Finnish string quartet Meta4 has invested in four DPA Microphones d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones, which they are using to capture the sound of two violins, a viola and a cello.
To date, Meta4 have used their new DPA d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones in a concert hall environment, performing Kaija Saariaho´s Nymphea for string quartet and live electronics and Black Angels by George Crumb.
“These are, without a doubt, the best microphones we have ever tried,” says Meta4 viola player Atte Kilpeläinen. “The finest thing about them is their ability to produce a very natural sound that truly reflects our performance. Regardless of whether we were in Finland, Belgium or Spain, all of which are places we have performed recently, the sound engineers are always very happy with our DPA microphones.”
Meta4 chose to upgrade its microphones after hearing very positive reviews from other musicians about the microphone range.
“Having heard the microphones and really liking the sound they delivered, we decided to get a set of our own,” continues Kilpeläinen. “We approached DPA’s Finnish distributor Jyrki Makinen at Noretron Audio and arranged a full demo. They provided us with clips for the violins and violas, and these are working extremely well. Our next challenge is to use them in a rock or jazz venue – and we’re really looking forward to that.”
Formed in 2001, Meta4 also consists of Antti Tikkanen and Minna Pensola on violin and Tomas Djupsjöbacka on cello. This internationally successful string quartet has won numerous accolades and awards, including first prize in the 2004 International Shostakovich Quartet Competition in Moscow, where it was also awarded a special prize for best Shostakovich interpretation.
The quartet enjoyed continued success in 2007, winning the first prize in the International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna. Later that year the Finnish Minister of Culture awarded Meta4 with the annual Finland Prize in recognition of an international breakthrough. Meta4 was also selected as a BBC New Generation Artist for 2008-2010.
