David Gray Selects DPA's d:facto II

David Gray has used DPA's d:facto II during his recent Sounding Out tour of Ireland after FOH engineer Graham Pattison introduced it into the equipment line-up.
"I've been a fan of DPA microphones for some time because they deliver such great sound quality," Pattison says. "However, this was the first time I'd had the opportunity to use the new d:facto II Vocal Microphone and I was really impressed with the results we achieved. Right from the first syllable in rehearsals I knew we were onto a winner, but it wasn't until the first show in Ireland a few days later that I really heard the vocal clarity and exceptional quality through a large venue sound system. There were no gain or feedback issues, and even when left with a flat EQ it sounded exactly how I'm used to hearing David's voice. The EQ I did end up using was just to help the vocal sit in well with the instrumentation.
"During the two week tour we played 11 shows and did a live streamed and filmed 'other voices' show and a live on air RTE radio show. Everyone was coming back to me with very positive feedback about the sound in general as well as his vocal performance."
Pattison first began working with David Gray in 2007 and since then he has engineered all his live gigs. It was on the 2011 Lost and Found tour that David Gray began using DPA microphones.
"The Lost and Found tour was a more acoustic presentation of David’s songs, so we used different instrumentation," Pattison explains. "We also added a couple of new musicians who could cover backing vocalist duties, so at times we had a five voice choir to back up David’s main vocal."
Pattison settled on using two d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphones for the double bass and cello, two d:dicate™ 4011 Recording Microphones for the acoustic guitar and mandolin, two 4023 microphones for the grand piano and one d:dicate 4011 microphone for Gray's trademark handpump harmonium.
Pattison says DPA mics are now standard on all the tours he engineers.
"I did three tours last year, all with DPA, and I didn't have any microphone failures," he says.
"Even the miniature cardioid microphone I've been using on David's pump harmonium is still going strong. The build quality, particularly of the d:dicate 4011 Recording Microphones, is fantastic and no matter where in the world I ship them, they always withstand the rigors of freighting and come out of their boxes working perfectly every time.
"With an ever increasing vocal choir, I am now looking forward to getting my hands on some more DPA d:facto Vocal Microphones. With those, and the d:vote 4099 drum microphones, DPA will certainly be getting a good run in."
www.dpamicrophones.com
(IT/CD)