"People were raving about the overall sound of the band, in particular the drums and sax," says Mezzoforte sound engineer Joost Bullens, who has been working with the band for the past 11 years. "We used DPA d:dicate 2011C Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Microphones as overheads and d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones for the live brass and drum set-ups. The sound they delivered was exceptional - really natural and precise."
Widely regarded as one of Europe's most important fusion bands, Mezzoforte had its first hit, Garden Party, in 1983 and has gone on to build a devoted fan base in both Europe and Asia. The band has had a long history of studio recordings, as well as successful live shows which, says Bullens, aim to deliver "a high level of sonic experience".
Gulli Briem, the band's dummer, says he first learned about DPA microphones from sax player Oskar Gudjonsson, who played with Mezzoforte in the past.
"The Danish have a strong pedigree when it comes to making high-end microphones," Briem says. "As Oskar sets a very high standard in his choice of microphones, my gut feeling told me they were the Rolls Royce of microphones."
Briem adds that he was seriously impressed with the clarity of overtones and the ability to hear 'actual' drum sound.
For Joost Bullens, switching to DPA microphones, particularly for drums, has certainly made his job as a sound engineer much easier, he says. "If you don't have a good drum sound to begin with, you have nowhere to go. The foundation has to be strong and solid, and these mics help us to deliver that foundation."
(Jim Evans)
