The VL37 uses the same components and has the same sound quality and level of performance found in our critically acclaimed MF65--the microphone, which raised the bar and set new standards for High End ribbon microphones and essentially changed how they are being used by demanding engineers in today’s high resolution recording.
The VL37 unparalleled sound is a result of our attention to detail and level of craftsmanship that goes into each and every component we make.
The VL37 tonal balance combines a vintage vibe with a modern sound, creating a unique but affordable recording tool. Its bi-directional, figure 8, symmetrical polar pattern is perfect when used on drum overheads, choir, piano, violin, orchestra, brass instruments, vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, room microphones, speaker cabinets, among other recording, broadcast, and classical music applications. It has a Stainless Steel body and comes in a US made wooden box and anti-vibration shockproof clip.
The VL37 high SPL handling, built in pop filter and symmetrical polar response is perfect for demanding producers, musicians and engineers in recording studios and for live sound reproduction.
Featuring:
one of the kind innovative design
balanced ruler flat frequency response down to 20Hz (-0.43dB) and unprecedented top end beyond 25kHz
low noise, low distortion, made in house amorphous core toroidal transformers
sophisticated motor with shortest front-to-back path ever seen in ribbon microphones
low-mass ribbon with a unique fine tuning adjustment to assure for consistency from unit to unit
proprietary corrugation process to maintain ribbon’s integrity without special handling
Pickup Pattern: Figure 8
Ribbon Dimensions: 2”x0.250”x1.5 micron
Sensitivity: 2mV/Pa
Output Impedance: 250 Ohm
Microphone Dimensions: 6,420”x1,300”
Weight: 230g (8.2oz)
Frequency Response: 20Hz-25KHz (and beyond):
The AL Active in-line 48V phantom powered preamp is the perfect solution for studios, artists, and engineers whose goal is to make the highest quality recording where sound purity and clarity is essential. It helps customers see more gain, less distortion, and lower noise from virtually any ribbon or dynamic microphone including Samar Audio Design passive ribbons like the high end MF65, VL37, and AL95.
The circuit is based on Samar Audio Design founder Dr. Mark Fouxman’s schematics, which were originally developed for the company’s highly regarded flagship active microphones the MF65A and VL37A. The philosophy “life is in iron” finds itself here the purest way—all gain is achieved by the same high-end signature toroidal transformer used in every Samar Audio ribbon microphone.
Unlike any solid state-based microphone boosting devices, all the gain stage in the AL Active is in the transformer itself, which doesn’t add ANY noise. A sonically transparent and neutral buffer follows the transformer so the signal gets decoupled from the cable and preamp input. The sound passes through the entire signal chain maintaining its original 3D qualities and clarity with no sonic interference. Having an optimal load impedance of 10kOhm, passive microphones like to see for the most open and natural sonics.
Competing devices are built using standard enclosures and are to be used with an extra cable between the microphone and device. This negatively loads a passive microphone, multiplied by the length of the cable, or distance from the microphone to the device. In contrast, because Samar Audio Design makes everything in house, the AL Active's body is custom crafted on state of art CNC machinery and can be plugged directly into the microphone’s XLR connector, bypassing any need for extra cable. With this approach the cable resistance, capacitance, inductance, and all other electronic impurities affecting the sound in an unpredictable way are no longer an issue. The AL Active becomes a physical continuation of the microphone itself making the entire setup effective, sonically transparent, natural, pure, and easy.