Selena Gomez is now an endorser of Audio-Technica microphones and is now using the A-T 5000 Series frequency-agile true diversity UHF wireless system and AEW-T3300a handheld transmitter.
Until recently, Gomez was using an A-T AEW-T5400 handheld transmitter, but as her stage show has evolved, front of house engineer Jason Moore urged her to try a different microphone.
“We recently added a 20-foot thrust to the show,” notes Moore. “It changed the dynamic of the mic setup on stage, so I met with one of A-T’s engineers, who was really helpful in pointing us toward the right mic for the new situation. We decided on the AEW-T3300a, which really works well with Selena’s voice. She is a very gifted singer – very exact and precise. There is no lip-syncing in the show, like some other acts.
“The 3300 has great gain-before-feedback and just the right kind of high end to make her vocals shine,” he continues. “Because of the louder noise floor on the stage, we are dealing with higher sound pressure levels, and the 3300 minimizes the mic bleed and potential feedback. The 3300 just really rounded everything off, and it put the bow on top of our stage setup and mix.”
“The T3300 is exactly the microphone we’d been searching for,” notes monitor mixer Javier Alcaraz. He says that while Gomez has been a fan of Audio-Technica microphones throughout her music career, when she and Alcaraz and Moore decided to try the AEW-T3300a transmitter, it all came together.
“This particular element suits her voice amazingly well,” Alcaraz says. “She has a certain smoothness in her midrange and in the high end that this capsule really brings out through the P.A. It captures the essence of her singing. It’s better at that than any other capsule we’ve ever tried.”
Alcaraz says the 5000 Series wireless is also beloved by their team – utterly reliable night after night. “We keep it plain and simple – a single unit with two paddles,” he says. “Never a dropout, never a problem.” And Audio-Technica is also all over the Selena Gomez stage covering the backline, as well. The AT4033/CL Cardioid Condenser Microphone is used on all guitar amplifiers; AE3000 is employed for floor and rack toms; and background vocalists use a combination of AE3300 and AE6100 wired microphones. And Alcaraz says he plans to add more A-T microphones to the drum kit.
Moore is particularly pleased with the artist relations and customer service that Audio-Technica has provided. “The customer service with A-T is unbelievable. And they’re just real people, helping us do what we need to do. They will always get me to the right source for choosing the right equipment or getting the right advice. Working with them is a real pleasure, and it’s one fewer thing to worry about when we’re out on the road.”
