The Reference Cardioid & Pop Vocal Production
Since the early 1990s, the Manley Reference Cardioid has been a favorite mic for the world's biggest pop producers and can be heard on countless #1 hits. Thirty years later – even though so many records are now being made in living rooms instead of studio vocal booths – it's still the world's most popular modern tube mic.
We sat down with two Los Angeles-based producers / songwriters to talk about why this mic is still so beloved for the writers, producers, and singers of today: Alex Bilowitz (BTS, Lil Wayne, Bebe Rexha) and Christina Galligan (aespa, Gryffin, gnash).