To ensure optimum audio quality while keeping the technology in a “supporting” role, the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) of San Francisco, recently invested in new wireless technology from Lectrosonics.
Jeremy J. Lee, a New York- based freelance sound designer who frequently specifies sound system designs for the theatrical community everywhere from the regional theaters to both on and off Broadway, was called in to oversee the audio aspects of the American Conservatory Theater’s January 2009 presentation of John Guare’s Rich and Famous that was directed by John Rando.
Because Lee generally uses the existing house sound system and configures it as required for the production, he was pleased to discover that A.C.T. had just taken delivery of a new Lectrosonics wireless system, which consists of a Venue Series receiver stocked with six VRS receiver modules and six SMDa Super-Miniature UHF beltpack transmitters.
The six-channel system employs Lectrosonics’ Digital Hybrid Wireless Technology that uses a proprietary algorithm to encode 24-bit digital audio information with no compression and low distortion into an analog format that can be transmitted in a robust manner over an analog FM wireless link. Lee also utilized IAS software by Professional Wireless Systems for frequency coordination and system monitoring.
“We wanted the actors to sound fantastic,” said Lee.”The Venue/SMDa system, along with the DPA 4061 mics that we used, are the best I’ve heard in a wireless system. The frequency and dynamic response are phenomenal, and we had zero RF problems, no dropouts, and no ‘fizzie’ intermod noises.”
“I didn’t have to get surgical on the high end EQ of the system to try and restore articulation,” Lee continues, “as is common with other RF systems that cost a lot more. Likewise, the IAS software makes setup and system monitoring as effortless as one could possibly hope for. The next time I have a chance to spec an RF system; my first choice is going to be Lectrosonics’ Digital Hybrid Wireless.”
Lectrosonics Website
Professional Wireless Systems IAS Software Information
