A pair of 4061 miniature omnis were used for grand piano with another 10 for first violins, and a total of 24 DPA 4060s handled second violins, violas, cellos and double basses. A DPA MSS6000 microphone summation, designed to reduce 10 or more individual mics down to a single stereo pair system, was used to manage cable runs. Each MSS6000 features independent level and pan controls, freeing up input channels on a console.
The BBC ended up taking down their overhead mics on the orchestra as they were getting too much front-line band sound. This meant that all the strings came through the DPA miniature mics. "As always they sounded fantastic, providing a good results for all engineers," says Anne Sullivan, hire coordinator at The Warehouse Edinburgh Sound Hire, who miked the stage for orchestra and guest artists.
"Any time an orchestra is miked up for amplification purposes, getting clean individual sounds has been fairly problematic, until DPA miniature microphones and the MSS6000 were introduced to our hire stock. Now results are pretty much guaranteed, lots of gain before feedback and a very natural sound."
Scottish guest artists appearing at the concert included Eddi Reader and her band, McIntosh Ross from Deacon Blue and God Help the Girl, plus music from the landmark TV series A History of Scotland. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Robert Zeigler.
(Jim Evans)
