Guerra’s work on this year’s Latin Grammy Awards theme is, perhaps his most recognizable achievement. “For the Latin Grammy Awards,” he said, “I co-produced and arranged the music theme. I used Mojave Audio’s MA-200 and MA-300 mics exclusively for the brass section. For the percussion, my stereo pair of MA-100’s was awesome. These little mics are remarkably capable of recording high SPL instruments such us congas and timbales, plus other Cuban and Latin instruments with no distortion at all. I never cease to be impressed with their performance.”
On Univision’s Mira Quien Baila, a Latin version of the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars, Guerra used Mojave Audio’s MA-300, as well as the company’s MA-200 Vacuum Tube Condenser Microphone and a stereo pair of MA-100 Condenser Microphones. “For more than 10 years,” Guerra explained, “I have been working closely with the Univision music department—composing music themes for some of their shows while co-producing and arranging others. This year, I worked on the second season of Mira Quien Baila. I had to produce an average of five to ten songs per week for the show in a diverse range of musical styles.”
“This work required a microphone set with changeable capsules that were capable of handling high SPL’s,” Guerra continued. “With their omni and cardioid capsules, my pair of Mojave MA-100’s was perfect—they produced a really rich sound. I used these mics on timbales, congas, and Latin percussion. When I used the MA-300 for trumpets and trombones, the mic’s switchable 15 dB pad and high pass filter really helped me manage the input signals and the MA-300’s continuously variable polar patterns made a huge difference. I was also very pleased with the performance of the MA-200, which uses a fixed cardioid pattern. The MA-200 was my go-to mic on alto and tenor saxophones. This project lasted three months and, during that time, the microphones endured long recording sessions where we captured everything from brass sections and percussion to guitars.”
Guerra reports using the Mojave Audio MA-300 Multi-Pattern Vacuum Tube Condenser Microphone extensively in his work with Cristian Castro. “In July and August of this year,” Guerra reports, “I had the opportunity to work as a sound engineer with producer Rafael Pérez Botija during the recording of the new Cristian Castro album ‘Mi Amigo El Principe.’ I was primarily responsible for recording his vocal tracks and I also handled some additional vocal overdubs, which were recorded at my studio: RYCY Productions, Inc. The Mojave MA-300 was a terrific microphone for this project. The MA-300’s sonic clarity, warmth, and full frequency response really came through while capturing the artist’s voice.”
Guerra commented on his preference for Mojave Audio’s microphones, “I discovered Mojave Audio microphones a few years back and use them extensively because of their sonic quality and their ability to be used on so many different sound sources. Their versatility, robust performance, and the warm, natural sound is incredible. These characteristics make them the perfect analog complement to today’s digital recording environments. Since the acquisition of my first MA-200, I choose not to use other microphones that reside in my locker. I am very cautious about making recommendations, but I highly recommend these mics. You can A-B these microphones with any brand out there and I’m confident you’ll hear and feel the Mojave Audio difference.”
For additional information about Yalil Guerra and RYCY Productions, Inc., visit him online at www.rycy.com.
About Mojave Audio
Located in Burbank, California, Mojave Audio is a manufacturer of quality microphones for the recording professional. Additional information on the MA-300 and all Mojave Audio products can be found at www.mojaveaudio.com.
###
