Famed Drummer/Producer/Songwriter James Gadson & Lauten Audio’s Brian Loudenslager discuss discovery and acquisition of Lauten Audio’s ‘Series Black’ microphone line.
Famed drummer – and producer and singer and songwriter – James Gadson, “one of the most recorded drummers in R&B history” per Modern Drummer magazine, and #32 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “Greatest Drummers” of all-time, recently acquired the entire Lauten Audio ‘Series Black’ line of microphones including the LA-320 large diaphragm vacuum tube condenser, the LA-220 FET condenser, and a pair of LA-120 small diaphragm FET condensers. One could literally fill an entire page listing credits for Gadson, but to name a small fraction of his credits, he has recorded and/or performed with Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, James Brown, Ray Charles, George Duke, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, and more recently for pop superstar Justin Timberlake as well as Beck.
“I am very excited about the Series Black microphones,” says Gadson. “They are not that expensive, but they are so great. The tracks that I have recorded came out so beautiful that I was elated! They are great microphones.”
“Gadson’s comments on the ‘Series Black’ microphone line are spot-on with what I’ve heard from countless owners,” says Brian Loudenslager, Founder of Lauten Audio. “I hope it’s reassuring to current and future owners of our Series Black mics that a legend in the business is highly satisfied regardless of their price-point.”
It was late Friday evening on December 30th and Loudenslager had just finished dinner, enjoying the holidays, having stepped away from the daily routine of running his company, Lauten Audio. “I have a distinct memory of the conversation as I accidently answered my cell, which I rarely do if I don’t recognize the number. Upon answering I didn’t catch the person’s name, but the caller was asking about the Series Black microphones and that someone had recommended them to him. Not in the working frame of mind I informed him that we don’t do any direct sales and recommended a few dealers in the L.A. area he should go to. It wasn’t until January 3rd while catching up on email that I saw and was reminded of an email from engineer Darrell Thorp informing me he had spoken to the one and only James Gadson and was sending him my way. I texted Darrell and told him “Kinda flubbed it with your buddy James Gadson…” After realizing my mistake I contacted Gadson and he informed me that he had gone to a local dealer and ordered the mics. As a former drummer myself, and knowing the plethora of records Gadson recorded on, it was one of those moments of total honor,” concludes Loudenslager.
“You simply can’t get a greater validation of a product line than having someone like James Gadson not only wanting to try them, but taking it upon himself to go to a local dealer and order them,” quips Loudenslager. “Though the younger generation today may not know the name James Gadson, I can guarantee every single producer, engineer or musician has heard Gadson on drums. Many of the beats and rhythms we hear today in modern hip-hop, R&B, and pop are the result of his writing and his original beats, sampled for other modern
music mixes. Just check out a few classic selections like “Dancing Machine” by The Jackson Five, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye, and more recently Beck’s “Morning Phase,” Gadson has this magical and signature touch that comes through.”
James Gadson said, “I called my friend and engineer Darryl Thorp, who’s a seven-time Grammy winner that I’ve worked with on a lot of different projects, and asked him about what he said in a magazine interview I had read where he mentioned the Lauten Audio Series Black microphones, and Darryl said, ‘These are the real deal.'”
Gadson continues, “So I bought the LA-120 pencil mics to use as overheads on my drums. The mics are so true! The playback sounded just like my cymbals, I had never heard of pencil mics that sounded this good. When I record cymbal crashes now they sound just like I want them to sound. They sound magnificent, they sound so natural. I use the mics flat, I didn’t have to put any EQ on them. Wow, I’m happy! And the mics look great, like a model stepping out of a magazine! (laughs) and they come in a beautiful box, they are very stylish, classy looking mics.”
“After that I got the LA-220 condenser mic and used it as a vocal mic, and the vocal came out just wonderful! It’s so warm. The track sounded just like I was singing it. The 220s are also great on the Toms,” added Gadson. “Then I got the LA-320 tube mic, and that sounded great as a room mic. I plan to try it on vocals too.”
About Lauten Audio
Lauten Audio microphones continue to carve out a unique niche for recordists seeking microphones with an original sound. In addition to the Series Black, their product line includes their flagship “Eden” LT-386, the award-winning “Oceanus” LT-381 transformer-less tube condenser microphone, and the FC-387 “Atlantis” solid-state Multi-voicing(tm) large diaphragm condenser microphone. Lauten Audio microphones have received rave reviews from both experienced recording engineers and leading Pro Audio magazines around the world. Lauten Audio is located in San Jose California, for more information visit www.lautenaudio.com or call 1-877-721-7018.
