Old Lyme, CT – December 21, 2010: Hosted by ‘Desperate Housewife’, movie star, philanthropist and style icon Eva Longoria, the 2010 MTV EMAs was broadcast live from Madrid’s Caja Magica and Plaza de la Independcia in the historic Puerta de Alcalá on 7th November. For the eighth year running, audio manufacturer Sennheiser supported the star-studded occasion, which featured live performances from some of today’s most popular artists, with a wide range of equipment as well as its invaluable brand of technical support.

Sennheiser UK’s team of Mark Saunders, Andy Lillywhite and new addition Tim Sherratt once again worked closely with audio provider Britannia Row and the event’s sound designer Derrick Zieba to ensure the smooth execution of this technically challenging production. Magnetron, Sennheiser’s presence in Spain, also provided valuable local support.

Equipment supplied included a significant number of SKM more

The Console that Changed the Industry Poised to Change It Again

BEGBROKE, OXFORD, ENGLAND – The console that changed the industry, the Solid State Logic AWS 900, is now poised to change it again with the recent release of the AWS 948 console/controller. Studios from all over the globe have jumped at the opportunity to own this new breed of AWS that offers a collection of radical new features and doubled channel count. Sales were ticking up even before the official release of the console at the 2010 AES Convention, proving the AWS 948 is continuing the AWS legacy. more

Hear his “Copperhead Blues” at www.copperheadmic.com

Pictured with the new TELEFUNKEN CU-29 Copperhead mic in Studio Manzarek are (L-R) Doors’ co-founder, songwriter and keyboardist Ray Manzarek and his son, recording artist/engineer Pablo Manzarek. Photo by David Goggin.

Doors’ co-founder Ray Manzarek is recording a new album, “Translucent Blues,” with slide guitar legend Roy Rogers, known for his work with John Lee Hooker. Manzarek has picked the TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik CU-29 Copperhead, a brand-new microphone with a sonic fingerprint that breaks the tradition of classic mics of the past.

“This is a microphone built for the blues,” remarked Manzarek. “I come from the Southside of Chicago, and I want my new work to reflect the integrity of those roots. The Copperhead mic has an abundance of bottom end and a clarity that hides nothing. more

With a full television crew recording his every move, and ‘meet and greet’ packages at every show, singer/songwriter/showman Peter André’s big arena tour this December would not make life easy for the production company.

But for Mark ‘Knocker’ Neil’s sound and lighting company Production Hire, the budget thrown at the stage and set design for this extravagant show could hardly have been more generous, as he rigged three different Martin Audio line array systems scalable to the different venue capacities.

At the UK’s largest arena, O2 in London, his main weapon was the W8L Longbow—13 elements a side, plus two W8LD downfill boxes at the base. Borrowing a couple of enclosures a side from Capital Sound Hire for this gig, Production Hire nonetheless serviced all remaining UK arenas from their own inventory—including hangs of W8LC Compacts for sidefill or main PA duties, eight LE700 stage wedges and some more