HAMPTON, VA — For the first time in 4 1/2 years, Phish reunited for three concerts at the Hampton Coliseum. On stage with Phish were the new M 80 dynamic microphones from Telefunken USA. The stage and studio mics are new models from the company known for its classic re-creations of vintage microphones.
"We got the M 80s in rehearsal for the Hampton shows," said FOH mixer Garry Brown. "First thing we noticed was that we had an additional 8-10dB of gain in the monitor system over the previous stage mics we had been using. Vocals became very focused and basically just punched right through the mix."
Phish is known for its musical improvisation, extended jam sessions, exploration of music among diverse genres, and loyal fans. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983, the band's four members performed together for over 20 years before disbanding in August 2004. For the reunion shows and the upcoming Summer tour, Phish makes multi-track recordings of every show, releasing stereo mixes on the band's Web site.
"The focus of the M 80 and the rejection from the mic was amazing,” Brown said. “For me at FOH, Trey Anastasio's guitar tone was a 50/50 combination of his vocal & guitar mics. This drastically changed. Obviously the vocal is going to have some presence in the guitar tone, but now I'm free to create the guitar tone that I need for the mix."
Designed for both stage and studio use, the M 80 offers performance and durability. Feedback rejection, frequency response and a smooth and present sound combine for a mic well-suited to vocals, electric guitars, drums and other signal sources.
"The band members are very dynamic on their vocals," Brown said, "and they blend themselves within the context of what they are hearing, which means that they either sing quiet or they back off the mic. Getting a good consistent sound, can be hard, but I think after doing the first 3 shows after their reunion, we have made the right decision with choosing the M 80. Bruno, our monitor mixer, is so much more comfortable with the available headroom the mic has given him, plus the rejection that they have given, has helped in tightening the sound up."
"The M 80 is loud, smooth, tight, and in your face,” added monitor mixer Mark "Bruno" Bradley. “They seem pretty hefty and durable, maybe agricultural, like a tractor. It's great to see Telefunken put out a real working man's microphone — I love this mic!"
Telefunken touts the M 80’s directional pickup pattern, wide frequency response and blend of functionality, isolation, and tone. The mic is sonically open, requiring little or no EQ to fit into a live or recorded mix. Minimal proximity effect gives the microphone a balanced presence neither boomy nor overpowering.
The M 80 combines a low-mass voice coil with a thin Mylar membrane and a step-up output transformer. It has a lack rubberized finish, recessed Telefunken badge, and chromed head grill.
"On the song 'Lawnboy,' when Page comes forward with his mic, using it as a handheld, I didn't notice any handling noise, but the biggest thing was how amazing his vocal sounded,” said Brown. “It was thick and rich, very tight sounding, no proximity effect — it was just stellar. Needless to say we have now bought eight of them."
For more information, please visit www.telefunkenusa.com.
