Sennheiser

soundings
Lionel
© Marc Theis
Richie
Spring/Summer ‘06
Volume 9
soundings 1/06 Editorial • Contents
Editorial
Dear Reader,
Sennheiser is growing worldwide – not only
in sales and production but also in research
and development. Our new R&D lab in Palo Alto,
California, is testament to both our growth
and our commitment to create hi-tech audio
solutions. This new “think tank” will help us
to integrate the latest digital technologies into
our products – products that will serve you
even better.
From Silicon Valley, Soundings will take you
to yet another festive opening ceremony: in
Singapore, where our subsidiary Sennheiser
Asia has moved into new, larger premises.
Soundings also invites you to dig for gold in
Australia, to take a look back at our anniversary
gala in Germany, and to experience the “Toast
of the Nation” in the USA. Look over sound
designer Derrick Zieba’s shoulder while he prepares the Brit Awards and visit the baroque
Church of Our Lady in Dresden. Learn how
Sennheiser systems enabled hearing-impaired
teenagers to enjoy a concert, and read more
about the bands Depeche Mode and Bloc Party,
who are touring with Sennheiser microphones.
Contents
Top News • Management Report
Palo Alto – Sennheiser’s New “Think Tank” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
Cover Story
Sixty Years of Superb Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04
International Stories
Central Europe
The Dresden Frauenkirche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
Western & Southern Europe and Africa
The Internet World Summit in Tunis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tomorrow’s Stars with Sennheiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Northern and Eastern Europe
Sennheiser at the Brits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Americas
“Toast of the Nation” in New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Asia and Australia
Sennheiser Asia Celebrates a Sound Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
GuidePort™ and Gold Fever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New Products • Highlights
New Monitoring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Young, Sporty, Chic:
Three New Portable Headphone Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
e 912 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Maximum Reliability in a Miniature Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Cutting-Edge Microphone for Stage and Broadcast . . . . . . . . 21
Music Scene
Depeche Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Bloc Party – So Here we Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Concert Premiere – Simple Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Engineering Specials
Antenna Technology: Setting up
20-Channel Systems with evolution wireless G2 . . . . . . . . . . 26
Enjoy this journey through the Sennheiser world.
Yours,
Rolf Meyer
President Marketing and Sales
Published by:
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Am Labor 1, 30900 Wedemark
www.sennheiser.com
Editor:
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Editorial Design:
Mayer & Partner, Borselstraße 3, 22765 Hamburg
[email protected]
2
Top News • Management Report soundings 1/06
PaloSennheiser’s
Alto – New
“Think Tank”
On January 20, 2006, Sennheiser opened a new R&D laboratory
in Palo Alto in California’s Silicon Valley. Sennheiser is expecting valuable synergy effects between the new development laboratory and Silicon Valley, a
prestigious location that is already home to renowned universities, research centers
and hi-tech companies like Nasa Ames, Yahoo, Digidesign, Analog Devices, Stanford
University, UC Berkeley, Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab and the BMW Technology Office. Commenting on the new office in Palo Alto, Dr. Heinrich Esser, President
Research and Development, said: “The Palo Alto location in Silicon Valley offers us
the opportunity to work in close cooperation with innovative partners who are technology leaders. We look forward to a lively exchange of ideas with the research and
development centers located here.” Research at the new laboratory will be focused
on digital signal processing for application in microphones, headphones and loudspeakers. Headed by Dr. Véronique Larcher, the new R&D office in Palo Alto will
maintain close contact with the research and development division at Sennheiser’s
headquarters in Wennebostel, Wedemark.
© Fatimata Vetu
Festive opening of the Palo Alto research and development lab (l/r): Dr. Véronique Larcher, Director of Research
North America; Susanne Seidel, Vice-President Marketing; Dr. Heinrich Esser, President Research and Development;
Karin Sennheiser; Judy Kleinberg, Mayor of Palo Alto; and Dr. Jürgen Peissig, Manager Technology Projects
3
soundings 1/06 Cover Story
Sixty Years
of Superb Sound
With nearly 2,600 people from 34 countries, the panorama of guests
attending Sennheiser’s anniversary celebration was as colorful and
dynamic as the highly successful sixty-year history of the company
itself. Last September and in the presence of the company’s founder
Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser, staff, former employees, customers and
friends enjoyed a gala presentation of music, culinary delights and
international festivities in celebration of the company’s rise from a
modest “Laboratorium W” in 1945 to a present day world leader in
audio technology.
1,787 meters of stage scaffolding, 200 liters of theater paint, 3,780 square meters of backing
cloth and 58,000 staples were used to transform the usually empty German Expo pavilion
into an attractive venue with an international flair. A luxurious Sennheiser lounge offered a
relaxing environment for networking, while chefs served up gourmet specialties in the buffet
area. Guests assembled in front of the stage to listen to the speakers including Prof. Dr. Jörg
Sennheiser, Rolf Meyer, the Chairman of the Works Committee Manfred Duwe and the Prime
Minister of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff.
The festivities culminated in an awesome concert that comprised live performances from international artists who demonstrated the true qualities of Sennheiser microphones. The German
group Die Söhne Mannheims, featuring Xavier Naidoo, provided a resounding opening to the
4
© Marc Theis (5)
Cover Story soundings 1/06
Right side, top to bottom:
“Let us design the future together!”
Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser during his opening speech
Lionel Richie with Fritz and Hertha Sennheiser
President Rolf Meyer and The Scorpions
Christian Wulff, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony
soundings 1/06 Cover Story
fantastic concert. The world famous Scorpions
wooed the audience with the Elvis classic
“His Latest Flame” and went on to present
a brilliant unplugged performance of their
worldwide hits. Excitement among the
guests grew in anticipation of a third act
whose name remained a closely guarded
secret. When superstar and music icon Lionel
Richie graced the stage, the atmosphere
became electric. With a worldwide career
that spans decades, he sang one hit after
another and offered an incredible show. No
other artist could have united so many different nations and age groups as perfectly
as Lionel Richie. Prior to his performance,
the star hosted a “meet and greet” session
”Die Söhne Mannheims” with Xavier Naidoo
6
where he met the family behind the Sennheiser name, first and foremost
Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser and company founder Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser.
In lieu of anniversary presents, the Sennheiser family and the executive
committee had asked guests to consider making a donation to a children’s
hospital in Hanover. Together with further contributions by the workforce
and the management, the sum of € 20,000 was presented to the hospital
in December.
A wonderful party finally drew to a close in the early hours of the morning. Rolf Meyer, spokesman for the company management, was delighted
with the event: “At Sennheiser, all national and international business
partners and employees make up one single successful team. The very
special ‘Sennheiser spirit’ that brought us all together gave us an evening
full of pleasure, friendly conversation and fantastic music.”
Cover Story soundings 1/06
Top to bottom:
The German Pavilion was
resplendent in red and blue light
A golden voice:
Lionel Richie sang classic songs
from his time with the Commodores
and recent hits such as “Just For You”
© Marc Theis (4)
Meet & greet with the Sennheiser family
7
soundings 1/06 International Stories • Central Europe
The
Dresden Frauenkirche
© Jörg Schöner (5)
After twelve years of painstaking reconstruction, the Frauenkirche (Church of
Our Lady) in the German city of Dresden
has officially reopened.
8
International Stories • Central Europe soundings 1/06
Ever since the church was destroyed by bombing, the ruins of Dresden’s Frauenkirche came to symbolize the horrors and suffering of the Second World War. But
since reconstruction started in 1993, the Frauenkirche has become a sign of hope
and reconciliation. The rebuilding of the Frauenkirche was financed by an unprecedented campaign of international donations – one of the greatest cultural citizens’
movements that Europe has ever seen.
Old and new side by side: remaining stones
of the Frauenkirche ruins were integrated into
the new building
The campaign began on February 13 1990, the 45th anniversary of the bombing
of the city, and became known as the “Dresden Appeal”. Associations in support of
the reconstruction of Dresden’s Frauenkirche were founded not only in eastern and
western Germany but also broader Europe and even the USA. The response was
overwhelming, and donations ran into the millions.
On January 4 1993, the ambitious building project could finally begin with clearing
of the site. The rubble was carefully measured and catalogued so that it could be
reintegrated into the building when the time came. The actual reconstruction work
began in the spring of 1994.
The aim was to rebuild the Frauenkirche using as much of the historic building
material as possible and by following the original construction plans of the architect
George Bähr from the year 1726 – all the while integrating modern technology to
allow the best possible contemporary use of the church.
Sennheiser also contributed to the realization of this unique undertaking by providing the entire microphone system for the Frauenkirche. The pulpit is equipped with an
AK 40/KM 100 microphone from Neumann, while sound at the altar is picked up by
a Sennheiser MKH 60. Perfect wireless audio transmission is ensured by SKM 5000
UHF hand-held transmitters, SK 50 UHF pocket transmitters with MKE 2-4 Gold clipon microphones and EM 3032 True Diversity receivers. For broadcasting concerts and
other events, MD 421 SE, AK 30/KM 100 and GFM 132 boundary microphones from
Neumann are available for use.
The cross and orb of the Frauenkirche: a sign of hope
and reconciliation. The cross was forged by the son of
a former British bomber pilot and was ceremoniously
presented to the City of Dresden by the Duke of Kent
in 2000
An architectural masterpiece: the huge dome
Information on every aspect of the Frauenkirche and its fascinating history is communicated via Sennheiser’s GuidePort visitor guidance system. Visitors can configure
the information to suit their particular interests and enjoy the audio in their very own
language. They will have a knowledgeable guide by their side at all times, as they
stroll around the beautiful church.
[www.frauenkirche-dresden.org]
For almost five decades, the Frauenkirche ruins symbolized the horrors of war
9
soundings 1/06 International Stories • Western & Southern Europe and Africa
The
Internet
World Summit in Tunis
Who governs the internet? Who controls its domain
addresses, its access rights, its contents? All those involved in the
UN World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in November
2005 recognized the lack of easy answers to questions like these.
After all, the internet has always been something of an anarchic
medium, one whose very attractiveness and freedom are ultimately
due to the fact that it is almost impossible to control – in both the
positive and the negative sense.
As expected, heated debates arose among the almost 19,000
participants from 174 countries, including 50 heads of state and
heads of government as well as high-ranking representatives from
industry and commerce, 92 international organizations, 606 NGOs
and 642 media. And to ensure that discussions could be followed
simultaneously in hundreds of rooms, Sennheiser provided state-ofthe-art audio technology. Sennheiser France installed 450 units of
the SDC 8000 conference system, and more than 4,500 stethoset
receivers guaranteed that the participants received the live dialog
in eight different languages straight from the interpreters’ desks.
80 channels of evolution wireless G2, 120 gooseneck microphones,
35 QSC amplifiers and 70 loudspeakers rounded off the equipment
supplied in the service of the world community.
At the preceding summit in Geneva in 2003 participants agreed
that digital communication presented a great opportunity, as long
as it was available without censorship to all people throughout the
world. The aim of the Tunis summit was to sustainably bridge the
“digital divide” between rich and poor nations.
The key issue at the summit was “internet governance”, including
the future oversight of the assignment of top-level domains, both
for countries (e.g. “.de” for Germany) and for companies (“.com”)
Sennheiser conference and infrared audio
transmission systems overcame the
language barriers at the world summit
10
International Stories • Western & Southern Europe and Africa soundings 1/06
and organizations (“.org”). Until now,
this has been the responsibility of
ICANN, an American foundation that
answers to the US Department of Commerce and therefore to the US government. Critics, including the European
Union, would, however, prefer an independent worldwide authority, for example under UN supervision. But UN Secretary General Kofi Annan made it clear
at the start of the summit that the UN
would not take on this responsibility.
At present, Annan said, the work done
by ICANN remained “sensible” – and it
would maintain overall control for the
time being. In parallel, however, a newly
established international forum would
develop alternatives.
If Kofi Annan and the Tunis Commitment have their way, the internet
will soon be available to all people
throughout the world. Annan hopes
that his vision of an international
digital community will be achieved by
2015. By then, all schools, universities
and research centers throughout the
world should have at least one communal access to the internet. All people
should have access to television and
radio, and at least one in every two
people should have internet access.
Tomorrow’s Stars
with Sennheiser
Greece’s most popular private TV channel ANT 1
has invested heavily in the fourth series of its
hit talent show “Fame Story”. No less than 72
wireless channels from Sennheiser will be on hand
when the stars of tomorrow go on air. “Fame
Story”, the Greek version of Star Academy, is a
mixture of superstar talent show and Big Brother.
The candidates for musical stardom share a house
for three months, and the TV audience can tune
in every evening for an insight into some of that
day’s events. For a small fee, viewers can even
follow the show live all day long via the internet.
The excitement builds to a climax on Sunday
evenings, when the candidates perform against
each other. A jury picks out the three worst
performers of the night, two of whom can then
be voted back in by the house residents and
the viewers. The show reaches its climax in the
Grand Final, which promises a lucrative recording
contract for the winner.
The Greek charts are primarily album charts, one
for Greek artists and one as a mixed Top Ten for
domestic and international music stars. It’s not
unusual, therefore, for the top five places to be
occupied by Fame Story CDs, with international
stars being pushed to the bottom of the chart.
The show’s producers regularly release mini
albums with five songs each, and these sell like
hot cakes among the Greek record-buying public,
including young people.
Equipment
The talent show uses 56 channels
in the main studio: 19 EM 3032
twin receivers, one EM 3532 twin
receiver, 16 SKM 5200 handheld
transmitters with Neumann
KK 105 S capsules, 22 SK 50 bodypack transmitters with HSP 4
headset microphones and two
SK 5012 bodypack transmitters
also with HSP 4 headset microphones. The wireless monitoring
system uses eight SR 3256 twin
transmitters and 16 EK 3253
bodypack receivers. In the smaller Studio B, a 16-channel evolution wireless system is used:
eight EM 550 G2 twin receivers
and 16 SK 500 G2 pocket transmitters with MKE 2-ew clip-on
microphones.
11
© gettyimages/Dave Hogan
soundings 1/06 International Stories • Northern and Eastern Europe
Sennheiser
at the
Kaiser Chiefs came out on top
and took home three awards
„Brits“
A February evening in London is not a particularly attractive affair.
It’s cold, damp and grey. Unless, of course, it’s the 15th of February
and the address is 1 Earl’s Court. That’s the venue for the night of
all nights in the British music industry, with dozens of vocalists,
drummers, guitarists and bassists trembling with anticipation for
their chance to receive Britain’s most prestigious music accolades:
the Brit Awards.
The list of nominees over the past 29 years reads like a Who’s Who
of pop. The coveted trophies are awarded in 15 categories, six of
them to international artists. One of the stars of the evening was
newcomer James Blunt, who took two awards – Best Male Solo Artist
and Best Pop Act – for his debut album “Back to Bedlam”. Five-time
nominees Kaiser Chiefs (Sennheiser evolution users) grabbed more
gongs than anyone else on the night, walking off with three awards:
Best British Group, Best British Rock Act and Best British Live Act. In
their opening number “I Predict a Riot” they rocked the audience
and left no doubt that they fully deserved the award.
Among the winners in the international categories were Sennheiser
users Madonna (Best International Female Solo Artist) and rapper
and top producer Kanye West as Best International Male Solo Artist.
The Best International Breakthrough Act, Jack Johnson, also sang
using Sennheiser. Best International Group was Green Day, while
the Outstanding Achievement award went to British pop legend
Paul Weller.
Apart from the aforementioned vocalists’ and presenters’ microphones Sennheiser also provided wireless monitoring for almost all
the artists and bands (evolution wireless G2).
Sound Designer Derrick Zieba at the
FOH console: everything under control
12
Once again the Brit Awards were placed in the capable hands of
Sound Designer Derrick Zieba and equipment supplier Britannia
Row Productions. Zieba: “I’ve been working with Sennheiser
technology at the Brit Awards for five years in a row. As always,
everything went off without a hitch right from the start. Technical support by Sennheiser is simply the best.”
International Stories • Americas soundings 1/06
„Toast of the Nation”
in New
Orleans
Jazz, blues and brass bands: the city of New Orleans is famous above
all for its rich musical tradition. But ever since the city was devastated by hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the name New Orleans has
also become synonymous with the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.
One sign of a new beginning after the hurricane was provided by America’s “National Public
Radio” (NPR). On New Year’s Eve 2005, NPR’s traditional coast-to-coast 12-hour music special
“Toast of the Nation” was broadcast live from New Orleans. It was the first time in the show’s
26-year history that “Toast of the Nation” was not hosted from Washington D.C. This year,
the event helped raise funds for the “Tipitina’s Foundation”, a charitable organization aimed
at helping artists recover from hurricane Katrina.
Perfect sound for “Toast of the Nation” was ensured by microphone technology from Sennheiser and Neumann. Mike Pappas, technical director at NPR, explained: “We needed to record
a brass line, the classic New Orleans funeral procession. I wanted to be able to do that in conventional stereo and 5.1 surround.” The optimum solution was to use a Neumann KU 100
dummy head microphone, affectionately known as “Fritz” at NPR. The KU 100 is a model
human head with microphone elements located inside its replica ears. The highly realistic binaural stereo transports the listener directly to the scene of the recording. It was this feature
that made the Neumann KU 100 the perfect companion for the New Year’s Eve procession
© Erika Goldring
The Hot 8 Brass Band used Sennheiser
and Neumann at “Toast of the Nation”
(from l. to r.): Neumann U 87 for the
trombone; Sennheiser MKH 800 for the
saxophone; Neumann TLM 103 with a
black finish for the trumpet; Neumann
TLM 170 for the trumpet; Sennheiser
MKH 800 for the trombone; Neumann
KM-184 for the sousaphone
13
© Herman Leonard
soundings 1/06 International Stories • Americas
The Tipitina’s
in New Orleans. “We were recording the procession live, so we didn’t have time for
a second shot.” Pappa’s only microphone source was the KU 100 dummy head. “It's
great,” he notes. “It's really easy and convenient, and it produces killer stereo that
you can rely on.” The brass line marched through twenty blocks of the city. “I
marched with them for eight of those along with my equipment. Eight blocks in
80-degree weather, with the sun beating down and about 100 percent humidity,”
Pappas reports.
The highlight of “Toast of the Nation” was the live broadcast from “Tipitina’s”, the
legendary music club in uptown New Orleans. The all-night event included performances by bands like Galactic or The Hot 8 Brass Band. Here too, the KU 100 dummy
head microphone guaranteed a perfect sound experience for radio listeners throughout the USA. Mike Pappas recalls with a smile: “We hung the KU 100 from the second-story rafters over the dance floor – to make sure that our “Fritz” didn’t get
taken home by some of the revelers!” And it really was a wild party. “The club
flushed the last of the customers out at 6:30 in the morning,” Pappas remembers.
NPR also used SKM 5000 handheld transmitters outfitted with Neumann KK 104
capsules and EM 3532 G2 receivers for the announcers, as well as wireless evolution
SKM 935 G2 vocals microphones with EM 550 G2 receivers, EW 300 IEM G2 monitoring systems and wired MD 421-IIs plus MKH 50, MKH 60 and MKH 800 RF condenser
microphones. From the evolution series, Sennheiser supplied e 902, e 905, e 614 and
e 935 vocals and instrument microphones. “Toast of the Nation” was also miked
using Neumann KM 184, TLM 170, TLM 193 and TLM 127 microphones. Mike Pappas
was thrilled with how things went: "Everything was absolutely spectacular. All the
mics were perfect."
14
Mike Pappas, technical director of “Toast of the Nation”
with “Fritz”, the Neumann KU 100, and a statue of the
legendary musician Professor Longhair at “Tipitina’s”
NPR
The non-commercial organization National
Public Radio (NPR) produces news, talk and
entertainment programs for more than 780
public radio stations in the USA. Founded in
1970, NPR has production centers and studios
in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles as well as a
worldwide network of reporters and correspondents. With an audience of around 26 million
and award-winning program and report formats, NPR is one of the USA’s most important
media organizations.
[www.npr.org]
„Tipitina’s“
The music club “Tipitina’s” in New Orleans is a
meeting place for music fans from all over the
world. The club was founded in 1977 by young
music fans to provide a performance venue for
the impoverished blues legend Professor
Longhair. The name “Tipitina’s” is the title of
one of the musician’s songs. Since its foundation, “Tipitina’s” has been host to famous
artists like James Brown, Lenny Kravitz, the
Neville Brothers and Goo Goo Dolls. The club’s
aim has always been to promote the musical
traditions of the city of New Orleans. After hurricane Katrina devastated the city, the
“Tipitina’s Foundation” has been dedicated to
rebuilding and supporting New Orleans’ music
culture. The organization raises funds and helps
musicians to find housing, replacement instruments and bank loans. It also provides rehearsal rooms, organizes seminars and works in close
cooperation with the New Orleans Musician’s
Clinic, a free hospital for musicians.
[www.tipitinas.com]
International Stories • Asia and Australia soundings 1/06
Sennheiser Asia
Celebrates a Sound Success
On November 9, 2005, audio representatives and partners from all over the world came together
to celebrate the opening of Sennheiser Asia’s new office in Singapore. Due to its rapid expansion,
Sennheiser Asia has moved to larger headquarters to accommodate more offices, a service center
and warehouse. In May 2006, the company added a brand-new showroom with demo stations.
Founded in November 1992 to oversee its growing market, Sennheiser Asia serves 50 distributorships throughout Asia, with offices and partners spanning 17 countries, including Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Pakistan,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Its turnover has grown eight
times in ten years. Sales in East Asia alone, which comprises China and Hong Kong, have steadily
increased, and have grown two-fold since 2000. “The opening of Sennheiser Asia’s new premises
marks a significant milestone for Sennheiser,” said Rolf Meyer, President of Marketing & Sales of
Sennheiser. “Much has been accomplished since Sennheiser Asia was founded. It started as a simple two-man setup, but with much determination and hard work, has grown into a dominant subsidiary with 60 employees today. This is a testament to our success and commitment to increase
our market share in Asia. I am confident that Sennheiser Asia will continue to establish a strong
foothold in the region.”
The solid economic performance in Asia is spurred by a steady expansion into major industrial
countries, continued strong growth in China and deepening regional integration. The favorable
economic outlook and market situation in Asia bring significant growth opportunities for
Sennheiser Asia. “We have achieved a lot over the years, thanks to the hard work of our most
valuable resource – our staff,” said Mr. Swee Fook Ho, Managing Director of Sennheiser Asia.
“We will continue to strive for new business and set up new offices within Asia so that we can
continue to serve our customers to the best of our abilities.“
Cutting the ribbon: the two founding members of Sennheiser Asia,
Swee Fook Ho (l.) and Don Ho (r.), with Simon Lim of the Singapore
Economic Development Board (2nd l.) and Rolf Meyer
A toast to the new premises
15
soundings 1/06 International Stories • Asia and Australia
GuidePort™
and Gold
The news spread like wildfire:
they’ve found gold in Ballarat!
Back in 1851, the prospects of instant wealth
and a better life tempted fortune hunters, entrepreneurs and down-and-outs to the small town
near Melbourne. The discovery of gold transformed Ballarat into a thriving provincial town –
and its rich history can be relived today at the
“Sovereign Hill” open-air museum.
The theme park has lovingly reconstructed the
gold diggers’ town, with authentically costumed
performers re-enacting the 1850s and 1860s.
Already for the third year in a row, Sovereign
Hill has been among Victoria’s winners of
the National Tourism Award as a leading
tourist attraction.
Fever
Now, with the GuidePort™ visitor guidance system at their side, visitors can learn
all about life in the gold diggers’ town and their work on the goldfields. Stories
of struggle and triumph are relayed through GuidePort in four languages during
the Discovery Tour. How do you shear a sheep or pan for gold? GuidePort has
the answers. Visitors can pan for gold, and if they’re feeling especially adventurous, take one of the exciting guided tours of the gold mines.
An unforgettable highlight is “Blood on the Southern Cross”, a spectacular
sound and light show that brings to life the story of the infamous Eureka Rebellion among the mineworkers in Ballarat, who, angered by unfair gold taxes, led a
rebellion against injustice and corruption. Workers at the Eureka mine swore an
oath of loyality on a flag with the Southern Cross. The rebellion was finally put
down by soldiers and police in a bloody dawn battle on December 3 1854.
Sovereign Hill has invested millions of Australian dollars in this
dramatic show. Accompanied by GuidePort, the show works
completely without live performers in a stunning open-air
setting that emits breathtaking light and audio effects.
A much more peaceful scene is the park’s award-winning “Gold Museum”. A presentation of the cultural
history of Ballarat and its surroundings, the Gold
Museum includes a unique collection of nuggets, gold coins and jewellery that inspires
gold fever among its visitors.
16
New Products • Highlights soundings 1/06
New
Monitoring System
Sennheiser’s new 3250 system is the most flexible wireless monitoring
system the market currently has to offer. With frequencies that are tunable in 5 kHz
steps within a 36 MHz window, the 3250 system makes use of even the smallest frequency gap –
ideal for demanding multi-channel applications. “Wireless monitoring is becoming increasingly popular,
but at the same time the frequency spectrum is getting more and more crowded,” observes Sven
Boetcher, Sennheiser’s product manager for professional wireless systems. “Therefore, we have
made the 3250 system as flexible as possible, ensuring that we provide PA companies, broadcasting
networks and stage professionals with the best of the best.”
On the transmitter side, the new monitoring system offers the user a choice between the SR 3254
stereo transmitter and the SR 3256 twin stereo transmitter. Both come in a 19”/1U size and are
true powerhouses, with outputs of up to 100 mW. The transmitters use the HDX compander system,
achieving noise suppression of up to 90 dB and ensuring a wide dynamic range and crystal-clear
monitoring signals. The transmitters are easy to operate, can be switched between mono and stereo
mode and have a backlit LC display. The sound quality is excellent, thanks to an audio frequency
response of 40 to 15,000 Hz.
The system’s bodypack receiver, the EK 3253, is twenty percent smaller than its predecessor but even
more robust, with both the body and the battery cover now being made of metal. Here, too, a backlit
display makes the menu-controlled operation even more user-friendly. A pilot tone-controlled squelch
allows noise-free switching in stereo mode. As a special feature, the receiver also has a scan function,
making it easy to search for free transmission channels. The focus function enables artists to create
their own special mix from their own audio signal and the overall mix. The receiver comes complete
with batteries and a pair of IE 4 stereo ear-canal phones that offer natural, powerful sound and outstanding bass response.
17
soundings 1/06 New Products • Highlights
Young, Sporty, Chic:
Three New Portable
Headphone Ranges
LX 90 Style
Style Along with its high-quality materials
and gold-plated plugs that are characteristic
of the “Style” range, the MX 90 VC Style stereo
earphones feature a clever, patent-pending
“Twist-to-Fit” system. One twist and the earphones fit securely in the outer ear and the
ear canal, delivering detailed and clear sound.
Simple volume adjustment is achieved via the
volume control integrated into the cable. The
OMX 90 VC Style earbow headphones have
already won the iF Design Award. They feature
earbows with individual height adjustment
and incorporate an integrated volume control.
Another patent-pending model is the LX 90
Style “flex” headphones. This model includes an
unusually adaptable alternative to a headband:
a flexible, thin plastic tube with a metal core. In
all “Style” headphones, a specially tuned damping system generates a very fine, accurately
detailed sound image.
18
New Products • Highlights soundings 1/06
Whether you’re in the city, on the train or jogging in the woods: portable entertainment is your perfect companion. And for many music and multimedia fans, one aspect
is vitally important: the styling should suit the occasion. Sennheiser has responded by
launching three new ranges of headphones: the elegant and luxurious “Style” range,
the sporty and robust “Sport” models – and the “Street” line, for all young people
who value cool design and powerful sound in a shock-proof package.
MX 55 VC Street
MX 70 Sport
Sport Finished in fresh green, white and sporty light gray,
Street Chic, securely fitting and practical – that’s how kids want their
the new “Sport” headphones have a striking design. The MX 70
Sport earphones are not only resistant to rain, sweat and low
temperatures like the five other models in the range, but the
faces of their earpieces are also magnetic, allowing them to be
casually clipped around the neck. A cable clip and a separate
extension cable make tangled cables a thing of the past. The
model MX 70 VC Sport also offers sports enthusiasts a volume
control integrated into the cable. Earpieces can be clipped
onto the volume control as well. The MXL 70 VC Sport has a
lanyard that secures the mobile player to the neck strap.
headphones to be. Sennheiser’s “Street” range responds to these demands with as many as seven different models. Finished in cool white,
the MX 50 Street, for example, have an elastic cable attachment at the
earpieces that puts an end to broken cables. With their metallized and
petrol design, the MX 51 Street are guaranteed to draw envious looks,
even when they are stowed away in their attractive metallized case.
The MXL 51 Street version has a lanyard with a removable securing
cord for the player and an extension cable.
As the sporty counterpart to the MX 90 VC Style, the MX 75
Sport also feature the clever “Twist-to-Fit” system with stoppers
and adapters for the ear canal. The MX 75 Sport have already
impressed the judges of the iF Design Award. Together with the
MX 70 Sport (Golden iF Product Design Award) and the MXL 70
VC Sport, the new earphones won the coveted Design Award.
The PMX 70 Sport offer a single-sided cable attachment and
ergonomic neckband while the LX 70 Sport incorporate an innovative “flex“ design for sports enthusiasts.
A cool version of the “Twist-to-Fit” system with stoppers can be found
in the MX 55 Street and MX 55 VC Street. The latter also come with
integrated volume control and exchangeable trim elements that let
you change their appearance according to your mood.
Individually adjustable earbows and an asymmetrical cable are the features of the OMX 50 VC Street with volume control (iF Design Award).
For full sound and strong bass, look no further than the OMX 52 Street
with “Basswind plus”. The supra-aural model comes complete with
exchangeable trim elements.
19
soundings 1/06 New Products • Highlights
e 912
Following the huge success of its e 901 boundary microphone
for bass drums, Sennheiser unveiled the e 912, a much-awaited
boundary model for picking up speech, vocals and acoustic
instruments, especially pianos and concert grands.
“The e 912 is the ideal solution for a wide range of applications:
from musical instruments to theater or opera house stages, to
conferences, churches and lecterns,” says Stephan Scherthan,
Sennheiser’s Team Manager Music Industry. The prepolarized
condenser microphone with an integrated preamplifier has a
half-cardioid pick-up pattern. Its wide frequency response of
20 to 20,000 Hertz guarantees a detailed sound image, while
the high maximum sound pressure level of 136 dB ensures distortion-free sound even from loud sources.
Black or…
The e 912 is extremely robust and ideal for rugged use. Its housing encloses the gold-plated XLR-3 connector in such a way that
the connector for the microphone cable is also protected. A rubber plate on the underside of the microphone prevents vibrations from being transmitted. Mounting slots underneath the
microphone allow the e 912 to be installed securely on a stage,
a conference table or a lectern. The microphone weighs an
impressive 550 g, which means that it can be firmly positioned
even if it is not secured to the ground, for example when miking
instruments.
…off-white housing: the e 912 blends inconspicuously into the installation environment
Maximum
Reliability in a
Miniature Size
20
Extremely compact, lightweight and with legendary reliability, the
new Sennheiser SK 5212 is among the smallest professional bodypack
transmitters in the world. In spite of its miniature size, the SK 5212
in combination with Sennheiser receivers allows more channels to
be operated in a smaller frequency spectrum than any competitor
product. A sturdy metal housing protects the mini transmitter within
the tough conditions of TV and stage.
The technical data of the small bodypack are outstanding: the switching bandwidth of 36 MHz is freely selectable in the entire UHF range
from 450 to 960 MHz, and the transmitter frequency can be set in
5 kHz steps. A single AA battery ensures that the SK 5212 works
reliably for 5.5 hours at its full 50 mW output power. The transmitter
power can be reduced to 10 mW to adapt to the transmission condi-
New Products • Highlights soundings 1/06
SKM 5200 Cutting-Edge Microphone for
Stage and Broadcast
A versatile microphone that not only
shines with superstars on the stage
but also meets the needs of presenters in the TV studio. With
eight interchangeable microphone
heads, the SKM 5200 is the perfect
microphone for any recording situation. The new handheld transmitter of Sennheiser’s famed 5000
Series – the worldwide standard for
professional RF wireless solutions – combines
great sound, user-friendliness and the most reliable transmission
in an elegant package.
The SKM 5200 has been designed for the toughest conditions on
stage and in broadcasting. With six Sennheiser and two Neumann
heads, the SKM 5200 is the microphone choice for top artists,
presenters and broadcast professionals.
“Frequency agility and transmission reliability are the keys to
success for major concert and television productions,” says Sven
Boetcher, product manager for professional wireless systems.
“But radical changes in the frequency spectrum create congested
channels and add new services on frequencies that were formerly
open to wireless microphone systems, presenting sound engineers
with considerable challenges,” says Boetcher. The SKM 5200 combats these challenges via a wider switching bandwidth of 36 MHz
as compared to its famous predecessor, the SKM 5000 N. With the
transmitter’s “fixed” channel bank, the user can select 32 factory-
The steel-blue variant
of the SKM 5200
programmed frequencies, while a second and variable bank
provides up to 20 frequencies that can be freely selected in
5 kHz increments within the switching bandwidth. This integrates the microphone quickly and straightforwardly into existing
RF environments. And, should bigger changes become necessary,
Sennheiser can, as part of its after-sales service, simply reprogram
the switching bandwidth within the five frequency versions.
All of the SKM 5200’s settings can be altered using an innovative,
intuitive menu and a user-friendly multifunction switch. The
parameters are shown on a backlit LC display and can be locked
to avoid accidental changes. In order to ease identification of each
microphone, a six-character name can be added to the alphanumeric display. The sensitivity of the SKM 5200 can be set in 1 dB
steps to adjust it to any given transmission situation. A threestage impact-sound filter eliminates low-frequency noise.
Sennheiser’s optionally rechargeable battery packs provide more
than eight hours of continuous operation. The battery charge status can be read off the battery pack and is transmitted to suitable
receivers. For varied use, the SKM 5200 is available in three colors:
nickel, black and steel-blue. The Sennheiser capsules are black, the
Neumann capsules nickel-colored or black.
tions of different regions. Of course, the SK 5212 also transmits its
current battery status to the receiver. It filters out annoying wind
or handling noise with its two-stage low-cut filter (60 and 120 Hz).
With an input sensitivity that is adjustable in 1 dB steps between
-30 and +40 dB, the SK 5212 can be individually adapted to bring
out the best in various sound sources, volumes and applications.
Sound engineers will also welcome its backlit display and the convenient, menu-controlled operation.
The SK 5212 works with absolute reliability and provides extremely
low-noise, distortion-free sound – the perfect tool for sound engineers,
professional broadcasters, sound designers and PA companies.
21
© gettyimages/Karl Walter
soundings 1/06 Music Scene
In 1980, Depeche Mode left Basildon, a small
town to the north west of London, to conquer
the world with their electric pop. School pals
Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher and Vince Clarke,
the subsequent head of the band Erasure, together formed the group “Composition of Sound”.
A short time later they were joined by vocalist
Dave Gahan. Inspired by a French fashion magazine, Gahan renamed the band Depeche Mode.
The British band’s trademark became a constant
effort to push genre borders. From the New
Romantics and synthpop of the early 80s,
through artistic remixes and samples, to classic
rock songs and anthem-style ballads, Depeche
Mode set new trends and inspired entire music
generations with their very own, lasciviously
dark sound.
Depeche
Mode
© gettyimages/Andreas Rentz
Album sales in excess of 50 million worldwide, 38 hit singles, 13 Top 10 albums, 85
concerts and an audience of 2 million people during their last tour alone – Depeche
Mode is a band full of superlatives and
much more. During the past 25 years, the
band has written pop history. With classic
songs like “Enjoy the Silence”, “Never Let
Me Down Again” or “Just Can’t Get Enough”,
Depeche Mode has transformed the most
intimate emotions into solemn anthems for
millions of music fans
22
25 years after the band’s first record, Depeche
Mode released “Playing the Angel” in 2005, the
British supergroup’s eleventh studio album.
Produced by Ben Hillier, who had already been
responsible for producing Blur, Doves and Elbow,
“Playing the Angel” skillfully combines loops,
samples and synthesizers with rock guitar riffs.
At the same time, it avoids being bombastic and
is far more minimalist in its instrumentation than
the predecessor album “Exciter”. For the first
time, vocalist Dave Gahan also contributed songs
to the album in addition to Martin Gore – a minor
sensation in the band’s turbulent history. Commenting on the band’s history on their website,
Martin Gore simply observed: “Dave said I’ve
made a 25-year career out of one subject: pain
and suffering in various tempos.”
[www.depechemode.com]
Music Scene soundings 1/06
Bloc Party
So Here we Are
Discography (Albums)
Speak & Spell (1981)
A Broken Frame (1982)
Construction Time Again (1983)
Some Great Reward (1984)
The Singles 81–85 (1985)
Black Celebration (1986)
Music For The Masses (1987)
101 (1989)
Violator (1990)
Songs Of Faith And Devotion (1993)
Songs Of Faith And Devotion LIVE (1993)
Ultra (1997)
The Singles 81–85
The Singles 86–98 (1998)
Exciter (2001)
Remixes 81–04 (2004)
Playing the Angel (2005)
On their current “Touring the Angel” world tour,
Depeche Mode uses SKM 935 G2 vocals microphones with
EM 550 G2 twin receivers as well as e 614, e 901, e 902,
e 904, e 905, and e 906 instrument microphones. For
monitoring, Depeche Mode uses ew 300 IEM G2 systems.
© gettyimages/Dave Etheridge-Barnes
2005 was the year of British guitar bands. Debut acts like Maximo
Park, Art Brut, Kaiser Chiefs and Hard-Fi stormed the charts with their classically
British songwriting, poetic lyrics and 80s post-punk influences. Spearheading
this new guitar wave was the art-rock quartet Bloc Party from London. Readers
of Britain’s New Musical Express and the German music magazines Intro and Spex
were all in agreement: Bloc Party were the newcomers of 2005. The band was
formed in 1998 by vocalist Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack, who were joined a
short time later by Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong. From 2002, they mainly
played in and around the Camden music scene in London and released their debut
album “Silent Alarm” in 2005, which went straight to number 2 in the British
charts. Bloc Party also gained a large number of fans among other musicians, with
some of their songs becoming cover versions just a year after being released!
Frontman Kele Okereke
During their sell-out European tour, Bloc Party were rigged out with a full selection of evolution 900 Series microphones. The band’s FOH sound engineer Pete
Bartlett chose the e 935 for Kele Okerekes lead vocals, e 935s for the guitars and
e 945s for the backing vocals. “The e 935 is just perfect for Kele’s voice. It gives
me far greater definition – crisp and clean – at the mixing console but it also
copes easily with his wide range and dynamic variations,” Bartlett explains. The
guitars were miked with e 606 microphones while the bass sound was picked up
via the legendary and versatile MD 421. For drums, Bartlett chose the e 901 with
the MD 441 on the kick drum and e 904s on the toms. “I’ve fallen totally in love
with the e 901, and wouldn’t entertain anything else for Bloc Party. I’m actually
growing tired of having people say, ‘Great kick sound man, what’s in there?’”
Bartlett says with a smile.
The 900 series is the perfect choice for a passionate live band like Bloc Party.
An extensive European tour and legendary performances at Glastonbury and
Reading Festival contributed immensely to Bloc Party’s cult status.
[www.blocparty.com]
23
soundings 1/06 Music Scene
Can you remember your very first rock concert? The anticipation, the
sense of being part of a vibrant crowd, the moment the band walked
on stage, the first notes of your favorite song, sharing the music with
the band… An evening you’ll remember all your life. An experience that
no music fan will ever forget. But for those with a severe hearing impairment, it is
often one that they cannot share. At a concert, the vocals, the instruments and the surrounding
sounds all merge together into an unpleasant, distorted noise. But now, thanks to Sennheiser
technology and expertise, 120 young music fans have been able to enjoy the sound of a live
band for the first time – in spite of a severe hearing disability.
For the world tour of the Canadian punk pop band Simple Plan, the hearing-impaired teenagers
were equipped with a Mikroport 2015 system from Sennheiser – a concert premiere not only for
the young fans but also for the system, which had previously been used mainly in schools. During
the concerts in Canada, Berlin and Vienna, the music was picked up directly from the mixing console. A transmitter then sent the audio signal straight to receivers worn by the hearing-impaired
Concert Premiere
Simple Plan
Simple Plan
6 million albums sold worldwide, sell-out
venues throughout the world – ever since
the release of their debut album “No Pads,
No Helmets, Just Balls…” in 2002, Simple
Plan have been one of the most successful
punk pop bands on the current music scene.
The band was formed in 1999 with the lineup of Pierre Bouvier (vocals), Chuck Comeau
(drums), David Desrosiers (bass), Sebastien
Lefebvre (guitar) and Jeff Stinco (guitar). In
2003 and 2004, the band won the
MuchMusic People’s Choice Award, and in
2005 Simple Plan were named “Best Rock
Band” at the Teen Choice Awards and
“Favorite Pop Act” at the MTV Asia Awards.
In 2004, the band released their second
album, “Still Not Getting Any”.
Meet and Greet in Vienna
24
© gettyimages/Evan Agostini
Music Scene soundings 1/06
Pop? Punk? Rock? – Simple Plan has the perfect mixture, Sennheiser the perfect
technology to enable the hearing impaired teenagers to enjoy the music
listeners. The receiver automatically adjusts the
hearing aid microphone, allowing the transmitted
music signal to be heard loud and clear above
the surrounding noise. For cochlear implants,
the sound is transmitted directly to the speech
processor. The result is professional sound directly from the mixing console without interference
from ambient noise. The Mikroport 2015 system
uses the same professional UHF technology as
the musicians’ own microphones and monitoring
systems. The delighted teenagers were fitted
with the equipment on site by Sennheiser partners and local hearing aid specialists.
is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Just think what an unforgettable experience it must be to listen to music for the first time ever, to be among thousands
of fans and enjoy a rock concert, to hear the crowd screaming and to feel the
power of a live performance.”
The band Simple Plan was also highly impressed
by the project and their cooperation with Sennheiser: “We’ve had a very special relationship
with Sennheiser for years now and we use
Sennheiser equipment both on stage and in the
studio. When the company approached us with
the concert idea, we agreed right away. Music
has brought so much to our lives. Music is our
passion and our love. To give someone the
chance to hear music properly for the first time
Social commitment has always been an essential part of Simple Plan’s work. The
band from Montreal performed at the Tsunami Aid Relief event, a charity concert
organized by MTV Asia, and were also involved in the “Mothers Against Drunk
Driving” (MADD) and “Rock Against Drinking and Driving” (RADD) campaigns.
The band also played at the Canadian Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ontario. Recently
they set up the Simple Plan Foundation, with the aim of helping young people
in need. The Foundation raises money to provide medical care for teenagers,
especially for the treatment of depression and to promote music education for
young children.
[www.simpleplan.com]
A special highlight for the young fans was the ‘meet and greet’ session with the
band before and after the concert. For the band “it’s been a real joy to get to
know the kids before the show. To talk to them and to see the huge smiles on their
faces. To read their emails afterwards, where they write about how overwhelmed
they were by the whole experience. It made us realize that sometimes we take a
lot of things for granted. We should learn to appreciate what we have a lot more.
A big thank you to Sennheiser for including us in this project – and very special
thanks to all the kids we’ve met so far on this tour.”
25
soundings 1/06 Engineering Specials
Antenna Technology
Setting up 20-Channel Systems
with evolution wireless G2
The RF technology of evolution wireless G2 is so advanced that up to 20 channels can operate reliably in
a switching bandwidth of 36 MHz. The best way to make full use of all the channels is in conjunction with
EM 550 receivers. It can also be configured with EM 300 or EM 500 diversity receivers for more budgetconscious projects. Installing 20 receivers in a 19” rack presents no major problems. However, to avoid a
tangled web of plug-in antennas at the back of the receivers, some thought should be given to splitting the
antenna signals.
Signal Amplification
How can one best provide 20 channels with RF signals that are supplied from only two diversity receiver
antennas? For the suggestion shown in the illustration, standard components are used, including an AB 2
antenna booster to compensate for unavoidable distribution losses, and ASP 2 and ASP 212 antenna splitters. To set up systems with eight or even 16 receivers is relatively easy, as an ASP 2 with four outputs can
be coupled to another splitter to form a splitter system with 2x1 input to 2x8 outputs. However, for 20 radio
microphone channels, you need six ASP 2 and one ASP 212. When the energy from the antennas is divided
up over 20 receivers, the signals need to be amplified. Ten AB 2 antenna boosters ensure that each receiver
is supplied with sufficient RF voltage. The RF voltages that are fed into the receivers from the distributed
network are not precisely the same, as their signals take somewhat different paths. If you compare the input
voltages directly at the receiver input with those that are received by the antenna, you will find that they
have been attenuated by 2 to max. 6 dB. These deviations can be tolerated by the receivers and do not
require corrective measures. The general rule of thumb is that losses of up to 6 dB in distributed networks
and in cables can be “ignored”. With this design, however, you cannot allow longer cable lengths between
the antenna and your network. The use of low-attenuation cables such as GZL 5000 is highly recommended.
Without the use of additional boosters, cables longer than 10 meters would compromise the signal.
Antennas
The choice of antenna depends on the conditions at the place of application. With an amplification of
approximately 14 dB, the A12 AD active directional antenna supports cable lengths of up to about 20
meters between the receiver position and the rack. To ensure and maximize reception reliability, carefully
connect antennas to the appropriate diversity inputs of a receiver. When sizing the receiver rack, note
that six ASP 2 antenna splitters take up three rack units, their corresponding NT 1 power supplies fill two
additional rack units.
26
Engineering Specials soundings 1/06
With a total of 50 cables, a visual check of
connections can become quite confusing. Clearly
mark the cables I and II to avoid confusing the
diversity inputs and ultimately disrupting the
diversity reception.
27
Reliably covered by
Sennheiser RF wireless
world, whatever task you face, and even under the most hostile conditions. As one of our
customers puts it, “Sennheiser RF works where other systems fail”. So call on Sennheiser for the
most comprehensive RF wireless product portfolio worldwide. Get unparalleled assistance from
our global RF support team and find complete system solutions for every broadcast, stage and
theater production, including the only true solution for multichannel applications. Our equipment
is upward and downward compatible, ensuring that Sennheiser always remains a worthwhile
investment. www.sennheiser.com
Printed in Germany 75399 07/06
You can always rely on Sennheiser wireless microphone systems, wherever you are in the