LOS ANGELES — For the 12th year in a row, Audio-Technica supported the Grammy Awards, and for this, the 51st annual show, there was a 25 percent increase in the number of live performances featuring nominees and performers. Audio-Technica supplied over 250 of its microphones at the event, including an array of hard-wired mics and Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless Systems. Shown here, Justin Timberlake performs with Audio-Technica's AEW-T4100 cardioid dynamic microphone/transmitter.
ATK AudioTek provided the sound system for this year’s event with FOH (front-of-house) engineers Ron Reaves and Mikael Stewart, while Phil Ramone and Hank Neuberger supervised the broadcast audio. XM Productions/Effanel Music were on site with their L7 remote truck to create the music mix, facilitated by music mixers John Harris and Eric Schilling. The Audio-Technica gear also helped CBS keep production quality high for home viewers, with 1,080-line resolution HDTV 5.1-channel surround sound.
Artists who performed using Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, with the AEW-T5400 handheld microphone/transmitter and AEW-R5200 true diversity frequency-agile dual receiver, included Jay-Z; Taylor Swift; Estelle; T.I.; Lil Wayne; Stevie Wonder; Boyz II Men; Al Green; and Jamie Foxx, Duke Fakir and Ne-Yo in a tribute to the Four Tops.
Audio-Technica endorser Kenny Chesney used a wired A-T AE3300 Cardioid Condenser Handheld Microphone, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead used the AE5400 Cardioid Condenser Microphone. Justin Timberlake performed using A-T's wireless AEW-T4100 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone/Transmitter.
The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included AE5400 cardioid condenser handheld microphone for backing vocals; AT4050 multi-pattern condenser microphone for guitar cabinet and overheads; AT4040 cardioid condenser microphone for overheads; AE5100 cardioid condenser instrument microphone for ride cymbal, hi-hat, and percussion; ATM250 Hypercardioid dynamic instrument microphone for Leslie cabinet and guitar cabinet; BP4025 X/Y stereo field recording microphone for percussion; AE2500 dual-element cardioid instrument microphone for kick drum; AT4047/SV cardioid condenser microphone for guitar cabinet; ATM450 cardioid condenser instrument microphone for ride cymbal; and ATM350 cardioid condenser clip-on microphone for horns, congas and strings.
“Live broadcasts of this magnitude are immensely challenging, and we have been lucky to have Audio-Technica as a continuing partner in helping make the Grammys happen,” said Michael Abbott, audio coordinator for the event. “Our engineers need a wide range of consistent and dependable microphones that enable them to capture each artist's individual character, and A-T delivers exactly what we need.”
For more information, please visit www.audio-technica.com.
