AudioMedia - July 2008 - (Page 42)

P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E Audix Audix is an innovative microphone manufacturer that has consistently raised the bar with its successful line of products, including the award winning SCX-1, SCX25-A and D series studio microphones, and the top performing OM-Series vocal mics, the Micros, the VX10, and i-5 for sound reinforcement and installations. Audix Microphones: Consistent Innovation T he following is a ‘Snap-Shot’ Inter v ie w w it h Cliff Castle – co-founder of Audix. How did Audix get its start? Audix had its humble beginnings back in in Redwood City, California in a ‘suite’ of offices totaling about ft ! Initially, we were set up as the distribution arm for Audix Japan, a microphone company who was manufacturing strictly for the domestic market. The microphones were good, but not good enough to compete with the industry standards of the day. One thing led to another and we started redesigning the microphones and improving the performance characteristics. The first two years were pretty painful, but, by , we introduced our first high-level vocal performance mic, the OM , which received very positive magazine reviews and made its way into high profile users including the Beach Boys, one of my all time favourite groups. The OM series vocal mics are stronger today than ever. How has Audix maintained this success? We developed our own capsule design that featured ‘VLM’ technology, which stands for ‘Very Low Mass’. These lightweight diaphragms are able to react more quickly to incoming sound waves, which result in a more natural, accurate sound with better transient response. This diaphragm design, along with the hypercardioid design of the polar pattern, provided unprecedented gain before feedback, still unparalleled to this day. Artist and engineer support has also helped. We happened to be paying attention to the ‘grunge’ groups emerging out of the Northwest in the early s. I demoed the OM to Dave Rat (Rat Sound) who was providing sound for two unknown groups at the time – Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He pretty much flipped out when he heard the gain before feedback of the OM in the monitors. He thought there was some type of voodoo going on. Before we knew it, the OM became the microphone of choice for just about all the groups in the grunge scene – and fortunately for us, the groups hit the mainstream. By , another of our mics, the OM , made its way into the hands of The Tonight Show, The Late Show and MTV Unplugged, as well as many artists such as Alanis Morissette, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash – all of whom continue to use their Audix mics to this day. Audix is now established as a leading manufacturer in drum and percussion mics – how did that come about? Being a musician helps. I realised that drummers and percussionists, the guys who provide the heartbeat for any musical content, were being neglected as far as mics specifically designed for their applications. The Sennheiser , which we recognised as a great mic, had become the standard percussion mic for pros. The downside to that mic is that it’s fairly big, cumbersome, and expensive. So we came up with the D series – applicationspecific mics for drums. Machined at Audix out of high-grade aluminum barstock, these mics a re c omp a c t , a c c u r at e , able to handle high SPLs, and cost effective. After a few years, they gained widespread recognition, and with the most recent addition of the D and the i- , these mics have become really good, dependable tools for a wide variety of instrument needs. Audix also continues to develop interesting condenser mics. Any tricks up your sleeve that we should be on the lookout for? You already know about the SCX -A, an improved version of our formidable large-diaphragm condenser mic that is ideal for acoustic instruments, overheads, and vocals. The Micros are the world’s smallest standalone condenser microphones with an integrated mic preamp. T he - i nch c ar b on f ibre 42 AUDIO MEDIA JULY 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AudioMedia - July 2008

AudioMedia - July 2008 Contents Recording Post Broadcast What's Up UK Geofocus: France For the Record Special Report: Develop Preview SE Electronics 4400 Sennheiser MKH800 Twin Tubetech Club Final Cut: Wanted Smart AV Tango Doctor Who Made in America DSP Roundup Product Sampler: Summer Hits Edirol R44 Video Guide AMSR Fame - Le Musical Waves MaxxBCL Yamaha AD8HR Special Supplement

AudioMedia - July 2008

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