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John Feldmann has an impressive list of accomplishments as frontman of the iconic 90s pop-punk band Goldfinger and as A&R for Maverick, Warner Brothers, and Red Bull Records. But hes best known for producing such powerful artists as Good Charlotte, The Used, Mest, 5 Seconds of Summer, Blink-182, Hedley, and The Veronicas. One common thread, according to Feldmann engineer Zakk Cervini, is an emphasis on vocal production.
John is a very vocal-centric producer; the vocal is the most important thing, Cervini explains. We always have a giant sea of tracks, with lots of guitars, and the vocal is like a little shark in the sea swimming above the tracks. Getting vocals to cut through that sea of tracks and yet sit well in the mix isnt easy. Its mainly the microphone, insists Cervini. We use the Manley Reference Cardioid as our main vocal microphone 90 percent of the time. Ive never heard a mic with such high-end clarity; nothing really sounds like it. It gives us an amazing, high-fidelity sound. We use it on acoustic guitars, as well, because its high-end response really adds air.
Other vocal mics simply havent delivered the sound Feldmann wants. Most other mics weve used on our tracks are too muddy in the 200 Hz range, muses Cervini. They dont really fit. But the Manley Reference Cardioid cuts through. Its frequency response, with that great high end, brings the vocal out.
Even with contrasting voice types, the Reference Cardioid consistently delivers the goods. It works great on really aggressive vocals, which we do a lot of, Cervini expounds. We use it a lot on screamers. But it also works very well on female vocals, which we also do a lot of. We use it for everything.
Feldmann and Cervini recently chose the Manley Reference Cardioid when recording Andy Biersacks vocals with Black Veil Brides. His voice is really low, a powerful, baritone voice, and the Reference Cardioids clear high end works really well for him, Cervini reveals. We used it on One Ok Rock, a heavy rock band from Japan, and the mic sounds great on their singers voice too.
The Manley TNT tube mic preamp is another valuable tool in Feldmanns productions. We record to digital and mix in the box but we track through a lot of analog stuff to get the tone we want, and the Manley TNT preamp is great for that, Cervini confirms. We especially like the TNT preamp on drum overheads, mostly for the same reason we like the Reference Cardioid mic: It adds a nice sparkle. The TNT captures the highs of the cymbals really well and still gets a good overall picture of the drum kit. It EQs the sound nicely on the way in.
As much as he appreciates the TNT preamp, the Reference Cardioid microphone is clearly Cervinis favorite Manley product. Ive never heard a mic that sounds like it, he enthuses. Its one of a kind.
# # #
About Manley Laboratories, Inc.
Since the late 1980s Manley products have evolved from purist audiophile vacuum tube designs expanding into professional audio and digital converter systems. Manleys legacy of design philosophies has been proven over years of real-world experience, using high quality modern components, many of which are fabricated in-house. Manleys 11,000 sq. ft. building houses a machine shop, printed circuit board manufacture, audio transformer winding, engraving, and wire harness prepping facilities. All custom design, R&D, assembly, testing, and quality control processes are performed with precision and pride at the Manley factory, located just 35 miles east of Los Angeles, California. All Manley products are built in Chino, not China. For more information, visit: http://www.manley.com
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