Wireless on American Idol?

[fifthcircle]

So I'm watching Idol this evening (yes, still don't like the show, but a kid that I've recorded is competing and he's pretty awesome IMO)

Can't figure out what kind of wireless they are using. Doesn't look like the normal stuff that you see (usually Sennheiser on the big shows), but it doesn't look like Shure either.

Any idea what it is?

--Ben

[jlaco]

here's My guesses:

Neumann KM 105s

Beyer DM 960

[fifthcircle]

Doesn't look like a Neumann to me. Also, Neumann heads go on Sennheiser wireless and it is definitely not a Sennheiser body.

Never seen Beyer wireless... Hmm.. time to look online.

--Ben

[bassguy6]

It has a Blue logo. Blue300 I would say.

[fifthcircle]

Just looked online. Definitely that mic. Had no idea that Blue did wireless. Sounded pretty good on TV.

--Ben

[MichaelPatrick]

Don't know if it's the mix, but the vocals lacked mid punch and presence IMO. Weak in the middle.

Looks like a Blue Encore 300.

[Lolo22]

Shure Ksm 9

[Ty Ford]

Yes, BLUE,

A major step forward for BLUE. Good for them. I thought the peaks were a little edgy last night (3/1/2011) but only on voices that, at the moment, were full on. Could have been the vocal chords rattling. (I really like the KMS 104 and 105 as long as you don't eat them. The Audio Technica AE5400 is a sleeper. More should try it)

I have not had the chance to review the BLUE, but I hear the wireless system is also BLUE, in the 2 GHz range and currently limited to 12 simultaneous channels. (someone please toss in if you have heard differently.)

Pretty amazing feat to be in that frequency range in that kind of a high RF atmosphere. The current shows are pre-produced so if the mics do take a hit they can redo. There can be a few more RF devices in the air for live broadcasts. It'll be interesting to hear how they do when the show goes live.

Regards,

Ty Ford

[johndykstra]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

So I'm watching Idol this evening (yes, still don't like the show, but a kid that I've recorded is competing and he's pretty awesome IMO)

Can't figure out what kind of wireless they are using. Doesn't look like the normal stuff that you see (usually Sennheiser on the big shows), but it doesn't look like Shure either.

Any idea what it is?

--Ben

which kid is it?

I watch the show. To be honest, my wife really likes it, and I've learned to pick my battles. I get to look at gear and some hot chicks, so.... Also, there is some genuine talent on that show. Particularly in the earlier rounds when there are performers with some character. Eventually America weeds out everything that sounds "different", and we end up with a winner that sounds like every other winner, and release an album that has a cover that looks like the cover of every other winner's cover, with songs written by the same people that wrote the last winner's songs....

There are 2-3 guys and 1-2 girls this year that have some serious appeal to them. They'll never last a week or two.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by johndykstra

which kid is it?

I watch the show. To be honest, my wife really likes it, and I've learned to pick my battles. I get to look at gear and some hot chicks, so.... Also, there is some genuine talent on that show. Particularly in the earlier rounds when there are performers with some character. Eventually America weeds out everything that sounds "different", and we end up with a winner that sounds like every other winner, and release an album that has a cover that looks like the cover of every other winner's cover, with songs written by the same people that wrote the last winner's songs....

There are 2-3 guys and 1-2 girls this year that have some serious appeal to them. They'll never last a week or two.

Yes, I've been watching the show all season and I think some of the best of the talent was tossed by the judges already.

I was impressed with a lot of the singing on Beatles night, but last night none of the final 12 men did anything for me at all.

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

Don't know if it's the mix, but the vocals lacked mid punch and presence IMO. Weak in the middle.

I agree, the vocals weren't loud enough in the mix, but worse than that, I think it is the singers themselves that lacked punch and presence.

[johndykstra]

I think Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams are both fantastic. Especially when Casey plays upright.

That Scotty country dude is really really good. Not my bag, but he'll go far, with or without the show.

[johndykstra]

In past seasons, I had been disappointed in the mix. Vocals were so forward. I mean, I know it's a singing competition, but on past seasons, everything sounded karaoke because vocals were SO far on top.

This year they've gone a bit too far in the right direction. Now it sounds more like a bar gig.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by johndykstra

I think Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams are both fantastic. Especially when Casey plays upright.

That Scotty country dude is really really good. Not my bag, but he'll go far, with or without the show.

I like Paul as well, but didn't like his last number as much.

[fifthcircle]

Casey Abrams is the kid I've worked with. He is a graduate of the same high school that I went to- an Arts Academy in Idyllwild, CA. His bass/jazz teacher is a great friend and mentor of mine. FWIW, the girl from Columbia (Julie Zorrilla) also went to the same school, although for only one year whereas Casey spent 4 years there.

I think the vocals were a bit heavy on the reverb send, but over all, didn't bother me too much. Some of the performances were a bit lacking this week, but there are still a couple people IMO that have some pretty good tallent. Listening on my TV, I thought it worked relatively well, but then again the fidelity isn't great there.

I'm beginning to see more and more high-frequency wireless systems out there. Perhaps it is because of the uncertainty and issues with whitespace and such. The sabine is pretty wretched in sound. I've had a few guitarists come across stages using the Nady system for their pedal boards and they seem to be ok, although a guitar pedal board isn't exactly the best judge of fidelity.

--Ben

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

I'm beginning to see more and more high-frequency wireless systems out there. Perhaps it is because of the uncertainty and issues with whitespace and such. The sabine is pretty wretched in sound. I've had a few guitarists come across stages using the Nady system for their pedal boards and they seem to be ok, although a guitar pedal board isn't exactly the best judge of fidelity.

I have an AKG wireless system using a c535eb head, and it works and sounds great. Sounds almost identical to my hardwired 535 and I've never had any issues with it. thumbsup

[huub]

Wow.. digital wireless? For broadcast?! Interesting!
Wireless Mic | Blue Microphones | Blue Blog

[HughH]

Hello,
Correct, Blue RFs. They operate in the 2.4GHz range using an RF section developed by, if I remember correctly, Line6. They unfortunately can only get 12 RFs operating which means we always need other brands for other things like lavs and RF rostrums. I'm not sure of the total number of RFs on AI
but many tv shows use up to 50 RFs, occasionally more.

How they got to the show is not for me to comment on.........
H

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by johndykstra

I think Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams are both fantastic. Especially when Casey plays upright.

That Scotty country dude is really really good. Not my bag, but he'll go far, with or without the show.

My daughter (15) also picked Paul and Casey as her favorites. But they have tough competition in the girls. I think Pia is going to be the new idol, that girl can sing! And Thia's voice reminds me a lot of Karen Carpenter.

[Farfensound]

So a few days ago Musician's Friend posted an ad for a deal on the EnCore series by Blue. So I was checking them out online and thinking that they look pretty much like a low end mic. I was really surprised to see them on American Idol when we watched the DVR tonight.

I've heard some not so nice things about this mic and want to put my two cents in on the audio hear on American idol.

So far I would have to say that the mix has majorly changed and all in all it has a big hole in the middle of it. not just the singers but the host and judges all seem to be suffering the same way.

My first thought is over compression, when I moved over to NBC standard Def things sounded great but then when I went to the HD NBC channel and the yucky audio was back. Seems that my provider cannot be trusted to provide high quality audio.

I know that most likely 0 of us have gotten a chance to get a hand on the wireless version but has anyone heard the wired version En Core 300? how does it stand up with the industry standards?

Karl Freudenreich
Acoustic Butler

[huub]

Originally Posted by HughH

Hello,
Correct, Blue RFs. They operate in the 2.4GHz range using an RF section developed by, if I remember correctly, Line6. They unfortunately can only get 12 RFs operating which means we always need other brands for other things like lavs and RF rostrums. I'm not sure of the total number of RFs on AI
but many tv shows use up to 50 RFs, occasionally more.

How they got to the show is not for me to comment on.........
H

How is the reliability and soundquality of the digital RF system?