Jacksonville, FL – May
2014… Recognized
for performing traditional New Orleans-style jazz, the Preservation Hall Jazz
Band derives its name from the Preservation Hall venue located in New Orleans’
French Quarter. With a style that truly represents the musical signature of New
Orleans, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and its music continue to evolve as they
embrace tradition and history while inspiring a new generation of music lovers.
Their recent performance at Jacksonville’s Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall in
the Times-Union Performing Arts Center, home of the Jacksonville Symphony
Orchestra, was yet another opportunity for music enthusiasts to enjoy one of
jazz music’s most time honored ensembles on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. And to
help ensure every last note was heard throughout the hall—exactly as it was
intended to sound—Digital Hybrid Wireless® technology from Rio Rancho, NM-based
Lectrosonics was utilized.
Mark
Frink, audio and RF engineer for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra was on
hand to lend his expertise for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert,
utilizing a Lectrosonics Venue with Lectrosonics LMa beltpacks and HH handheld
transmitters. He discussed various aspects of the project.
"Jacoby
Symphony Hall has a single Lectrosonics Venue receiver mainframe that is fully
loaded with six channels of their standard VRS receiver modules,” Frink
reports. “Due to its flexibility, the 6-channel Venue is perfect for the vast
majority of our Symphony Hall productions, which constantly vary in wireless
requirements from conductor announcements, to narrators and actors, to pop
vocalists, comedians and occasional solo instrumentalists, such as our presentation
of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.”
In
order to provide the ‘right tool for the job’ so as to best capture the various
instruments during the concert, Frink had quite a variety of microphones at his
disposal. Due to what’s become an industry-standard screw-on capsule thread,
the Lectrosonics HH handheld transmitters can be used with Lectrosonics’ HHC
cardioid condenser capsules, as well as many other popular SM and Beta dynamic
and condenser capsules.
In
addition to the Lectrosonics HH transmitters, Lectrosonics LMa beltpack
transmitters are often used in conjunction with Countryman E6i earset
microphones as well as B6 and B2D lavaliere microphones. Frink commented on the
LMa’s ease of use, “We have six Lectrosonics LMa beltpacks that employ dual
16-position rotary switches to adjust their frequency. These transmitters
perform very well for us and, while changing frequency settings is really quite
easy, we never change them since they never leave the building. By using simple
4-pin male to 5-pin female mini XLR adapters, we were able to easily
accommodate the band’s request for Beta 98 mics with the LMa transmitters for
the band’s six wind instruments.”
When
asked about the Lectrosonics attributes he finds most compelling, Frink offered
the following, “In a symphony hall, sound quality is of paramount importance
because our audience is accustomed to natural, unamplified sound. Lectrosonics’
Digital Hybrid Wireless, compandor-free technology is preferred by wireless
guitarists and by system engineers for wireless measurement mics. Further, the
equipment is easy to use and is extremely reliable, so it inspires confidence.”
Frink
was equally complimentary of Lectrosonics’ customer and technical support
services. “Since Lectrosonics is so prevalent in broadcast and film production
where there’s often no chance for a second take, the company’s technical
support group treats each component as if someone’s job depends on it working
perfectly.”
Before
turning his attention to an upcoming project, Frink offered these final
thoughts, “In symphony productions, wireless mics are frequently needed, but
the specifics are often an afterthought. For this reason, sometimes it’s only
at rehearsal that a decision is made to go with lavaliere, earset, or handheld mics.
The flexibility that our Lectrosonics wireless equipment provides allows us to
be ready for anything.”
Mark Frink is RF and sound engineer for the
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, but is available for the 2014 summer touring
season at www.markfrink.com/resume.html.
About Lectrosonics
Well respected within the film, broadcast, and
theatre technical communities since 1971, Lectrosonics wireless microphone
systems and audio processing products are used daily in mission-critical
applications by audio engineers familiar with the company's dedication to
quality, customer service, and innovation. Lectrosonics is a US manufacturer
based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Visit the company online at www.lectrosonics.com.