Vanguard Audio Labs

“Stoked to have this Vanguard V13 in the new studio digs! It’s replaced a mic that cost 4X as much and I feel STOKED with how it’s performing!!!…Built like a tank, sounds like a flower…A million thanks to Derek and the team for making such a great product!”

I’m always being asked to listen to some new piece of equipment, and very seldom do I oblige. But about seven or eight years ago, someone I’d never met (Vanguard co-founder Derek Bargaehr) called and asked if I would listen to a prototype of a large diaphragm tube microphone he was wanting to sell in the thousand-dollar range.  I can’t say why, but this time I said, “sure.” He dropped it off at my studio, where it sat for several weeks.  When he finally called and asked what I thought, I realized I’d better give it a listen. Over the next several days, I compared it to several of my vintage tube favorites that were valued then between $10,000 to $25,000.  I was quite shocked at how well the prototype compared to them!…People are always asking me for an affordable large diaphragm tube microphone, and without hesitation, I tell them about the Vanguard V13. Everyone I have recommended it to has bought it and loves it.

I’m a very hard sell on new tube microphones – especially on those that fall under the 4k price range. They might sound deceivingly decent during tracking, but once you process the signal for a mix and compression and EQ are applied, the lack of warmth, naturalness, and musicality becomes super apparent and you’re left with impossible problems to fix. With Vanguard’s flagship V13 tube microphone, I was pleasantly surprised! After weeks of working with and putting it up against microphones 20x it’s price, I was impressed by not only it’s quality but it’s incredible versatility as well. I honestly could not find a source that it did not work effectively on. I don’t know what kind of voodoo goes on in the creation of these mics, but I can assure you – the V13 is a major contender at any price point. Even if you have $6-8k budgeted for your next mic purchase, give this mic a listen – you might just end up buying 10 of them.

“The V13 filled a void in my mic locker, a 251-style microphone I could use on vocals and acoustic guitars. It has the body I’m looking for when mic’ng the acoustic guitar with a large diaphragm mic and the sheen that makes vocals sound bright and modern, but still smooth and never harsh. A clear winner, Vanguard has created some magic here!”

“Been using the V13 on anything and everything I can put it in front of: Pianos, Guitars, both electric and acoustic, Drums, basses, strings, you name it. All I can say about the V13 is creamy highs, smooth mids and tight lows. Can’t go wrong with this mic!!”

After using the Vanguard V13 on John Turri’s lead vocal, I was blown away by how good this mic is. And I don’t say this lightly…I am absolutely in love with this mic! It’s transparent, sweet, it can handle high SPL, extremely low self noise. At this price, I cannot find a single contender to the V13. A great product made by passionate and dedicated people!

In show music, the trumpets are generally the lead instruments, so they need to have a certain sparkle. these players are blowing their brains out and the mics need to handle all that SPL without folding…and not hurt me. I used the V4s on saxes as well, in fact all the brass and woodwinds were on V4s. I think they sound terrific. They’re open and have great presence…after the first take, I knew these were the deal.

I love my V1+LOLLI pair! I needed a pair of utility large-diaphragm condensers and when I tried these out I found that they’re not your typical ‘utility mics’ that sound good on most sound sources, but they sounded great on everything I mic’d, which included male and female vocals, piano, drums, percussion, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, violin, even as room mics. Lots of detail with nice smooth mid range and top, not harsh and good lows and lower mids without getting muddy or boomy. Added bonus is they’re also a really great pair of SDC’s, two mics in one!

“The V13 has become a go-to in situations where other (much more expensive) mics in the locker have struggled. From vocals and voiceovers to strings it’s captured everything I’ve put it on with amazing presence and depth. And it hardly needs more than some slight EQ to make the source fall back into the mix.”

I have had the V13 microphone on my hands for several months. This is a revolutionary breakthrough in microphone technology and manufacturing. I do believe it will surpass any new mic on the market and also test well up against so many vintage mics from the 50s & 60s. The V13 has many desirable characteristics that remind me of some of the great classics…I own many of these great Neumanns, Gefells, Telefunkens, AKGs, RFTs and other very rare tube mics that go back to the mid 1930s. This has given me the opportunity to A-B the Vanguard V13 to some of my very favorite microphones in many applications…I can say confidently that this is an amazing microphone in any way you would choose to measure it – tonal excellence, build quality and a very conservative price point. I do believe it is a standout undeniable winner for top engineers, producers and artists who need to experience this magnitude of excellence.

In all of my years as a performer, producer and engineer, I have to say that the V13 is one of the most exquisite microphones I have ever used. Beautifully transparent yet both bright AND warm, especially in the upper midrange. On vocals, acoustic guitars, piano and drums, it does not disappoint. It captures every detail. This is not a gimmicky, ‘vintage’ sounding tube mic. It’s a mic for professionals. If you’re a fan of Neumann, Shoeps, Geffell and other microphones of that caliber, then put one (or two!) of these in your mic closet. And insanely, for a fraction of the price…

The V13 sounded great on female and male vocals, and I especially love the way it captures acoustic guitars. It has a nicely rounded sound with a smooth sheen to the top that gives it a wonderful and unique character. I used it a ton on acoustic and nylon string tracks for The Detour (TBS) and He’s My Brother She’s My Sister tracks. I also love the variety of polar pattern settings which really allows the roominess to open and close to your liking.

“This tube condenser microphone sonically represents everything a great mic should. All of the low and mid fundamentals are there with a beautiful and smooth open top end. The fit and finish is totally on point and shows great attention to detail.”

“Feeling extremely grateful to now own these incredible instruments – a pair of V13 Tube Condenser mics and the V44S Stereo FET Condenser microphone…They sound absolutely impeccable, so much clarity and detail!”

“The V13 is a welcome addition to our studio. My ‘go to’ valve mics are my 251 and 47. The V13 is hitting a sweet spot in tracking and mixing on female and male vocals, acoustic guitars and piano. The top end is stunning. I bought a pair for piano, drum overheads and vocals. They’re working on everything. The production value that this mic gives me on pop and hip hop vocals makes vocal mixes sound finished. The V13’s polar patterns give me flexibility sonically and there are really no ‘wrong answers’ with this mic. Highly recommended.”

“The V13 has become by go-to when I want something to sound life-sized and crystal clear. I reach for it when my ribbons are too low-mid heavy and when my small condensers are a bit too abrasive on the top end transients. The natural top end of the V13 tames transients in a musical way and gives me an accurate image of the midrange and bottom end! Not to mention clients always ask me about it when I pull it out of the mic locker!”

I’ve got my fair share of classic German mics and I’ve tried a quite a few of the ‘clones’. All I can say is this mic blows away other tube LDC’s that cost thousands more. Talk about bang for your buck! I used it on three very different singers just in the past week and it sounded fantastic on each one. Loads of vibe. Sweet highs, crispy focused mids, lots of detail. Also excelled on acoustic guitar and drum overhead. This one’s a keeper!!

I chose the V13 as I was looking for microphone that wasn’t just another clone. It’s brought character, clarity, and quality to my recordings for a price that’s hard to beat.

“Absolutely the best mic for the money. You could spend over 10 times this much on a mic that doesn’t sound this good.”

“I have been using the V13 every day since we got it months ago. We have mics that cost 20 times as much, and this is the one mic that has remained on the stand.”

I’ve been using [the V44S] on every song…it’s got a crispiness to it without any of the harsh stuff. I’ve been using it different ways…really high above the kit and super close…It sounds great anywhere.