Usher sang into a Sennheiser SKM5000-N with the Neumann KK105-S capsule at MTV’s 21st Video Music Awards.
Photo: Getty Images
MTV spiced up the recent MTV Video Music Awards by moving it to Miami, and by producing the show in-the-round. To meet the demands of the newly configured telecast, New York-based RF specialist company Wireless First brought in several channels of Sennheiser wireless equipment for the telecast.
“I asked, ‘What do you want us to cover?’,” says president Kevin Sanford, who was in charge of all of the RF systems for the show, including wireless performance microphones and personal monitor systems, presenter microphones and production intercom systems. “The answer from MTV production was, ‘Everything!’
“We had 24 channels of Sennheiser SKM5000 microphones inside the arena. Those were each fitted with the Neumann KK105-S capsule. We used all Sennheiser 3032-U dual true diversity receivers. We also supplied 12 channels of Evolution 300 Series personal monitor systems.
“In addition to the performance and presenter microphones,” Sanford continues, “There were four podium mics. Those were all wireless, with the Sennheiser SK50 beltpack transmitters. And we had another 12 Sennheiser SKM5000 RF mics outside.”
Televised live from Miami’s American Airlines Arena, the awards used multiple stages throughout the venue while also broadcasting from the grounds outside the building. “We had to cover the pre-show, arrivals, awards show and post-show as well,” notes Sanford.
JET, who performed on the show and also took away the award for ‘Best Rock Video’ for their hit single, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” used their own Evolution e945 vocal mics and an e609s on guitar, according to the band’s FOH engineer, Johnny Haskett.
Other performers used anywhere from one to 14 RF mics.
For more information, visit www.sennheiserusa.com.
