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Two-Time Grammy Award-Winner Gnarls Barkley Tours with Sennheiser/Neumann Mic Combo

Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse like to hide behind film characters, mimicking classic movies in photo shoots and performing live in costumes from Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz. But there's no hiding Cee-Lo's vocals, thanks to a Sennheiser/Neumann wireless microphone that delivers crystal-clear audio, according to the band's monitor engineer, Tim Engwall.

"I was always a fan of the Neumann KMS 105, and the new Sennheiser wireless handheld sounds so clean and nice," says Engwall, who reports that the vocalist adopted the hybrid combination of a Sennheiser SKM 5200 handheld transmitter with a Neumann KK 105-S diaphragm nearly seven months ago. The mic – one of two, including a backup – were gold-plated per Cee-Lo's request.

Engwall, who has been with the band since they began performing live in April 2006, continues, "I can't say enough about the 105 capsule. It sounds great. And I like the sound of the new SKM 5200. I also like the toggle switch on the bottom to help you sort through the menu screen."

As a monitor engineer, Engwall says that he has another reason to like that particular vocal mic. "We have wedges all over the stage, and side fills, and the main vocal is slamming through everything. When the singer cups the microphone from time to time – which a lot of artists do, especially in hip-hop - I find that the sound, although it changes, like all mics, it

doesn't change as much. So when Cee-Lo cups the mic I find I have to apply a lot less EQ to prevent feedback than I do with most other microphones. I think a lot of that has to do with the rejection, and also the larger diaphragm."

The guitarist, bass player and two background singers are on Evolution Wireless G2 personal monitor systems, with a number of other musicians on wired systems. "I do two stereo mixes, for Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, the two principals," Engwall explains. "Then there are three mono mixes, and I have a mix. There's another pack on a duplicate frequency that shares the drummer's mix, for the drum tech, who listens to the mix so that he can make sure all the crucial click tracks and loops are there. Most everybody uses their own ear molds. Most of ours are Ultimate Ears."

The 12-piece live band, which includes a string quartet and backing singers, makes use of a number of wired Sennheiser Evolution Series models. Drummer Chris Vrenna, perhaps best known for his work as a member of Nine Inch Nails, is miked-up with some of the newer 900 series Evolution line. We're using a couple of the e 914 condensers on overheads," says Engwall. "We have all three, and sometimes four, toms miked with the low profile, all metal

clip-ons – the e 904s. I really like those."

Gnarls Barkley is back on the road for the second leg of the band's U.S. tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers during late February before flying to Australia for the Virgin V Festivals and a show in New Zealand. Engwall will then rejoin his gig with guitarist Brian Setzer. "I've been with the Brian Setzer Orchestra for the last three years, doing the rockabilly tour and the

Christmas show with the full 18-piece orchestra. I also have a house gig in Orange County."

In picture: Gnarls Barkley cleaned-up at the Grammys with a dual win for Best Alternative Album ("St Elsewhere") and Best Urban Alternative Performance for ("Crazy") with lead singer, Cee-Lo's clean vocals delivered by the Sennheiser SKM 5200 with the Neumann KK 105-S capsule. Photo: Wire Image

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latest news headlines

Two-Time Grammy Award-Winner Gnarls Barkley Tours with Sennheiser/Neumann Mic Combo

7th March 2007

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