International. Beginning with the opening announcement of host LL Cool J and throughout the event, Shure's microphones and wireless systems played a pivotal role in the production of the 58th Grammy Awards. The live broadcast was handled by CBS-TV from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 15, 2016.
The main microphone used in the presentation was Shure's new KSM8 Dualdyne™ with a UHF-R wireless transmitter, proposed at the suggestion of the event's Audio Coordinator, Michael Abbott.
In an evening dominated by performances in tribute to important artists, Shure wireless microphones, both UHF-R and Axient® systems, were an almost constant presence on stage.
Monitoring systems are another story. While all musicians use their personal headphones, all personal monitoring systems are Shure PSM® 1000, provided by ATK Audiotek. With its diversity reception, high selectivity filtering, and excellent sound quality, the PSM 1000 has become a de facto standard for radio-intensive live broadcasts, such as the GRAMMY Awards. In the words of monitor engineer Mike Parker, "Since the last five years the PSM 1000 continues to be strengthened with zero failure rate."
The newly released KSM8 microphone had a solid Grammy debut. In addition to being used by LL Cool J, who was already a five-time host, he was also the microphone capsule of choice along with UHF-R transmitters in three live performances: Tori Kelly (duet with James Bay), Hollywood Vampires (for Johnny Depp and Duff McKagan) and three members of Little Big Town for their success, "Girl Crush."
With spectacular sound, transmitter remote control and frequency diversity, the Shure Axient also played an important role in production. The AXT200 handheld transmitter was used for lead vocals by Justin Bieber (with KSM9HS capsule) and Alabama Shakes (with SM58 capsule). In addition, the production team designated the Axient handheld transmitter with SM58 capsule as the production auxiliary wireless transmitter for the second year in a row.
For a worldwide broadcast like the Grammy Awards, audio coordinator Mike Abbott uses the most talented engineers and the best audio providers to ensure success. These include remote trucks from Music Mix Mobile (M3), on-stage support from ATK Audiotek, and frequency coordination and wireless system design by Dave Bellamy of Soundtronics. The production mix of the broadcast, which combines the mixing of music with all the other sound elements, is handled by Tom Holmes, with Eric Schilling and John Harris as music mixers, working on two remote Music Mix Mobile trucks.
Inside the Staples Center, Ron Reaves handled the music mixing in the room, sending its broadcast to production mixer Mikael Stewart of ATK Audiotek. Next to the stage, monitor mixers Mike Parker and Tom Pesa mixed for the performers on stage with the PSM 1000.
"It's always wonderful that so many artists choose Shure's microphones and wireless systems for their GRAMMY Awards performances," said Cory Lorentz, Shure's Artist Relations Manager. "In the same way, it is an honor that so many of our products are once again being chosen by the production team for critical roles in a live broadcast of such magnitude."
