The Police were just the first of a succession of artists on the telecast using Sennheiser wired and wireless microphones, many of them also making use of Sennheiser RF personal monitor systems. Beyoncé, Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo Green, Shakira, Rascal Flatts and a host of presenters and award winners benefited from the Sennheiser equipment shipped in for the show by RF guru David Bellamy's Soundtronics Wireless and the show's long-time production sound supplier, AudioTek Corp, or brought in by the artists.
Beyoncé, a longtime Sennheiser fan, treated viewers to Listen, from the Dreamgirls film soundtrack, using the Sennheiser SKM 5200 wireless handheld with a Neumann KK 105-S capsule. Shakira brought along her Sennheiser SKM 3072 wireless handheld mic for a Bollywood-style performance of Hips Don't Lie with Wyclef Jean.
Gnarls Barkley and the entire band dressed in pilot's uniforms as they performed a rendition of Crazy," complete with orchestra and choir, and Cee-Lo Green singing through his custom gold-plated Sennheiser SKM 5200 handheld with a Neumann KK 105-S capsule. Philip Bailey used the same combination when R&B legends Earth, Wind & Fire, six-time Grammy winners, took the stage for a special segment with Ludacris and Mary J. Blige.
All three members of Rascal Flatts, taking part in a tribute to The Eagles, performed through the Sennheiser/Neumann hybrid wireless vocal mic.
Presenters, who included Jamie Foxx, Joan Baez, Seal, Reba McEntire, OrnetteColeman, Natalie Cole, Rihanna and David Spade, favoured Sennheiser SKM 5200 wireless handheld mics. Over forty each of the Evolution Series e602II and e902 wired microphones, as well as ten e935 and four Neumann KMS 105 microphones and 16 channels of EW300IEMG2 units, were additionally on hand for performers.
Bellamy of Soundtronics who handled the RF for the show says: "Ourcompany is heavily vested in Sennheiser wireless. In fact, it's the stapleof our wireless inventory. During the Grammys, the Sennheiser wireless didexactly what is supposed to do."
In addition to microphones, RF Grammy technician, Dave Rickmers from ATKAudioTek reports that he deployed a pair of A 5000 CP antennas for theSennheiser personal monitor systems being used by some of the artists. "Theantennas are circularly polarized, which is essential for personal monitors,and they're small enough that we could sneak them onto the stage. Theycovered the stage as well as the hall, which was good because some of theacts performed on the alternate small stage in the middle of the audience.The A 5000 CP antennas provide a good combination of wide coverage and gainand are an asset to the ATK arsenal."This year's show included a competition, My Grammy Moment, in which viewers voted on which newcomer would duet with Justin Timberlake during the telecast. Previews of thesegment during the show and video clips online all featured the three finalists performing in the studio wearing Sennheiser HD215 headphones.
(Chris Henry)
