NEW YORK – The crowds at Rockefeller Plaza Nov. 30 were dazzled by the sight of some 30,000 LED lights on the holiday tree, but the season doesn't belong to lampies alone. A big part of the event, broadcast on prime-time TV, were the musical performances by Susan Boyle, Charice and many others. Wireless First (Mt. Vernon, NY) chose Sennheiser for the grand event's wireless infrastructure.
The classic lighting of the holiday tree, an annual tradition since 1933, has of course emerged as a much bigger production than the first time electric lights were strung on a big Christmas tree and switched on. These days, of course, Rockefeller Center presents mammoth Radio Frequency (RF) challenges to wireless operators. Rockefeller Plaza is in extremely close proximity to Radio City Music Hall and most of the major television broadcast networks.
For nine consecutive years, Wireless First has been supporting the event with all Sennheiser equipment. This year, they are using 18 channels of Sennheiser's EM 3732 wireless receivers, which are being used in conjunction with its MKE 2 lavalier mics and its top of the line handheld wireless transmitter: the SKM 5200. Each of the SKM 5200 handheld mics have been outfitted with a Neumann KK 105 S capsule to ensure pristine audio reproduction. In addition, Wireless First has installed 12 G3 wireless personal monitors as well as another dozen channels of receivers.
What makes the program challenging is not necessarily the scale, but rather the location, according to Kevin Sanford, founder and president of Wireless First. "Even though it is just three days, an event like this really comes down to flawless coordination," he said. "Normally, an event like this would not be so challenging, but when you consider that we are in the middle of a huge media area, the list of frequencies we are told to avoid reads a little like Gone with the Wind."
For the wireless audio, including all the wireless mics and wireless personal monitoring, execution will have to be flawless. "This year, there are two stages. Plus, we need to accommodate wireless for the host talent, which is usually two or three folks that can be anywhere in the vicinity at any time," Sanford says. As far as set up is concerned, the event runs very much like a TV show versus a more traditional installation; there is one day of preparation, a day of rehearsal, then the live broadcast.
Sanford is clear about his preference in wireless equipment: "Sennheiser has always been my first choice and the performance has always been flawless."
For more information, please visit www.sennheiser.com.
