International. At the 50th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 2, Beyoncé gracefully dabbled in the world of country music, delivering the evening's stellar performance while being supported by Sennheiser's Digital 9000 wireless microphone system.
In a harmonious performance of 'Daddy Lessons' that took place while the pop superstar was seen joining the Dixie Chicks on stage, Beyoncé once again demonstrated her incredible versatility as an artist to an audience of approximately 20,000 country music fans and 12.6 million viewers across the country. The occasion marked Beyoncé's first appearance on stage at the CMA Awards, delivering flawless audio quality in Sennheiser's flagship Digital 9000 wireless microphone system.
"It was our first time with Beyoncé at the CMA Awards, and it was exciting to see her perform with the Dixie Chicks amid the advanced technology we brought to the stage – particularly the Digital 9000," said James Berry, Monitoring Engineer for Beyoncé. "What we really love about that system is the consistency and sound quality. There's nothing in the world that beats that and it sounds like there's a cable at the end of the microphone."
Having done an extensive tour last year with the system, made Beyoncé's production team intimately familiar with the Digital 9000 and Berry also stated that he was satisfied with the results, as well as with the support he has from Sennheiser. Beyoncé has since purchased her own Digital 9000 system; the team can achieve greater predictability when you're on the road: "There are a lot of places where we play that don't have the high quality wireless audio and it made the most sense for us to go and buy one."
Digital 9000: perfect sound for the whole poster
"As a last-minute creative decision for the presentation, we decided to give Natalie [Mains] of the Dixie Chicks a wireless microphone as well and opted to put it on the Digital 9000," said Stephen Curtin, FoH Engineer at Beyoncé. "Everyone was happy with the decision and was immediately impressed with the results."
Of the eight channels available from the Digital 9000 receiver, two were reserved by Beyoncé (one channel as a backup), who sang with her SKM 9000 handheld transmitter and MD 9235 dynamic microphone capsule. Meanwhile Natalie Mains of the Dixie Chicks also sang with the SKM 9000/MD 9235 combination. Other channels were used for a march drum and a harmonica. Berry notes that it was the first time they used the Digital 9000 on instruments on stage and was impressed with the results: "It gave the harmonica that real feeling that you don't normally get using wireless systems. This also happened with the march drum, where it captured all the dynamic ranges you can expect."
Of course, the main task and expectation of the Digital 9000 is to capture every nuance of Beyoncé's incredible vocal ability, says Stephen Curtin: "The total presence of the 9000 is great. She may be singing extremely low, and you still get that great sound from the system just like when she's singing at the top of her lungs. It does a fabulous job capturing the dynamic ranges."
The CMA Awards: a tradition of high expectations
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, conducting the awards ceremony for the ninth time, again used Sennheiser's SKM 5200 handheld transmitters paired with Neumann's KK 104 and KK 105 cardioid and super-cardioid condenser capsules as microphones to drive throughout the event. Two TLM 49 long-diaphragm condenser microphones were also used during the event by both live and pre-recorded voice-over announcers.
Recent inductees into the Music Hall of Fame, the Oak Ridge Boys, who relied on the combination of the SKM 5200 handheld transmitter and the MD 5235 capsule, were joined on stage by Brad Paisley for an impromptu acoustic performance of the classic 'Elvira'.
Other artists who sang using Sennheiser and Neumann during the course of the evening included Carrie Underwood, whose backing vocals sang using an SKM 5200 handheld wireless transmitter paired with an MD 5235 capsule and Reba McEntire, whose band presented a '9-5' tribute to Dolly Parton singing through Neumann's KK 104 capsule.
"It was exciting to see Sennheiser and Neumann so well represented again at the CMA Awards, particularly through such a diversity of artist range," commented Byron Gaither, Art Relations for Sennheiser. "The reliability and sonic attributes of the team – from Sennheiser's Digital 9000 to Neumann's TLM 49 and everything in between – delivered the pristine quality that our artists and fans alike look forward to night after night."
In an evening that demanded nothing but perfection on the big night of country music, Sennheiser's Digital 9000 also delivered. "We are pleased with everything and Beyoncé was super happy after the presentation," concludes James Berry.
