Tim Bran’s relationship with Sontronics began a long time ago in a London studio. While working at Paul Epworth’s Church Studios, Tim spotted a pair of striking ribbon mics on a piano (APOLLO & SIGMA) and an ARIA sitting proudly in the live room. After a quick chat with the engineer, he discovered they were Sontronics. From that moment, our mics became a key part of his world.
Tim had already heard whispers about ARIA from Ed Harcourt, who told him it was “lovely on vocals.” Once he tried it for himself, everything clicked. He describes ARIA as “warm like a vintage mic, but bright like a modern mic”, the best of both worlds. It quickly became one of his most trusted tools, and as he puts it, “I take it everywhere I go.”
It wasn’t just vocals, either. Tim began using ARIA on tambourine, handclaps and percussion sessions, calling it “an all-round beautiful mic” that simply works, whatever the source. The results speak for themselves: you can hear his ARIA on Foxes’ Better Love, On My Way and Scar, on every vocal across Bloc Party’s Hymns, and across Birdy’s Beautiful Lies. And that’s before the yet-to-be-announced projects he still can’t talk about.
After ARIA 2 was released, Tim put it straight into real sessions to see how it held up. His response was immediate.
He calls ARIA 2 “a significant leap forward from the original”, praising its balanced, open tone and incredible detail. One internationally acclaimed vocalist he works with even said it was the best their voice had ever sounded. Tim also loves using ARIA 2 on acoustic guitar, where the added depth and smooth top end really shine. For him, ARIA 2 keeps the soul of the original but brings greater depth, smoother highs, and that mix-ready presence he relies on.
Across decades of work, from Foxes and Birdy to London Grammar, Bloc Party and beyond, Tim has built a reputation for bringing the absolute best out of an artist. We’re proud that Sontronics microphones have become a trusted part of that process, and that our mics travel with him from studio to studio.
It means a lot to know our mics have become part of Tim’s setup, helping him chase the kind of sound that feels real, full of character, true to every performance, and will continue to year after year.
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