Chicago, IL (June 30, 2011)–Special Event Services and On Stage Audio provided live sound for the Oprah’s Surprise Spectacular event that aired in May 23 and 24.
As part of audio system, SES and OSA provided two 96-input Yamaha PM1Ds (cascaded together for 200+ inputs), an M7CL-32 digital console, DME64N digital mix engine, and MSP101 reference monitors. Monitorworld consisted of dual 96-input Yamaha PM1Ds, seven Nexo NXAMP 4x4s, and 12 of the new Nexo 45 N-12 line monitors.
“The Yamaha PM1Ds at both FOH and Monitors were chosen by Harpo’s mixers due mostly to familiarity with the control surface,” states Jim Risgin, OSA Vice President.
“In conjunction with our audio director, JR Chappell, FOH mixers Jimmy Ostrom and Scott Ragsdale, and Monitor Engineers Brad Galvin and Ian Kuhn, we all decided early on that the Yamaha PM1D platform was by far the best choice for this event,” states Gerry Formicola, audio production manager, Harpo Studios.
Risgin said the Yamaha M7CL was used as an on-line backup console fed with splits on all production mics, and full mixes from the broadcast trucks. “We took advantage of the MY card platform implementing Rocknet MY141 cards for all signals to and from the M7CL,” says Risgin.
The Rocknet 100 series stage racks fed all inputs, and all the outputs were routed to the Yamaha DME64N matrix device through the same MY141 cards. The DME64 was outfitted with MY16AES cards to receive all signals for the main PA and then used as the system processing for all PA zones. These zones were fed out of the DME via Rocknet keeping all signals native to Rocket for the long haul up to the catwalks for distribution. All consoles, DME and Rocknet were fed Master Word Clock from an Apogee Big Ben, keeping all signals synchronized. The DME was the matrix for combining all signals and allowing redundant console operation.
“Yamaha District Manager Mike Eiseman had been talking to me about the 45 N-12s for months,” says Formicola. “When this event came up, it seemed a natural fit to take advantage of its low profile for television as well as the exceptional sound of the units.”
Risgin said he found the Nexo wedges stable and more than able to handle all the requests from the various artists using them during show taping. Some of the guests that appeared on the broadcast included Rascal Flatts, Kristin Chenoweth, Rosie O’Donnell, Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Nate Berkus, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, Jackie Evancho, Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder.
The United Center, which hosts over 200 events per year and is home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Bulls, welcomed 13,000 “Oprah” fans for the taping.
Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.
www.yamahaca.com
