Submit Malone and Alicia Keys each delivered rousing performances throughout Tremendous Bowl LVIII on the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11, 2024. Opening this system was Submit Malone, with a country-inspired rendition of “America the Stunning” utilizing his favored Sennheiser wi-fi vocal microphone, an SKM 6000 handheld transmitter with an MM 435 cardioid dynamic capsule. Alicia Keys adopted go well with with a rousing duet throughout the halftime present, singing via the newly launched Neumann KK 105 U microphone capsule. In keeping with CBS, Tremendous Bowl LVIII had better viewership than another Tremendous Bowl in historical past, with a mean of 123.4 million viewers.
A memorable efficiency with Sennheiser
“Submit Malone’s electrifying efficiency of ‘America the Stunning’ throughout the Tremendous Bowl opening ceremony underscored his standing as one of many trade’s most dynamic performers,” says Alex Guessard, Home PA Mixer with ATK Audiotek, the longtime audio manufacturing supplier for the on-field pregame and halftime segments on the Tremendous Bowl. “With the assist of Sennheiser’s state-of-the-art 6000 sequence wi-fi audio know-how, he delivered a efficiency that might be remembered for years to return.
Submit Malone has been utilizing Sennheiser microphones for a few years, stories his monitor engineer, Travon Snipes, so his stay manufacturing staff noticed no motive to alter. “We needed to remain constant,” Snipes says, “so I requested the SKM 6000 with the MM 435 capsule, which has all the time been unimaginable for us.”
“The reliability has all the time been rock strong they usually sound unimaginable,” he continues. The Tremendous Bowl gameday frequency coordinators handle lots of of channels of wi-fi tools, video in addition to audio, throughout the occasion. “The truth that that they had the Sennheiser 6000 sequence there speaks to the reliability,” he says.
A transferring association, a spectacular microphone
The novel association of “America the Stunning,” by Malone and his longtime studio collaborator, Louis Bell, known as for the singer to start out the tune off quietly. “He’s nice with the microphone, understanding the dynamics,” Snipes says. “I believe it was very intentional for him to be that near the mic and have that whisper impact. He is aware of what that does and he is aware of that, if he backs up, how that impacts the capsule and the way that’s going to sound. So my job is to get it within the ballpark after which permit him so as to add his inventive side.”
“We had been utilizing the 9235 however we moved as much as the latest 435. It has been unimaginable and does wonders on his voice,” says Snipes. When evaluating the MM 435, he was impressed with the character that it introduced out in Malone’s vocal, he says. “It’s the physique that it offers his voice, the midrange that it brings out. But it surely additionally offers you adequate prime finish that it’s clear, nevertheless it’s not piercing. It actually embodies how his voice naturally sounds. We had been in search of a capsule that will seize that, and that will additionally give us slightly sparkle.”
The capsule is powerful, too, he says. “The midrange doesn’t collapse when he needs to push it. Typically, in stay performances, he’s actually on prime of the mic and going exhausting. That capsule doesn’t give out and permits his voice to remain true, regardless of how he’s singing or performing.”
These qualities, together with the capsule’s rejection, sealed the deal, he provides. “A whole lot of instances he’s in entrance of the P.A. or he’s across the drum set, singing into the drums. The MM 435 is a workhorse and supplies many nice qualities that assist us together with his voice.”
Alicia Keys sings via Neumann KK 105 U microphone capsule on world’s largest stage
In the course of the Apple Music Tremendous Bowl LVIII Halftime Present, Alicia Keys joined Usher onstage to sing “If I Ain’t Bought You” and “My Boo” utilizing a wi-fi handheld microphone topped with a Neumann KK 105 U super-cardioid condenser capsule. The brand new capsule, launched in January 2024, makes the peerlessly balanced, nuanced sound of Neumann’s award-winning KMS sequence wired stage vocal microphones out there to customers of a number of third-party wi-fi programs.
“The factor I really like in regards to the KK 105 U capsule is that the sound of the mic is flat,” commented Ann Mincieli, engineer for Alicia Keys. “It’s not hyped, and the frequency curve could be very pure, giving us an amazing, balanced place to begin! One other factor is that there isn’t any bleed within the capsule, because the polar sample is designed so effectively. There have been 80,000 followers within the stadium, and extra followers throughout the stage — we had minimal bleed. The KK 105 U is our capsule of alternative!”
High quality assist from Sennheiser, on and off the sector
Malone and the staff went into the venue to rehearse for the Tremendous Bowl broadcast a few days earlier than the occasion, Snipes stories. “That they had the capsule and the microphone prepared for us. And as quickly as he acquired on it, he liked it.” Snipes compliments the assist he acquired from Sennheiser, by the use of Jessica Dabbs, Sennheiser Relations Supervisor. “She makes certain I’m taken care of, whatever the artist that I’m with. I’ve all the time had nice assist.”
Whereas remaining centered on the duty at hand, Snipes took a second take within the particular efficiency: “It felt like we had been making historical past, and his efficiency gave everybody chills. Phrases can’t specific how superior it’s to be part of the Submit Malone staff and to work with him. It’s been an unimaginable journey, and Sennheiser got here via once more.”