The 43rd Annual CMA Awards aired live in 5.1-channel surround sound Wednesday, 11 November, on the ABC Television Network from the Sommet Center in Nashville, and featured over 250 Audio-Technica microphones, including an impressive array of hard-wired mics and Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless Systems.
The team responsible for the audio at this year's CMA's again included a who's who of broadcast audio. The audio was supervised by award-winning audio producers Michael Abbott and Tom Davis; ATK/Audiotek provided the sound system with FOH (front-of-house) mixers Patrick Baltzell and Rick Shimer; the broadcast music mix was handled by New Jersey/California-based Music Mix Mobile's John Harris and Jay Vicari.
Several performers used Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System during the course of the show. Country/pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift paired the 5000 Series system with the AEW-T4100 Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Transmitter for her lead vocals and AEW-T1000 UHF UniPak transmitter for her acoustic guitar.
Audio-Technica endorsers Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean each performed with the 5000 Series and the AEW-T5400 Cardioid Condenser Handheld Transmitter, with Chesney performing a duet with Dave Matthews, who also used an AEW-T5400. Other 5000 Series users included Billy Currington, who also used the AEW-T5400, and Chris Daughtry, also an endorser, who performed using an AEW-T6100 Hypercardioid Dynamic Handheld Transmitter. Jamey Johnson went a different route, choosing the wired AE6100 Hypercardioid Dynamic Handheld Microphone.
Tom Davis, co-audio producer, stated: "We use Audio-Technica mics every year on the CMA's because of their reliability and sound quality, not to mention the brand's extensive product line perfect for capturing the various artists and musical instruments we have on the show. A-T's RF systems and their on-site technical support have been exceptional - I cannot say enough great things about them."
(Jim Evans)
