DPA MICROPHONES CREATES POWERFUL AUDIO FOR LORDE’S ‘SOLAR POWER’ TOUR

Consistently providing the expected results, DPA has been entrusted by Harvey for Lorde’s live performances since 2017. “I love how natural and real her voice sounds with the d:facto™,” he explains. “The flat response of this mic is a huge asset, and the bleed is completely palatable―unlike any other vocal mic I’ve experienced. That accurate response provides the solid foundation for coloring sounds in the mix any way I want, and it’s amazing! All five backing vocalists use the 4488s with wireless belt-packs, which is imperative because the band members are on the move and change stage positions for each song during the set. It was a challenge incorporating headset mics into a pop show, but the 4488s proved to be the best choice for clarity, fidelity and comfort, and are very easy to work with.”

Although this is the first tour in which DPA’s instrument mics are utilized, Harvey has been more than pleased with the results. “For me, it’s mostly the flat, accurate response,” he says. “The off-axis responses are so natural. My feeling is that if you always get the most neutral, flat pick-up of a sound, then you can color it any way you want. If it comes in already colored, then it can work against you. No other microphones have that aspect where the off-axis sounds good. The bleed is usable with these mics and that’s really amazing.”

Even when he’s not on the road, Harvey still finds himself relying on DPA solutions. Since the start of the pandemic, Harvey has been mixing livestreamed productions at TivoliVredenburg, a contemporary music venue in Utrecht, Netherlands. There, he utilizes DPA’s 4099 Instrument Mics on many diverse productions, along with the 4006 Omnidirectional Condenser and 2006 Twin Diaphragm Omnidirectional mics for classical orchestrations and 4166 Omnidirectional and 4188 Directional Headsets for lectures and presentations. “TivoliVredenburg was my introduction to DPA microphones; using them for the first time was a ‘wow’ moment for me,” Harvey explains. “They work great for live sound and streaming, which means they are more than well-suited for the studio.” During the off season, he can also be found at Amsterdam Recording Company, where he hopes to incorporate DPA Microphones into his workflow. 

The U.S. leg of the Solar Power 2022 Tour wrapped up on October 1, with three additional stops in Mexico through October 14 followed by a run of festival performances in South America through November 13. The tour will resume in New Zealand and Australia in February and March 2023. 

Photo Credits: Lauren Tepfer