Naan Pacheco and David Archuleta Perform Using DPA Microphones

As a classically trained tenor, Nathan Pacheco has a very powerful vocal range that often brings his voice from just a few decibels all the way to 130 dBs in just one song. Miking a singer of this caliber of talent requires a solution that offers high SPL and low distortion. Nick Assunto, CEO of Audio Formula, was called in as a consultant, and in turn found the answer in DPA Microphones, which he implemented during the artist's concert with former American Idolcontestant David Archuleta at Adrienne Arsht Center's Knight Concert Hall in Miami.

To address the extreme range of both Pacheco and Archuleta's vocals, Assunto looked to DPA's d:facto Handheld Microphone, which features DPA's tried and true d:dicate 4018V capsule. I needed a capsule that could handle the amount of pressure and range of Nathan's voice without any distortion, says Assunto. The microphone can handle high amounts of SPL without distortion and with an extremely natural color of the voice. That was the main reason I chose the DPA mics.

Pacheco and Archuleta both sang on the same microphone, so obviously they were singing harmonics, explains Assunto. I needed the mics to be able to detect both voices perfectly and I was able to get that with the DPA capsules. One other key point is how easy it was for me to set up the show using the mics. When you start with the right mic, that requires no EQ at all, you get a great sound right out of the box. And that makes our work very easy and saves a lot of time, especially when it's a 60- to 70-channel show.

In addition to the two acclaimed vocalists, the concert featured a full choir, along with a hybrid of a live band and symphonic orchestra. We had to deal with all of the challenges that a symphonic room can bring, including an extremely high amount of reverberation, explains Assunto. The most important issue to me is having clean reference from the beginning, which starts with choosing the right microphone. For Assunto, the solution was DPA's d:vote Instrument Microphones. We used a total of 24 d:vote mics with various adapters for cello, violin, trumpet and pretty much all other ensemble instruments, along with three d:screet SC4098 Supercardioid Miniature Microphones above the choir.

On the instruments - the main violin and the cello, the sound quality was extremely clean, he continues. I experienced a very warm yet natural sound coming out of the DPA mic on the cello, and, just by adjusting the distance between the mic and the string, I was able to get my ideal sound. That was one of the things that I liked the most, being able to change the position of the mic itself. The d:vote Instrument mic is basically a retractable arm with a mic on it.

This isn't the first time that Assunto has experienced DPA microphones, I was introduced to DPA a couple of years ago and I really loved what I heard, he adds. I was waiting for the opportunity to start using them in a project and I've already put three on the schedule, including this concert. Everyone else involved was very pleased with the quality and sound of the microphones, so hopefully we continue to grow that list.

ABOUT DPA MICROPHONES:

DPA Microphones is the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications. DPA's ultimate goal is to always provide its customers with the absolute finest possible microphone solutions for all its markets, which include live sound, installation, recording, theatre and broadcast. When it comes to the design process, DPA takes no shortcuts. Nor does the company compromise on its manufacturing process, which is done at the DPA factory in Denmark. As a result, DPA's products are globally praised for their exceptional clarity and transparency, unparalleled specifications, supreme reliability and, above all, pure, uncolored and undistorted sound.

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