The guest bands
featured on the Mike Bullard Show run the gamut from jazz artists
like Holly Cole to very loud rock acts like Big Sugar and every
stop in between. As a result, the stage monitor system needs to
be able to supply the subtle nuance the jazz artists require,
and yet have the muscle the rockers need to hear themselves properly.
The monitor system Vertex designed for the guest band position
is a Yamaha console-based 16 mix, 40 input rig featuring all EAW
wedge monitors, QSC power, Ashly eq's, Drawmer comps and gates,
as well as Yamaha and ART effects devices. The mic kit includes
all the usual suspects like Shure SM-58 & 57, beta 57's, SM-91's
and 94's, Sennheiser 421's & 409's, as well as AKG C-451's and
even studio pieces such as the wonderful Neumann KMS-109 and large
diaphragm Audio Technica's. All direct boxes are Countryman Type
85's.The guest band inputs are distributed to the three consoles
via a custom 48 channel 3 way all transformer splitter system
manufactured by BRTB. Three way split, you say? Yes, which brings
us to the third mix position, which is the guest band pre-mix
position.
This mix position,
located in a separate, isolated space, is responsible for delivering
a stereo mix of the guest band's performance to the master audio
console in the video control room. Essentially, this mix position
is a complete recording studio, equipped with an Allen & Heath
48 input, 23 buss ML-4000 desk, and supplied with Mackie HR-824
and Auratone near field monitors, Lexicon, TC Electronics and
Yamaha
effects pieces, Drawmer, BSS, and TC compressors and gates, HHB
CD recorders, Fostex DAT recorders, along with Tascam 24 track
digital recorders.
The
guest band's performance is mixed and sweetened here, and sent
off to the final audio mix position, which is Broadcast audio,
located upstairs in the video control booth.
The
Broadcast position is based around another large format Yamaha
desk (PM 4000) , and this console takes the pre-mix of the guest
band, as well as all house band and wireless lavaliere and handheld
mics, and adds in all video and Digicart feeds for final to-air
mixing. The position is equipped with Genelec monitors, Sabine
feedback units, Panasonic DAT, Lexicon reverbs and delays along
with an assortment of DBX, BSS, Aphex, Drawmer and Yamaha rack
mount gear.
The
Mike Bullard Show makes extensive use of wireless microphone equipment,
and because of the large number of channels required, as well
as because of the absolute necessity of RF reliability in a dense
RF environment, all new top-line Sennheiser RF systems were employed.
The wireless rig is comprised of 16 lavaliere systems as well
as four handheld systems. This may seem like quite a bit of wireless
gear, but there are also at least as many units again, in the
form of wireless in-ear systems, wireless intercom systems, wireless
IFB systems, guest band instrumental wireless units, etc. Potential
RF HELL! Kudos to Sennheiser for taking the time to properly RF
sweep the space and give the show all of the frequencies they
needed to get the job done. A remarkable feat, especially in a
downtown urban RF rich area!
The
challenges presented were many and varied - properly grounding
all of this equipment and insuring minimal ground noise levels
was deemed very important, and this was ultimately achieved. The
multicable system is massive - over 350 individual audio channels
of multicable run throughout the space, servicing four separate
mix positions, located in four discrete physical areas, all of
these factors posed challenges that had to be overcome to insure
the final product would be acceptable to all parties. The extreme
intimacy with which the four mix positions are interlaced means
that any action taken at one mix position can have negative ramifications
at other mix positions unless great care is taken in the installation
process. I am proud to be able to truthfully say that all of this
care has been taken, and the show, as a result, enjoys as high
a quality of audio excellence as it has ever had, or better.
In
the end, despite the complexity and scale of this project, it
was our ability to focus on doing each and every individual task
correctly throughout the install process that made the successful
conclusion of the installation possible. Many individuals worked
long hours, and many people outside Vertex, such as Global's excellent
technical staff, as well as Sennheiser's reps and many others
all contributed to the final product being something we can all
be proud of being involved in. Of course, all of this installation
would be for nothing, were it not for the excellent operational
staff the Mike Bullard Show has on board. These highly skilled
individuals are ultimately responsible for the quality of the
show:
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