Los Angeles, CA – February 2014… Dial in any pop / rock genre radio station these days and, before long, you’ll undoubtedly hear the music of Maroon 5. With an impressive list of hits to their credit, the release of their current hit CD—Overexposed, on the A&M/Octone label—continues that successful trend. Recorded in the world-class facilities of Conway Recording Studios, the album is a showcase for the band’s signature sound; and a significant part of that sound was crafted using signal processing equipment from Shell Rock, IA-based Chandler Limited.
LA-based Noah “Mailbox” Passovoy served as producer on five tracks and engineer on all tracks of the band’s latest recording. With a solid track record that includes engineering the band’s smash hit Moves Like Jagger, Passovoy certainly knows what to look for in a quality microphone pre amp. That’s why he relies on products like the LTD-1 EQ / Pre Amp and the TG2 Pre Amp / DI from Chandler Limited. Passovoy discussed his preference for the company’s products.
“There are a number of reasons I’ve grown to love Chandler’s gear so much,” Passovoy reports. “First and foremost, the company’s products sound fantastic. I’ve been working with Chandler products for close to 10 years because I love having equipment around that I know will sound good on pretty much anything I run through it. Wade Goeke at Chandler has done a really good job of building equipment that sounds like the vintage gear we’ve all grown to love, while still retaining a modern twist. It also helps that, unlike those vintage pieces, I know any piece of gear from Chandler will work when I need it to.”
The Chandler Limited TG2 Pre Amp / DI is one of Passovoy’s favorites. “The TG2 has really become a ‘go-to’ pre amp for me,” he reports. “I love all the warmth and body I can get out of it, while the top-end is really open and bright—without ever sounding too thin or brittle. That combination of sonic attributes makes this the perfect mic pre for tracking vocals. I really don’t have to do a lot more than plug a mic into the TG2 to get the sound I’m looking for. Beyond that, I love the TG2’s summing option. Being able to pre-mix a Royer and a Shure SM57 on a guitar cabinet is really helpful.”
Passovoy also finds the sonic qualities of Chandler’s LTD-1 EQ / Pre Amp appealing. “The LTD-1 is simply the best modern 1073 I’ve heard,” he said. “I love it on guitars, and the added flexibility of the EQ section makes it great when I need an EQ for mixing. It’s just got that classic sound.”
In addition to their well-known sound quality, Chandler Limited’s products deliver that sound without the temperamental behavior associated with many of the vintage pieces from which they are derived. Passovoy’s experience with Chandler products is characteristic of this. “I really haven’t had much contact with Chandler’s tech support because I’ve never had any issues with their equipment,” he said. “However, I can say that, of the few times I had questions, everyone at the company has been fantastic—both knowledgeable and professional.”
As he prepared for another day in the studio for an upcoming project, Passovoy offered these parting comments, “I love Chandler Limited’s products. I have yet to come across a piece of their gear that I haven’t wanted to own after using it. The company really does a great job bridging the gap between vintage and modern recording equipment.”
To learn more about Maroon 5 and their album Overexposed, visit the band online at www.maroon5.com. To learn more about Noah Passovoy, go to www.noahpassovoy.com.