Townsend Labs Sphere L22 now supports AAX DSP

Townsend Labs is proud to announce that AAX DSP support is included in version 1.3 of the Sphere plug-in—the software component in the award-winning and best-in-class Sphere L22 microphone modeling system. Ever since its initial introduction, the Sphere plug-in has been available for all major native plug-in formats, as well as on Universal Audio’s UAD-2, Apollo and Arrow platform. With the addition of AAX DSP support in Sphere 1.3, owners of Pro Tools HDX systems can now enjoy perfect integration of the Sphere microphone into their existing DSP-based workflow, and monitor the over 20 included microphone models with near-zero latency while recording.

Background
Since its debut in 2017, the Townsend Labs Sphere L22 has established itself as the best microphone modeling solution in the industry. Its pioneering multi-dimensional modeling technology and unique dual-channel design take microphone modeling far beyond merely mimicking the static on-axis response of the original microphones. The Sphere L22 captures the spatial in-room behavior of the original microphones, including transient response, harmonics, proximity effect, and three-dimensional polar response. The stunning accuracy is what has convinced users from home recordists to seasoned industry veterans, such as Joe Chiccarelli and Allen Sides, that Sphere is the future of microphones.

Sphere L22
The Sphere L22 system is comprised of a dedicated, dual-channel microphone and its software counterpart, the Sphere plug-in. The plug-in currently includes over 20 models of coveted microphones—a collection which would be worth more than a hundred thousand dollars if it was ever up for sale, and to which new microphone models are regularly added. The microphone can be used with any preamp and any digital interface, and the Sphere plug-in is available for all major native plug-in formats as well as on Universal Audio’s UAD-2, Apollo and Arrow platform.

Version 1.3
With version 1.3 of the Sphere plug-in, Townsend Labs adds support for AAX DSP, which means Pro Tools HDX owners can now use the microphone with near-zero latency in their existing workflow. This does not only make Sphere L22 an even more attractive choice for top-end music producers and high-end commercial studio facilities, but also for audio post and dialog recordists. As such, Sphere is the first and only microphone modeling system available for Pro Tools HDX.

Producer/engineer Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, Jason Mraz, The Strokes), a long time Sphere owner, explains:
“Working with Sphere as a native plug-in has been great and I’ve been a big supporter of the company from the beginning. Now it fits perfectly into my workflow with Pro Tools HDX at Sunset Sound.”

Erik Papp of Townsend Labs comments:
“The professional community—both in music and audio post—have been requesting an AAX DSP version of the Sphere plug-in. We’re proud we can now add it to the list of available formats. It's important to us that customers can incorporate Sphere L22 in their current workflow, whatever it may be.”

Price and availability
The Sphere plug-in is free of charge and available for download on Townsend Labs’ website. The Sphere L22 microphone can be purchased from most pro audio dealers worldwide, and is offered for $1499 US dollars excluding tax. Anyone interested in exploring the system is invited to download various sound examples recorded with Sphere L22 microphones and try the free, fully-featured Sphere plug-in on their system.

https://www.townsendlabs.com/aax-dsp

About Townsend Labs

Following more than three years of technical development, Townsend Labs was founded in 2015 by thirteen-year Avid alum and DSP architect Chris Townsend, together with Erik Papp, previously CEO of Summit Audio Inc. Townsend Labs Inc. is a professional audio company in the San Francisco Bay Area region of California. In July 2016, Townsend Labs announced their world-class patented microphone modeling technology, Sphere. Sphere’s analog hardware directly captures spatial and distance information in the sound field, allowing for unprecedented control and multi-dimensional modeling of vintage microphones from within the Sphere plug-in.