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| Sennheiser takes on MTVs Video Music Awards |
The 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, held at the stately Metropolitan Opera House in New York's Lincoln Center on September 6, saw over three hours of seamless performances, on stage and at the presenter's podium, requiring significant behind-the-scenes infrastructure and policing of a highly complex Sennheiser wireless transmission system.
Sennheiser Electronic Corporation dealer and industry leader, Wireless First, was hired by MTV to co-ordinate frequencies and to set up the entire wireless intercom, microphone, and in-ear system before and during the show. Wireless First's RF guru Kevin Sanford managed the project with a truckload of Sennheiser gear and 200-plus frequencies to ensure that the show went off without a hitch.
On top of negotiating the complicated RF terrain of New York City, Sanford also had to dodge the copious RF claims made by the Lincoln Center's three other theatres and police all of the overseas ENG crews that came to the event. After "choreographing" the show, Sanford composed "the Bible" of "who-gets-what-wireless-system-when" and then oversaw its proper implementation during the show. Wireless First also handled MTV's Total Request Live and the pre and post-show events outside the Met, adding 15 more Sennheiser systems to the 30 in use inside.
To pull off such a monumental task without a hitch, Sanford relied on flexible, powerful equipment and plenty of "homework". He began with a list of bad frequencies for New York in general and then contacted all of the sound engineers at Lincoln Center's various stages to find out what frequencies they use. "That gets you ninety-percent there," Sanford commented. "However, the blessing and the curse of this industry is that it's never the same twice. We work out most of the final details on the spot. That's part of the reason why I like Sennheiser so much; their equipment is agile and robust. For an MTV event, I ask myself 'where is the last place anyone would think to use this microphone?' So I figure out where that place is and ensure that the system will work there. Sure enough, when it comes down to it, the producers are saying, 'let's put the host up in the third balcony!' Sennheiser's extra 20 to 30 mWatts of transmitter power always turns the trick." For the VMAs, Sanford had four of Sennheiser's frequency ranges working!
After years of consultation with Wireless First and other RF professionals, MTV submits a request of largely Sennheiser equipment for their events, along with any special requests from the performers themselves. For the VMAs, Sanford used 24 SK 50 transmitters with a dozen MKE 2 miniature lavalier microphones and as many radio headsets. He hid two SK 250 transmitters with MKE 2 microphones in the podium so that MTV could move it around without any hassle. Presenters used six SKM 5000 and SKM 3072 handheld microphones.
Sennheiser wireless microphones were employed throughout the event, by the main host, Jamie Fox, all of the presenters and other hosts, and performers Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott. In total, Sanford used eight SKM 5000 handheld microphones and six 3000-series in-ear monitors (used by U2).
SENNHEISER UK
For further information:
Sally Milne
SENNHEISER UK LTD
Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 551 551
Editors’ Contact:
Keith Grant
KGa press + communications
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7836 8088
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