Lava
by Acustica Audio · Vocal Tool · Microphone emulator
Not rated yet
Lava is a microphone emulation plugin with 141 models of vintage and modern mics, from budget to boutique, that changes the tone and character of a recording.
It is an Acqua plugin with a zero-latency version, and costs €209 (about $237.32).
Best for: Vocals, Acoustic Instruments, Guitars. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: low latency, vocals, zero-latency, mixing, dialogue, podcast, tracking, classic, hardware emulation, built-in mix knob, modern, oversampling, utility, vintage.
What it does
Lava is Acustica Audio's microphone emulator. You tell it which mic you recorded with and which mic you want to hear, and it reshapes the signal toward the target, aiming to "instantly expand the range of sounds you can get with your mic".
- Source mics: 100 models of the mic you actually used, from studio standards to budget options.
- Destination mics: 41 target models of classic microphones, including designs from Neumann, Brauner and AKG.
- What it models: frequency response, harmonic content and proximity effect, so the virtual mic reacts to distance like the original.
- Distance slider: simulates how far the source sits from the mic.
- Utility controls: input trim, a high-pass filter, a mix knob and an oversampling switch.
- Standard and ZL versions: the ZL (zero latency) version is meant for tracking; the developer quotes about 4 ms at 44 kHz and notes it needs more processing power.
- Known limits: the developer says some conversions cannot be done physically, such as turning a figure-8 into a hyper-cardioid pattern.
Lava is an Acqua plugin. Acustica offers trial versions of its products, but advises against using trials on important projects.
Source: Acustica Audio product page
When to use it
Lava works one step earlier than most vocal plugins on the site, which work after the recording: Nectar 4 is a full vocal chain, and Pro-DS and Oxford SuprEsser tame sibilance. Lava changes the apparent microphone itself, which is useful when you own only one or two mics. Its closest rivals are other mic modelers such as Antares Mic Mod. Unlike modeling-mic systems like Slate VMS and Townsend Sphere, which pair a hardware mic with software, it works with the mic you already have rather than requiring a special one, and its appeal is its large source list. As with other Acustica plugins, expect sampled character rather than a lightweight utility.
- Best for: trying different mic characters on vocals, voice-over, podcasts and acoustic instruments without buying more mics.
- Genres: any; it is a recording and mixing tool.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a complete vocal chain with EQ, compression and de-essing (Nectar 4), or only need sibilance control (Pro-DS).
- Tip: use the ZL version while tracking and switch to the standard version for mixing.
Where to buy
- Acustica Audio: $237.32 (€209 converted to USD (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
Tutorials and reviews
- LAVA
- Turn a Shure SM58 into a Neumann U67? Acustica Audio Lava Review. Model your mic when Mixing.
- Transform SM7b Into Neumann U87 Microphone? Acustica Audio LAVA VST Plugin Shure Neumann
- Acustica Audio Lava un plugin per domarli tutti [PRO TOOLS, LOGIC, REAPER]
- Acustica Audio LAVA Review
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