Antares Microphone Modeler user manual

							©2000 Antares Audio Technologies. All rights reserved. 
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 
All names of microphone manufacturers and microphone model designations 
appearing in this manual are used solely to identify the microphones ana\
lysed in
the development of our digital models and do not in any way imply any as\
sociation 
with or endorsement by any of the named manufacturers. 
Antares Audio Technologies 
464 Monterey Avenue, 2nd Floor 
Los Gatos, California 95030 USA 
voice: (888) 332-2636
email: [email protected] 
web: www.antarestech.com 
Printed in USA Rev 1.5-02/2000 
						

							The Obligatory Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
The Antares Microphone Modeler software and this User’s Manual are
protected by copyright law. Making copies, adaptations, or derivative
works without the prior written authorization of Antares Audio Technolo-
gies, is prohibited by law and constitutes a punishable violation of the law.
Antares Audio Technologies retains all ownership rights to the Microphone
Modeler software and other software offered by Antares Audio Technolo-
gies and their documentation. Use of the Antares Microphone Modeler is
limited by the following license agreement.
Please carefully read all the terms and conditions of this license agreement.
At the time of installation of the Antares Microphone Modeler software
you will be presented with a copy of the agreement and asked whether or
not you agree to it. Continuing with the installation process beyond that
point constitutes such agreement.
Antares Microphone Modeler License Agreement
Antares Audio Technologies grants you a non-transferable, non-exclusive
license to use the Antares Microphone Modeler under the terms and
conditions stated in this agreement. Use of Antares Microphone Modeler
indicates your agreement to the following terms and conditions.
License
You may:
1. Use Antares Microphone Modeler on only one computer at a time;
2. Physically transfer the program from one computer to another, pro-
vided that the program is used on only one computer at a time.
You may not:
1. Make copies of Antares Microphone Modeler or of the user manual in
whole or in part except as expressly provided for in this agreement. Your
right to copy Antares Microphone Modeler and the user manual is limited
by copyright law. Making copies, verbal or media translations, adaptations,
derivative works, or telecommunication data transmission of Antares
Microphone Modeler without prior written authorization of Antares Audio
Technologies, is prohibited by law and constitutes a punishable violation of
the law.
2. Make alteration or modifications to Antares Microphone Modeler (or
any copy) or disassemble or de-compile Antares Microphone Modeler (or
any copy), or attempt to discover the source code of Antares Microphone
Modeler.
3. Sub-license, lease, lend, rent, or grant other rights in all or any portion
of Antares Microphone Modeler (or any copy) to others. 
						

							Term of the Agreement
This agreement is effective until terminated by you or Antares Audio
Technologies. You may terminate the agreement at any time by notifying
Antares Audio Technologies and destroying all copies of the manual, and
erasing Antares Microphone Modeler from all machine-readable media,
whether on-line or on archival copies.
In the event of breach of any of the terms of this agreement, you shall pay
the attorney’s fees of Antares Audio Technologies that are reasonably
necessary to enforce the agreement plus resulting damages.
Limited Warranty and Disclaimer
ANTARES MICROPHONE MODELER AND ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS ARE
PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Antares Audio Technologies does not warrant that the functions contained
in the program will meet your requirements. The entire risk as to the use,
quality, and performance of Antares Microphone Modeler is with you.
Antares Audio Technologies warrants the media on which the program is
furnished to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under
normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the day of delivery to you
as evidenced by a copy of your receipt. Antares Audio Technologies’ entire
liability and your exclusive remedy as to the media will be the replacement
of the media.
SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN
IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY
TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. YOU MAY
ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDIC-
TION.
Limitation of Liability
IN NO EVENT WILL ANTARES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING
LOSS OF DATA, LOST PROFITS OR OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSE-
QUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE OF ANTARES
MICROPHONE MODELER OR ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS. THIS LIMITATION
WILL APPLY EVEN IF ANTARES OR ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE LICENSE FEE REFLECTS THIS ALLOCATION OF RISK. SOME JURIS-
DICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION
MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Whew! Now that that’s over, let’s get on to the good stuff. 
						

							Contents
Getting Started Chapter 1
Installing AMM 8
Authorizing AMM 8
Technical Support 9
Introducing the Antares Chapter 2
Overview 10
About the Technology 11
So What Exactly Does It Do? 11
Operation Chapter 3
Live or Mixdown 12
Signal Flow 12
Controls 13
Input Section 13
Source Mic Section 14
Modeled Mic Section 17
Preserve Source 20
Tube Saturation 21
Output Level 22
The Microphone Models Chapter 4
The Mic Model Files 23
Customizing Mic Menus 24
Automation 24
Microphone Modeler 
						

							Realistic Expectations Chapter 5
Choice of Input Microphone 26
Microphone Variations 26
Microphone Technique 27
Excessive Frequency Boost 27
Polar Pattern Selection 27
Off-Axis Response 28
Transient Response 28
Get Creative Chapter 6 30
Appendix 31
Acknowledgments 37
Index 39 
						

							7
Welcome!
On behalf of everyone at Antares Audio Technologies, we’d like to
offer both our thanks and congratulations on your decision to
purchase the Antares Microphone Modeler.
Before you proceed any farther, we’d like to strongly encourage you
to fill out and return the Microphone Modeler registration card. To
make it as easy as possible, we’ve included a sticker with your serial
number to attach to the card. The serial number also appears on the
bottom of the box, but it’s probably a good idea also to write it in
your manual for future reference.
As a Microphone Modeler owner, you are entitled to receive notifi-
cation of any software upgrades, technical support, and advance
announcements of upcoming products. But we can’t send you stuff
unless we know who and where you are. So please, send that card in.
At Antares, we are committed to excellence in quality, customer
service, and technological innovation. With your purchase of the
Antares Microphone Modeler, you have created a relationship with
Antares which we hope will be long and gratifying. Let us know
what you think. You can count on us to listen.
Again, thanks.
The Whole Antares Crew 
						

							8
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Installing Antares Microphone Modeler
Instructions for installing Antares Microphone Modeler for your
specific platform are located in the Microphone Modeler Read Me
file on the CD ROM. This file may also contain any last-minute
Microphone Modeler information that didn’t make it into this
manual.
Authorizing Antares Microphone Modeler
Authorization (the process by which the Microphone Modeler
software installed on you computer is allowed to run) is accom-
plished by a technique called “Challenge/Response.” This is de-
scribed in detail in the Read Me file, but basically, the first time you
launch Microphone Modeler you will be presented with a string of
letters (the Challenge) and will be asked to enter another string of
letters (the Response).
To receive the appropriate Response, you will need to provide us
with both proof of purchase and your Challenge string. Here are the
options for accomplishing this:
Proof of Purchase:
•Fax a copy of your warranty card with the serial number sticker
attached to (408) 399-0036. This is a preferred option in that you
can be certain that it has arrived prior to your requesting your
Response.
•If you have access to a scanner, scan your warranty card with the
serial number sticker attached and send it as a JPEG attachment
in the same email as your Response request (see below).
•Mail us your warranty card with the serial number sticker attached.
You should only rely on this if you don’t have access to either of
the other options, as you can never predict when it’s actually
going to arrive. (However, you should still mail the warranty
card in any case, so that we can have it physically on file.) 
						

							9
Challenge String:
•Once you have reason to believe that we have received your
proof of purchase (or if you’ve attached it as a scan), copy and
paste your Challenge string into an email along with your name,
the product name (e.g., Microphone Modeler for MAS) and your
serial number and send it to: [email protected]. You will
receive your Response string by return email, usually within 24
hours (unless you have sent the email over a weekend, in which
case you should receive it the following Monday).
•If you do not have access to email, fax us your Challenge string
along with your proof of purchase as described above. Be sure
to include your fax number, We will fax the Response string back
to you at that number.
When initially installed, Microphone Modeler will run for ten days
without authorization, so even if your can’t contact us right away
you can still use your software in the meantime. (During this period,
click the ”Continue“ button whenever you are presented with the
Authorization dialog box.) But don’t procrastinate too long. After
those ten days are up, you will no longer be able to launch Micro-
phone Modeler until the correct Response is entered.
Technical Support
In the unlikely event that you experience a problem using Antares
Microphone Modeler, try the following:
1. Make another quick scan through this manual. Who knows?
You may have stumbled onto some feature that you didn’t
notice the first time through.
2. Check our web page for tips, techniques, or any late-breaking
information: www.antarestech.com
3. Call your local Antares dealer.
4. Call us at (888) 332-2636, or (408) 399-0008 Monday through
Friday between 9am and 5pm USA Pacific Standard Time.
5. Email us at: [email protected]
For options 3, 4 and 5, please be prepared to provide the serial
number of your copy of Antares Microphone Modeler. 
						

							10
Chapter 2: Introducing the Antares
Microphone Modeler
Overview
If you’ve spent any time lately flipping through the pages of pro
audio magazines, you have almost certainly noticed the intense
focus on microphones. From the proliferation of exotic new mics to
the almost cult-like following of certain historical classics, never has
the choice been greater. But amassing a substantial collection of
high-end mics is financially prohibitive for all but the most well-
heeled studios.
Enter the Antares Microphone Modeler.
Using our patented Spectral Shaping Tool™ technology, we’ve
created precise digital models of a wide variety of microphones,
from historical classics to modern exotics, as well as a selection of
industry-standard workhorses. Simply tell the Microphone Modeler
what microphone you are actually using and what microphone
you’d like it to sound like. It’s as simple as that.
With the Microphone Modeler, you can afford to record each track
through a model of the specific mic that will best produce that ideal
sound you’re looking for. Or use it in live performance to get the
sound of mics you’d never consider using on stage. You can even use
it during mixdown to effectively change the mic on an already
recorded track.
Not only do the models reproduce all of the subtle sonic characteris-
tics that make each microphone unique, but they also give you
control of each mic’s specific options. Does the mic have a low cut
filter? If so, it’s in the model. Wind screen on or off? Close or far
placement? Each option results in the same sonic effect that it
would have with the actual modeled mic. And for that final touch
of perfection, you can even add some tasty tube saturation.