Audio-Technica's acclaimed Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System was used with the AEW-T5400 handheld microphone/transmitter for frontline vocals during performances by Kid Rock and Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd for the Lynyrd Skynyrd medley; and Leela James, Solomon Burke and Marc Broussard for the Wilson Pickett medley. The 5000 Series was also employed for the New Orleans tribute that featured Elvis Costello, Robbie Robertson, Buckwheat Zydeco, Geechie Johnson of Wild Magnolias, and Allen Toussant. James Hetfield of Metallica utilized the hardwired A-T AE5400 during the Black Sabbath tribute.
Other microphones on the event included Audio-Technica's AE5100 (hi hats, ride cymbals), AE3000 (toms), AE2500 (bass guitar amplifiers), AT4050 (guitar amps, overheads), AT4051 (hi hat), ATM23HE (conga, timbales), ATM35 (toms, sax, trumpet, trombone), and ATM35cW with AEW-T1000 UniPak wireless transmitter (saxophone).
The technical staff for the induction ceremony was comprised of professional audio industry legends in their own right. Mitch Maketansky returned as Audio Coordinator this year, organizing and assigning all the inputs and microphones for the event. Recording specialists Effanel Music, the company responsible for both recording the program and mixing the broadcast, deployed its remote truck with Grammy Award winner John Harris as lead engineer, mixing the event's audio onsite, and Jay Vicari acting as mix engineer for the broadcast.
"We're extremely pleased that the audio team for this year's induction ceremony chose Audio-Technica again," said A-T marketing director Gary Boss. "It's great to be invited back. We've worked on many of these shows and have developed a strong relationship over the years with Mitch, John and Jay. We listen to their feedback and develop products that meet their needs for complex productions like this."
(Chris Henry)
