Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

A.R. RAHMAN AND DPA MICROPHONES TEAM UP FOR REOPENING OF DUBAI'S AL WASL DOME

19/01/2023

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer Phil Wright Trusts the Brand's Microphones for Reliable and Authentic Audio

Dubai's Al Wasl Dome is an architectural masterpiece, acting as a hub for visitors and vibrant performances alike. Originally the centerpiece of the EXPO 2020 Dubai, Al Wasl was recently repurposed into a 3,000-seat concert venue, outfitted with a 360-degree projection screen to offer an immersive audio and visual experience. To celebrate its reopening, the dome hosted GRAMMY-winning Composer A.R. Rahman's all-female Firdaus Orchestra and a 30-piece choir, accompanied by UK-based Indian singer Abi Sampa and her band, for a classical performance combining the sounds of the east and west. To assist with orchestral reinforcement for the show, which presented a slew of acoustical and environmental difficulties, Rahman's team called on Sound Designer and Mix Engineer Phil Wright, who turned to his tried and trusted DPA Microphones solutions for their durability and natural sound.

The acclaimed sound professional selected the brand's 4099 CORE Instrument, 2011 Twin Diaphragm, 4011ES Cardioid Condenser and 4066 Omnidirectional Headset Microphones to help elevate the production. The band and orchestra were primarily 4099s, he explains. This included the guitar, French horn and cello, as well as the more traditional instruments such as the tabla, harmonium, ney, oud, sitar, daf, frame drum and qanun. These are tiny, very quiet instruments and the DPA 4099s really brought out their sound within this massive orchestral texture we had going on. For those instruments that were a bit more open, we used the 2011s, and then the double basses in the orchestra were on my 4011ES mics with 19 mm capsules. For the choir, we had 30 of the 4066 wired headsets. Overall, we had around 120 people on stage between the 30-person chorus, a 75-piece orchestra and Abi Sampa's ensemble of fifteen.

Miking traditional instruments wasn't the only obstacle Wright had to overcome. The Al Wasl Dome's unique shape posed an interesting acoustical challenge as well, with its centrally located performance space and open sides, which exposed the stage to the natural outdoor elements. Assisted by Dave Scarlet, Paul Medley and Pete Austin of SFL Productions in the UK, Wright knew DPA mics would be a welcome aid to the audio team.

The durability of the 4099s was so impressive, Wright says. We weren't in an air-conditioned concert hall this was an open-air, outdoor venue with all the heat, high humidity and dust blowing in from the desert. Despite all of this, we didn't have a single microphone failure. The heavy-duty cable for the 4099s also allowed for easy replacements, which was useful as we had a few people trip and damage the mic cables.

Knowing they would be working in such a challenging environment, Wright notes that the team made the decision very early on to mic everything very closely. The flexibility and range of mount options for the 4099s was most appealing to me, he explains. I was able to get really close and tight on absolutely everything on that stage whilst retaining that natural sound and air. We had lots of positive feedback about being able to balance these very quiet and traditionally challenging instruments.

The complexity of the venue's acoustics, which has proven difficult for other seasoned audio professionals, along with the classical nature of the performance was exactly the reason Wright was entrusted by both Rahman and Mohanaselvan Jeyapalan, Vice President of the Portfolio Management Office for the venue, in the first place. Building off his background in orchestral engineering and over 25 years' experience working with DPA Microphones, Wright crafted an impeccable sound that was otherwise lacking in previous shows at the Al Wasl Dome. Both Mr. Rahman and Mr. Jeyapalan let me know that we had achieved everything that they had hoped for this show, Wright explains. With the DPAs, the concert sounded just how they wanted, and they were blown away.

The Al Wasl Dome re-opening concert on November 19, 2022, included performances of scores by iconic composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer, as well as collaborative work by both Zimmer and Rahman. To complete the merging of eastern and western sounds, Rahman's solo score compositions were also performed, accompanied by the choir. Prior to Rahman's production, the likes of Coldplay, Alicia Keys and John Newman had all graced the venue with performances of their own.
LINK: https://www.dpamicrophones.com/news/ar-rahman-and-dpa-team-up-for-reop...
See more stories from dpa

More from DPA Microphones

09/10/2024

DPA lives permanently in Live Sound Engineer Jade Payne's Kit

Celebrated independent Live Sound Engineer Jade Payne's career began over 15 years ago in New York's vibrant music scene, where she got her start in som...

07/10/2024

Celebrating Andrea Bocelli's 30-year career in the stunning hills of Lajatico

Article by Alfio Morelli from Sound&Lite Magazine soundlite.it From July 15 to ...

13/09/2024

DPA EXPANDS LAVALIER PORTFOLIO AT IBC 2024 WITH INTRODUCTION OF 2061 MINIATURE OMNI MIC

DPA Microphones releases its new 2061 Miniature Omnidirectional Microphone, a so...

13/09/2024

Introducing the 2061 Miniature Omni Mic

The 2061 also offers simplicity, durability and reliability combined with DPA's natural sound. We launched the 2061 to appeal to audio professionals who ar...

05/09/2024

DPA MICROPHONES POWER SOUND ENGINEER ANDREA PELLEGRINI'S AUDIO MASTERY FOR PETER ERSKINE QUARTET

Renowned Studio and Live Sound Engineer Andrea Pellegrini recently worked with t...

02/09/2024

DPA SUPPLIES SUPREME SOUND FOR CONSERVATORIUM MAASTRICHT'S GRADUATION SHOWCASE

Conservatorium Maastricht, an international conservatory, is one of nine music a...

22/08/2024

DPA MICROPHONES WELCOMES NEW TEAM MEMBERS TO LEAD COMPANY'S WIRELESS SYSTEMS SALES

Following its strategic U.S. collaboration with Wisycom, DPA Microphones is expa...

08/08/2024

BLINK-182 TOURING ENGINEERS TAP DPA MICROPHONES FOR THE BAND'S WORLD TOUR 2023/2024

Initially billed as a reunion tour, Blink-182's World Tour 2023/2024 marks...

10/06/2024

DPA MICROPHONES AND WISYCOM JOIN FORCES TO ENHANCE PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES

DPA Microphones and Wisycom, renowned leaders in the professional audio industry, are thrilled to announce a strategic alliance in the United States. Building o...

15/05/2024

DPA 2028 VOCAL MIC BOOSTS LIVE PERFORMANCES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Dedicated to the art of music engineering, Simphiwe Smooth Mhlanga spent years training and honing his skills as a freelance sound engineer for both broadcast...

01/05/2024

DPA MICROPHONES A/S WELCOMES JENS JERMIIN AS NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING

DPA Microphones A/S, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to introduce Jens Jermiin as the brand's new Vice President o...

14/04/2024

DPA MICROPHONES UNVEILS AIR1 UNIVERSAL MINIATURE FUR WINDSCREEN AT NAB 2024

A Professional Windscreen Designed for Lavalier and Headset Microphones That Guarantees Highly Efficient Wind Protection and Unrivaled Acoustic Transparency DP...

14/04/2024

Unveiling AIR1 Universal Miniature Fur Windscreen at NAB 2024

DPA Microphones introduces its new AIR1 Universal Miniature Fur Windscreen at NAB 2024 (Booth C7307). Intended for quick mounting on round, omnidirectional head...

04/04/2024

DPA MICROPHONES ENHANCE IMMERSIVE LIVE PERFORMANCES AT LAS VEGAS' RESORTS WORLD THEATRE

While spatial audio was taking over the recording industry, the Resorts World Th...

25/03/2024

DPA COOKS UP SWEET AND SAVORY RESULTS FOR KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

LAS VEGAS, MARCH 25, 2024 - As a seasoned Sound Supervisor, Fernando Delgado brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the world of sound production, with ...

20/03/2024

DPA DELIVERS THE LAUGHS FOR LIVE COMEDY SPECIALS

Production Sound Mixer Thomas Cassetta creates clean, natural sound with DPA Microphones for standup shows, documentaries and podcasts. Production Sound and Re...

20/03/2024

DPA SHOWCASES VERSATILITY OF NEW COMPACT SHOTGUN MICROPHONE AT NAB 2024

The 2017 Shotgun Mic excels in a variety of challenging environments and applications DPA Microphones will highlight the standout features of its compact 2017 ...

15/03/2024

Showcasing the new compact shotgun microphone at NAB 2024

DPA Microphones will highlight the standout features of its compact 2017 Shotgun Microphone at NAB 2024 (Booth C7307). From its durable construction and ease of...

03/03/2024

Delivering the laughs for live comedy specials

Production Sound and Re-recording Mixer Thomas Cassetta has always loved live theater and events, so when presented with the opportunity to work on comedy speci...

21/02/2024

LORD HURON TAKES DPA FROM STUDIO TO STAGE

Adored for their emotive lyricism and moody undertones, American rock band Lord Huron burst onto the charts with The Night We Met, a viral hit that caught the...

22/01/2024

SOUND NETWORK LTD REBRANDS AS DPA MICROPHONES UK

While the name has evolved, the DPA Microphones UK team continues its commitment to offering the highest level of service, expertise and support to all users an...

17/01/2024

DPA MICROPHONES HOSTS GRAND PLAZA TOUR AT NAMM 2024

Brand teams up with Yamaha for production truck that will allow attendees to see and hear esteemed DPA mics used on the grand plaza stage in action DPA Microph...

17/01/2024

Hosting the grand plaza tour at NAMM 2024

DPA Microphones, together with Yamaha, will showcase a selection of its mics at the new Mobile Listening Studio as part of a Grand Plaza Tour at the 2024 NAMM S...

16/01/2024

DPA MICROPHONES HIGHLIGHTS 2017 SHOTGUN MICROPHONE AT ISE 2024

New mic captures authentic, high-clarity sound for a variety of applications DPA Microphones is showcasing its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone at ISE 2024 (Stand 7...

15/01/2024

AIR1 working the windy conditions during the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, Scotland

Julian Willson, Sound Recordist, was filming for a week at the Open golf tournament at the Scottish coastal course of Royal Troon for sponsors NTT Data. He film...

15/01/2024

Highlighting the 2017 shotgun microphone at ISE 2024

DPA Microphones is showcasing its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone at ISE 2024 (Stand 7B910, Hall 7). Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, clar...

08/01/2024

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA ENTERTAINS AND INSPIRES WITH DPA MICROPHONES

Welsh National Opera has put on powerful performances for audiences across South Wales for the past 75 years. The historic organization performs a range of show...

08/01/2024

DPA SHOWCASES LIVE PERFORMANCE BENEFITS OF 2017 SHOTGUN MICROPHONE AT NAMM 2024

Newest Mic Captures Authentic, High-clarity Sound for Live Musical Performances DPA Microphones will highlight its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone at the 2024 NAMM...

08/01/2024

MONITOR ENGINEER JAMES BERRY TRUSTS DPA MICROPHONES FOR VERSATILE, HIGH-QUALITY AUDIO ON BEYONC'S R

Fans recently flocked to cities across North America and Europe for a chance to ...

04/01/2024

Monitor engineer James Berry trusts DPA for versatile, high-quality audio on Beyonc's Renaissance Tour

Working with such a high-caliber artist, Renaissance Tour Monitor Engineer James...

01/01/2024

Showcasing live performance benefits of 2017 shotgun microphone at NAMM 2024

DPA Microphones will highlight its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone at the 2024 NAMM Show (Booth 17911). Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, c...

23/11/2023

DPA GETS A CURTAIN CALL FROM THIRD ENCORE STUDIOS

Before your favorite musicians hit the stage on tour, hours of rehearsal and preparation take place to achieve the perfect performance. For touring and recordin...

20/11/2023

DPA MICROPHONES NAMED AS FINALIST FOR TWO NAMM TEC AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

DPA Microphones has received two Outstanding Technical Achievement nominations f...

26/10/2023

CHURCHES FROM COAST TO COAST RECEIVE CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY WITH DPA MICROPHONES

DPA Microphones has long been entrusted by houses of worship across the country ...

12/10/2023

DPA MICROPHONES LAUNCHES THE 2017 SHOTGUN MICROPHONE

DPA Microphones has launched the 2017 Shotgun Microphone. Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, clarity and consistency, the 2017 excels in...

02/10/2023

PBS' AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MAKES MUSIC HISTORY WITH DPA MICROPHONES

As the longest-running music television series in history, Austin City Limits is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The PBS Austin production got ...

21/09/2023

DPA MICROPHONES ANNOUNCES NEW HEADQUARTERS

DPA Microphones has opened its new headquarters in Kokkedal, Denmark, a convenient suburb of Copenhagen. The modernized space will put an emphasis on the brand&...

23/08/2023

DPA HIGHLIGHTS NEW LOCATION SOUND KIT AT IBC 2023

DPA Microphones is showcasing its new DLS4000 Location Sound Kit at IBC 2023 (Hall 8, Stand F87). Featuring an array of the brand's esteemed condenser micro...

10/08/2023

CONSISTENCY IS KEY FOR INSTRUMENT MIKING AT HULT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

As one of the only performing arts centers of its caliber in the area, Hult Center for the Performing Arts regularly welcomes audiences from as far away as Port...

03/08/2023

WEST END PRODUCTION OF WICKED IS DANCING THROUGH LIFE WITH NEW DPA MICS

For the past 15 years, Associate Sound Designer Hyder Khalil has been crafting the breathtaking audio that brings the long-running London stage musical Wicked ...

06/07/2023

GOSPEL MUSICIAN TODD DULANEY RECORDS LATEST ALBUM LIVE WITH PRODUCER DONTANIEL JAMEL KIMBROUGH

Duo Entrusts DPA Microphones to Deliver Authentic, Transparent Sound for The Jo...

06/07/2023

DPA ANNOUNCES NEW MICROPHONE KITS FOR PROFESSIONAL SOUND ENGINEERS

Bundles are Designed to Cover Miking Needs for Specific Applications, From Studio and Live Recordings to Live Events and Location Sound After an incredible res...

22/06/2023

DPA MICROPHONES ARE A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN FOR BROADWAY'S & JULIET

Sound Designer Gareth Owen Relies on Brand's Instrument and Headset Mics for Versatile and Reliable Live Audio Known for crafting flawless audio for musica...

12/06/2023

SOUND ON SOUND REVIEWS THE ULTIMATE RECORDING MICROPHONE KIT

DPA's new flagship mic bundle offers quality and quantity in abundance. We put it to work in a busy studio... Danish company DPA Microphones have a reputat...

31/05/2023

LSi REVIEWS THE 2012, 2015 AND 4055

Simon Allen gets to grips with some of the latest microphones to hit the stage "I found the 2012 to behave in a similar fashion to dynamic microphones, giving ...

31/05/2023

AUDIOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS THE DDK4000 DRUM MICROPHONE KIT

DPA pulls together a premium family of its compact microphones to lend a larger-than-life sound to drum kits on stage or in the studio. "DPA makes exceptionall...

10/05/2023

JACARAND GROUP ELEVATES ITS WORLD-CLASS RECORDINGS AND LIVE EVENTS WITH DPA

Engineers and Co-owners Julian J. Ludwig and Alberto Gebhard Call on DPA Microphones' Unrivaled Natural Sound Quality for Classical Music and Jazz Recording...

26/04/2023

Dennie Miller, FOH for Volbeat talks about condenser mics on drum kits

Listen to Dennie Miller talk about his experiences using DPA mics with Volbeat. Coming from an audio system engineering background, Dennie Miller, FOH for Volb...

12/04/2023

STROMAE'S AUDIO TEAM MASTERS CLEAR AND NATURAL LIVE SOUND WITH DPA MICROPHONES

Sound Engineer and Back-up Mixer rely on DPA's d:facto Vocal Microphone for...

12/04/2023

DPA MICROPHONES UNVEILS NEW DRUM MIKING KIT AT THE 2023 NAMM SHOW

The solution features the newest 2012, 2015 and 4055 mics, along with the renowned 4099. DPA Microphones (NAMM Show Booth 14504) launches the DDK4000, the comp...