engineer Darrell Thorp using a range of Lauten microphones on the Foo Fighter’s latest album, whilst Jazz collective Snarky Puppy’s new release was recorded with 26 different microphones from across Lauten’s ranges.
With so many high-profile users and magazines singing Lauten’s praises, AudioTechnology gave reviewer Greg Walker the Atlantis to road test. Just like Pro Tools Expert’s one-mic recording experiment, Greg’s experience with the Atlantis revolves around a very tricky instrument – his prized double bass.
“The physical presence of this mic pretty much demands a good performance.”
As soon as Greg unboxed the Atlantis for his review, he was struck by the build quality and presentation of the microphone. Designed and crafted in Silicon Valley, California, the workmanship delivered on the Signature Series is something that Lauten pride themselves on, and it immediately caught Greg’s attention.
“The mic is finished in a ‘Champagne Cerakote’ ceramic, ships in a lovely timber case, comes with a well-built shockmount featuring a nifty swing-lever tightening mechanism and a felt dust cover for off-duty protection is also provided.”
“The oversize 38mm capsule and the longer body size mean placing the Atlantis in front of a singer is a satisfying experience,” he continues. “The physical presence of this mic pretty much demands a good performance.”
Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 – “thick, rich, gutsy and characterful”
The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is a multi-pattern, large diaphragm FET condenser for recordists searching for a versatile microphone with a unique and modern FET sound. Designed in collaboration with producer and engineer Fab Dupont, the Atlantis is a microphone created to cover a diverse range of applications. Even with its own sonic signature – which reviewer Greg describes as “thick, rich, gusty and characterful” – the FC-387 can perform in a wide range of recording scenarios thanks to its choice of Polar Patterns (omni, cardioid and figure of 8), three-position gain switch and Lauten’s Multi-Voicing Technology. These controls offer distinctive microphone timbres at the simple flick of a switch, making it easier to find the right mic for the job.
This versatility is something that caught Greg by surprise during his time with the Atlantis, with the microphone turning out “excellent results” on every source he placed it in front of.
“Everything I tried it on came up really nicely,” he notes in his review. “I always felt that I was being given something extremely usable with a consistently pleasing sonic signature centred around a sweet lower midrange.”
An instrument that had caused Greg particular issue with other microphones is his beloved double bass. In searching for a microphone that would faithfully record its sound, he had tried “very expensive, through to very cheap condensers, ribbons and dynamics and many combinations of the above”. Using the Atlantis with his favourite preamp, Greg was astounded by the resulting recording.
“Listening back, my jaw nearly hit the floor as I finally heard the sound I’d been chasing all this time” he states in his review. “Nice chunky bottom end and lower midrange complemented by a clear and defined top end. The sound had a cohesion and integrity to it that I’d never heard from this instrument in this room before… hallelujah!”
In his review, Greg also mentions recording other instruments that had previously caused issue – a high-strung archtop guitar and, more uniquely, a Chinese violin. The Atlantis performed exceptionally on both, and showed how truly versatile a microphone the Atlantis is.
Learn more about the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387
Multi-Voicing Technology and Sound Shaping
Lauten’s Multi-Voicing Technology has been a standout feature for many reviewers who have tested the Eden LT-386, and this same technology is offered on the Atlantis too. At the flick of a switch, three distinct microphone voices are available – Forward, Neutral and Gentle. These three options offer a wide range of tones that can suit even the most challenging sound sources.
In Neutral, the Atlantis offers what Greg describes in his review as a “thick, rich, gutsy and characterful” FET sound. Its smooth, earthy tone presents a fantastic starting point for a wide range of recording tasks.
Forward offers a far bolder sound for when punchy, modern timbres are required. Just like on the Eden LT-386, the Forward setting on the Atlantis is perfect for pushing vocal recordings into the foreground, but Greg also used Forward to record the “elusive definition” of his double bass.
Finally, Gentle gives the Atlantis a sound that Lauten describe as “dark and sultry”. It provides a warm, vintage sound that is a perfect pairing for more abrasive sound sources, helping to tame their brightness.
When combined with the gain switch and multiple polar patterns, Greg believes the Atlantis to be a fantastic microphone for experimentation during recording sessions.
“More gain structure options means more ability to shape a source’s character and the gain boost allows for some interesting saturation and distortion possibilities” he mentions when discussing the variety of sounds available from the Atlantis. “Combining the voicing and gain switching capabilities of the Atlantis means a great many tonal effects are available, and experimentation can lead to wonderful and quite unique results not readily available via other microphones.”
In Closing
With its outstanding build quality and versatile sound options thanks to Lauten’s innovative Multi-Voicing Technology, the Atlantis FC-387 is a microphone that can capably handle a wide range of recording tasks. From vocals to niche instrumentation like Double Bass and Chinese Violin, the Atlantis is the perfect microphone for engineers and producers looking for a microphone that can faithfully capture a wide range of sources.
Reluctant to return his review model, Greg stated in his closing points that he believed the Atlantis has proven itself as a favourite recording tool, and is filled with admiration at the microphone that Lauten Audio have crafted.
“The fact is that the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is a genuinely great-sounding microphone that, with its robust tones and versatility, is perfectly adapted to 21st century digital recording.”
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 Atlantis FC-387, the Lauten Signature Series comprises two other microphones – the Eden LT-386 and Clarion FC-357. Both the Eden and Clarion 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
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.