Neumann Microphones Interview
THE NEUMANN M149 A HIT WITH RANDY SINGER
FOR UPCOMING JULIO IGLESIAS' RELEASE

Timeline: When it comes to perfection, there may be no one more demanding than "el padre" of Latin superstars, Julio Iglesias. Having recorded almost eighty albums and having played 4,600 shows on five different continents, he has developed a discerning ear for talent and demands absolute perfection in his recordings.

Harmonica virtuoso, Randy Singer was recently called upon for an overdub session at Miami's favored sound studio, The Hit Factory, to record harmonica for Julio's next release on Sony International Music. Keeping Julio's clamor for perfection in mind, Hit Factory engineer, Carlos Alvarez looked to a Neumann M149 Tube condenser microphone
to capture the subtleties of Randy's dynamic and inventive approach to the harmonica, and found the results to be impressive.

Randy Singer has toured and recorded with a wide variety of Latin and American stars from Gilberto Gil to Garth Brooks, Desmond Child and Blondie, earning him a reputation of virtuosity and diversity. He frequently performs throughout Latin America with Latino superstar Franco da Vita and has made countless recordings and performances here in the States with some of country and rock's top celebrities.

Having a style and harmonica sound that is a bit different from the usual; Randy had tried many studio microphones before his session with Julio Iglesias to get the sound he needed. "I've worked with a lot of microphones, I definitely liked the 149 the best.

My harmonica is mostly high content, so the top end has to be clear, and the top end of the M149 is quite rich and smooth", stated Randy. "It's really hard to pick up the sound of the harmonica; it's such a soft instrument. The M149 got me through the session in such a way that I was free. This microphone sets your imagination free."

Carlos Alvarez, Hit Factory engineer, set the Neumann M149 Tube microphone up for Randy in hopes of satisfying Julio's demand for excellence and enhancing Randy's performance level for the take. "It was one of those magical days of recording . . . everything went right," explains Carlos. "Julio's very exacting in what he wants to hear . . . and Randy delivered." Randy was also very pleased with the session, stating, "I've done hundreds of sessions, and this was the easiest. Recording with the Neumann M149 was the best sound of any session I've ever done in my life."

- From NEUMANN MICROPHONE INTERVIEW