HOUSTON, TEXAS, JANUARY 4, 2024 ― Followers lately flocked to cities throughout North America and Europe for an opportunity to see Beyoncé stay throughout the Renaissance Tour: a 56-stop run to assist her newest GRAMMY Award-winning album. Working with such a high-caliber artist, Renaissance Tour Monitor Engineer James Berry has excessive expectations for his sound setup—one which would want to impress not just for the stay reveals, but additionally for the lately launched Renaissance: A Movie by Beyoncé.
Understanding this, Berry turned to DPA Microphones for quite a lot of versatile options that will maintain up rain or shine, together with the brand new 2017 Shotgun Microphone. “We did some beta testing with the 2017 and it ended up being an amazing crowd mic,” Berry explains. “The readability and vary of it was so full; we had been capable of cowl extra space with no distortion by the PA. I didn’t get any of that high-end distortion you hear with different shotguns. You’ll be able to actually experience it with out getting any of that crunchiness you normally expertise when the viewers will get loud. I additionally didn’t must excessive go this shotgun as a lot as I do with others, which is uncommon.”
The 2017s had been particularly useful for the stay present recordings performed on the Houston, Texas stops for the movie. “We flew twelve 2017s from the ceilings of the catwalk to seize the higher ranges of the stadium,” Berry explains. “The small measurement of the microphones actually helped to cover it throughout the digital camera platforms and entrance of home decks.”
Berry additionally deployed the 4017 Shotgun and 5100 Encompass Sound mics for the gang, in addition to the 4099 Instrument, 4011 Cardioid Condenser and 4055 Kick Drum Microphones all through the band. The staff hung 4017 Shotguns on the ceilings and positioned them in different areas across the flooring. To seize the gang’s full genuine vitality whereas recording, Berry and the staff needed to work across the tour’s distinctive stadium set, which was very extensive with a thrust down the center. For this, sixteen 5100s had been utilized in a chase sequence to seize the viewers in entrance of the artist at any time when she went on stage.
“We actually took these 5100s by the ringer,” says Berry. “We had them open air all the time, even within the wind and rain. When it’s downpouring, you’re not all the time going to wish to tear down and accumulate all these mics, so we used the climate safety covers and windsocks, which didn’t have an effect on the sound. It was nonetheless the identical crystal-clear audio, and we by no means misplaced a mic within the rain, which is a win-win for me.”
Whereas the audio captured by the encompass mic was particularly nice for the movie, the 5100 was initially chosen as a crowd mic for Beyoncé’s in-ears. “A few the band members used this audio, however the feed was primarily for Beyoncé,” continues Berry. “She likes to really feel the viewers and be part of it, in order that was the principle drive behind our setup. We positioned the 5100s downstage to seize the viewers in entrance of the artist and the 2017s on the far outdoors to catch the higher seating, and we achieved nice outcomes. In whole, we had round 128 channels of viewers mics for our recorded reveals, which fed from the 5100s and the shotguns——it all the time offered a fullness from the gang. There’s nothing like with the ability to belief your viewers mic setup.”
Berry says DPA’s instrument mics offered an equally spectacular stage of sound and ease of use. The esteemed 4099s graced the saxophone, trumpet, trombone and flute, whereas the drum package was outfitted with a 4055 Kick Drum mic and 4011s on snare. “I selected the 4011 as a result of it checked all my containers: measurement, sound and readability,” he provides. “The pickup sample stayed tremendous tight, and it was simply the proper measurement to get in tight on the drum package. I positioned the 4055 proper outdoors the kick. That could be one in every of my favourite DPA mics. It picked up the total vary and received precise readability from the top and beater, which I can’t obtain from different mics at that place. It additionally held up very nicely on the highway.”
To manage the DPA sound, the Renaissance Tour had 5 DiGiCo SD7 Quantums. A big DiGiCo Opticore Loop was additionally pushed by DPA’s 5100s, with the second loop primarily that includes the viewers mic setup. d&b audiotechnik GSL Collection loudspeakers additionally projected the sound all through the stadium. For outboard gear, Berry had Waves on the computer systems and Common Audio UAD on the band desk. The DPA 5100s and KLANG’s ground-breaking immersive mixing processor had been used to create a totally engrossing expertise for Beyoncé and the opposite on-stage musicians, who had been outfitted with Wisycom in-ears.
Lengthy conversant in DPA sound, Berry has collected a number of of the model’s mics on his record of must-have gear for gigs. Whether or not for Beyoncé reveals or different excursions, Berry continues to be assured within the model’s sturdiness and sound high quality. “Quite a lot of the DPA gear that I used for Renaissance occurs to be on my ‘short-list.’ On the monitor facet, the 5100 and 2017 are going to be in my toolbox perpetually. Once I’m out entrance, I’m undoubtedly pulling the 4011 for snare and naturally, the 4055 on kick. It’s a type of mics I received’t go away residence with out. Similar with the 2017, I don’t ever plan on doing a gig with out one.”
After greater than twenty years within the touring trade, Berry has labored alongside a number of the largest names in music, together with Stevie Marvel, Jennifer Hudson, Kings of Leon and Ms. Lauryn Hill. When not touring, the engineer loves sharing his technical abilities and expertise with audio professionals throughout the U.S. He notes that his ardour for instructing and serving to others drives him, and he feels lucky to not solely study on the highway however go that data on to others.
The expertise and stage presence emitted by pop icon Beyoncé has demanded the world’s consideration for nearly three many years. From her time in R&B trio Future’s Baby, to her success as a solo artist and businesswoman, Beyoncé has garnered a mass following devoted to her musical ingenuity, stellar vocals and riveting performances.
