Spirit of Atlanta is a non-profit youth organization that offers musicians and performers aged 16 to 21 the opportunity to develop their skills in music, marching, and performing arts through an intensive tour experience. The organization places a strong emphasis on teamwork and personal growth, creating an environment where young people can acquire valuable life skills. Often referred to as the “NFL of marching bands,” Spirit of Atlanta competes against other top-level groups across the country. This year, the group traveled over 6,500 miles (approximately 10,460 km), from Georgia to Texas, Pennsylvania, and Indianapolis, for the 2024 Drum Corps International World Championships.
To elevate their 12-minute production featuring a dynamic, percussion-filled front ensemble, Spirit of Atlanta relies on a range of DPA Microphones. The microphones used include the brand’s 4099 Instrument Mics on instruments such as snare, trombone, flugelhorn, trumpet, trombone, and aluphone; 4097 Micro Shotguns for amplifying bongos; 2015 Wide Cardioids mounted on marimbas; and 4055 Kick Drum Mics placed on each of the gong drums.
“We turned to DPA after wanting to create a more acoustic and clear sound from our performers on the football field,” says Ken Masaki, Head of Audio Design for Spirit of Atlanta. “Since working with the brand, I’ve concluded that DPA microphones are the best choice for amplifying our performances.”
Masaki notes that one of the biggest advantages of using DPA microphones for Spirit of Atlanta’s performances is their clarity. “Before DPA, I had to apply a lot of processing to the instruments,” he explains. “Now, with DPA mics, I typically just use a low-pass filter, cut some low-mids for feedback, and the sound is incredibly accurate to the instrument, which is fantastic.”
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