Violinist Tim Kliphuis has purchased a DPA 4099 instrument mic from UK distributor Sound Network.
Kliphuis, a prolific performer whose music is a boundary-crossing fusion of gypsy jazz, classical and folk, bought the 4099 because he found he couldn’t rely on the acoustic quality of microphones provided by the venues.
“I have played as far afield as Syria and Lebanon, where people are used to a totally different, more pop, approach to acoustic music,” he says. “Having my own mic saves long discussions about the sound I want, as the 4099 dictates guarantees the sound I will get.”
The 4099 was also a clear winner as it is rugged enough to withstand the pressures of touring, as well as being simple to mount and use.
“My first impression was that the 4099 looked strong and compact, which is what I need for my touring work,” continues Kliphuis. “When it came to mounting the mic onto my instrument, the violin clip worked like a charm, and the arm made positioning very easy. I was familiar with DPA's sound quality from working with their previous models and expected the same standard: a faithful rendering of the sound of my (high quality) violin. The soundchecks confirmed this but another thing as well - I had no trouble at all with feedback, which is usually a big problem with acoustic on-stage microphones. I asked the sound technician if the signal he was getting at the desk was enough for him and he was surprised at how strong it was.
“The 4099 is a winner on all fronts: sound quality, strength, ease of use, no feedback, and a great price for what you get!”