The Emmy-winning Grammy Awards was the first major awards show to venture into HDTV and 5.1 surround sound, and makes increasingly elaborate forays into using current technology to the fullest advantage. Once again CBS delivered the most advanced form of HDTV, with 1,080 lines of picture resolution and 5.1-channel surround sound. To meet the sonic demands of this format, the audio engineers and music mixers employed a range of Audio-Technica microphones for the show's audio.
ATK/ Audiotek provided the sound system with FOH (front-of-house) engineer Ron Reeves and Mikael Stewart, while Phil Ramone and Hank Neuberger of N.A.R.A.S. and Cossette Productions supervised the broadcast audio. New York-based XM/ Effanel Music with its L7 remote truck, along with music mixers John Harris and Eric Schilling, supplied the 5.1 surround and stereo feeds.
Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System was used with the AEW-T5400 handheld microphone/transmitter for vocals by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera and members of De La Soul performing with Gorillaz.
During the New Orleans tribute, Elvis Costello and Bonnie Raitt also used Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series. In addition, Paul McCartney and, Audio-Technica endorsees and Linkin Park members, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda, performed with the 5000 Series system and AEW-T3300 handheld mic/transmitter.
The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included the AT4047/SV for bass guitar cabinets; ATM35 for strings and under cymbals; AT4050 on overheads, guitar and bass guitar cabinets; AE3000 for toms; AE2500 on kick; AT4033 on hi hat and ride cymbals; and AE5400 on the Leslie cabinet.
Michael Abbott, audio coordinator for the 48th Annual Grammys, has come to rely on the uncompromising quality of Audio-Technica mics. He states: "With Audio-Technica as a key partner it gives me one less thing to worry about when putting a show of this magnitude together. The reliability, consistency and clarity of their products is second to none. I would also like to commend A-T on their excellent on-site support."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
