Bullens says that he always places overhead mics – in this case d:dicate™ 2011Cs – in front (and to the left and right) of the drum kit so that there is overall sound capture of the whole kit, particularly of the cymbals. "This positioning really suits the way Gulli plays," he explains. "DPA's overhead mics are also very natural and extremely precise."
For more direct amplification of the drum kit, Bullens says some experimentation was required, particularly when it came to capturing the sound of the kick drum.
"We placed a d:dicate™ 2011C inside the kick-drum, near the head, to get enough attack," he says. "It is unusual for me to go so near the head, where the pedal is, but I discovered that this position gave me more EQ opportunities, and I could get a more natural kick sound, exactly as I wanted it."
For the snare drums and tom toms, Bullens chose
d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphones, which were clipped to the instruments in a more conventional set up.
"What was different was the sound the DPA microphones gave me," he says. "It was a much more natural drum sound that required no EQ-ing at all. The snare mic, especially, yielded some surprises as the snares sounded very precise and I could build the sound just as I had imagined it. Given that Gulli always tunes his drums to perfection, having microphones that delivered such a natural sound was a real advantage."
Mezzoforte's saxophonist Jonas Wall is also a recent convert to DPA microphones and is equally delighted with the results he is getting. He made the switch to DPA d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphones from another brand simply because "DPA's microphone allowed my instrument to sound better than other clip mics".
Wall has particular praise for the 4099T clip mic for brass, which he reports as being excellent at reducing feedback. His use of DPA mics has garnered a lot of attentions, he adds, with people asking what equipment he uses, not just at concerts, but by email and on social media. He even recounts a fan coming to him after a recent show, saying it was the best live sound he had ever heard at that venue.
The d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphones offer superior gain-before-feedback, wireless compatibility, flexible mounting, detachable cables and a versatile gooseneck extender. The d:dicate™ 2011C Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Microphone is a compact, all-round workhorse that blends clarity with richness and dynamics. It utilizes a twin-diaphragm capsule and interference tube technology, and delivers superb stage separation and level control.
For more information on Mezzoforte and their work, please go to
mezzoforte.com.