The top half of the microphone is encased within a distinct black foam windscreen that, when removed, reveals the microphone’s capsule within a protective metal cage, and the only controls on the SD-1 are two recessed switches on the bottom of the microphone, which give users the option to engage a gentle 200 Hz high-pass filter for reducing low-end rumble and a 3 dB bump from 3-5 kHz for enhanced speech and articulation clarity. The two microphones weigh roughly the same 1.6 pounds and, just like the SM7B, the SD-1 features a thick, sturdy metal chassis affixed to a threaded yoke mount. The Universal Audio SD-1’s designīesides its distinct satin white finish, the utilitarian design of the Universal Audio SD-1 very closely resembles that of the Shure SM7B, an industry-standard vocal microphone that’s been used in recording and broadcasting for decades. Below, I’ll break down the design, workflow, and overall sound of the Universal Audio SD-1 to help you decide if it’s worthy of a spot in your setup. Overall, I was pleased with the SD-1’s sound and performance and, despite a few quibbles about its design, I think it’s one of the best vocal microphones in its class considering the ease it can bring to the creative process. I put the SD-1 through its paces at my home studio, where I tested its abilities on a variety of sources and compared its performance directly to that of legendary broadcast mic benchmark the Shure SM7B, which it is clearly targeting in form factor and features. The $299 SD-1, however, is marketed primarily as an affordable workhorse mic with an intuitive design and natural sound suited for all-around studio duties and everyday use. The Universal Audio SD-1 is the flagship dynamic mic in a line that stretches from the approachable Standard Series all the way to high-end condensers like the $1,499 Sphere L22 Modeling Mic, which I’ll be reviewing in August, and the multi-thousand dollar UA Bock 251 Large-Diaphragm Tube Condenser (coming fall 2022).
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