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MTV European Music Awards are In Seventh Heaven with Sennheiser
November 5th saw fireworks of the musical kind fill Berlin's O2 World venue as the MTV European Music Awards rewarded some of the music industry's most popular artists of 2009. With plenty of live performances between the business of handing out the gongs, Sennheiser supported the event for the seventh year in a row by providing microphones, in-ear monitoring systems and a great deal of technical assistance.
Working very closely with the event's sound designer Derrick Zieba and audio company Britannia Row, Mark Saunders and Andy Lillywhite of Sennheiser UK were there to provide a high-level of hands-on support for the many performers using Sennheiser equipment.
The company supplied G2 series in-ear monitors for every performer, as well as SKM 5200 handheld mics with Neumann KK 105 capsules for all the presenters.
With Berlin being Neumann's home city, it was highly appropriate for the company's capsules to feature, delivering the unparalleled sound quality that closely mirrors Sennheiser's unsurpassed customer service.
"The amount of effort that Mark Saunders and Andy Lillywhite put in is phenomenal," says Zieba. "At the very last moment the television producers wanted host Katy Perry to have a special blinged mic and they were able to pull it out of the hat, giving the director exactly the look they wanted.
"Andy also spent a huge amount of time rebodying microphones on to frequencies that can be used in Germany. What they provided is far beyond assistance. They're an integral part of the show."
With Sennheiser such a popular choice amongst leading vocalists, many of the performers at the event were also using their own Sennheiser microphones as well as in-ears. These included Shakira (SKM 5200 with KK 105 capsule), Leona Lewis (SKM 5200 with MD 5235 capsule), Foo Fighters (MD 431), Best Group winners Tokio Hotel and Beyoncé, who walked away with no less than three awards - for Best Female Artist, Best Song and Best Video.
"When I am out with Beyoncé we always use the SKM 5000 or 5200, with a 5235 capsule. We've also been using the G2 in-ears since they were released," says her monitor engineer Ramon Morales. "They are very straightforward and easy to use, they sound great and are extremely reliable."
"The most important thing for us with performances at a show like the MTV Awards is ensuring consistency with her microphone and her in-ears, because it helps in getting a mix that she's used to. Always having the SKM 5200 makes it easy to get the sound that she wants to hear, so having Sennheiser at these award shows makes it a lot easier, especially as we don't always have much time to do a proper soundcheck. And their support is phenomenal, they are always there for me."
Dave Wooster, FOH engineer for Leona Lewis, adds, "As an incoming engineer who works with Sennheiser on a regular basis, it's always good to turn up to major shows like the MTV Awards and find that they are on site supporting and assisting with the RF equipment. It takes a real weight off our shoulders."
With awards being given to a diverse array of artists including Beyoncé, U2, Green Day, Jay-Z, Pixie Lott, Eminem and Lady Gaga, the fact that Sennheiser provided so much equipment and support meant that everyone was a winner - certainly in terms of audio quality and hands-on support. A fact definitely not lost on Derrick Zieba.
"I've done this event with Sennheiser for many years and there isn't another manufacturer that provides the level of support they offer. Nobody else even comes close," he says.
"The artists absolutely rely on radio packs and in ear kits for their performance and the effort Sennheiser puts into the support for the show - not just with me as a designer, but with the artists as well - is genuinely appreciated. That level of support is a major reason why so many top artists use their products.
"I can't praise them enough. It would make doing these kind of shows, particularly when we're abroad, really difficult if we didn't have their support. Why would anyone want to choose anything else? I certainly wouldn't!"
In picture: Leona Lewis
23rd December 2009
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