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Contact Address:

DESIGN FX AUDIO

P.O. Box 491087
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (818) 843-6555
            (800) 441-4415
Fax:     (818) 562-6978

Quick Tips


Tips for Studio Recordings:

Male Vocals:

•  Neumann M-49 (BB King, Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart, Barry Gibb)
•  Neumann U-47 (Frank Sinatra, John Mayer, Michael Buble, James Blunt)
•  Neumann U-67 (John Mayer, Josh Groban, Bon Jovi)
•  Neumann U-47 FET (Robin Zander-Cheap Trick)
•  AKG C-12 (Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli)
•  Telefunken 251E (Kanye West, Common, Dwight Yoakam)
•  Sony C-800 G (John Legend, Ginuwine, Robert Randolph, Hoobastank)

Female Vocals:

•  Neumann M-49 (Barbra Streisand, Etta James, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rymes)
•  Neumann U-47 (Lisa Loeb, Macy Gray, Patti LaBelle)
•  Neumann U-67 (Liz Phair, Anita Baker)
•  Neumann M-149 (Cher,Gwen Stefani)
•  AKG C12 (Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson)
•  Telefunken 251E (Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Fiona Apple, Rene Olstead)
•  Sony C-800 G (Mary J. Blige, Eve, J.Lo, Pussycat Dolls)

Acoustic Piano:

•  AKG 414 TL II
•  AKG 452
•  AKG C-12

Acoustic Guitar:

•  AKG 414
•  AKG 451, 452
•  Neumann U-87
•  B&K 4011

Electric Guitar:

•  Shure SM 57
•  Neumann U-87
•  AKG 414
•  Sennheiser MD 421
•  RCA 77

Bass Guitar:

•  Avalon U5 Tube Direct Box
•  Demeter Tube Direct Box
•  Electro Voice RE 20
•  Neumann U-87

Drums:

Kick Drum:
•  Sennheiser MD 421
•  AKG D-12, 112

Snare:
•  Shure SM 57
•  AKG 451,452

Toms:
•  Sennheiser MD 421
•  AKG 451, 452
•  AKG 414
•  Shure SM 57

Overheads:
•  AKG 414
•  Audio Technica 4050
•  Neumann U-87
•  AKG C-12

Stringed Instruments:

Violins & Violas:
•  Neumann M-50 (Overhead from a distance)
•  Neumann M-49 (Overhead from a distance)
•  AKG C-12 (Overhead from a distance)
•  AKG 414 TL II
•  Neumann TLM 170
•  Neumann KM 84

Celli:
•  Neumann U-67
•  Neumann U-47

Acoustic Bass:
•  Neumann U-67
•  Neumann U-47
•  Neumann U-87

Brass:

Trumpets:
•  Neumann U-47
•  Neumann 47 FET
•  AKG 414
•  RCA DX 77 (Ribbon)
•  RCA 44 (Ribbon)
•  Royer 121(Ribbon)
•  Royer 122 (Ribbon)
•  Coles 4038 (Ribbon)

Trombones:
•  Neumann U-47
•  AKG 414
•  Sennheiser MD 421
•  Royer 121, 122 (Ribbon)
•  Coles 4038 (Ribbon)

Saxes:
•  Neumann U-67
•  Neumann TLM 170

Wood winds:
•  Neumann KM-54
•  Neumann KM-84
•  AKG 414EB
•  AKG 414TL II

Vocal Recording Chain:

Rhythm & Blues:
•  Sony C800 G, with Neve 1073 Mic-Pre, Tube Tech CL1B Compressor

Jazzy:
•  Neumann M-49, with Avalon M-5 Mic Pre, Avalon 2044 Compressor

Mello:
•  Neumann U-47, with Neve 1081 Mic-Pre, Tube Tech CL1B Compressor

Rock n’ Roll:
•  Neumann 47 FET, with API 512 Mic-pre, Urei 1176LN “Black Face” Compressor

Electric Guitar Chain:
•  Shure SM 57, Urei 1176 LN Compressor
•  Neumann U-87, Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
•  Neumann U-87, Fairchild 670
•  Any combination of above with a Neve 1073, 1081, API 512, or Avalon M-5 Mic-Pre

Tips for Live Recordings:

Live Vocal Mics:
•  Neumann KSM 105
•  Shure SM 58
•  Shure Beta 87
Kick:
•  Shure Beta 52
•  AKG D112
•  Beyer M 88
•  Sennheiser MD 421
Snare:
•  Shure SM 57
•  AKG 451
Toms:
•  Shure SM 98
•  Sennheiser MD 421
Overheads:
•  AKG 414
•  AKG 451
•  Audio Technica 4033
•  Audio Technica 4050
Electric Guitars:
•  Shure SM 57
•  Sennheiser 40
Stay Out of Trouble Tips:
•  Always check phase coherence between Overhead mics and rest of kit mics
•  Have someone experienced “tune the drums”
•  Remember when using EQ…..less is more, and Cut before you Boost.
•  Don’t over compress to tape.
•  Each compressor has a different characteristic.
•  Sometimes “two is better than one”.
•  Know your monitors….study what a favorite CD sounds like in them.
•  Monitor at various levels….there is something other than LOUD.
•  Take a break and rest your ears.
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