To record The Hockey Theme, Nunan and his crew used Neumann KM 183 D omni-directional mics for a classic Decca Tree with KM 183 D outriggers.
They used two surround pairs: a set of KM 183 Ds for conventional surround and a set of KM 185 D hyper-cardioids pointing away.
“With the second pair, we could effectively turn the orchestra ‘inside out’ to give an ‘acoustical zoom’ to, say, the brass,” explained Nunan.
“Using Neumann’s RCS software on laptops connected to the microphones through sixteen Neumann DMI-2 interfaces, we were able to control all thirty mics from our distant control room,” said Nunan.
“The speed with which we were able to fine tune the mics proved critical.” Nunan has used the inherent remote control of Neumann digital mics in other applications as well.”
When CTV’s main network announcer moved 500 km away from the studio, a Neumann Solution-D setup allowed engineers back at the studio to manage sessions from his home with the same level of control that they were accustomed to when he was only fifty feet away.
In other applications where he was a crew of one, Nunan has exploited the Neumann RCS software by using VNC software to take control of his MacBook, and then controlling the RCS software remotely using his iPod Touch.
Attending the recording session in its entirety was the President of Neumann’s Global Sales and Marketing, Wolfgang Fraissinet. “I was delighted to be invited to the largest Neumann digital microphone recording session to date.”
“I flew to Toronto to witness the Neumann technology in action and was honored to contribute to the interpretation of the score and the implementation of the AES-42 digital technology,” says Fraissinet.”
“The conclusion from everyone involved in the production was that the mics performed flawlessly and the orchestra sounded tremendous…The Neumann recording of the Canadian Hockey Theme will be heard by millions of fans weekly for many years to come.”