Audio-Technica Provides Microphone Solutions for 2011 CMA Awards

Audio-Technica provided an extensive selection of vocal and instrument microphones for this year's Country Music Awards, which aired live in 5.1-channel surround sound Wednesday, November 9, on ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The event featured more than 200 Audio-Technica microphones, including an impressive array of hard-wired mics and Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF wireless systems.

The audio for this year's broadcast was supervised by award-winning audio producers Michael Abbott and Tom Davis; ATK/Audiotek provided the sound system with front-of-house mixers Patrick Baltzell and Rick Shimer; the broadcast music mix was handled by New Jersey/California-based M3's (Music Mix Mobile's) John Harris and Jay Vicari. Stage monitoring was handled by Michael Parker and Jason Spence. Several performers used Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF wireless system during the course of the show. Jason Aldean, an Audio-Technica endorser and winner of Album of the Year, paired the 5000 Series system with the AEW-T6100 hypercardioid dynamic handheld transmitter for his lead vocals. Aldean also won musical event of the year for his duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson. In a medley of Lionel Richie hits with Richie himself, the members of Little Big Town and Darius Rucker used the 5000 Series system with AEW-T5400 cardioid condenser handheld transmitter for their vocals. Additionally, in a duet, Grace Potter and longtime Audio-Technica endorser Kenny Chesney, who shared the Video of the Year Award, both used hard-wired AE5400 cardioid condenser microphones.

The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included the AT4080 phantom-powered bidirectional ribbon microphone on guitars; AT4050 multi-pattern condenser microphone on guitars and bass; AT4040 cardioid condenser microphone on overheads; AE2500 dual-element cardioid instrument microphone on kick drum; AE5100 cardioid condenser instrument microphone on hi-hat and ride cymbals; AE5400 cardioid condenser microphone on rotary speaker top and AT4050 on rotary speaker bottom (used by Gregg Allman with the Zac Brown Band); ATM650 dynamic instrument microphone on snare; and ATM350 cardioid condenser clip-on microphone on toms and fiddle/violin.

Michael Parker, monitor engineer, stated, "I have used Audio-Technica microphones for years on prominent broadcast award shows, based on their ability to deliver clear, consistent sound. I particularly am fond of their instrument mics, as they are able to reproduce the true timbre and character of the instrument. Their reliability gives me an additional comfort level, which I never take for granted at such high-profile events."