Thanks Kimball. I have looked at some of the kit mics, but I really don't do enough recording these days to warrant getting another mic that's mainly going to stay in the mic cupboard. Plus I seem to be spending my spare cash on guitar kits, luthier tools and upgraded parts these days! The Townsend Labs mic could also be very interesting. Obviously no shoot-outs against the Slate or against the mics that are supposed to be modelled yet. I'd like to know a bit more than they are currently showing on areas like how well it emulates the polar pattern of a ribbon mic at what should be the null points - quite important if you are using it less for the ribbon sound but more for separation.