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In The Studio April 02, 2025
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LDN Features & sE Electronics: Crafting Live Studio Magic

We are proud to share a blog written by one of our close partners at LDN features below:

At LDN Features, we are a collective made up of a studio band—a core group of session musicians—and two incredible videographers. Together, we bring in a new guest artist for each episode, creating a unique, live version of their original song in a single, unedited take

Our ethos is simple: record and film live in one take, capture real musicianship, and share that authenticity with both our audience and that of the guest artist. There are no post-production tricks to hide behind—just raw, honest performances. It’s a process that pushes both the artist and the band to their limits, but that’s what makes our sessions so special. It’s been a pleasure to work with sE Electronics, whose microphones have become an essential part of our sessions. We first turned to SE mics after struggling with excessive drum spill into the lead vocal—especially as we record everything live in the same room. No matter what mic we tried, the vocals kept getting lost in the mix. Then we discovered the sE V7, and it was a game changer. The rejection was phenomenal, keeping the lead vocal clean while still feeling full and present in the mix.

 

Our Live Studio Approach

Every session starts with a one-hour rehearsal with the guest artist before we go straight into recording that perfect one-take performance. In most cases, the artist and the LDN Features band have never even met before, which adds to the magic of the experience. There’s a real sense of “let’s see what we can create together. Our goal isn’t just to capture a live version of a song—it’s to reimagine it in a completely organic way. Sometimes, that means transforming an electronic, heavily produced track into something fresh and raw with a full band.

A good example of this is our session with TIHANE:

In this take, you can hear how the sE V7 picks up all the dynamic nuances of her voice, while the real drum kit adds a whole new depth to the song compared to the original MPC-style beat

sE Electronics in Our Studio Process

Working closely with sE Electronics has been a pleasure. Their mics allow us to capture the purest sound source possible, keeping things isolated enough for a clean mix—despite the inevitable spill that comes with recording a band live in one room

The sE Drum Arena Pack

Our drummer and LDN Features co-founder, Andy Wilder, has taken the sE Drum Arena Pack on tour with him and swears by it:

“Drum mics can really make or break a live session, and the SE Electronics lineup has been a perfect fit for the LDN Features setup. The V Kick mic, when positioned near the bass drum’s hole, captures both the attack and the full body of the drum beautifully. The V Beat tom mounts are a game-changer—easy to clip on, and they don’t interfere with the drum head, which is especially important on smaller toms. Plus, they provide great isolation, meaning less gating is needed in the mix. The SE8 overheads bring a crisp, natural top-end that blends seamlessly with the rest of the kit, while the V7x on the bottom of the snare really enhances the character and helps tame the sound of the snare wire. On the snare top, we found the V7x can be a little dark on its own—but removing the grill cap helps, and pairing it with an SE8 pointing at the snare top gives us loads of tonal options when mixing.”
— Andy Wilder

Nailing the Vocal Tak

For guest artist vocals, bassist and co-founder Samer Al-Sharawi explains how the V7 became the go-to mic after a long search:

“In our early episodes, we struggled so much with getting the lead vocal to cut through the mix. The drum spill into the vocal mic was just overwhelming, and no matter what mic we tried, we couldn’t get the clarity we needed. Then we found the sE V7, and it completely changed the game. It has the best rejection we’ve ever heard while still capturing a clean, rich vocal tone. Now, we won’t use anything else for our sessions. It’s actually pretty funny—whenever we go into high-end studios with legendary vintage mics, we insist on using the V7 instead. Engineers are always shocked, but by the end of the session, they get it. It’s simply the best mic for the job.”

 

sE DM3 DI: The Unsung Hero

We also love using the sE DM3 DI. It’s one of those pieces of gear that you forget about until you realise how much you rely on it. The compact size keeps our setup uncluttered—especially important for filming—and it delivers a clean, reliable signal every time We use the DM3 for all keyboard lines and bass guitar, and it’s just effortless to work with. It’s small, portable, and sounds fantastic.

A Partnership Built on Passion

Being part of the sE Electronics family is about more than just using great microphones—it’s about collaborating with a company that values quality, innovation, and musicianship. At LDN Features, our mission is to push creative boundaries and support emerging talent, and sE’s approach to sound aligns perfectly with that vision. Now, all we need is an sE clip-on mic for classical instruments—with their expertise in rejection and isolation, we know they’d create something amazing. Hint, hint, sE

If you love discovering new music, or if you’re an artist looking to capture a raw, powerful live session, follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for new episodes every month

 Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch all the latest live sessions!

 

Related products

V7
V PACK ARENA
DM3

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