Each year, the festival gains in popularity around the world and this year was no exception as the total number of attendees exceeded 80,000 over the course of the festival - a 13 percent increase in overall attendance compared to 2012.
Sennheiser supported the production with wireless equipment consisting of eight channels of EM 3732-II receivers, coupled with SKM 2000-XP handheld wireless transmitters and MMD 935-1 cardioid microphone capsules.
Curt Jenkins was responsible for the audio as project manager for Nashville-based Sound Image. Jenkins made contact with Tim Moore, Sennheiser USA's artist relations manager, several weeks before the event for assistance in coordinating artist and engineer equipment needs. With the complexity of the event in mind, Moore suggested bringing in the Sennheiser Global Relations Team for additional support utilizing their production-ready technical assets.
"Sennheiser recognises the challenges technicians and engineers face during these events to stay efficient, so our pre-configured wireless equipment racks give them one less thing to worry about," commented Kristy Jo Winkler, global relations manager, Americas. The equipment was used extensively over the course of the performances at LP Field - Nashville's 68,798 capacity sporting arena that is also home to the Tennessee Titans U.S. football team.
In addition to the wireless racks, Sound Image appreciated the microphone capsules Sennheiser provided. "The e 935 microphone and MMD 935-1 capsule have become very popular and are the choice of a large number of Sennheiser users," commented Tim Moore. "The MMD 935-1 capsule has a natural response that consistently and accurately reproduces the source. When Curt asked for support from Sennheiser, I knew that the 935-1 capsule would be perfectly suited for the application."
"I was managing audio for the whole event," commented Curt Jenkins, who was asked to provide several additional channels of production wireless to cover the festival's heritage acts as well as ongoing MC activities. "Since it was being filmed for TV by a major network, we had to ensure all the audio was rock solid, especially considering we were multi-tracking everything. We asked Sennheiser if they could help and they arranged to have a rack sent over without delay."
In addition to the wireless microphones, Sennheiser also supplied several SR 2050 IEMs and evolution series wired microphones. The equipment was used throughout the duration of the four-day festival.
(Jim Evans)
