Clipping the competition

A Windsor man has trademarked a new product to assist music studio producers in a more efficient setup and recording process.

The owner of Sound Lab Recordings has created a revolutionary two-mic attachment called the X Clip, a dual microphone clip which pairs an SM57 with any small diaphragm condenser microphone.

Martin Bak said the conventional method has always been to tape the two microphones together. In videos, photographs and most live or studio scenarios where two mics are being used they have usually been taped or slip-tied.

“I had been using the (taping) technique for years, primarily on the snare drum,” said Bak. “I thought to myself, ‘something else has to exist. I’m tired of doing this tape crap and my expensive mics keep getting all sticky.’”

Bak began researching the issue to find a solution to his problem and found nothing.

“There are however some similar products, but they are not the same idea. The clips are either too far apart or they are angled differently,” said Bak. “After that, I did a patent search because I wanted to go about pursuing it. Nothing was found. Again, similar ones, but none that were the same concept.”

Bak was talking about his idea and the need for a mold maker during a recording session which included guitar player Alex Antic, who is also a mold maker. The two discussed the concept and the work began.

“It went from, ‘this can actually happen,’ to making a tangible product that many people can use,” said Bak. “It took me 10 years to figure out that it didn’t exist and to even think about it.”

The X Clip simply snaps on to one mic and you piggyback the pencil mic. Another benefit is it does not require two microphone stands to do it, essentially saving room and eliminating clutter.

Some producers will even use it to combine tones for guitar amps.

“I’m not only promoting the product but the technique behind it, as far as blending distortion tone through one mic and a clean tone through another mic to make a better sounding guitar or snare,” said Bak. “It actually improves the sound if you know how to do it right. If you compress one or equalize them a certain way you can really get them to work together.”

Bak said a lot of producers have been using the technique for years but haven’t had the ability to clip them properly. Butch Vig used two mics on the snare drum on Nirvana’s Nevermind album and the snare sound has been a rock staple through today.

The X Clip is selling online for $19.99 and Bak said he is receiving orders from across the globe.

“I think his product is genius in its simplicity,” said The Tea Party drummer Jeff Burrows. “I have many friends in the industry using it now.”

More information can be found at www.thexclip.com.