Audio-Technica mics featured at Rock Hall induction

For the 12th year in a row, Audio-Technica microphones were chosen to outfit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A-T supplied more than 50 mics to capture audio for the event held in Cleveland’s Public Hall.

The 24th annual induction ceremony of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was held on April 4, 2009, with inductees including guitarist Jeff Beck, R&B vocal group Little Anthony & the Imperials, heavy metal legends Metallica, hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C., soul/gospel singer-songwriter-guitarist Bobby Womack, “Queen of Rockabilly” Wanda Jackson, and instrumentalists/sidemen Bill Black, DJ Fontana and Spooner Oldham. The show was broadcast live on Fuse and www.fuse.tv.

Audio-Technica’s acclaimed Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF Wireless System was used with the AEW-T5400 handheld microphone/transmitter for frontline vocals on performances by Little Anthony, Wanda Jackson and Bobby Womack. Metallica used A-T AE5400 Cardioid Condenser Microphones for their vocals. A combination of wireless AEW-T5400s and wired AE5400s was used for vocals in the show’s finale, which featured Metallica and Jeff Beck, along with Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, in an all-star jam of the Yardbirds’ take on the blues classic “Train Kept A-Rollin.’”

The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included AE2500 Dual-Element Cardioid Instrument Microphone for kick drum and guitar cabinets; ATM450 Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphone for piano; AE5100 Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphone for hi-hat and audience; ATM350 Cardioid Condenser Clip-On Microphone for toms, horns and strings; ATM250 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone for toms; AT4047/SV Cardioid Condenser Microphone for guitar cabinets; AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone for overheads; ATM25 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone for toms; and AT4055 Handheld Cardioid Condenser Microphone for horns.

The technical staff for the induction ceremony was made up of professional audio industry veterans. Mitch Maketansky returned as Audio Coordinator this year, organizing and assigning all the inputs and microphones for the event. Frenchtown, New Jersey-based remote recording specialists Music Mix Mobile, the company responsible for both recording the program and mixing the live feed for broadcast, used its M3 remote truck with Jay Vicari as Music and Broadcast Mixer, mixing the event’s audio onsite. Al Centrella was the Production Mixer, Tony Blanc was Front-of-House (FOH) Engineer and Tom Holmes was the Monitor Mixer. Joel Singer served as Audio Engineer-in-Charge (EIC) and Pro Tools Engineer.

Jay Vicari remarked, “I continue to choose Audio-Technica wired and wireless microphones for high-profile broadcast events because of their fidelity, overall reliability and consistency from microphone to microphone. When dealing with a complex production such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, things can get pretty hectic, but being able to depend on A-T’s sound quality makes my life a lot easier."