USA - With a Jonas Brothers history that dates back to Joe Jonas’ early tours with the group DNCE, touring monitor engineer Andy Hernandez knows what it takes to keep the brothers’ concerts running. For nearly a decade, Hernandez has been devoted to providing members of the pop band with quality sound and communications at every stop around the globe. When the trio’s team came calling again for the current Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour, Hernandez jumped at the chance to get back on the road.
Hernandez says the planning for this tour was coordinated quickly and that the RF setup is very ambitious. “The group is performing in large sporting arenas, with multiple stages in each. At times when there are guests, there can be as many as 20-plus people performing. So, we need a solution that is robust, provides great performance and also works around the world. Wisycom checks all those boxes.”
Included among the Wisycom solutions that Hernandez currently deploys on the tour are 32 stereo channels of the brand’s MTK982 Dual-wideband IEM Transmitter, and CSI16T Smart Passive Wideband Transmit Combiner, along with the MAT288 Diversity Wideband Programmable Matrix Combiner for microphone receive, in conjunction with a DiGiCo SD7 Quantum Desk.
“Choosing this system was a no-brainer for us; the RF performance has not only been unmatched, but the usability of it in various countries around the world has been extremely beneficial,” he says. “To have something that is completely full spectrum just makes life a lot easier. We can adjust our position in the spectrum depending on the RF scans of the city we are in that day.”
In addition, Hernandez adds: “This is a true diversity system, which means that we never have to worry about signal dropout during our shows. I have three artists who are performing at the same time, and I know that no matter where they are in the stadium or arena, the Wisycom system is going to work – it’s such a relief. It is a true diversity system, which lends itself to why Wisycom is unmatched in comparison to other manufacturers. The brand stays current in the industry and can handle the future, keeping up with the changing needs of its technology.”
With the Wisycom system, Hernandez has also found the setup process to run quickly and smoothly, which is favourable not only to him, but the entire technical team. “My RF tech, Corey Harris, is able to programme, sync and get it fully ready within an hour, which is typically unheard of,” he explains. “
Hernandez praises various features of the Wisycom MAT288 and CSI16T. “Some things that stand out to me are the way that the combiner is built,” he adds. “The combiners are awesome – they are durable and the flexibility of the matrix, which has been designed to grant maximum flexibility, is especially great.”
The tour kicked off on 12 August 2023 in New York City and is set to wrap on 16 October 2024, in Krakow, Poland.
