One element in that equation has been Hughes' relationship with leading microphone manufacturer Audio-Technica. He explains: "I've been using Audio-Technica for years because of the way A-T mics sound. I'll continue to use some of my 'old standard' A-T mics, but recently I have added some of the new Artist Elite mics to my setup, including the AE5400 and AE2500. The AE5400 on vocals has stunning tone with great highs."
In addition to the AE5400, Hughes is using ATM35s on toms and cymbals, AT4051 on snare bottom and hi-hat, ATM23HE on snare top, as well as AE2500s and AT4050s on guitar cabinets. Metallica guitarist James Hetfield, meanwhile, has recently switched to Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless System with the AEW-T1000 transmitter.
"The AE2500 is absolutely stunning on guitar cabinets," says Hughes. "When I first tried the 2500, I listened to each element individually and said that's not very big. But when I combined the two (dynamic and condenser), it's absolutely crushing. The summation of the two is so much more than the individual elements - it's bizarre."
Hughes is also using the AE2500 on Lars Ulrich's drum kit. "I'm also using the dual-element AE2500 on kick. I position the mic very close to the beater, about three inches away, and then I predominantly lean on [turn up] the condenser element. When I A-B'd the 2500 to what I had previously been using, I realized the other mic [compared to the 2500] had no mid-range, it was all sculpted out. The 2500 lets me get the attack of the beater and the resonance of the shell."
Recently, James Hetfield's guitar radio setup has been switched to Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless System with the AEW-T1000 transmitter. "To date we've had no problems with the wireless, and James moves quite a bit onstage," says Hughes.
(Lee Baldock)
