Bassist Sam Anning has long been a user of DPA Microphones. After replacing his legacy d:vote 4099B instrument microphone for the new d:vote CORE 4099B instrument microphone, the Australian musician says he is impressed with the sound he is now achieving from the CORE by DPA technology.
“I came across DPA Microphones a few years ago while touring around festivals in Europe and my first encounter with the d:vote 4099B was one of the those eureka moments,” says Anning. “As a performer, it’s very vindicating when someone comes up with a well thought out and brilliantly designed answer to honestly capturing and transmitting the sound that you spend years in the practice room finessing. DPA’s d:vote 4099B does just that – and now, with the new CORE by DPA technology, it is even better.”
Anning recently used the d:vote CORE on his double bass for an Australian live-to-air national radio show with Maceo Parker, Gretchen Parlato, Terri Lyne Carrington and Barney McAll. “It sounded incredibly natural and isolated, in a good way, from the other instruments,” he says. “I’m now looking forward to seeing how my old Martin guitar sounds when I use it with the d:vote CORE 4099B on my song writing projects.”
Originally from Australia, Anning became an indispensable fixture on the Western Australian jazz scene while studying for a Bachelor of Jazz (Performing) degree at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). He went on to release Sam Anning Quintet: Re-Turning Point, his debut album as a band leader, which features Graeme Lyall AM and cello quartet WOOD.
Anning later spent time in the United States completing a Masters of Music program at the Manhattan School of Music, and then performed extensively at prestigious international jazz festivals including Montreal, Vancouver, Detroit, Jazz a Vienne, Copenhagen, Port au Prince and Panama, as well as festivals in Melbourne and Perth. During his career, he has won numerous awards and played with many international jazz greats including Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Ari Hoenig, George Garzone, Gilad Hekselman, Greg Osby, and Charlie Haden.
Anning’s new d:vote CORE microphone now has a permanent place in his microphone arsenal and is attracting plenty of praise from other musicians and engineers.
“Recently, at the Melbourne Recital Centre where my band was supporting one of the international headliners, the engineers at the soundcheck were really impressed at how open and natural it sounded, while still delivering excellent separation from the drums,” he says. “Many of the concert goers and critics noted that our sound outshined the main act. The microphone also works well through foldback monitors and doesn’t feedback in the way that other microphones do. The new removable cable at the end of the gooseneck stem makes for easy adjusting as well.”
Along with being a DPA customer, Anning recently extended his involvement with the company by taking part in DPA’s World Tour event in Melbourne, which was held in conjunction with Australian distributor, Amber Technology. During the event, he played demo sessions with Australian country singer and songwriter, Chris Pickering on drums so that local musicians and recording professionals had a chance to hear various DPA products in action and learn more about microphone placement.
“We tried different microphone positions on the bass to get different tonal colors and even tried putting the IMK inside the body of the instrument,” says Anning. “Listening back, it was incredible hearing how much detail these microphones captured, despite drums taking up much of the acoustic space. I was sold. It was a great experience for me and not only would I do it again, but next time I’ll be bringing my students and bass player friends because we can learn so much from working together.”
Sam Anning is currently touring Australian Jazz festivals with his band and promoting his new album Across A Field As Vast As One.
