N. Hollywood, CA (August 5, 2015)—Los Angeles-based band Health turned to a new workflow focused on direct guitar recording through BAE Audio 1073 preamplifiers for its album Death Magic, released on August 7.
It was during the band’s work on the soundtrack for video game Max Payne 3 that the band added the BAE Audio 1073 to its collection at its rehearsal and recording space. According to band member John Famiglietti, “We had read a lot of recording magazines so we knew about vintage gear and the sound of the classic 1073, and everyone we talked to was like ‘You should get the BAE, it’s like the original but better.’”
The band picked up two BAE Audio 1073s and started recording analog instruments, including guitars, directly into it, making less and less use of guitar amplifiers. “It sounded great and it was really convenient,” Famiglietti explains. “Working on the soundtrack was a little frantic and we had to turn things around sometimes overnight, so being able to just plug in and get a great sound right away was huge.”
When it came time to work on the next proper LP, Health was determined to go beyond anything it had done before. “Our attitude for this record was, we have to get it right this time,” Famiglietti says. The band continued to use the 1073 for all direct signal input on Death Magic, while also making ample use of it for vocals and on drum overheads.
“We’ve got a crazy number of pedals on our signal at all times, making all kinds of wacky sounds, and the 1073 just gives it all that realness,” Famiglietti says. “We know the digital stuff we do is going to be slamming out of the box, and the 1073 allows us to get the analog signals just as punchy and clear.”
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