{
"title": "Eric Emery Keeps Tracking Sessions Dialed in With Slate Digital ML-1A and Virtual Microphone system",
"modified_at": "2026-06-10 15:46:54",
"published_at": "2026-06-10 15:47:00",
"url": "https://slate-digital.hummingbirdmedia.com/eric-emery-keeps-tracking-sessions-dialed-in-with-slate-digital-ml-1a-and-virtual-microphone-system",
"short_url": "http://prez.ly/C5Id",
"culture": "en",
"language": "EN",
"subtitle": "Slate\u2019s large-diaphragm modeling microphone helps the Grammy-nominated producer and mix engineer maintain creative momentum, quickly matching the right microphone sound to every artist",
"slug": "eric-emery-keeps-tracking-sessions-dialed-in-with-slate-digital-ml-1a-and-virtual-microphone-system",
"body": "
Los Angeles, CA, June 10, 2026 —2x Grammy Nominated Producer/Mix Engineer Eric Emery [Blink-182, Yellowcard, Sevendust, Alice Cooper]]has built his career by contributing to some of the most commercially successful and sonically distinctive rock and pop recordings of the 21st Century. An audio obsessive, he has spent decades developing a discerning set of ears and a sizable gear collection in his constant search for inspiring studio tools that can streamline his way to sonic inspiration. One of the latest mainstays in his studio workflow is the Slate Digital ML-1A Modeling Microphone and Slate’s Virtual Microphone System (VMS) – a vast, accessible library of software-modeled microphones which provide him with a comprehensive set of sonic possibilities for every session.
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Developing the sonic palette in the age of ‘in the box’ \u200bEmery is equally comfortable with modern digital gear as he is with classic analog recording tools, but his approach is still grounded in engineering fundamentals – capturing emotional performances and getting the best possible sounds out of a source. For him, it’s recognizing the beauty of what’s already present and finding ways to bring additional sonic excitement to the proceedings. “The art of recording shouldn’t be about repairing or forcing sounds to work together,” he states. “It’s about taking sounds that are already great in the room and elevating them – bringing something together that does justice to the song and performance.”
“I truly believe that the skill of engineering is more important now than ever before because it’s so easy to get tripped up by ‘easy solutions’ you can just slap on in the DAW. I always counsel younger engineers to really develop their relationships with sound by experimenting with mic placement, different microphone combinations, and building that sensibility. That way you are coming from a place of knowledge when an artist comes to you.”
Although he has his pick of mainstay equipment in the studio, Emery often finds himself defaulting to gear that provides momentum and creative spark to the session. This often involves providing his clients with a window of possibility into what they can achieve. “We’re in an interesting time where so many more people have come up with home recording as their basis of understanding of what the studio can do,” he explains. “Often they haven’t had the opportunity to hear a truly great performance through a great mic, so part of my job is to give them something aspirational to chase and give a glimpse of what they can sound like when the gear is matched correctly to our creative vision."
“The Slate ML-1A is a great catalyst for this because it gives them a chance to hear what they should be shooting for in terms of sound quality and performance capture.”
Assembling the audio arsenal \u200bEmery prefers to work quickly to capture important creative moments in the studio as they happen. The ML-1A gives him the ability to dial into the performer if they need to quickly audition different mic types quickly, and get comfortable. “You want to bottle that inspiration when you can, so it’s useful to have the ability to quickly A/B things – something I normally don’t spend a lot of time doing – in the moment if you are working with a singer who needs to feel confident and is unsure what the right sound for them should be,” he says. “We’ll often cycle through a few of the VMS models to find the right fit, or I’ll just use the ML-1A on its own. The stock profile provides a great starting point, and then we can explore whatever sounds we need to get going. The speed of mic selection VMS offers means we don't lose the flow of the session by having to physically swap mics out. Additionally, the fact I can swap the type of mic after the session, when we’re mixing, is just mind blowing. The system allows me to work faster while giving me a new level of flexibility.”
“I’m not someone who generally gravitates towards gear with a lot of options, I just want it to work and sound good. What’s great about the ML-1A and VMS is that the modeling software is simple to use and doesn’t take you out of the process of making music. You can find your sounds easily and get back to recording.”
Emery attributes the ability to dial in and work quickly as a key component to success in the industry. Knowing sounds very well and how to get them in a session can be the difference between being hired back, or never called again. “It’s all about making yourself irreplaceable and having the knowledge of sounds and gear so you can move through these complicated pathways quickly and get to the core of what matters,” he states. “I’ve been deconstructing everything for years and because of that obsession with sound – and you need to be obsessed to do this – you get the gigs. You move fast to get what the artist wants, and you gravitate towards the tools that help you do that.”
“It’s all about building that arsenal up, and the ML-1A is an important part of mine now,” he continues.“Even though it’s priced more affordably, the ML-1A totally competes alongside my favorite expensive mics like the Sony C800 and Neumann models. For me, it’s just another great microphone in a collection of great microphones and I use it all the time.”
Slate VMS Tone Recipe: Eric’s Favorite Vocal Chain
Slate Microphone Model: FG-800
Plugins: SSL4K 4 Channel Strip, Slate Digital FG-116 Vintage FET Compressor
“I’m always aiming for a modern, hi-fi, upfront sound, and the FG-800 delivers exactly that. Paired with the SSL Channel Strip and 1176, I have all the control I need in a workflow that feels intuitive, familiar, and efficient.”
About Slate Digital \u200bSlate Digital makes audio processing plugins, virtual instruments, modeling microphones, sample packs, and production tutorials for content creators, music producers and engineers. Founded in 2010 with the goal of empowering audio producers at all levels of experience to create great-sounding music, their innovative products and industry-leading Complete Access subscription have been recognized throughout the recording industry.
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\n Steve Bailey\n Public Relations Manager, Hummingbird Media, Inc.\n
![\"Steve](\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d4d19a23-f31f-46ea-a2ec-d7d57c31bb0e/-/crop/499x500/0,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\"){kind=avatar}