Counting the Pasadena Symphony and POPS as one of his prestige clients, Complete Production Rentals founder Jack Haffamier has recently specified Audio-Technica mics to serve the entire orchestra.
One of the top performing symphonic ensembles in Southern California, the orchestra plays live concerts year-round at the historic Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena and Pasadena Rose bowl grounds, offering a broad classical and popular music repertoire. ‘Any time that we need a large-diaphragm microphone, we will use the 4040s,’ Haffamier says. ‘Many people are very set on certain types of microphones but most of the time when I have given someone an Audio-Technica product they have been very positive about it.’
On winds, Haffamier uses the ATM650 hypercardioid dynamic instrument mic, while for the cellos and string basses, he chooses the AT4040 cardioid condenser. The AT4051a cardioid condenser is used to capture woodwinds and percussion and the AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphones are used for overall ambience pickup and the AE6100 hypercardioid dynamic handheld serves a similar purpose as overhead microphones for violins and violas. ‘[We do that] in conjunction with the close miking – using an ATM35 Cardioid Condenser Clip-on Instrument Microphone – and that gives us a nice balance between the two,’ Haffamier explains. ‘When we want more of an overall symphonic sound we can rely more on the overheads, and when we want more of a pop sound we rely more on the close miking. It gives us a really nice balance between the two. And where they need a solo we put a 4040 on an overhead and they’ll walk up to the middle of the stage and solo on that.
‘We have had great support with A-T,’ he adds. ‘The pricing is very competitive and when it comes to reliability, I’ve had very few problems over the years. Any time I have had a problem the factory has been very quick to turn it around and very accommodating.’
More: www.audio-technica.com
