Knowing he'd be faced with extreme temperatures, high humidity, limited space, and less than four days to record, Levin knew rugged, reliable gear, that could withstand the harsh conditions and consistently record professional-quality sound, would be imperative to his success. Based on his decades of experience using Shure microphones, he packed a selection of KSM and Beta microphones to record his recently completed piece, I'm Alive-Rainforest Alliance Sessions-Foresta de Tijuca, with Grammy award-winning artists Caetano Veloso and Lenine, and renowned Brazilian artists Criolo, Emicida, and Pretinho da Serrinha.
Chosen for the products' legendary performance and extreme durability, Levin was impressed by both the Beta and KSM microphones' flawless performance throughout the trip. Using the Beta 98/AMP, Beta 181/C, and Beta 181/S, Levin recorded the percussion instruments played throughout I'm Alive. Thanks to the Beta mics' extreme versatility, Levin also used them to record the natural ambience of the rainforest-including insects, animals, and other environmental sounds.
"The combination of extreme environmental conditions, a very brief window of time to record some of today's top artists, and many moving parts, created a situation that had the potential of becoming a nightmare, had we not selected the right gear," Levin shared. "The Shure Beta and KSM mics were exactly what we were looking for-rock-solid and extremely reliable. There's not much more you can ask for, especially when recording in the middle of the rainforest."
When it came to mic'ing vocalists, Levin relied heavily on the Shure KSM42, KSM32/CG, and KSM32/SL Large Diaphragm Microphones. He found that the mics' excellent frequency response and extremely consistent performance were key to creating a quality piece, especially within such a limited amount of time.
With a large, noisy generator on-site and a crew of more than 40 people, Levin also needed an in-ear monitor system that would allow each artist to focus on his or her own music without the distractions of nearby noise.
"This was a very extreme situation, especially given the extreme temperatures, humidity, and the large generator nearby," Levin stated. "I've always used Shure, which is why I chose the Shure [PSM900] personal monitor system. I knew I could rely on the system, and it performed perfectly."
(Jim Evans)
