AKG Microphones Rock The Music World In 2009

From California to Japan, artists around the world used AKG to drive live and recorded performances in 2009; delivering uninterrupted sound with a variety of AKG microphones and wireless microphone systems. With rap legends like Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Missy Elliot, country superstars Brooks & Dunn, and acapella rockers Rockapella turning to AKG for all their live performances, AKG was able to demonstrate the sonic integrity it’s known for to the world.

With the WMS 4500 wireless microphone system, Jay-Z performed in a variety of different venues; from small house of blues venues to heavily populated frequency areas for television events seen by millions. Using a handheld C 5900, he was able to keep a full mix without sacrificing any of the clarity necessary for his speedy rap style.

Missy Elliot selected the D 5 handheld microphone for many of the same reasons when she performed live on David Letterman’s Late Show. The laminated Varimotion diaphragm that comes standard on all D 5 microphones gave her the most sensitive transmission available and allowed her to concentrate on her raps without worrying about unanticipated feedback.

“This has been a great year for AKG,” said Alfred Reinprecht, AKG’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “We have worked closely with artists and audio engineers to ensure that our products meet and exceed expectations for everyone who uses them. From artists performing in front of millions of people to local theaters putting on recitals and plays, AKG has been able to deliver every time.”

Another artist to adopt AKG for his international “Glow In The Dark” tour was Kanye West. Starting at the beginning of the year, West used the WMS 4500 wireless system and IVM 4 in-ear monitoring system in 40 cities and six continents around the world. Darcy Khan, audio engineer for West’s tour, selected the WMS 4500 for the clean RF transmission and ease-of-use; saving the presets for each city in separate folders on his computer to open upon arrival.

“This feature was a tremendous time saver on the road as it allows me to easily access the file and have all of the saved settings at my fingertips,” Khan said.

The global endorsement of AKG came in response to a series of groundbreaking introductions that included the DMS 700 Digital Wireless system, the C 414 XLS, and the C 414 XL II. Also introduced in the second half of 2009 was AKG’s Perception 120 USB: a microphone that can be easily used to record audio from the desktop and plugged into the computer.

“AKG re-established itself as the leader in live and studio microphone engineering this year,” Reinprecht continued. “We were used by some of the biggest artists in the business, we introduced some of the best products on the market, and we even joined the METAlliance Pro Partners. With the year coming to an end, we have started to look forward to 2010 as we prepare to carry the momentum from 2009 into the New Year”