GRAMMY®-Nominated Engineer Ben Chang Relies On AKG

posted:

25/05/2012

Working up to 100 hours a week, 2-time GRAMMY nominated engineer, arranger and programmer Ben Chang stands behind his microphones, knowing the perfect sound starts with the perfect mic. Working alongside singer/songwriter Claude Kelly in New York City’s KMA studio in the historic Brill Building, Chang uses HARMAN’s AKG D12 dynamic and C451 condenser microphones as his go-to solutions for tracking hits.

With a client list ranging in artists such as David Cook, Steve Jordan, Jessie J, Lil Jon, Mya, Ne-Yo, Trey Songs, Tiësto and his GRAMMY-nominated work with Fantasia and Ledisi, Chang takes great pride in his projects, focusing on an “organic” sound with live drums and acoustic guitars.

AKG is a staple in the recording booth when Chang is on the boards, as he wants nothing less than the best sound for his work. The D12 dynamic instrument mic is on every drum record Chang produces. The mic is clipped inside the bass drum for a rich, intense beat. Chang also drops a D12 into pianos right above the strings for a soulful sound. C451 condensers are utilized as room mics and are workhorses in Chang’s studio. “We use the C451 and crush the hell out of it through a distressor,” he said. “The C451’s on vocals and drums also adds more flavor to a track.”

“Some engineers and producers think hits are made in the mixing sessions after recording. For me, choosing the perfect mic is the most important part in the process of recording a hit,” stated Chang. “My clients crave perfection to their production, whether on guitars, drums, strings or vocals. I've even tracked a harmonica using the AKG D12 that was played by K'naan on one of a soon-to-be-released track. AKG mics are an important tool that helps capture that great tone, translating their vision into a complete project.“

AKG D12, AKG C12, AKG C451, AKG C1000, AKG C414

As GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Claude Kelly's personal engineer, Chang feels blessed to play such a vital part in working with brilliant artists/producers that record in the studio. Ben is also managed by Make Moves Management, working as a team to provide award-winning opportunities to artists in the industry.

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.3 billion for the twelve months ended March 31, 2012.