All content © 2012 Sontronics
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23rd January 2012: TOUCHDOWN AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL NAMM SHOW
We've just arrived home after another whirlwind success at Winter NAMM, thanks to our US distributor Pro Audio Distribution and our friends at Dramastic Audio.
We picked up a couple of new distributors (news very soon!), introduced the mics to new US stockists and our booth attracted visits from famous artists, including:
• Delta/Halo user Steve Stevens (guitarist for Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Juno Reactor...)
• Sigma/Halo/Helios user Fish (guitarist for Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Siedah Garrett...)
• producer/engineer Ross Hogarth (John Mellencamp, Miley Cyrus, We Are Scientists...)
• New York producer J Chris Griffin
• Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy van Leeuwen
• 'Desk Doctor' Bruce Millett
• up-and-coming singer Jackson Odell
• The Offspring drummer Pete Parada
• Legendary producer Jack Douglas and many more!
After the show, we visited a few LA studios and we have some very exciting news in the pipeline that we'll share with you as soon as we can!
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11th January 2012: WIN 2 STC-10 CONDENSER MICS WORTH £190!
Want the chance to get your hands on a pair of Sontronics STC-10 pencil condenser microphones? Well we've teamed up with Paul 'Stick' Annis, owner of Maplewood Studios, to give them away to one lucky Sontronics fan.
Simply Like our facebook page and subscribe to the Maplewood Studio YouTube feed and upload a short video for your chance to win. Maplewood's owner 'Stick' is an awesome session and live drummer, talented teacher and dedicated Sontronics user, and his online tutorials on all aspects of playing and recording drums are not to be missed!
As for our STC-10s, these cardioid mics are ideal for all types of direct miking – drums and percussion, wind and brass, strings and acoustic guitar – and the pair of them make a great set of overheads for drumkit, ensembles, bands and choirs, and also for film, video, TV and radio work. So follow the links below and GOOD LUCK!!
Sontronics facebook page - LIKE IT! • Maplewood Studio YouTube feed - SUBSCRIBE! |
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1st November 2011: SONTRONICS CAPSULE GIVEAWAY!
British microphone brand SONTRONICS has a lot to celebrate in 2011 – new drum mics that have become best-sellers, the HALO taking the world by storm, new distribution partners in the US and Russia – and you can share in the celebrations with a giveaway worth up to £168!
Between now and the end of December, Sontronics is offering FREE OMNI and HYPER capsules worth £42 each with every STC-1 pencil cardioid condenser mic (UK RRP £115) bought from a participating retailer. This means you get three mics for the price of one. Buy an STC-1S stereo pair (UK RRP £249) and you’ll get two of each capsule worth a total of £160!
“Our STC-1 and STC-1S are such versatile mics already,” says Sontronics MD, founder and designer Trevor Coley, “and users tell us they love it for things like acoustic guitar, plucked instruments, woodwind, brass, strings, direct-miking percussion and video/film work. However, with the free interchangeable capsules in the package, you suddenly have three mics in one, making it suitable for overheads, vocals, conferencing, room ambience, orchestral, choral and ensemble applications, especially with the STC-1S pair. We’ve had such wonderful support from all our users around the world this year, that once again we wanted to give something back, so here it is!”
The STC-1 is supplied in a wooden box with mic clip and windshield while the STC-1S pair come in a wooden box with a mounting bar, clips and windshields. Both microphones, as with all Sontronics mics, come with a free copy of Toontrack EZdrummer Lite and are covered by the Sontronics Lifetime Warranty.
*This offer has now officially closed but is still being offered by some stores. Click HERE to find out where you can still get your free capsules. |
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25th October 2011: GREAT SUCCESS AT AES
The Sontronics team has just returned from New York where the brand was being relaunched in the States by new distribution partners Pro Audio Design. Situated on booth #352, the full range of Sontronics mics was available to demo and view, and it drew a huge crowd.
"We arrived at the booth to find this amazing unit," says Marketing Director Lisa Coley, "that the guys at PAD had built in a week in order to demo eight mics and display eight others. Even though we'd only been working together for a couple of weeks, we were so impressed by the enthusiasm and motivation of the PAD team, and by their ability to talk to visitors and potential customers about the Sontronics mics, preamps and accessories as if they'd known them inside out for years!"
Visitors to the booth included producer/engineer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, New York Dolls), Beyoncé's backing singer and various East Coast studios, producers and musicians, all of whom were excited to see and hear the full range of Sontronics products. However, the highlight of show week was an impromptu session at Quad Studios.
"We'd arranged a party up at Quad," explains Lisa, "for people to try the mics in a studio environment, but also to grab a few beers and chill out. I'd asked a beatbox/rap duo (Grey Matter and BS) to drop by, as they'd sounded great at the booth, even amid all that noise, and before we knew it, they were jamming with an acoustic guitarist (Vicki Genfan) and vocalist (Dan Lagstein). It was fantastic!"
Check out the video footage from the impromptu Quad Studios session on YouTube |
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15th October 2011: SONTRONICS GOES EAST AND WEST
Sontronics is proud to confirm that its range of British-designed microphones, preamps and accessories is now available in Russia thanks to a new agreement with Moscow-based Music Team. At the same time, Sontronics has also confirmed a partnership with Professional Audio Design in the US, who will be relaunching the brand Stateside.
Just seven years after the brand was founded by designer and musician Trevor Coley, the Dorset-based company is moving into Russia for the first time. “When we were approached by Andrey at Music Team,” says Trevor, “we knew this was a fantastic opportunity to get our products to the Russian market and to musicians who we knew were desperate to get hold of our mics from Russian stores.”
Andrey Yakovlev, Sales Director at Music Team, is excited at the prospect of bring Sontronics into Russia, and looking forward to exhibiting the mics at next year’s Music Russia show. “We love the design of the Sontronics microphones,” he says, “and we know that the build and sound quality is fantastic. We see great potential in introducing Sontronics here, and we know Russian musicans, producers and studios will enjoy the mics as much as we do!”
Looking west, Sontronics has also secured a deal with distributors Professional Audio Design to grow the brand further in the States. “We have huge potential in the US,” says Coley, “thanks to all our dedicated users out there, and our famous supporters who have come to us directly to get hold of our mics. People like Steve Stevens, Peter Holmström (Dandy Warhols), Blumpy (Trent Reznor) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) continue to spread the Sontronics word, and now we can support them and our growing number of American users with a dedicated, motivated distribution partner in PAD.”
Dave Malekpour, President at PAD, is equally confident in the growth potential of Sontronics in America. “We have been keeping a close eye on the brand and on the products, over the years,” says Malekpour. “The design ethos, dedicated support and the lifetime warranty mean Sontronics will be irresistible to any musician. I already use a DM-1B, DELTA and HALO in my band, so I know they are all great mics, they’ve got their own sound and they look awesome! AES New York is going to be an exciting show and we know the brand can only grow from strength to strength out here!”
Sontronics will be exhibiting all their mics and preamps on the PAD stand (#352) at AES New York, 20-23 October 2011.
CONTACTS
Music Team – Andrey Yakovlev - +7 (499) 408-05-04 – sales@music-team.ru
Professional Audio Design – Dave Malekpour – 001 877 223 8858 – info@proaudiodesign.com
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7th September 2011: PJ HARVEY ALBUM IS THE "SOUND OF SONTRONICS"
The Mercury Prize 2011 winner, announced in London last night, is PJ Harvey's 'Let England Shake', an album recorded in a Dorset church using Sontronics microphones.
In the summer 2010 we had a call from producers Flood and John Parish who were working with PJ Harvey on some new material in a village church in deepest Dorset. Flood was already using our microphones in his Assault/Battery studios in London, and we regularly call upon him to beta-test our new projects, and he wanted our mics to capture the loose, relaxed nature of the sessions and also make the most of the natural reverb and acoustics of the space..
As the church where they were recording PJ Harvey's new songs was not far from us, in the tiny village of Eype, we installed a selection of our Sontronics mics for the five-week recording period, including our HELIOS valve condenser microphone, ORPHEUS multi-pattern condenser microphone, our SIGMA and DELTA ribbon microphones, our APOLLO stereo ribbon microphone and others.
We've loved the album ever since it was released back in February 2011 and are glad that the critics agree. And as Flood told us on the night of the awards ceremony, "This album really is the sound of your microphones." Watch this space for interviews about the album with Flood and John Parish. |
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26th May 2011: SONTRONICS EXPANDS INTO INDIA!
We're very excited to announce that Sontronics microphones, preamps and accessories are now available in India thanks to a new distribution deal with Pine Creek Tech Inc. This dynamic Delhi-based company supported Sontronics' debut in India with a booth at the recent PalmExpo show in Mumbai (2nd to 4th June).
"With Sontronics already gaining enthusiastic support from new users in the Far East," says Sontronics founder Trevor Coley, "we're excited to get our mics into the hands of musicians, producers, studios and installation companies all round India."
Pine Creek Tech's Sales Director, Somesh Kumar, adds: "I am very happy to become a member of the Sontronics family. I have taken a lot of time to study the products and read the reviews of users worldwide. In the Indian music industry there are lots of brands available with much price variation, but the first time I looked at the Sontronics price list I was amazed. Sontronics is excellent value for money – you are getting a high-end microphone for a good price and with a lifetime warranty!"
If you have any queries about trying or buying Sontronics products in India, contact Somesh Kumar at Pine Creek Tech: tel. +91-11-26885841 • somesh@pinecreekindia.com
website: www.pinecreekindia.com |
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18th MAY 2011: STYLISH NEW SONTRONICS HALO HAS LANDED!
First announced at the Frankfurt Musikmesse a month ago, the stunning new Sontronics HALO dynamic mic for guitar amps has now hit the streets.
This amazing looking microphone has been designed and developed here in the UK and bears all the trademark style of Sontronics’ founder and mic designer, Trevor Coley. “As a guitarist myself, I’ve always longed for something more interesting than a regular handheld dynamic to put in front of my guitar amp,” Coley confides, “and the popularity of our radical looking SATURN mic made me think I could do the same for guitarists.”
The HALO is based on the technology found inside Sontronics’ STC-80 handheld dynamic mic, which gives great results on guitar amps and cabs as well as the vocals it was originally designed to handle. HALO also gives all the bite, crunch and power that you want from a guitar amp but without needing to touch the EQ, and the springs built into the clever circular design mean the capsule is isolated from stage or floor vibrations. “Since launching the STC-80 a couple of years back, it’s become a best seller for us,” says Coley, “and users tell us all the time that it sounds amazing on guitar amps, both live and in the studio. So we’ve taken the dynamic capsule from the STC-80, tweaked it a little bit and added a bit of design flair to create a microphone that guitarists won’t want to live without!”
Sontronics HALO is sure to become a favourite with recording guitarists everywhere, especially as the price is £20 less than the RRP originally planned, making it just a few pounds/euros/yen more than the more ordinary looking mics usually chosen for guitar amps. “As we were working on the final stages of production,” adds Coley, “we realised that we didn’t want HALO to be one of those mics that people drool over and then realise they can’t afford. So we’ve made the price a very realistic £129 inc. VAT (€129 ex. tax, €179 ex. tax), which hopefully suits a lot of guitarists’ budgets.”
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14th MAY 2011: APOLLO 440's NOKO LOVES SONTRONICS' APOLLO
Electronic-rock star turned film composer Norman Fisher-Jones (aka Noko from Apollo 440) is an avid ribbon mic collector and has been wowed by the latest additions he’s bought for his collection, the Sontronics SIGMA, DELTA and the aptly named APOLLO.
“I’ve become quite fixated on ribbon microphones as pretty much the only way forward for recording orchestral instruments,” says Noko. “I noticed that Sontronics does a pretty comprehensive range of ribbon mics and I had to give them all a try, especially as the flagship one is called APOLLO!!
“We used the APOLLO stereo mic over the violins and it sounded great – very natural and sublimely uncoloured. The APOLLO’s definitely up there at the top of the class. They’re really cool mics!”
Read the full interview with Noko's thoughts on SIGMA, DELTA & APOLLO here |
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11th APRIL 2011: NEW! SONTRONICS HALO ANNOUNCED AT MUSIKMESSE
On show at last week's Frankfurt Musikmesse was the new SONTRONICS HALO, a dynamic microphone designed specifically for guitarists. The stunningly designed microphone features a dynamic capsule suspended in a circular frame, similar to the Sontronics SATURN and again inspired by vintage radio mics of the 1940s.
It builds on the popularity of Sontronics' STC-80 dynamic mic as Sontronics founder and designer, Trevor Coley explains: "We know that many users get great results from our STC-80 handheld dynamic on guitar amps, but as a guitarist myself, I wanted to give guitar players something interesting to stick in front of their amps, to save them using yet another anonymous mic originally designed for vocalists. HALO is the kind of mic that the other members of your band will covet... and although the guitarists won't want to tell anyone, HALO does a brilliant job on vocals and drums as well, just like STC-80."
Sontronics HALO will be available in June and will cost just £129 (£20 less than was originally announced!). Contact us to find out how to buy your HALO now!
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1st APRIL 2011: SONTRONICS STC-10 GIVEAWAY PROMOTION!
From 1st April until 31st May most of our users worldwide will be able to take advantage of this fantastic promotion. We're giving away a FREE Sontronics STC-10 worth £95 (UK RRP) pencil cardioid condenser when you buy an STC-2X omni/cardioid large-diaphragm condenser (in silver or black) from any participating store.
Check the list of countries participating here. Don't worry if your country isn't on here, just send us an email and we'll check with your nearest distributor and stores to find out how you can also take advantage of this fantastic offer!
Please note: This promotion has now finished in most countries although the free STC-10 is still available in Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Singapore and Malaysia. Contact your nearest dealer or distributor for details.
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20th MARCH 2011: NEW DISTRIBUTOR IN SWEDEN
Another week and another new distributor to welcome to the Sontronics family, and this time it's our friends at Stockholm-based JAM bringing our products to the good people of Sweden.
"We are very excited about working with the Sontronics brand in Sweden," say Stefan Krooks and Johan Antoni from JAM, "which previously been much neglected in our market. We have both been fans of the sound and design of these British boutique microphones for quite some time and are looking forward to building the brand in Sweden."
"We've always had a lot of enthusiastic support from stores and customers over in Sweden," says Sontronics MD Trevor Coley, "and it's great to be working with the team at JAM who I know will do our brand and our products more than justice!"
If you want to try or buy Sontronics in Sweden, or you are a Swedish store wanting to become a Sontronics dealer, please contact Stefan Krooks by email or phone: +46 8 410 51080.
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1st MARCH 2011: NEW PARTNER IN IRELAND
Today we're pleased to announce a new collaboration with Audio Warehouse in Dublin as our new exclusive Irish distributors.
"The guys at Audio Warehouse have always been keen supporters and users of Sontronics mics and preamps," says Sontronics founder, designer and MD Trevor Coley, "and to be working directly with them to get our products even better known by the Irish music-making community is a great pleasure for us."
Anyone interested in buying or trialling Sontronics microphones or accessories in Ireland, please contact Paul Brewer at Audio Warehouse by email or phone: +353 (0)1 831 2200 .
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14th FEBRUARY 2011: JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER LOVES SIGMA!
World-famous cellist, Julian Lloyd Webber is as well known for his beautiful ‘Barjansky’ Stradivarius cello as he is for his virtuoso playing, and now he’s found the perfect microphone to capture the sound of his beloved instrument. We caught up with Julian as he prepares for a UK and Europe tour, culminating in his 60th birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall in April…
Julian Lloyd Webber has played the cello since he was a child and has studied, performed and collaborated with some of the world’s most famous musicians, including Yehudi Menuhin, Georg Solti, Stephane Grapelli, and premiered many new works for cello. The last 12 months has seen Julian back in the studio, recording with his wife and performing on a new version of the South Bank Show theme by his older brother Andrew Lloyd Webber. Luckily, it seems he’s now found the perfect microphone to match his cello’s stunning sound. “Recently I was recording at Abbey Road Studios,” begins Julian, “and asked to use a vintage STC ribbon mic. The engineer there mentioned that he had ‘another’ ribbon mic [a Sontronics SIGMA]. We did a blind test side by side and I went for the SIGMA!”
This informed choice on the part of Julian and Abbey Road’s head engineer Andrew Dudman was an important part of getting the right sound for the famous Lloyd Webber cello, a Stradivarius Barjansky from the 1690s. “My Barjansky cello is a huge part of my life,” says Julian, “and it is my ‘sound’ as a musician, so I am extremely fussy about how it’s recorded! So often microphones do not reproduce its true sound, but I have found the SIGMA produces a very true picture of the sound of my Stradivarius.”
Since he first encountered the Sontronics SIGMA at Abbey Road Studios back in October, Julian has used the microphone on various projects. “We’ve used the SIGMA for the Audio Network session at Abbey Road, for a reworking of the South Bank Show theme tune, which I did with my brother Andrew for Sky Arts and a first recording with my cellist wife Jiaxin, which comes out late March on the Classic FM/HMV series ‘The Full Works’.”
The South Bank Show theme session at Sphere Studios was caught on video, where the SIGMA can be seen in use on Julian’s cello - watch out at 3:30 and 7:15 in particular!
http://www.skyarts.co.uk/video/video-andrew-lloyd-webber-south-bank-sky-arts-awards/
On all these projects, Julian has been able to introduce the Sontronics SIGMA to other musicians that he’s worked with - “It was a first for the last two engineers!” - and he continues to be impressed with all aspects of the SIGMA: “Everything seems thoroughly professional, and the microphones are beautifully packaged. I would certainly recommend Sontronics microphones to other people… it is wonderful to find mics that refer to the best of the past and work so truthfully in the present!”
• Julian Lloyd Webber is currently touring throughout Ireland and the UK.
• He performs at the BBC Radio 3 Comic Relief concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 March
• His 60th Birthday Celebration Concert will be held at the Royal Festival Hall on 14th April, with special guests to include Tamsin Little, Dame Cleo Laine and Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Full details and information about tickets at http://www.julianlloydwebber.com/news.asp |
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24th JANUARY 2011: NEW SONTRONICS DRUM MICS ARE A BIG HIT!
At this year's Winter NAMM Show, SONTRONICS has announced a further move into application-specific miking with the release of three condenser microphones designed specifically for drums: the DM-1T, DM-1S and DM-1B.
The DM-1T and DM-1S are small-diaphragm pencil-style condensers designed to work on tom (DM-1T) and snare (DM-1S). With a cardioid polar pattern and switchable -15dB pad, the characteristics of each mic have been tailored to pick up those specific nuances from the different drums. Each mic comes with a metal drum mount and mic clip.
The DM-1B is a large-diaphragm, end-fire condenser mic that can cope with up to 150dB (with the -15dB pad switched in) and comes in an aluminium flightcase. DM-1B is designed specifically for kick drum but also gives impressive results on bass guitar cabinets.
Designed from scratch by SONTRONICS founder and MD, Trevor Coley, these new mics represent more than two years of research, development and field testing. “Many of our existing mics work brilliantly on drums,” explains Coley, “but I felt that it was about time we made some dedicated mics for drummers and percussionists. I spent a long time researching how each component of a drum kit responded when struck – kick beater attack, kick thump, snare rattle, resonance, boominess and so on – and optimised each mic’s frequency response to deliver a great result with little or no EQ.”
As is usual with all SONTRONICS mics, the DM-1T, DM-1S and DM-1B have been tested to destruction before launch, so you can be sure they’ll perform perfectly, whether in studio or live sound applications. “The first prototypes were trialled by various session drummers and producers,” adds Coley, “including producer Flood (U2, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys) at Battery Studios, who discovered that DM-1B also gives great results on bass guitar cabs!”
The DM-1T, DM-1S and DM-1B are all covered by SONTRONICS’ Lifetime Warranty and come with a free download of Toontrack’s EZdrummer Lite. All three microphones are available to pre-order now - contact your nearest distributor or Sontronics dealer to order! |
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5th JANUARY 2011: 3 NEW MICS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT NAMM
Six years after SONTRONICS made its debut at the Winter NAMM Show, the British mic brand will be unveiling three more microphones at the 2011 Show in Anaheim, California (Anaheim Convention Centre, Los Angeles, 13th to 16th January).
Following on from the launch of SATURN, STC-10, STC-20, STC-2X and the PAD/PHASE accessory in 2010, this new trio will further grow the Sontronics range, as Managing Director, Trevor Coley confirms: "All will be revealed at the show, but in the mean time I can confirm that these new mics will take Sontronics into the specific miking arena, and will be ideal for live or studio use! For the full information, you'll have to keep track of our daily NAMM reports on Facebook and Twitter!"
If anyone wants to meet the Sontronics team at NAMM 2011 and find out more about the new mics and other new projects for 2011, please contact us to arrange an appointment.
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16th DECEMBER 2010: NEW PARTNER FOR PORTUGAL!
Sontronics has a new distribution partner in Portugal, thanks to a company set up by the British microphone company's founder, Trevor Coley.
Having worked closely with a team of Portuguese engineers on Sontronics' preamp projects, Coley felt there was a need for a new, dynamic representative for his own brand in Portugal. This led him to set up a Portuguese-based branch of Omnisonic International Ltd, led by experienced musician, educator, engineer and distribution agent, João Neves, who had previously represented Sontronics for two other companies.
"As I've gained more experience in the Portuguese music market," says Coley, "and seen the fantastic relationships that João has with shop staff, dealers, studios and musicians, I realised our Sontronics brand could benefit from João's dynamic, enthusiastic approach. I also saw that we could help build other brands here as well."
Omnisonic International Ltd also represents a variety of established brands in Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking territories of Angola and Mozambique, including Electro-Harmonix, Toontrack, Focal Professional, Softube, Flux and MIditech
Please contact João Neves direct for more information about buying and demo'ing the mics in Portugal: +351 960 161899 or +351 935 423727 - joao@omnisonic-international.com |
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5th DECEMBER 2010: REMIX AND WIN A SONTRONICS STC-2X & POPSHIELD
Swedish trance artist Psaul (Paul Mac Innes) has long been a user of Sontronics mics and now he's offering the chance to win one for yourself when you remix his hit track Catch U.
The competition is open to anyone worldwide, and you simply need to create a remix of Catch U (download the original track from SoundCloud, where you'll also find the vocals) and submit it via SoundCloud or by email before 19th January 2011.
The creator of the winning track will win a bundle of prizes worth over £650, including a Sontronics STC-2X omni/cardioid condenser mic, a Sontronics popshield, a full marketing campaign from AheadPR and 50% of all the revenue from the track's digital release!
Find out more and download the full track and vocals here: http://soundcloud.com/groups/psaul-catch-u-remix-competition/info. |
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1st SEPTEMBER 2010: THREE MICS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE (or 6 for the price of 2!)
As we continue to celebrate our fifth anniversary, we're offering* (through many of our international distributors) two FREE capsules worth £40 each with every STC-1 pencil condenser (UK RRP £115) and four FREE capsules with every STC-1S stereo pair (£249).
If you buy a cardioid-pattern STC-1 in silver or black, you get an OMNI and HYPER capsule in the same colour, worth £40 each (UK RRP) absolutely free. And when you buy an STC-1S stereo pair, you get two of each capsule FREE, a giveaway worth £160!
"We have had such great support from all our users round the world in our first five years,” says Sontronics MD, founder and designer Trevor Coley, “that we wanted to give something back. The STC-1 is such a great little mic and you can turn it into a complete all-rounder with the addition of our OMNI and HYPER capsules. Now we’re giving you the chance to get the capsules for free, so you end up with three microphones instead of one (or six instead of two in the case of the STC-1S!”
The STC-1 is supplied in a wooden box with mic clip and windshield while the STC-1S pair come in a wooden box with a mounting bar, clips and windshields. Both microphones, as with all Sontronics mics, come with a free download of Toontrack EZdrummer Lite and are covered by the Sontronics Lifetime Warranty.
*Check out where and when the promotion is running here. |
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26th July 2010: NEW DISTRIBUTOR FOR SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA
We have great pleasure in welcoming a new distribution partner to the Sontronics family for the Far East. We have teamed up with the guys at SINAMEX, who will now be representing the Sontronics range of products in Malaysia and Singapore.
"We look forward to growing the brand in the Far East with our new partners at Sinamex," says Sontronics MD, Trevor Coley. "They have a great track record in the music industry and we know they will be instrumental in helping Sontronics establish itself with Singapore and Malaysia customers."
Sinamex's Managing Director, Simon Peter Tan, says: "We are very pleased to have been appointed to distribute Sontronics in Singapore and Malaysia. Having been in the professional audio recording business for more than 15 years, and having earned ourselves a trustworthy reputation as the leading distributor for audio recording solutions, we are looking forward to the exciting prospects that will be brought about via this partnership!"
Please contact Sinamex direct for more information about buying and demo'ing the mics in Singapore (00 65 6338 8657 • sinamex@pacific.net.sg) and Malaysia (00 603 2142 8657 • smx@sinamex.com) and visit their website for full details. |
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1st July 2010: ANOTHER DYNAMIC MOVE FOR SONTRONICS!
Following the worldwide success of its STC-80 dynamic microphone, British brand Sontronics has announced the STC-80 QUAD, a set of four dynamic mics aimed at bands and studios.
These ruggedly built mics have had fantastic reviews in the worldwide press for their solid feel and amazing sound on vocals, speech, guitar amps and drums. They’ve also proved a huge hit with a massive number of artists, and are the only mic to be endorsed by rock legend Nuno Bettencourt and his band Extreme who use them for vocals onstage and in the studio.
It is the STC-80’s popularity that has led to this new four-piece release, as brand founder and mic designer, Trevor Coley explains: “We were hearing from many artists who love the STC-80s but needed a more practical solution for taking several mics from the studio to a gig and back again. So we’ve created a single padded aluminium flightcase that holds four STC-80s and their mic clips, and it’s ideal for bands or for studios who want enough mics for lead vocalist and backing singers, or for drums and guitar cabs as well.”
The first band to get their hands on the STC-80 QUAD is The Longest Day, the award-winning alt-rock four-piece from Dorset who’ve just released their first album ‘A State of Indifference’. Lead singer and guitarist Dan Henry says, “Having already used the Sontronics Chimera and Orpheus in the studio, we were keen to get our hands on something we could use live. The STC-80s are an all-round great dynamic mic and the QUAD pack is brilliant for lugging from gig to gig and back to the studio. We mainly use them for vocals but occasionally use them on guitar cabs and drums… although it’s safe to say our Delta takes care of all our guitar sounds! The mics perform consistently, giving us a warm, clear tone that sounds awesome, whatever the venue.”
The STC-80 QUAD is available now for an RRP of £299 and, like all Sontronics mics, the four STC-80s are all covered by Sontronics’ unique Lifetime Warranty. STC-80s are also available separately for £79.
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4th June 2010: SATURN STARS IN WORLD CUP SONG VIDEO
Recently when rock legend Robert Hart and his band XBad Company were preparing to film the video for their World Cup 2010 song 'We Ain't Going Home Empty-Handed', they looked no further than Sontronics for their main star.
The band's bassist, Pat Davey, was in Poole music store, Absolute Music, where he saw our new SATURN multi-pattern condenser mic on display. The store's Guitar Manager, Terry Haselden, recommended the SATURN to Pat, and the mic was quickly whisked away to the video shoot.
The final cut features the fantastic curves of Saturn in nearly every shot of the band 'on-stage', and the band loved the look of the microphone so much, they were reluctant to give it back.
Watch the video in all its glory on YouTube. And now that the song's in your head, make sure you download it from iTunes for only 79p! |
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30th May 2010: NEW SONTRONICS PARTNER IN HUNGARY
We have great pleasure in welcoming another new distribution partner to the Sontronics family. Taking our reach even further into Eastern Europe are our new Hungarian distributors, AudioMonde, headed up by hi-tech expert Péter Csillag.
If you have any queries about getting hold of our products in Hungary, email Péter direct - csillagp@audiomonde.hu - or give the AudioMonde office a call: 00 36 1 205 3908.
We are always looking for new distribution partners, and at the moment we're keen to talk to potential distributors about Eastern Europe, North Africa, South America, the Far East and the Middle East. Please email info@sontronics.com if you can help grow the Sontronics brand! |
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18th May 2010: SONTRONICS BY HOLY APPOINTMENT!
We're proud to announce that our microphones now have the official seal of approval from the Vatican as our STC-80 and ORPHEUS were used by the Pope on his recent visit to Portugal. Our microphones were chosen over various other brands for part of the Vatican's official European tour for 2010.
A specially personalised STC-80, with a gloss-white body and hand-finished gold-leaf grille, was used by the Pope for his public addresses during the open-air mass in Porto on 14th May. In addition an ORPHEUS and STC-1S stereo pair were used for the choir.
Lots of people have contacted us to find out if they can get hold of white/gold editions of our mics, so we're looking into it. If you're interested in a special collector's edition mic, email us to let us know what you'd like to see and we'll keep you posted with developments! |
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15th January 2010: 5th ANNIVERSARY & 5 NEW PRODUCTS FOR NAMM 2010
The 2010 NAMM Show saw the fifth anniversary of British microphone brand Sontronics, who released five new products as well as plenty of positive news.
"It's been a great year for Sontronics," says Sontronics founder, designer and MD Trevor Coley, "and we've seen fantastic growth, The brand is getting more recognition all round the world thanks to great support from our worldwide distributors and from the MI press."
After five years of success, Sontronics continues to grow with the release of 5 new products:
• SATURN multi-pattern condenser,
• STC-10 pencil condenser,
• STC-20 large-diaphragm condenser,
• STC-2X omni/cardioid condenser
• ST-PAD/PHASE inline switch
Like all of Sontronics' microphones, they have been designed and developed in the UK and, unlike many NAMM announcements, they'll all be in the shops within a couple of months.
"SATURN is the big news and it certainly turned plenty of heads at the NAMM Show," says Trevor. "It's inspired by the classic vocal mics of the 1940s and 50s, and while I originally designed it for vocals, it actually gives brilliant results on anything you put it in front of. It's been road-tested over the last year by various artists, producers and educators including Flood and Alan Moulder, and everyone's said it's an incredible all-rounder."
The other new mics are inspired by two Sontronics best-sellers, the STC-1 pencil condenser and STC-2 large-diaphragm condenser. "These continue to be popular," begins Trevor, "but we wanted to create something even more affordable. The STC-10 (£89) and STC-20 (£129) give users the first-class sound reproduction and top-quality build they associate with Sontronics products combined with a realistic price they can afford.
"At the same time I also wanted to push the potential of STC-2 so we've created the STC-2X featuring cardioid AND omnidirectional polar patterns plus a two-stage pad (-10/-20dB) and a two-stage filter (75/150Hz)." Available in silver or black, the STC-2X comes with a shockmount in an aluminium flightcase for just £229.
Sontronics has also released a four-pack of its most popular mic, the STC-80 dynamic. "We found that many users were buying four or five STC-80s to use for vocals and guitar amps on stage and in the studio," explains Trevor, "so to save people carrying four flightcases around, we now do a set of four STC-80s in a single flightcase with an extra saving on the full price."
Finally, Sontronics has launched the ST-PAD/PHASE switch. "We know some people using our ribbon mics have needed an attentuation control when miking very loud sound sources, especially if they don't have the feature on a desk or audio interface. The ST-PAD/PHASE is an inline switch with two -10dB attenuation/pad controls (giving a total of -20dB) plus a 180° phase invert control, useful for dual-miking snare drums. For just £39, it's a must-have!"
Five years of success and five new products (with more to come later in the year) all add up to being a fantastic year for the British mic brand that everyone's talking about! |
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14th January 2010: FREE STC-80 GIVEAWAY!
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of British microphone brand Sontronics, anyone in the UK or Ireland* purchasing a new Sontronics mic from an authorised dealer before the end of February will be able to claim a free STC-80 dynamic mic worth £79 RRP.
The STC-80 is a handheld dynamic mic launched in 2008 and has garnered some great reviews. The mic is being used on-stage or in the studio by loads of musicians and producers including Dave Grohl, Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Extreme and others.
To claim your free STC-80, simply complete the online rebate here and send it to T+S with proof of purchase and your free microphone will be shipped to you at no cost.
A list of authorised Sontronics dealers can be found here
*We hope to be able to offer a free STC-80 promotion outside the UK very soon. If you live overseas and want to see an STC-80 giveaway in your country, please email us and let us know!
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1st January 2010: ANOTHER NAMM... ANOTHER NEW MIC TO BE ANNOUNCED!
Just a year on from launching the DELTA guitar ribbon microphone, Sontronics Managing Director, Trevor Coley, has confirmed that at least one new Sontronics microphone will be announced at the NAMM Show in Anaheim this month.
"We invested into a lot of research and development throughout 2009," says Trevor, "and the first fruits of this will be announced at NAMM where we'll be exhibiting one of the new microphones. There's also a possibility that another of our projects may be ready in time to announce as well. All will be revealed on 14th January!"
Keep up to date with Sontronics daily NAMM reports on http://twitter.com/sontronics
See and hear the new mic for yourself at the Sontronics stand - Hall A booth #6630, NAMM 2010, Anaheim Convention Center, 14th - 17th January 2010
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1st November 2009: EZDRUMMER LITE FREE WITH SONTRONICS MICS
From 1st November, all Sontronics microphones come with a free copy of EZdrummer Lite,
a cutdown version of Toontrack's award-winning EZdrummer drum sampler software.
Sontronics microphones were used to record the drums and percussion for Toontrack's Twisted and Claustrophobic EZX plug-ins, and now every Sontronics mic comes bundled with a card featuring a unique registration code to download EZdrummer Lite. This can be upgraded to the full version of EZdrummer at the Toontrack website.
If you've bought a Sontronics microphone since 1st November, but didn't find an EZdrummer Lite card in the box, email us with details of when and where you bought the mic, along with its serial number, and we'll send you your unique registration number to download EZdrummer Lite for free!
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October 2009: SONTRONICS TOUCHES DOWN FROM SUCCESSFUL AES!
It's been another great show for British mic brand, Sontronics, as they return to the UK from a busy AES exhibition in New York. "We always enjoy AES," says Sontronics founder and MD, Trevor Coley, "as it gives us a chance to meet the people behind the music.
"We've met many engineers, producers and educators who are either already using our mics or who have heard a lot about them and want to get hold of them. In fact, we spoke to one major studio producer who is using Sontronics HELIOS valve condenser microphones on vocals and now he won't let his engineers use anything else, the results are so warm and clear!"
Sontronics is represented in the USA and Canada by FDW-Worldwide. The company was originally an arm of the retail giant Full Compass, but just before AES it was announced that FDW was now bring relaunched as a completely independent distributor.
"The increased media interest in FDW-Worldwide has meant a lot more interest in our mics and preamps," says Trevor. "We're now inundated with enquiries from magazines who want to review our products, from studios who want to test-drive and buy the mics, and from existing users who just want to tell us how much they already enjoy our microphones."
The Sontronics team are now counting down to NAMM 2010. "Despite the worldwide economic gloom," begins Trevor, "there was a buzz around the AES show and we're now really looking forward to NAMM. We know that the FDW booth is going to be even bigger and better, and that everyone will get a chance to see, hold and try our products... and best of all, we're right on schedule to unveil at least one new product in Anaheim. See you there!"
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September 2009: DELTA WINS PLATINUM AWARD!
Guitarists, producers and musicians everywhere are already telling us how great our rugged ribbon DELTA is, but now we've had the official critic's verdict. In the October issue of Future Music, DELTA is tested by engineer/producer Jon Musgrave who gives it 9/10 for Build and Value and 10/10 for Value and Results, plus a 7/10 for Versatility - well it is a ribbon mic, after all. Awarding the mic a Platinum award, Musgrave says (among other things)...
• "Sontronics' phantom-powered ribbon mics Sigma and Apollo have cemented the company's deserved reputation for well designed and reliable mics that combine a traditional ribbon sound with the benefit of active electronics."
• "The Delta is definitely a different beast [to Sigma] with a slightly lower sensitivity (11mV/Pa) and a quite different frequency plot."
• "With the Delta in close [to a guitar amp] at a few inches and centred on the speaker cone... the sound is beautifully rounded and balanced with plenty of proximity and none of the pokiness you tend to get from dynamic mics."
• "The Delta easily delivers a warm, radio-friendly speech sound. It also does a good job of rounding off the edges for hand-held percussion such as shakers and tambourines."
• "The Delta sets out to deliver silky smooth electric sounds with a retro flavour... and it really delivers. What I didn't expect was how easy it would be to achieve this... and if you want some extra top end, it responds well to EQ."
VERDICT: "Excellent for guitar amps - quick and easy to use while delivering a beautifully balanced sound."
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August 2009: NEW DISTRIBUTORS IN SWITZERLAND & POLAND
Time to welcome two new Sontronics distributors to the fold. We pleased to be working with René Hunger at Audio Bauer Pro who will now be representing our brand in Switzerland, and with Hubert Choplicki at AudioFactory who will be spreading the Sontronics word in Poland.
Switzerland: www.audio-bauerpro.ch
Poland: www.audiofactory.pl
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June 2009: SONTRONICS GETS TWITTERED!
Time to get on the social networking bandwagon and see what all this Twitter stuff is all about. Follow us on our twitter site to get all the latest updates and news on all things Sontronics. You'll find us here…
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May 2009: SONTRONICS ORPHEUS STARS IN BABY ANIMALS VIDEO
Australian hard rockers Baby Animals are back in the spotlight with their new single 'Got It Bad'. Lead singer Suze DeMarchi (and wife of Extreme frontman and Sontronics endorsee, Nuno Bettencourt) shares the camera with a Sontronics ORPHEUS in the single’s video clip.
Check out the Baby Animals video on YouTube...
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April 2009: NEW RIBBON MIC DELTA LAUNCHED
Following on from the worldwide success of our iconic SIGMA ribbon microphone, the Sontronics DELTA has been born. Where SIGMA found its place into the heart of the studio and recording world, DELTA’s incredible capability in miking electric guitar cabinets sets it up to become a new standard in live sound reinforcement.
Read more about DELTA and see the full specs here... |
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April 2009: SONTRONICS TEAMS UP WITH TIME+SPACE IN THE UK
Today Sontronics announced its new partnership with Time+Space who will be taking over distribution of Sontronics microphones and preamps in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Time+Space, traditionally known as a music software distributor, took on its first hardware line, ESI, back in May 2007. ESI has now become a firmly established brand, and this success has led to T+S strengthening its hardware portfolio with Sontronics.
Joel Heatley, Sales & Marketing Manager at T+S says, “We really believe in Sontronics and there is real opportunity here to build something special. We feel Sontronics offers something unique to the marketplace, has huge potential and we want to be a part of realising that potential.”
Sontronics founder and Managing Director, Trevor Coley, says, “We are delighted to be working with Time+Space, especially at this exciting point in our development. We have several new products planned for release over the next year, building on our strong reputation for value and high-quality audio equipment. We believe that Time+Space will become an invaluable partner to us, bringing a wealth of market experience to the team and helping to firmly establish Sontronics as a leading brand in the UK and Eire.”
Visit Time+Space’s website…
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March 2009: NEW PARTNERS IN GERMANY & NORWAY
Continuing our growth in Europe and the rest of the world, Sontronics has taken on new distribution partners for Germany and Norway. Our new distributors in Germany are Audiowerk, run by industry veteran Uwe Grundei, while new representatives in Norway are Procom, headed up by pro musician and experienced dealer Svenna Mohaugen.
Audiowerk: www.audiowerk.eu
Procom Norway: www.procom.no
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February 2009: EXTREME FANS OF SONTRONICS
Sontronics microphones recently took centre stage on recently reformed supergroup Extreme’s ‘Take Us Alive’ world tour. The group used two Sontronics STC-80 dynamic mics, two Sontronics ORPHEUS and an STC-1 on the European and Far East legs of their Winter 2008 tour to promote ‘Saudades de Rock’, their first new album in 13 years. The band was so impressed that guitar supremo and vocalist Nuno Bettencourt has openly endorsed the microphones... something he had never done before in his 20-year career!
Read more...
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January 2009: EXPANSION INTO KOREA & SOUTH AFRICA FOR SONTRONICS
Sontronics now has two new distributors to welcome to the fold, this time in South Africa and Korea. The new South African distribution agreement has been signed with Etron Sound, based in Bloemfontein, South Africa. “We are very proud to be able to introduce Sontronics to the African market,” says Johan Norval, director of Etron Sound. “We were blown away by the quality of these microphones and we’ve already created a big buzz in a very short time. Orders and requests are coming in daily, so Sontronics is sure to become a major player in the South African microphone market.”
At the same time, Sontronics has taken on a well respected distributor in South Korea, in the shape of Seoul-based Gearlounge, represented by Howon Lee.
Sontronics products are now available directly in over 35 countries around the world. To see a full list of worldwide distributors, click here...
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December 2008: NEW MICROPHONE TO BE ANNOUNCED AT NAMM
Sontronics Managing Director, Trevor Coley, has confirmed that a new Sontronics mic will be previewed at the 2009 NAMM Show. “Following the release of the Chimera and Sonora preamps last year, we have been hard at work on other projects throughout 2008, and will have at least one new microphone to unveil at NAMM in January. |
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November 2008: SONTRONICS SONORA HAS LANDED
Following the release of the CHIMERA hybrid valve/solid-state preamp back in the Spring, Sontronics has launched the SONORA, a two-channel solid-state preamp. Designed and developed in the UK and manufactured by our team of engineers in Portugal, the 100% European SONORA is a dual-channel preamp/DI with two discrete solid-state channels, capable of delivering the highest standard of audio reproduction at an amazingly low price.
Read more about SONORA and see the full specs here...
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October 2008: SONTRONICS MICS STAR IN AMP MIKING TUTORIAL
Our new STC-80 handheld dynamic and the ever-popular STC-1 instrument condenser mic have just won starring roles in an amp-miking tutorial in Computer Music magazine. Whether you want intense amplitude from a close miking set-up, directional miking with a condenser or a combination of both mics for a fuller sound, it’s all in this six-page guide with audio examples on the accompanying DVD. The tutorials appeared in the November and December issues of Computer Music magazine. |
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September 2008: NEW PREAMPS PREMIERED IN HOLLYWOOD!
The new Sontronics Sonora and Chimera preamps have had their first taste of stardom in the pro studios of Hollywood. Sontronics founder Trevor Coley, along with Marketing Manager from our American distribution partners FDW-Worldwide, took the first production models of the European-made preamps to be tested by some world-class producers, engineers, guitarists, singers and musicians to great success!
“We had fantastic feedback from everyone we visited,” says Coley, “including renowned drummer Brett Chassen who said they’re the best preamps he’s ever tried! We also sat in on some recording sessions with Queens of the Stone Age front man, Josh Homme, where he was recording with Eagles of Death Metal, and they ended up using Chimera on six tracks for the new album, which is testament to the quality of the preamp, and that’s before it’s even gone into full production!”
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August 2008: MATRIX10 PRO-QUALITY MIC STANDS RELEASED
It’s a groundbreaking year for Sontronics, thanks to the release of the brand’s first handheld dynamic mic (the STC-80) and the soon-to-arrive European-made preamps. And now comes a mobile mounting system in the shape of the MATRIX10 professional mic stand. This pro-quality stand can sit on its sturdy tripod or the three-wheeled dolly cart with foot-operated brakes and can support a weight of up to 6kg.
Read more about MATRIX10 here… |
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May 2008: A DYNAMIC MOVE FOR SONTRONICS
After beginning the year with the breakthrough release of the first Sontronics preamp, the brand has announced the launch of its first handheld dynamic microphone. The STC-80 is a natural addition to the Sontronics range, and boasts the same rugged construction as Sontronics’ handheld condenser (the STC-6) with a hugh-quality dynamic capsule.
“When I first launched Sontronics in 2005,” says brand founder Trevor Coley, “I wanted to offer top-quality condenser mic technology in a handheld format, and so the STC-5 was born… and it became an instant success. Since then we’ve had many requests to include a dynamic handheld mic in our range, so we decided to do something about it at last! We are now proud to release the STC-80, which boasts superb sound quality and low handling noise with the same totally solid feel as our newer handheld condenser, the STC-6.”
The STC-80 has a frequency response from 50Hz to 15kHz and incorporates an internal pop filter, helping to deliver first-class results. It comes with its own mic stand clip in a fully padded aluminium flightcase.
Read more about STC-80 and see the full specs here…
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January 2008: NEW CHIMERA HYBRID PREAMP IS 100% MADE IN EUROPE
The 2008 NAMM Show saw a giant leap forward for Sontronics thanks to the unveiling of the CHIMERA hybrid preamp, heralding an exciting new phase for the brand. The CHIMERA is a single-channel preamp/DI box that offers two discrete circuits: at the flick of a switch, you can choose between the crystal-clear, transparent character of the solid-state amplifier or the smooth, silky tones served up by the valve preamp.
“Sontronics is all about offering musicians the tools they need to perfect the front end of their recording chain,” says brand founder Trevor Coley, “and ever since I launched Sontronics, I’ve wanted to create a preamp that did exactly that. Furthermore, CHIMERA is 100% made in Europe, having been conceived and designed in the UK, and developed and manufactured in Portugal. This project has grown out of my meeting with some great musicians and technicians on my visits to Portugal. They turned my concepts for a preamp into a stunning reality, and it’s all been done without a single trip outside our own continent. In an age of carbon emission awareness, this is something we’re very proud of!”
Read more about CHIMERA and see the full specs here…
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January 2008: SONTRONICS MICS SPOTTED ON CNN!
Innovative three-piece Second Person, fronted by Julia Johnson, recently appeared on CNN with a Sontronics mic in a report about SellaBand.com. Second Person became the first British band to raise $50,000 through fan support via the website, after releasing their five-track EP ‘Elements’ online, and are now working on their follow-up full-length album. In the CNN interview, Julia is shown singing into a Sontronics HELIOS, Second Person’s mic of choice to capture Julia’s unique, clear vocals.
Visit Second Person’s website: http://www.secondperson.net
View their SellaBand page: http://www.sellaband.com/secondperson/
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January 2008: STC-6 HANDHELD CONDENSER MIC LAUNCHED
Following the overwhelming success of the Sontronics STC-5 comes the release of the new STC-6 handheld condenser microphone. “Since introducing STC-5 three years ago,” says Trevor Coley, founder of the Sontronics brand, “it has become an extremely popular product for us. The STC-6 builds on that great success, with a redesigned body and additional features. This mic punches way above its weight!”
The mic body has been designed to be completely robust and ergonomic too, thanks to its grooves to aid grip. It also features recessed switches to control the 0dB/-10dB pad and the linear/75Hz high-pass filter. Inside, the microphone boasts a cardioid capsule mounted in a newly designed shockmount cradle that houses a special multi-point electrode post. This ensures multiple points of contact with the capsule, significantly increasing signal integrity and reliability, and reducing potential for corrosion.
Read more about STC-6 and see the full specs here…
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December 2007: PORTUGUESE STARS USING SIGMA
Portuguese funk hip hop band, Expensive Soul, have been using Sontronics microphones in the studio to record their latest tracks, and our microphones appear in the video to their recent hit ‘13 Mulheres’. Lead singer Demo is seen singing into a SIGMA ribbon mic, while the backing vocalists sing into a HELIOS.
Visit Expensive Soul’s website: http://www.expensivesoul.com
Watch the video for ‘13 Mulheres’ on YouTube… |
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November 2007: SONTRONICS JOINS FACEBOOK
Yes, Sontronics has jumped on the Facebook bandwagon and we now have a page devoted to all things Sontronics. Visit our site to keep up with news updates, become a Sontronics fan, chat to other users, contact us direct, watch videos and upload your own, read our blog and try not to get caught reading it at work!
Follow us on Facebook…
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September 2007: SONTRONICS MICS GO VIRTUAL WITH TOONTRACK
Sontronics microphones have now gone virtual, thanks to their starring role on two new drum sample collections released by Toontrack. Seven mics from the Sontronics range have been used to precisely capture the sounds of the drums and percussion for the new Claustrophobic and Twisted Kit expansion kits for EZdrummer.
For Claustrophobic, a HELIOS was used for kick drum, one ORPHEUS close-miked the hi-hat while another was used as a mono overhead above the drummer. Two SIGMAs were used as stereo overheads and an STC-1S pair was used for the top and bottom of the snare. The mics were used in various configurations for Twisted Kit.
Sontronics mics are well known for their accuracy when recording drums, and were specifically requested for the sessions by Toontrack Music’s head of sound design and experienced engineer/producer Mattias Eklund and head of marketing, Andreas Sundgren. “We chose Sontronics mics,” says Sundgren, “because we know they offer high-end quality at a reasonable price, something that goes hand-in-hand with the EZdrummer series..”
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, adds: “We were very excited to be involved in the creation of these new drum collections, especially as I’ve always been impressed by the quality of sound and design of the EZdrummer series. Joining Toontrack on this project will also help ius reach a new group of musicians who will appreciate the quality and accuracy of our mics, yet also realise that they don’t cost the earth!”
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June 2007: SONTRONICS ENTERS 2 NEW CONTINENTS
Microphone brand Sontronics continues its expansion around the world with new distribution deals in South America and Africa. Sontronics microphones are being introduced into these new territories by Activar, Sontronics' existing representative in Portugal, starting with Portuguese-speaking Brazil, Angola and Mozambique.
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley comments: “This is such an exciting development, to see our microphones reaching a huge number of new musicians in two of the world’s largest continents. It represents great opportunity for us, not only to see our mics appearing in South American and African studios, but also to grow our Education programme in these territories.”
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May 2007: SONTRONICS INTRODUCES BLACK MICROPHONES
2007 has been a busy year for Sontronics, and this month sees the introduction of black version of two of their most popular condenser mics.
The new STC-2 Black (right) is a sleek new version of the STC-2 large-diaphragm, cardioid condenser microphone, featuring satin black finish, smart gold lettering and the same unmistakable smooth sound. Thanks to its evenly balanced frequency response, with a defined low-end and beautifully detailed, open top-end, the STC-2 Black accurately captures what’s being recorded in all its colour.
The STC-1 cardioid condenser instrument microphone has been updated for 2007, with remodelled porting around the capsule designed to capture more low-end, making it even more suited to mking drumkits and acoustic instruments. The new STC-1 Black (also available as an STC-1S Black pair) features similar satin finish and gold lettering.
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February 2007: SONTRONICS ANNOUNCES LIFETIME WARRANTY
Some microphone companies offer a three-year warranty, some offer a ten-year warranty, but Sontronics has gone further by announcing a Lifetime Warranty on all its microphone and cable products. This decision to offer such a long-reaching guarantee demonstrates our confidence and pride in all our products, including the new APOLLO stereo ribbon mic and ULTIMA range of cables launched at NAMM 2007.
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, comments: “This lifetime guarantee should assure all our existing users and potential new users of our ultimate confidence in the solidity and longevity of our microphones. We’re proud to be offering such a comprehensive warranty, and this should help people recognise the quality of our products. We are selling our microphones in over 30 countries around the world, to many thousands of customers, yet our returns rate is nearly non-existent. This guarantee reflects that fact, and offers our users a total commitment.”
Read more about the warranty and validate your own warranty here...
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January 2007: SONTRONICS LAUNCHES APOLLO STEREO RIBBON MICROPHONE
At this year’s NAMM Show, UK microphone brand Sontronics launched its new APOLLO stereo ribbon microphone (as well as announcing a new lifetime warranty, other redesigned mics and a new range of mic cables).
Since the launch of the SIGMA ribbon microphone at NAMM 2006, Sontronics’ founder
Trevor Coley noted that many musicians were using it in stereo pair configuration. “As a
result,” he comments, “we have created the APOLLO, a Blumlein X/Y ribbon microphone,
with all the silky smooth characteristics of the SIGMA… times two.”
The open basket design allows APOLLO to soak up every nuance of the recording, capturing the whole ambience and resulting in a truly complete sound. It can also be used in one-channel mode in mono recordings, making it totally versatile. Its ability to reproduce silky smooth high-frequencies and its accurate low and low-mid response make it ideal for stereo recording of orchestras, choirs or acoustic instruments, as well as miking drums and percussion.
APOLLO uses a unique shockmount, similar to that employed with the SIGMA, and this is extremely effective in providing isolation from noise transmitted through the mic stand. APOLLO along with its shockmount and Y-cable come in a luxury, velvet-lined flightcase.
“This new microphone has been a labour of love," continues Coley, "creating something that captures the perfect stereo image with all its character and beauty. APOLLO truly is a microphone that hears the way you do!”
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November 2006: SONTRONICS GOES BACK TO SCHOOL
Students at universities and colleges are getting their hands on some of the UK’s best quality
microphones, thanks to a new scheme set up by Sontronics. The project sees Sontronics microphones being set up in the studios of colleges and universities offering Music Technology and Recording courses, and is being piloted in Bath Spa University and Thames Valley University. The scheme allows students and staff to use the microphones in their research and recording work, and also offers special discounts to those who want to buy the microphones. This has proven very successful, and the Sontronics mics have already featured in several student dissertations.
Former Cousteau frontman, now lecturer, Davey Ray Moor has been using Sontronics mics with students on Bath Spa University’s Commercial Music degree course, and he’s been very impressed by the full range. “We encourage our students to listen to the quality and tone of various pieces of audio gear,” Davey says. “In an age where there is an enormous amount of pro equipment, there is a growing universal appetite for uniqueness and character. Consumers of music, more than ever, are looking for something human and believable from their musicians. The Sontronics range, from the mellow SIGMA to the detailed, focused ORPHEUS, features tools that bring the performers’ personality forward, and for this they are invaluable.”
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, is in discussions with several other colleges who have shown their interest in the scheme, and is delighted with the success so far. “It’s really exciting to be working with young musicians around the country. Students can test the quality of our microphones in their own learning environment whilst using them in their work. They can also take advantage of our special discounts when buying. In return, we gain their valuable feedback and ideas that help build the future of the brand. Given the enthusiastic support we’ve already received from UK colleges, our aim is to expand this project into Europe in 2007.”
Click here to read more about and JOIN our Education Programme!
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June 2006: EXPANSION FOR SONTRONICS IN EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST
Microphone brand Sontronics, has announced some major changes to its distribution network, taking on new agents in Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, and expanding further into Eastern Europe and the Middle East, with representatives in Slovenia and Iran.
Sonic 8, the company that distributes Sontronics microphones in the UK, will now also be representing the brand in Ireland. This latest move is just part of the continuous steady growth that Sontronics has seen since its launch in January 2005.
Sontronics has also acquired new representation in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg in the shape of Interphase, whose owner Bruno Wynants is also eager to be part of Sontronics’ growth. “I’ve been impressed by the rapid growth of the Sontronics product line in the marketplace and am delighted to be associated with this innovative and exciting brand,” he says. (www.interphase.be)
The expansion doesn’t stop there. Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, has now secured distribution agreements in Slovenia with Sonus Pro Audio and in Iran with Tehran-based JTS Pro (Foujan Audio), and there’s still more to come. “These are very exciting times for Sontronics, and as we continue to gain interest in our microphones from different countries, we will continue to expand our network. Our commitment to the users is paramount, and wherever you are in the world, we want you to be able to get your hands on a Sontronics microphone!”
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June 2006: NEW SCANDINAVIAN DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR SONTRONICS
A new agreement, formed last month, sees leading pro audio distributor, Luthman Scandinavia KB, taking on distribution of the Sontronics microphone brand in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The company, based in Stockholm, is one of the leading pro audio distributors in Europe, and will be championing the brand throughout Scandinavia.
Luthman’s General manager, Pär Olsson is keen to help build a bright future for Sontronics in northern Europe: “We at Luthman Scandinavia are proud to add Sontronics to our portfolio of prestige brands. We have seen how Sontronics has built a fantastic reputation among magazine reviewers, pro musicians and top-notch audio engineers over the last 12 months, making the brand one of the hottest microphone companies around.”
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, adds: “Scandinavia is one of our most important European footholds, and it’s very reassuring to know that the Sontronics brand will be represented here by such a prestigious organisation as Luthman. This new agreement means that we can reach even more potential Sontronics users, and spread our message of ‘quality plus affordability’ even further!”
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February 2006: SONTRONICS ON STAR ENDORSEE’S NEW ALBUM
Sontronics is proud to announce that its first product endorsee, artist and songwriter Mark Joseph, has employed various Sontronics microphones on his forthcoming second album. Mark Joseph first came to public attention when his self-released debut single, Get Through, made the Top 40 without any radio play or media coverage. Hailed by The Telegraph as “the boy who broke the music business”, Mark has since released an album on Warner Music, and been working on his second
album, with the help of Sontronics microphones. Sold To Sound is due to be released on Mark’s own label this spring.
Mark first discovered the Sontronics range when kitting out his new studio, and has since been recording vocals through a HELIOS, guitars through an ORPHEUS and an STC-1 and using another ORPHEUS as an overhead mic on the drumkit.
Of the Sontronics mics, Mark says, “The HELIOS has to be one of the most natural-sounding mics I’ve ever heard. On vocals, its beautiful, natural, warm low end really brought the sound to life, and it also came up trumps on acoustic guitars. The ORPHEUS was amazing as an overhead for my drumkit and brilliant on bass drum.”
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, remarks, “It’s great to know that Mark rates our mics so highly, and we’re pleased to have signed Mark up as our first Sontronics endorsee. I’ve heard a sneak preview of some of the new songs, and the results really do speak for themselves.”
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January 2006: SIGMA RIBBON MIC RELEASED
Launched at the 2006 NAMM Show, the new Sontronics SIGMA is an innovative active ribbon microphone that fuses vintage style with modern technology. It recreates the smooth, uncoloured sound of classic ribbon microphones but its phantom power means it can be used just as easily as any other Sontronics microphone.
Producer Gary Bromham (currently working with Natalie Imbruglia and Zucchero) has already tried the SIGMA and says, “This is, quite simply, the warmest mic I have heard in years. I simply loved it and I can’t wait to try them on overheads. In combination with my Manley Slam preamp, the only thing missing was Nat King Cole to sing the vocal!”
Sontronics' Founder, Trevor Coleycomments, “The SIGMA represents a lot of hard work and dedication, and epitomises our aim to create classic microphones that deliver stunning results but that are still affordable.”
Read more about SIGMA and see the full specs here…
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January 2006: SONTRONICS GOES GLOBAL
Just one year on from launching his Sontronics microphone brand, Trevor Coley is taking his mics global, following the launch of the new SIGMA ribbon microphone at the 2006 NAMM Show. Sontronics has been gaining ground as a respected brand in the microphone marketplace, continuing to develop affordable products that deliver professional results. During 2005, Sontronics entered partnerships with several international distributors, creating a buzz all over the world and already over 3,000 Sontronics microphones have been introduced into the worldwide marketplace.
The launch of the SIGMA at NAMM saw the start of a new distribution agreement that will see the mics made available in all of North America, thanks to a partnership with Music Marketing Inc. Coley says, “Over the last year we have been contacted by many professional customers in the USA asking when they could get their hands on our mics. Our partnership with Music Marketing Inc, Toronto, opens the door to Canada and the United States, allowing us to develop our potential in exciting new markets.”
And the microphones will be heading east too, thanks to a distribution deal in China with City Digital. Sales Director, Chris Wong, comments, “We are overwhelmed by the sound quality of Sontronics microphones and yet they are very competitive. We intend to launch the whole range into the Chinese market, and we strongly believe Sontronics products will have great success in China.”
“I’m tremendously proud of what Sontronics has achieved this year," adds Coley, "and I’m pleased to confirm that there are several more innovative products due for release soon.”
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November 2005: SONTRONICS MAKES SPANISH NATIONAL HEADLINES
Sontronics made national news in Spain this month, following an appearance of the microphone brand at the biggest music technology show in southern Europe: Madrid Expo. A report in the ‘Broadcast’ supplement of El Correo, one of Spain’s leading national newspapers, tells how Sontronics microphones are now being distributed in Spain by Reflexion Arts, a company that, according to the report, “is working with quality, professional brands”.
Of Sontronics, the report says: “These microphones have caused a sensation in Britain and are now being enjoyed here [in Spain]. The most popular models are the epitome of high quality: HELIOS, OMEGA and ORPHEUS.”
Sontronics also appeared in the pages of El Correo Gallego, one of Spain’s regional newspapers, distributed in the northwest region of Galicia. The article tells how Reflexion Arts is a company “passionate about providing customers with high-quality products at affordable prices”. As Sergio Castro, one of Reflexion Arts’ managers, says: “We created a company that would make a difference, employing an honest pricing policy and a new way of distributing. We wanted to drive change in the market.”
The article also featured pictures showing just some of the hundreds of visitors who tried out the Sontronics microphones on the Reflexion Arts stand at the Madrid Expo show. Sontronics’ founder, Trevor Coley, comments: “To have made the papers in Spain was exciting enough, but what’s even more thrilling is the fact that we’ve had so much response from Spanish musicians, wanting to find out more about the Sontronics brand and our microphones. We’re really grateful to the hard work that Reflexion Arts do on our behalf in Spain, and it’s great to know that they’re as passionate about musicians’ needs as we are."
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October 2005: SONTRONICS POPSHIELD (ST-POP) LAUNCHED
This month sees the launch of a new Sontronics product… and it’s not a microphone. The ST-POP is a specially designed popfilter, an essential tool for anyone recording speech or vocals. The ST-POP features a special dual-layer nylon mesh that can be removed and washed, and there's a spare cartridge supplied. ST-POP comes on a fully adjustable flexible arm which allows for simple and accurate positioning when the ST-POP is attached to any microphone stand.
This new product enhances the already popular and ever-growing Sontronics range of microphones, and is yet another step forward for the company, as Founder, Trevor Coley, explains: “Our aim is to provide musicians with exactly the kind of tools they need to produce great recordings every time, whether it’s in a professional studio or a home recording environment. Our new ST-POP popshield perfectly complements our existing range of microphones, and should be the obvious choice for anyone recording vocals.”
Read more about ST-POP here…
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April 2005: SONTRONICS INTRODUCED TO THE UK AT SOUNDS EXPO
The full range of Sontronics microphones was unveiled in the UK for the first time this month at the Sounds Expo show in Wembley, London. The show was attended by over 11,000 visitors over three days and proved to be the perfect platform to launch the Sontronics brand into the UK market.
Stephen Helm, Managing Director of Sonic8, Sontronics' distributor in the UK said, "I'm very pleased with the results of the show. We had an extremely positive reaction to Sontronics and I'm looking forward to growing the brand. We were approached by a multitude of customers, from top producers and sound engineers to new students embarking on music technology courses, which goes to show that these microphones have a wide appeal.
Sontronics founder, Trevor Coley, was also delighted with the response from the show: "Sounds Expo has been a great success. With so many visitors attending from such diverse areas of our industry, I couldn't have hoped for a better start for our brand in the UK. It has been a very proud time for me to see the Sontronics name becoming increasingly evident throughout the international media.
"The coincidence of Jon Musgrave's review of the HELIOS in Future Music magazine was also perfect timing. It all helps to grow the presence of our products in the market, and there are many more reviews planned for the coming months."
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January 2005: SONTRONICS LAUNCHED AT WINTER NAMM
A new UK-based microphone brand, Sontronics, has been launched at a private showing at the NAMM Show. The first products to be released under the new brand are an innovative range of precision studio and stage condenser microphones designed from the ground up by UK musician and product specialist Trevor Coley, and delivering some unique features.
Coley comments: “I’m very proud of our new Sontronics brand. It has been achieved not only as the result of an intense period of research and development, but also with the support of some good friends across the Industry. We feel that our new microphone range represents the very best in quality and value, whilst meeting the benchmark standards set by the major brands that we all know. The fact that today’s marketplace is getting a little ‘busy’ with OEM clones was encouragement enough to try to break this cycle and create something from scratch. Having previously enjoyed success in this field, I found that developing my own microphones and related products has been an eye-opening experience!"
All of the microphones have been developed in laboratory conditions, where their finely tuned performance characteristics are measured against some industry-standard studio microphones. Rather than being just another cheap ‘me-too’ product line, the Sontronics brand brings added value and features to meet the customer’s requirements. It is fair to say that the Sontronics microphone range is one of the best-presented and most comprehensive ranges available in its market sector.
Engineered to reproduce an accurate low frequency image with a slight presence boost around the typical vocal frequencies, all Sontronics microphones give a very detailed result, especially when recording directly into DAW’s or via stand-alone computer audio interfaces. Low self-noise figures from all models contribute to a sonic quality often only found on microphones costing many times more.
“I am particularly proud of the ORPHEUS & HELIOS models," adds Coley. “ Their bodies are cast from a zinc alloy, which is lighter than and far less resonant than the traditional brass shell. The dual-diaphragm capsule is independently suspended inside the grille, allowing it to respond more naturally, which helps to give each microphone its own distinct character. It has been essential for us to get the brand image right from the start; I considered that cheap packaging is often an indication of what is inside the box and so a lot of time was spent finding the quality of packaging required. As a result, I’m pleased to say that our microphones are supplied in the best looking solid wood cases and aluminium flight cases in the business!”
Attention to detail and consistent quality are core factors in the long-term growth and development of the Sontronics brand, and this will become more evident as new products are rolled-out over the next 12 months. The key aim is to deliver high quality, reliable products at reasonable prices. Each microphone is supported by a limited 3-year replacement warranty, giving reassurance to both dealers and customers.
The Sontronics microphone range consists of the following:
• STC-1 Cardioid pencil microphone with variable pad and low-cut filter
• STC-1S Stereo-matched pair of the above
• STC-OMNI Omni-directional capsule for STC-1
• STC-HYPER Hypercardioid capsule for STC-1
• STC-2 Cardioid large diaphragm condenser with –10dB pad and low-cut filter
• ORPHEUS Omni/Cardioid/Fig-8 patterns with ±10dB cut/boost pad
• OMEGA Cardioid valve mic with –10dB pad & low-cut filter via external power supply
• HELIOS Continuously variable OMNI to Fig-8 pattern valve mic with –10dB pad & low-cut filter via external power supply
• STC-5 Cardioid handheld microphone with filter [please note - STC-5 was superceded by the STC-6 in 2008] |
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