PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – As a guitarist/singer/songwriter who has performed as a sideman for the likes of Kanye West, Christina Aguilera and Kid Cudi, and has recorded with Jason Nelson, Ben O’Neill relies on HARMAN’s AKG microphones for his own rock/alternative country acts, home recordings, and guitar recording classes at the University of Arts in Philadelphia.
O’Neill is a true jack-of-all-trades, having been nominated for a GRAMMY Award and fulfilling more roles in the music industry than some do in a lifetime. However, his pursuit of clean, organic-sounding tones within the music that he makes or teaches has never changed, which is why he continues to use AKG microphones. Whether it is the AKG C414 XLS microphone for recording, the 415 B in the classroom or the D5 microphone onstage, he has always relied on them for consistency and clarity.
“Unlike simulated sounds on a lot of records you heard on the radio, I try to make real guitar tones that are super-clean,” said O’Neill. “Whether I’m playing Bakersfield country or contemporary R&B, I’m looking for compelling sounds that are beautiful and organic. That’s why I love the C414 XLS microphone, because it gives the vocals and the guitars a level of clarity that you just can’t get from a dynamic microphone.”
O’Neill’s love for AKG is underscored by years of unwavering performance from his microphones. While affordable, AKG microphones are also designed to remain consistent throughout the years, capable of taking abuse that would leave other microphones faulty.
“When teaching, I try to incorporate a technology element in my lessons,” said O’Neill. “We look at amps, guitars, microphones and how they work in conjunction. AKG microphones are great for this purpose, and it’s always a blessing to be able to work with them. I really appreciate the support that I’ve received from the company, and the service has been great.”
For more information on Ben O’Neill, please visit www.benoneillmusic.com
HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.
