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| Sennheiser RF Wireless at the Eurovision Song Contest |
| 21.05.2002 Wedemark, Germany / Tallinn, Estonia |
Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn Estonia -
Winning sound by Sennheiser |
The countdown for Europe’s greatest music contest has begun: Estonia is ready for the 47th Eurovision Song Contest on May 25 2002. A worldwide TV audience of more than 100 million will be watching the live transmission from the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn. ”We are delighted that ETV (Estonian Television) has entrusted us with the sound transmission for the Contest,” says Rolf Meyer, President Marketing and Sales at Sennheiser. ”This will be the 17th time that we ensure top sound quality for the world’s biggest live music event,” states Meyer, confident that he can rely on the excellent audio technology and the wealth of experience of his experts on site.
Tallin's newly built Saku Suurhall
The technical demands made on professional sound transmission for the Eurovision Song Contest are impressive: over 80 RF wireless channels are needed for the performers’ microphones and in-ear monitoring. It is a testing time for all concerned. ”Behind the scenes the technicians and organizers are just as focused and tense as the artists on stage,” says Rolf Meyer, who has himself witnessed many Eurovision Song Contests. ”Absolute confidence in the technology is essential for the performers,” says Klaus Willemsen, technical manager and head of the Sennheiser Technical Team in Estonia. ”Every performer is covered by our fail-safe backup system.”
Klaus Willemsen (right) with Lars Haeggström from Sennheiser AB
Sennheiser specialists are available long before the event to answer any queries. ”The presenters are equipped with two bodypack transmitters and an extra backup transmitter which takes over immediately if there is a technical problem. The performers have a choice of either hand-held microphones or bodypack transmitters with headset microphones. Needless to say, we provide them with backups too, also for the in-ear systems they use,” explains Willemsen. ”All sorts of things can go wrong with a live transmission. It may be a mike in the wrong position, or a broken cable or just interference from the countless walkie-talkies on site. A sudden sound breakdown would be a disaster, not only for the artists, but also for the whole competition.”
Sennheiser 5000 Series wireless microphones and 3000 Series in-ear monitoring systems are being used at the event. The total audio system is controlled and monitored by computer. Microphone signals for television sound are received by two sound trucks in which sound engineers ensure high quality sound for every performer. Here too, fail-safe operation is essential, so one whole truck provides the backup.
 Backstage
”We have to be sure of catching every nuance from each performer, so at the rehearsals we check out the entire system,” explains Willemsen. And rehearsal days can get very long. 24 performers are competing at Tallinn. For Willemsen and his team that means a complete rehearsal schedule on the Monday and Tuesday before the Contest. At 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday May 21 the German pop singer Corinna May will hear the magic words ”Rehearsal – Go!” ”For each act we and the performers have just 40 minutes rehearsal time to sort out the technology and the performance. Sometimes people get pretty nervous,” confides Willemsen, and he is glad he can count on proven rock-solid quality sound. Experts regard the wireless microphones and in-ear systems as 100% reliable, meeting the highest demands for perfection in wireless transmission.
German participant Corinna May during rehearsal
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems, the Sennheiser Group with its headquarters in Wedemar
k near Hanover, Germany, had total sales of over €220 million in 2001. The export share is 80%. Sennheiser has a total workforce of approx. 1,500 employees, of whom 800 are employed in Germany. Sennheiser is active worldwide and, in addition to other partnerships, has its own sales subsidiaries in France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and the USA.
For further information about Sennheiser please visit us on the Internet at www.sennheiser.com or contact:
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Press and PR • Edelgard Marquardt
Am Labor 1 • 30900 Wedemark • Germany
Tel.: +49-5130-600-329
Fax: +49-5130-600-295
E-mail: marquare@sennheiser.com
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