DPA MICROPHONES WINS BIG AT the 06 BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS

AAG Live selects two d:dicate microphones to amplify presenters inside custom podium solution

DPA Microphones d:dicate 2011ES Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Microphone and d:dicate 4018ES Supercardioid Microphone were paired together to create a custom podium for presenters and award recipients at the 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The solution was selected by both the production team and engineers after a collective A/B shootout was conducted against the award show's previous podium microphone.

Provided as part of a collaborative effort between AAG Live, Republic Production Company and Frequency Coordination Group, the podiums utilized during the ceremony were a custom design. We stacked the d:dicate 2011ES and d:dicate 4018ES mics on top of each other, feeding the wires through a tube to conceal and construct each podium. This provided a unique sound that was tailored to this event space, explains Jason Atwell, CEO of AAG Live and Republic Productions. The podiums and DPA mics were supplied by my two companies, AAG Live and Republic Productions. First, we manufactured the actual podium and tubing, and then retro-fitted the mic and used the standard capsule clip to keep it in place. We built the preamps into the base and relied on the right-angle extension of the d:dicate 2011ES and d:dicate 4018ES to run to the transmitter.

The d:dicate 2011ES is best used in close-miking situations and is optimized for onstage use because of its blend of clarity, richness and range. The d:dicate 4018ES has a highly directional supercardioid pickup pattern, with a smooth and uniform off-axis frequency response, making it an ideal choice for the presenters onstage. Combined with the MMP-ES Modular Active Cable with side entry, they make an elegant and unobtrusive solution.

By loading the preamp down the cable, it makes the top of the podium even more compact, adds Brooks Schroeder, owner of Frequency Coordination Group. It's a lower profile, so when we put our base cover on, it keeps it as small as possible.

The main purpose of the microphones was to amplify the presenters voices while they announced the awards and for winners to give their acceptance speeches. We do a lot of awards shows for a variety of networks and we build these types of custom podiums, continues Atwell. Like Telemundo, the broadcasters all used the same capsules for many years. We were excited that Telemundo gave us the opportunity to present a new option and it was a unanimous decision across the mixers that DPA was the right choice. We already supply DPA for a lot of our other projects at churches and convention centers, but now we're going to start to use them at more awards shows and other larger live events.

For Schroeder, the DPAs clearly speak for themselves. For me, the idea behind using DPA for this specific application came from listening to the microphones and hearing just how little self-noise the capsules had compared to the competitor, he says. There was less EQ needed and the response was nice and flat. Then, we started talking to the engineers and they were interested as well. It only took five minutes when comparing the mics for them to immediately say DPA,' and that's when we started to look at each of the DPA options.

Atwell is excited to continue using the DPA's moving forward. We tried a variety of different microphone combinations, but we liked the twin-diaphragm cardioid with the standard supercardioid combination the best. The dual solution of using both the d:dicate 2011ES and d:dicate 4018ES had just enough width to cover multiple people without it being too wide where it would start taking in the PA and other sound from the room. Now that we have the perfect solution, we're ready to get DPA involved on other networks.

LINK:	http://www.dpamicrophones.com/news/dpa-wins-big-at-the-2016-billboard-...
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