Since the launch of the first four models, DPA has carried out intensive experiments with other instruments. One of the areas where superior sound quality and high rejection are an issue is acoustic bass, so a new holder has been designed for that instrument. Bass players such as Rufus Reid, Chris Minh Doky and John Patitucci were already 4099 users before the launch of the new bass clip. Minh Doky was so confident he'd found the ultimate mic he took a deep breath and drilled a hole into the bridge, creating a permanent mounting solution. With the new bass clip, such drastic measures are clearly no longer necessary.
"When it comes to my bass sound, there are no compromises," says Minh Doky. "I've finally found the microphone I'd been dreaming of for a long time. You can hardly see the mount, and as the mic is on the bass, you can move whichever crazy way you want onstage and still be in the sweet spot. There's a lot of clarity right across the spectrum; you get a lot of the high end without losing the low end. The 4099 has definitely been a life saver for me; it makes me play better."
A smaller version, the DPA 4099C, has been designed to fit the cello and, like the bass clip, it can be mounted on the outer strings of the instrument. This opens up new possibilities for solo cellists, string quartets and large string sections sharing the stage with a loud rock band, allowing the delicate nuances of their instruments to be reproduced clearly and distinctly.
An ever-growing lineup of musicians are now committed 4099 users. Among them are Sting, saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Bobby Ricketts, trumpet player Randy Brecker and violinists Mark Feldman and Nigel MacLean, who have adopted the range.
(Jim Evans)
