June 2011 It’s every singer/songwriter’s dream to have that one opportunity, that one chance to show the world why their original songs and natural talent warrant a record deal. On Thursday, May 30, Bravo’s Platinum Hit premieres on TV screens across the nation featuring a variety of HARMAN’s AKG microphones for contestants to utilize while writing, recording and performing original works for weekly challenges, working towards the final goal of a $100,000 cash prize, a publishing deal with Sony and BMI Songwriter’s The Writing Camp and a recording deal with RCZ/Jive. With a cast of 12 energetic, talented up-and-coming musicians, world-renowned singer/songwriter and host “Jewel” and head judge Kara Dioguardi - the hit songwriter with 150 million Albums sold - and state-of-the-art recording and live performance spaces, Platinum Hit Technical Music Advisor Walter Earl required not only a 360-degree audio solution throughout the set that was easy to manage and powerful, but also a vendor with the commitment and passion matching that of the artists – qualities the show’s judges look for in the season’s winner. “The bar was set very high as the show came together and we knew the depth of the processes throughout the season would require a system that could handle the stress of a show that relies entirely on sound,” stated Walter, an industry professional who toured with Black Sabbath for more than 20 years, Jessica Simpson, Sioux and the Bandshees/The Creatures, Bill Ward Solo, Duff and the Chambers Brothers and The Butterfly Effect. “The HARMAN name is synonymous with decades of experience, an R+D team like no other, great customer service and of course, microphones that have been rock and roll standards for years.” AKG’s full list of equipment includes microphones: 16 P 3S, 16 D 5, two C 414 XLS, two C 214, a C 12 VR, C 451 B/ST and a Drum SET II and Drum SET BIG II; wireless systems: DSR 700, DHT 700 and WMS 450; headphones: 18 pairs of Quincy Jones Q 701’s, 12 K 240 and four Quincy Jones Q 350; with additional equipment including table and floor stands, booms and tripods. Produced by True Entertainment, Platinum Hit also utilizes HARMAN’s Soundcraft LX7 32 mixer, five MFXi 8/2 mixers and a Notepad 102, along with 12 JBL EON 510 loudspeakers, four 515’s and two 518S subs during production. Each of the four recording studios boasts a MFXI, EON 315’s and K 240 headphones, D 5 vocal mics and Perception P 3’s. Guitar cabinets and instruments were fitted with the C 214 or C 414 XLS, with acoustic guitars using the C 451 B for stereo recordings. The EON 515’s were utilized on the main performance stages with 510’s used for monitoring in the judging area. Also playing drums during the live performances, Walter’s kit was mic’d using the Drum SET BIG II as he monitored the beats with Q 701’s for his submix and click to the stage. “We needed to capture the essence of what was being performed, as the show concentrates on music and lyrics more than the physical appearance of the performer,” continued Walter. “A superior mic like the C 414 XLS has the reputation of excellence in the industry and we know AKG equipment won’t let us down during taping, which is something that absolutely cannot happen with our tight budgets and even tighter schedules. We have no time to deal with faulty technology.”
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