Dan Broad - Moolah Rouge Studios

Monday 28th July 2008

Dan Broad is based at Moolah Rouge Studios and has worked with everyone from Howie B to the Happy Mondays. He was introduced to the sE range by ex New order bassist Peter Hook. "I was hooked!" he says…

Dan Broad is a producer, engineer and musician based at Stockport's Moolah Rouge studios. To say this man keeps himself busy is the understatement of the year. When he's not recording and mixing the likes of Peter Hook, Badly Drawn Boy, Howie B and Johnny Marr, he finds time to play keyboards and guitar in the Happy Mondays. In whatever discipline he finds himself, he surrounds himself with the finest tools available and has access to the best at Moolah Rouge including a set of sE microphones…

"I have recently started using a variety of sE Mics including the Gemini II, sE4 stereo pair, R1 ribbon and the Titan," he says. "I first discovered the Gemini II when working with Peter Hook. I was lucky enough to try it on a few sessions and then I was hooked. We used it for vocals and as a mono drum ambient mic and to capture bass ambience. I have since used it in all of my studio projects including some very late night sessions with Shaun Ryder. I find the clarity and top end of the Gemini is amazing and it so quiet - you can really notice the lack of noise even on the quietest of sources."

"I have been using my R1s for drum ambience, acoustic guitar and guitar

cabs," he continues. "They are great particularly as they are half the price of similar mics from other companies."

But it's not just the sE mics that Dan is a fan of…

"I have recently started using a Reflexion Filter," he adds, "which works wonders tightening up vocals and providing a good source of isolation in busy recording sessions."

"Overall sE gear is robust, well-packaged in wooden boxes and heavy-duty flight cases," Dan concludes. "It also provides a clarity of sound that is unbeatable at this price point."

Dan will be playing with the Happy Mondays at several summer festivals. He is currently finishing recording Shaun Ryder's vocals for the new Mondays album (using sE mics of course!) and recording a new band called Bells for Rene which he describes as "the best new band I have heard in years!"

Dan's top recording tips…

1. Listen to your clients

2. Don't be afraid to experiment

3. The more time you spend making sure that what you record sounds good in the first place, the less time you will spend trying to fix it later. Be patient!