Some Kind Of Voltage with Rob Maile (AEA Microphones)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Rob Maile
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Topics discussed
Host note
Rob Maile builds microphones at AEA Microphones in Los Angeles by day and produces and engineers records with a classically trained ear and a DIY spirit. He forged most of what he knows from people and from connecting, not from a single linear path: and that self-directed formation shapes how he thinks about gear and capturing sound.
We get into the physics first: microphones are transducers, they translate sound into electricity, and dynamic mics and speakers are built from the same components (coil and magnet), which means you can use a speaker as a microphone if you know what you’re doing. Rob walks through ribbon microphones, why analog low-end is an underexplored area of recording, and the kind of non-traditional experiments that produce interesting results when you stop treating the signal chain as fixed.
We also talk about the Pultec — "almost an instrument on its own", the intersection of professional gear and DIY thinking, and what it means that music is one of the things that makes us continue existing: the stories that hold people together, especially when everything else is uncertain.
Selected moments
- Rob introduces his role in the industry 1:56 Rob shares his background as a producer-engineer and his work with AEA Microphones.
- Understanding dynamic and ribbon microphones 3:18 A deep dive into the mechanics of different microphone types and their uses.
- Connecting microphones with speakers 4:47 Rob discusses the relationship between microphones and speakers and creative DIY solutions.
- Non-traditional recording techniques 8:51 Rob shares insights on unconventional techniques in capturing low-end sound.
- Combining instruments with unique miking techniques 15:42 Rob reflects on the process of integrating various instruments during recording.
- The intersection of professional and DIY gear 21:13 Discussion on how professional recording gear influences his creative decisions.
- Exploring the emotional dimension of recording 43:55 Rob articulates how music serves as a unifying force in society.
Selected excerpts
So I'm a producer-engineer located in the Los Angeles area. I went to Musicians Institute in Hollywood.
Microphones are a type of transducer, which is an electrical device that translates sound into electricity.
Dynamic mics are made of a coil and a magnet... speakers use the same components.
I've found some interesting, cool results doing that, just experimenting. Non-traditional low-end is an underexplored part of music recording.
I kind of had to forge it for myself... most of my knowledge that I obtained... I got from people and from connecting.
The Poltec is such a musical piece of gear. It's almost an instrument on its own.
Music has always been one of those things during the pandemic... that's what makes us continue existing is things that tell our stories.
FAQ
What is Rob Maile's role at AEA Microphones?
Rob Maile is a producer-engineer who builds microphones at AEA Microphones in Los Angeles.
How can I create unique sounds in music production?
Explore non-traditional recording techniques and utilize vintage gear to capture distinct sounds.
What are the differences between dynamic and ribbon microphones?
Dynamic microphones use a coil and magnet, whereas ribbon microphones use a thin strip of metal suspended between magnets.
Curated notes only — no public transcript. Listen on the links above.