ATK Audiotek (Valencia, CA) recently deployed provided sound reinforcement headed by JBL Profesional loudspeakers at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with a crowd of 1,500 on hand for the event’s return to a live format.
Now in its eighth year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards honors artists across 41 categories, ranging from Song of the Year to the prestigious Icon Award. The 2021 ceremony was hosted by Usher with performers including The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Dan + Shay, Silk Sonic, Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., Doja Cat and more.
With only the venue’s main floor and first of three balconies open, the event required more focused audio coverage than a full-capacity show, with ATK Audiotek deploy a main rig comprised of VTX A12 line arrays and S28 subwoofers.
“Our shows go from quiet dialog on a podium mic to a loud rock band at 115 dB, so we need the whole dynamic range to be pristine and clear,” says Jeff Peterson, Front of House Engineer, ATK Audiotek. “That’s something that the JBL products have done well for us.”
Specifically, the arrays were comprised 16 VTX A12 loudspeakers in clusters of eight on each side, with four VTX S28 subs grouped two per side.“The A12 rigs fast and weighs less than a comparable 4889 or something powered, so we’re usually able to hang more in the same space where we would be limited with something heavier,” Peterson states. “The sound quality is pretty top-notch; they’re transparent and pleasant to mix on.”
In addition, ATK Audiotek used AKG C414 large-diaphragm condenser microphones as drum kit overhead mics on stage. The 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards was the company’s first in-person show in an indoor venue since the pandemic began.
“I think that was actually the first real indoor audience, elbow to elbow,” says Kirk Powell, PA Designer and System Tech for ATK Audiotek. “There was a lot of energy in the room because the performers were really enjoying being in front of a crowd and the fans were really enjoying being in front of the performers. At times, Jeff had to goose it a little bit to get over the crowd, which is normal, but it’s been so long since we’ve had to do that.”
