Phil Vassar, winner of the 2002 Academy of Country Music Award forTop New Male Vocalist, as well as awards for his songwriting from ASCAPand Billboard, has recently been employing Audio-Technica 4000 Seriesmics.
“I’ve tried a lot of different wireless units, andAudio-Technica’s 4000 Series is the most reliable andbest-sounding by far,” said Vassar. The songwriter is using the A-TArtist Elite 4000 Series Wireless System with AEW-T3300 condenserhandheld during live shows. “No matter where I run, on or off thestage, the consistent quality continues to astound me. I only want touse A-T from now on.”
That assessment is echoed by Danny Perdieu, Vassar’s longtimefront-of-house mixer and tour manager: “Phil’s voice is so strongthat I needed a capsule that could capture everything about his voice.One thing I noticed about the T3300 capsule is that, despite the kindof pressure Phil was putting on it, it simply wasn’t distorting.That’s exactly what I need to get his in-your-face vocal approachacross to the audience.”
Vassar’s bandmembers are also A-T users. Perdieu is using thenew A-T AE2500 dual element mic on Angelo Collura’s kick drum.”Before, when I wanted to get a very low, solid ‘thump’sound, I had to sacrifice the sound of the attack,” Perdieu said. “Withthe AE2500, I’m getting both, and I can even cut one element offfor a ballad so it doesn’t overpower the vocals, then bring itback up in one of the faster songs. That ability makes a world ofdifference.” On the rest of the drum kit, Perdieu is using A-T’sATM35’s on racks and floor toms and the A-T AE5100 on overheads.Three A-T AE3300’s are used for backup vocals onstage, and guitarcabinets are miked with the A-T AE3000.
For more information on the mics, visit Audio-Technica at www.audio-technica.com. For more touring news,visit mixonline.com/live_sound_tour_profiles/index.htm.