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8.18.2003 TRUE LICKS: Gerry Hansen finds drum tracks transparent and crisp through the True Precision 8 preamp.  TRUE LICKSATLANTA, GEORGIA: If you are a sports fan, chances are you've heard drummer Gerry Hansen and the sound of True Systems' Precision 8 transformerless mic preamps working great together. Hansen is the first call drummer for television, commercial, film music production and post houses in the Southeast, U.S. area. Hansen has added his stick work to themes and bumpers for NBC's NASCAR broadcasts, Atlanta Thrashers games as well as the Cartoon Network, CNN and other Turner Broadcasting shows. Hansen also played drum tracks on TV music and themes composed by Trevor Rabin for the Atlanta Braves and TNT's NBA games. Hansen also collaborated with Columbia recording artist Shawn Mullins on a song for NBC's sitcom "Scrubs." Pro Tools session files are routinely sent to him at his private studio where he plays and records his drums using a True Systems Precision 8 preamplifier. "I found out the hard way," Hansen says, "that post houses are not really set up to record live drums at all. So I built a studio with nice wood floors and high ceilings. I've assembled a collection of top quality mics along with the Precision 8, and setup my Pro Tools rig. Drum tracking is done here and the session files are sent right back. My clients all expect a clear, natural drum sound that they can compress or manipulate after the fact. I always use the Precision 8 because what you hear is what you get - very transparent - just as it sounds out in my room. No doubt about it, my toms and overhead mics always sound great on playbacks." Hansen gives his client lots of mixing options when turning in his drum tracks. "My Precision 8 always stays connected to mics on the top and bottom of the snare, the kick, toms and overheads - each going to separate tracks. For toms, I use the Sennheiser MD 421U and for overheads the Neumann KM 184s. If the situation calls for something wide, I'll use the True Systems' MS feature with a pair of U 87s mics and place them right out front of the kit. This added pair of tracks works out well for surround mixes too," continues Hansen. Since Hansen also does his own engineering, he is able to set levels on the Precision 8 accurately to record flat which frees him to concentrate on making music. "I'm just trying to really get a natural sound and I know what kind of EQs work after the fact," he continues. "Sometimes I'll use an EQ on the snare as another option on a separate track. The snare drum always sounds great through the True Systems as long as the snare drum actually sounds good in the room." With regard to other preamplifiers, Hansen points out: "We've done all sorts of shootouts with other mic pres on a lot of different instruments and vocals, and the True Systems mic pre comes out on top. It's very transparent and virtually colorless. So, if you're recording a bad-sounding guitar rig, it comes back sounding bad - simple as that!" The True Systems Precision 8 has eight channels of transformerless mic preamps each with five-segment level indicators and a selectable peak-hold feature. Two channels are fitted with direct instrument inputs while channels one and two also function as a dedicated M/S (mid/side) stereo pair with the touch of single button. Designed for use with today's modular digital multi-track units and hard disk recording systems, the Precision 8 can easily be connected to TASCAM or Mackie digital products via a DB25 connector. The True System's Precision 8 microphone preamplifier is available through authorized Neumann dealers at a suggested retail price of $2,850. The Precision 8 is designed and built by Sunrise Engineering, a design and build manufacturer located in Tucson, Arizona. Neumann distributes True Systems in the U.S. Neumann's award winning line of microphones has set the standard in the industry since 1928. In 1999, Neumann received the prestigious Technical Grammy(r) for their 70 years of innovation in microphone design and contribution to the music industry. A continuing commitment to provide innovative, technically refined products and engineering solutions of proven quality ensures that Neumann's stature will remain unassailable. www.sennheiserusa.com www.neumannusa.com |
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