
FOH Engineer Kenny Kaiser and Monitor Engineer Marty Beath rely on DPA's Live Sound Solutions
Always on the lookout for the newest audio solutions for the rock band, The Killers, FOH Engineer Kenny Kaiser and Monitor Engineer Marty Beath were immediately intrigued by DPA's new 4055 Kick Drum Mic. Among the first to get their hands on the mic, the duo put it to the test at production rehearsals before heading out on the band's The Killing the Mirage tour. After receiving universally positive feedback, the decision was made: DPA's 4055 Kick Drum Mic was joining The Killers' touring gear line-up alongside the group's existing DPA solutions, such as the 4099 CORE Instrument Mics, 4011 Cardioid Condenser Mics and d:facto 4018 Vocal Microphone.
Before solidifying their kick drum mic of choice, Kaiser and Beath tested out three variations of a mic setup. We had a plate mic, a ribbon mic and then the new DPA, explains Beath, and we were swapping between them, listening to what we could get out of each combination. Because the DPA is linear, you have to shape it, but that's great because that's what you want to have control and not be dictated by the voicing of the mic. So, I think it's fantastic for this drum, but it will also translate across multiple drum kits.
Beath continues, saying, It can handle the SPL, no problem whatsoever, and we've pretty much maintained our normal placement. We'll probably experiment as we go along and get more comfortable with it, but so far, it's mind-blowing. Kaiser also notes that the mic's voicing is one of the key standouts for the pair. The overall design of this [mic] answers that famous line of optimize or compromise, Kaiser explains. The compromise for us is we have a very loud stage, so being able to design everything around that is huge.
On the rest of the drum set, the pair utilizes DPA's 4099 CORE Instrument Mics for tom toms and under the cymbals, along with 4011 Cardioid Condenser Mics on snare top and bottom, as well as on the hi-hat. I've used the DPA CORE technology on lots of other acts and thought that it would be the greatest solution for ['The Killers'] kit because it is so small, explains Beath. We try to under-mic the cymbals because of the spill from the wedges, so we get a lot more isolation and can control the stereo image more.
The duo also notes that the 4011s provide the transient attack that people love without having to manage it too hard. The previous mics we had, you had to do more finessing to get the tonality we wanted and lost a lot of that [transient sound], explains Kaiser. The pair also loves the simplicity and subtlety of the DPA solutions, which allow for less mic stands and a neater stage presence without compromising on sound quality.
Also on stage are the d:facto 4018 Vocal Microphones, which Kaiser and Beath rely on for backing vocals. Working front of house, Kaiser's main concern was loudness and trying to manage that volume. I'm typically about 75 feet off from front of house, he explains, and I'm at 96 dB(A) with the PA off with just the wedges it's loud. The d:facto makes this task a breeze, with Beath adding, it's simple to prove the rejection from a d:facto. You turn it 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and there's nothing. You scream into the back and there's nothing. It's tightened everything up, and there's no bleed it's amazing.
The Killers closed out the U.S. leg of their tour on October 12. The band is now making stops throughout South America, New Zealand and Australia to wrap up 2022.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
04/02/2026
The 11th-annual Summit will not only the unprecedented headwinds facing the business, but also the groundbreaking opportunities for the future....
04/02/2026
Just moments before the 2026 Grammy Awards kicked off, members of the event's audio team assembled for a group photo at the base of the stage inside Los Ang...
04/02/2026
At the Vienna Interdisciplinary Symposium on Aortic Repair (VISAR), Riedel Communications' Managed Technology Division delivered a turnkey technical infrast...
04/02/2026
The Mountain West Conference announces a new media rights package featuring CBS ...
04/02/2026
Earlier this week, the NFL announced it would play regular season games in Madrid, Paris, and Mexico City in 2026 as part of a nine-game international schedule,...
04/02/2026
Custom-built carts carry music speakers for Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime S...
04/02/2026
In an era of constrained spectrum, two tactics have emerged: work closely with regulatory bodies and utilize engineering chops
The Federal Communications Commi...
04/02/2026
Three examples of how wireless microphones are deployed to bring fans in deep and up close
Microphone manufacturers have myriad ways to put wireless to work fo...
04/02/2026
The mic manufacturer will join other suppliers in the new Rock Nashville production campus
Sennheiser is relocating its U.S. headquarters from its long-time lo...
04/02/2026
Olivia Colman and John Lithgow appear in Jimpa by Sophie Hyde, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | pho...
04/02/2026
Lyrics are one of Spotify's most popular features, giving fans a richer way to experience the music and artists they love. They're viewed hundreds of mi...
04/02/2026
Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...
04/02/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to participate in an exclusive creative showcase at the Annecy International...
04/02/2026
Viper Shield's robust phase of flight-testing production representative hard...
04/02/2026
Pilot To Launch with Super Bowl LX on February 8 and Continue with High Profile Live Events, Entertainment and Sports
Nielsen to Use State of the Art Wearable...
04/02/2026
New control solution applies broadcast robotics workflows to PTZ cameras with third-party integration and upgrade paths
Vinten, a global leader in robotic cam...
04/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/02/2026
Katie Vitolins Announced as Vice President of Alumni Products and Services An alumna and former trustee, Vitolins will lead the relaunch of Berklee's alum...
04/02/2026
Wednesday 4 February 2026
Full cast announced for Saturday Night Live UK, comin...
04/02/2026
Wednesday 4 February 2026
Fear of running out of mobile data (FORO) is a real i...
04/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz powers next generation television in Brazil with DTV technology...
04/02/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Shares Teaser of the Third and Final Season of Knokke Off
Entertainment
04 February 2026
GlobalNetherlands
Link copied to clipboar...
04/02/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Premieres The TikTok Killer on March 6
Entertainment
04 February 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the pictures
...
04/02/2026
Back to All News
Music Is Having a Golden Moment on Netflix as New and Nostal...
04/02/2026
Fox Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, February 4, 2026 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Compan...
04/02/2026
Lucas P. Arag n Joins FOX Advertising as Senior Vice President, Creative New York, NY - February 4, 2026 - Accomplished Creative Executive Lucas P. Arag n has...
04/02/2026
Following the passing of our friend and colleague Hugh Wallace, and with the full support of his family, RT will proceed with the broadcast of the new series o...
04/02/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of the Nemotron Labs blog series, which exp...
03/02/2026
Tagboard, a modern, interactive graphics system for news, sports, and entertainm...
03/02/2026
Studio Network Solutions (SNS) announces the launch of Trio, a new S3-compatible cloud storage service fully integrated with EVO for media backup, archival, and...
03/02/2026
50 Production Trucks at center of 160 U.S.-based productions...
03/02/2026
Nielsen, which specializes in audience measurement, data, and media intelligence, announces that it is piloting a new methodology enhancement to more accurately...
03/02/2026
Appear's X Platform will be used by NBC Sports to deliver video compression, satellite modulation and transport stream aggregation for its production of the...
03/02/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
03/02/2026
NHL Network announces its comprehensive programming schedule for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, underscoring the highly anticipated return of NHL players to...
03/02/2026
NBC Sports has chosen Canon to deliver 115 Canon UHD broadcast lenses for its production of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Canon will also send suppo...
03/02/2026
Audio-Technica equipment will be used by NBC Sports to deliver much of its audio capture requirements across all sporting venues for its production of the 2026 ...
03/02/2026
NBC Sports will use Cisco to deliver AI networking technology for its all-IP production of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, including the deployment of...
03/02/2026
NBC Sports will utilize Chyron PRIME CG to produce live broadcast graphics to display names, athlete information, scores, statistics, leaderboards, headshots an...
03/02/2026
NBC Sports will utilize Grass Valley to deliver advanced signal conversion, rout...
03/02/2026
NBC Sports will utilize Planar to deliver leading-edge fine pixel pitch LED video wall technology for its production of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics...
03/02/2026
Taking place in two venues, the 2026 production celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Super Bowl of Dogs'
When the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show conc...
03/02/2026
For the indoor production, NEP Specialty Capture has mounted a 100-ft. overhead ...
03/02/2026
MTVG Edge, the production-services supplier's software-based production solu...