Fortunately, the AKG IVM in-ear systems and radio mics and the Samson guitar systems all have frequency agility. Without that capability it would be impossible to get the same equipment onto clear channels in venues as diverse as Hyde Park, The Manchester Evening News Arena, Glastonbury Festival and Stormont Castle in Belfast. In order to have the widest possible selection of frequencies the production also has a total of three sets of AKG antennaverters for the vocal and brass systems. This rare beast enables signal to be converted from one frequency to another much lower frequency within the antenna before being sent down the cable to the receiver. As well as increasing frequency options this also has the advantage of allowing for much longer cable runs without signal deterioration.
However, even the best-laid plans are capable of going adrift, and usually at the worst possible times. "Of the three sets of antennaverters they had, only one was set to a frequency that could be used in London for Rod's performance at the Safeway Picnic in the Park," recalled Hand Held's Mick Shepherd. "Unfortunately for them it failed, leaving them with no available frequency at all, hence just the tiniest note of urgency in David Bryson's voice when he called to ask if we could help out! Luckily for him we are probably the only people in London that do carry antennaverters, so we were able to put the necessary gear in a taxi and get it over to him in time. In fact having had such a close shave at Hyde Park, they decided to hang onto the equipment for the Wembley Arena shows as well. In total we supplied two pairs of antennaverters and 19 transmitter modules which I'm pleased to say all worked beautifully this time!"
(Ruth Rossington)
