Saxophonist/Producer, Darren Rahn, Makes Varied Use of Studio Projects T3 Mic

DENVER, Col.?A versatile young saxophonist, who also happens to be a producer, needs a versatile microphone. Actually, he needs an array of good microphones. And NuGroove Recording Artist Darren Rahn has that. But he often finds that his mic of choice, especially for recording saxophone, is the Studio Projects T3. Rahn is currently working at The Litterbox in Denver on a yet-to-be-titled Dave Koz project.

Rahn’s saxophone can be heard on several Wayman Tisdale hits, which he also produced. These include “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” “Get Down on It,” “Let’s Do It Again,” and “Way Up.” You can also hear him on his own CD, “Once in a Lifetime” featuring Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, and Jeff Lorber.

He recently recorded and produced Eric Darius (Blue Note Records) for Eric’s new album, “Goin’ All Out,” due out this summer at The LitterBox. (He also recorded Eric’s mid-2006 release, “Just Getting Started”). “I used the T3 on Eric’s alto for both records,” he says, “We lined up several great sounding mics on his alto, and the T3 came out on top both times.” Darren has produced and recorded for many other notable artists including guitarist Jonathan Butler and country superstar Toby Keith.

“In my arsenal, I have several go-to mics,” says Rahn, “but the T3 ends up getting used on a lot of the tracks. On my CD ‘Once in a Lifetime,’ I used the T3 exclusively across all the saxophones on the whole album.” Similarly Rahn used the T3 for the saxophones on all the Wayman Tisdale hits. For Tisdale’s smash hit “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” the T3 was also used to record all the background vocals. “There were five different singers and the T3 sounded great on each one of them... It’s great for sessions when you have to work fast and need to keep a single mic set up for several different singers.”

“I really like to tweak and play around in the studio,” says Rahn, “but I’ve been so pleased with the way the T3 sounds straight up the middle [in cardioid mode], that I rarely find myself switching patterns.”

The Studio Projects T3 is a tube mic with a dedicated AC power supply offering completely variable polar patterns.

Rahn describes the T3’s sound as, “fairly neutral, warm and open... it imparts a good vibe and pleasing color on the sound—but not too much. I think that’s what makes it so versatile.”

“I don’t just use it,” Rahn says of the T3, “I use it with no apologies.”

You can visit Darren online at www.darrenrahn.com and www.myspace.com/darrenrahn.

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NuGroove recording artist and independent producer, Darren Rahn, at The Litterbox (Denver, CO) in an early April session for Dave Koz.

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