Microphones and wireless systems from Audio-Technica were employed at the Country Music Association’s CMA Country Christmas broadcast event, which was broadcast on the ABC television network on December 3, 2019.
Audio-Technica’s Third-Generation 5000 Series frequency-agile true-diversity UHF wireless system with ATW-C5400 microphone capsules powered the vocals for multiple artists: Christian pop crossover group For King & Country and gospel artist CeCe Winans. The show also used wired A-T microphones, including several AT4050 large-diaphragm condenser microphones used on the choir. Clean Wireless Audio owner Jason Glass, the wireless RF coordinator for the CMA on this and other events, managed the wireless systems, and Tom Davis served as audio producer.
The 5000 Series dual receiver offers A-T’s dual-compander circuitry that processes high and low frequencies separately and True Diversity operation. The receiver has been updated with a tuning bandwidth of 148 MHz: 470–608 MHz and 653–663 MHz (duplex gap), and users now have the option of selecting a standard receiver with two balanced XLR outputs (ATW-R5220) or a receiver that also includes a Dante output (ATW-R5220DAN). The full-rack receiver chassis holds two independent receivers and offers antenna power, frequency scan, IR sync functionality, a ground-lift switch, and a front-panel headphone jack.
Other new features include an antenna cascade output that connects up to eight receivers so a single pair of antennas can feed up to 16 channels of wireless, an auto squelch feature that automatically adjusts the squelch setting to maximize operating range while minimizing potential interference, and a backup frequency that can be quickly swapped by pressing the transmitter’s multifunction button in the event of unexpected interference. Software enables remote monitoring and control of the wireless system.
