LONGMONT, CO – Mick “Big Mick” Hughes, front-of-house sound engineer for the heavy metal band Metallica, is using DPA Microphones’ d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones for drummer Lars Ulrich’s cymbals and toms during the band’s live performances. The mics were also used to capture sound for the 3D film, Metallica Through the Never, which premiered worldwide Oct. 4.
More details from DPA Microphones (www.dpamicrophones.com):
Legendary FOH engineer makes the switch to d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones to deliver a clear rock sound for live shows and the band’s new 3D documentary
“After 30 years with Metallica, and 15 years miking Lars’ drums with another brand, I was finally persuaded to test DPA Microphones by Morten Uldbæk, who is the Danish distributor for Midas consoles,” says Big Mick. “I have to admit, I had never considered DPA as the right kind of microphone for live rock music, but after giving them a try I was really impressed with their brightness and crispness.”
The final impetus to switch to DPA Microphones came from the studio engineers who were working on the soundtrack for Through the Never. “The recording guys were not happy with our old mics because they didn’t deliver the audio they wanted across the full frequency range,” explains Big Mick. “Obviously for the surround sound on a 3D movie it was important that the audio was perfect, so I suggested the DPA d:vote and, after carrying out A/B testing, they were very happy for us to switch to them.”
Big Mick adds that in addition to delivering brighter, crisper audio, the d:votes are much clearer in the higher frequency ranges. As a result, he no longer needs to use an exciter across the cymbal and toms sub group on his Midas live sound console. “Technology does move on and I’m always looking for better solutions,” concludes Big Mick. “Now that I have discovered DPA, I am looking forward to trying out a few other models. I already have my eye on the d:dicate™ 2011 recording microphones as I’m told they are great for drums as well.”
