Drummer Chris Hesse has a pair of Audio-Technica ATM63HE dynamics mics on the top and bottom of his snare, the dual-element AE2500 on his kick drum, an AE5100 on his hi-hat and ride cymbals, and the AE3000 on his rack toms. The AT4050 microphones Hesse uses as overheads are also employed by guitarist Dan Estrin on his guitar amps, while bassist Markku Lappalainen utilizes the AT4047/SV.
Brendon Brown, Hoobastank's tour manager and FOH Mixer for the band's last two tours, likes to work with the combination of the Audio-Technica 5000 Series Wireless System and AEW-T3300 handheld transmitter. "Doug's live vocal dynamics go from soft and somber on songs like 'The Reason' and 'Disappear' to full-out screaming on 'Pieces' and 'Out of Control,'" he remarks. "The 5000 Series can keep up with clarity and no capsule distortion. All the A-T microphones deliver a very clear and accurate representation of the instruments they are assigned to. This allows me as an engineer to create a more accurate audio image of the band's sound."
The AE3000 is also a personal favourite of Brendon's. "It's great-sounding and durable," he notes. Explaining that he attaches the AE3000 to Hesse's rack toms using Latin Percussion's "Claws" microphone holders, he adds, "The AE3000 stays on axis throughout the whole performance. Chris is a very aggressive drummer live, and these mics can deliver the true tonal qualities of his kit without a lot of EQ'ing. They also can take a direct hit with a stick and stay put." Hesse elaborates, "We used to have another brand of mic on the drums, but after a song or two they would be all over the place. And with all four band members being on in-ear monitoring, it would get frustrating because the whole drum mix would change. With the AE3000, we do not have that problem because they are designed with durable mounting in mind."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
