Dave Gahan

In an article detailing Dave Gahan's personal NYC studio space and the recording of the album Delta Machine, engineer and producer Kurt Uenala reveals that he captures Dave Gahan's vocal tracks using a Shure SM7 going through a BAE 1073. However, by recommendation of producer Ben Hillier, a "recently acquired LaChapell Audio mic preamp may start to get the lion’s share of the takes."

Uenala says, "The LaChapell with the SM7 is beautiful. It sounds really warm, like there’s a compressor on it already. It’s very buttery. You can abuse it more, but it’s very forgiving. Dave is very dynamic, he works a lot with mic technique – getting away and coming closer – but with this mic pre we don’t have to do that as much."

Kurt Uenala, Dave Gahan's technician, says: “The LaChapell with the SM7 is beautiful. It sounds really warm, like there’s a compressor on it already. It’s very buttery. You can abuse it more, but it’s very forgiving. Dave is very dynamic, he works a lot with mic technique – getting away and coming closer – but with this mic pre we don’t have to do that as much.”

The interviewer says: "The vocal tracks that [Kurt] Uenala [ie Dave Gahan's technician] has been recording are captured via a signal path that often consists of a Shure SM7 going through a BAE 1073."

Dave used this microphone to record the entirety of the Violator album, and can also be seen using it on a German TV station in 1984. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=887qredDcbI

In this photo, you can see a Roland SH-101 (1st synth in the photo) in Dave Gahan's New York City studio where he works with Kurt Uenala. Original article here.

In this interview by SonicScoop with Kurt Uenala, the technician for Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan, he says: “The Bitman has compression, bit/sample reduction and phase, but for some reason it also alters the stereo field nicely. It’s very strange. It makes a very nice, grungey sound, with some unexpected side effects.”

The Bitrman itself can be seen in this photo of Kurt Uenala's studio to the left side of the desk.

You can spot Apogee's famous interface in his desk.

In the SonicScoop article by David Weiss, it is noted that Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode uses a Korby condenser microphone in his personal studio. The accompanying photo shows the microphone "at the ready for alternative takes," highlighting its role in his recording process.

This photo from Dave Gahan's New York City studio shows his Native Instruments Maschine. Kurt Uenala, Dave Gahan's technician, uses Maschine for drum programming. He says: "Maschine is very intuitive. If you want to tune it down there’s no submenu, you just turn down the pitch knob. It’s very rewarding in that way, like a Jupiter synth. I love that."

Original article here.

You can spot the FatSo in a pic here.

The experienced sound engineer uses beyerdynamic’s TG 1000 digital wireless system to ensure that he can handle any radio frequency interference anywhere in the world – as well as be able to deliver the best possible sound quality. A TG 1000 handheld transmitter with TG MM1w interchangeable capsule is used to test the sound system during the preparations at each venue. Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan and guitarist Martin Gore both use TG 1000 handheld transmitters with hypercardioid TG V70w interchangeable capsules for their vocal performances ESP: El líder de Depeche Mode Dave Gahan y el guitarrista Martin Gore usan transmisores de mano TG 1000 con cápsula hipercardioide TG V70w para sus voces.

In Dave Gahan's personal studio, where recordings for the Delta Machine album took place, he monitors using a HEAR Technologies system and Grado Labs SR60 headphones, as can be seen in this photo. Original article source here.

At 3:51, one can see Dave hit the stop button of the TR 808.

It's in the center of Dave&Kurt's little studio, sitting in a black desk.

You can spot the dual Avalon preamp in a pic here.

You can see an old Korg Kaoss Pad on Dave's desk.

In a YouTube video by TC Helicon, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode is shown using the TC Helicon Voicelive Rack to create distinctive vocal effects on tracks like "Personal Jesus" during their tour.

During the Delta Machine Tour in 2013, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode used the Shure SM58 wireless microphone. This is evidenced by numerous photos and the live DVD from Berlin.

"I have a little Pro Tools rig — a little Digi 002 — and we just started playing around."

You can spot two Distressors in Dave's desk.

In a YouTube video by TC Electronic, starting at the 1:00 mark, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode discusses the use of the Manley VOXBOX Combo Standard in their setup.

"I have a little Pro Tools rig — a little Digi 002 — and we just started playing around."

According to the clip you can clearly see at 0:16 a pair of Sony MDR-7506.

quote from article on recording "People are People" ""I recorded the vocals with an AKG tube mic in the live room — it was only later that we started doing hand-held in the control room — and I was also using an ADR Compex Vocal Stressor at the time. Sadly, I sold that many years ago and I'd like to have it back now. At that stage, I was rather foolishly printing many effects to tape as well, and on 'People Are People' I think there was a bit of slap from the chorus echo. No plate reverb or anything — that would be added maybe later at the mix stage. As always, it was about making Dave comfortable, and we'd think nothing of saying, 'Okay, these effects sound great on Dave,' and because that's what went with the performance we'd put them on tape with the vocal. That's not something I would do now."

In this Sonic Scoop article, the images of David Gahan's personal studio show an image of an Retro Instruments Sta-Level Tube Compressor in the rack, wedged between BAE mic pre's and an Avalon 737sp.