A multi-hyphenate in the truest sense, Paul Special is not only an award-winning audio engineer but also an educator, studio designer, and the person behind the sound of over a thousand live performances on ABC/Disney’s Good Morning America (GMA), the top-rated morning news program in America.
With a career that spans mixing for national television, designing broadcast facilities, and working with major recording artists like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and Carrie Underwood, Special’s choices carry influence. His latest pick? TELEFUNKEN microphones—a brand that has earned a place at the top of his gear list for live broadcasting, studio sessions, and education alike.
A statement from the company discloses that Special has been using TELEFUNKEN’s Dynamic Series microphones—specifically the M80 and M81—in his live broadcast work. “Telefunken mics have become a ‘go to’ choice for me, especially in live broadcasting,” he said. “The tight super-cardioid pattern of the M80 and M81 is invaluable when trying to minimize leakage on the smaller stages found in many TV studios. These mics are outstanding sonically and the build quality is second to none.”
That kind of precision matters when you're engineering for live performances by artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, John Legend, and Lady Gaga, often in tight studio spaces where audio clarity is at a premium.
Currently, Special is focused on equipping the new Disney Headquarters studios at Hudson Square in New York City. A statement from the company notes that he is overseeing setup for multiple programs beyond GMA, including The View, World News Tonight, Live with Kelly & Mark, and ABC News Live. “We have 13 LAWO consoles installed in the new studios on multiple floors,” he said—a reflection of the scale and sophistication of the operation.
Outside of television, Special’s career spans work on record releases, concert streaming, and national advertising spots for networks and brands like ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO, Fox, Nike, and Volkswagen. His efforts have contributed to multiple RIAA Platinum and Gold Record awards—a testament to both his technical skill and ear for detail.
In addition to his professional work, Special is an adjunct professor at the City College of New York (CCNY), where he teaches music production and audio engineering. His commitment to education is matched by his effort to give students hands-on experience with professional-grade tools. A statement from the company confirms that he regularly uses TELEFUNKEN’s Alchemy Series large-diaphragm microphones—including the TF47 and TF11 FET models—as part of his studio teaching setup. “Telefunken’s Alchemy Series mics give me that classic old-school studio sound, yet are surprisingly affordable,” he said. “As a studio veteran, I have used Telefunken mics for years and I am very glad that my students get to experience using them, as well.”
Beyond mixing and teaching, Special has also led the architectural and acoustic design of more than 50 recording studios and broadcast facilities worldwide. His firm, Special Audio Services, has contributed to spaces such as Masterdisk NYC, Compass Point Studios, and POP Radio Studios, in addition to academic institutions like CCNY and William Patterson University.
With a foot in almost every corner of the audio industry, Paul Special’s ongoing partnership with TELEFUNKEN highlights his dedication to quality, innovation, and education—three things he continues to mix as expertly as the soundtracks of morning television.
For more on Paul Special and his work, visit www.paulspecial.com.
For information on TELEFUNKEN microphones, visit www.telefunken-elektroakustik.com.
