Hip-Hop Artist Jay-Z Delivers The Right Beat To Fans With The AKG WMS4500 Wireless Microphone System

World-renowned hip-hop artist Jay-Z brings new flavor to his current tour by deploying the AKG WMS4500 wireless microphone system and the AKG C5900 vocal microphone for reliable and accurate audio transmission on stage. Production Manager/FOH Engineer Bryon Tate selected the AKG wireless system for its ability to capture and accurately deliver Jay-Z’s lyrics on stage.

The WMS4500 provides a wide-range of versatility in many areas such as frequency selection and diversity, efficient set-up and delivers outstanding sonic quality. “I find that my show day setups are easily adjusted inside any venue size and complexity, from the small house of blues show to heavily populated frequency areas such as large scale television events,” Tate said.

The wireless microphone system offers improved audio capabilities versatile enough to handle multiple users and multi-channel applications simultaneously. The WMS4500 is available in two new frequency bands: Band 7 and Band 8, providing more options for multi-channel systems. The WMS4500 can be blended into a Harman HiQnet™ system with the optional HUB 4000 Q. With the PC control software System Architect™ the WMS4500 can be configured, controlled and monitored remotely from a PC.

“As FOH engineer, I find that The C5900 produces a natural and smooth vocal sound and keeps its pattern and characteristics in tact no matter the hand hold technique being used,” Tate continued.

“With the 5900 I get a nice top end sound without the wispy 10-12k found in some other top end vocal microphones,” he said. “Another great feature of the C5900 is its superior resistance to handling noise and other stage interferences. The rear rejection on this microphone is very helpful on a stage that is routinely around 110DB. This not only keeps the vocal sound very clean but also allows me to keep it on top of a full mix.”

AKG is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
Harman International designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, and maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, employing more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across the Harman Pro Group and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Photo features Jay-Z live in concert using the AKG WMS4500 wireless with 5900 vocal microphone

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AKG WMS 450 and WMS 40 Pro Flexx Used By Serbia Singing Extravaganza Champion

With over three million judges tuning in to select the winner of the Serbian equivalent to American Idol, singer Darko Lazic turned to AKG’s industry leading vocal system to help him stand out as the Grand Star of Zvezde Granda. The final night of competition, which was held on June 20th at Belgrade Arena in front of a live audience of 18,000, was sponsored by production vendor Studio Berar and fully stocked with AKG’s rugged sound systems.

Auditions for Zvezde Granda began in September, with judges and producers visiting locations throughout all of Serbia. By June, the TV audience had narrowed the competition to seven contestants, all of who competed for the grand finale using AKG WMS 450 wireless microphones. The WMS 450 is a highly flexible wireless system that features perfect audio transmission. It provides cost effective, high-performance solutions for situations where several radio microphones will be used simultaneously, which was exactly the case for the show’s grand finale.

“This year, they had the highest watched show in Serbia on Saturday nights” said Alfred Reinprecht, AKG’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “With an audience like that, their sound system had to be better than good; it had to be the best, and it was.“

In addition to the WMS 450, Studio Berar also used AKG’s WMS 40 Pro Flexx. The WMS 40 Pro Flexx comes with a rugged handheld transmitter and is extremely easy to use. It fulfills the highest esthetic requirements and comes with transmitters that operate for 30 hours off a single AA size battery, which is great for conserving battery power and limiting replacement costs.

Zvezde Granda is organized by the Grand Production record label and broadcast live on commercial television throughout the Balkans. Regional production service vendor Studio Berar, which is responsible for full production on the final night, also provides additional lighting and video for the show throughout the season. In addition to providing production assistance, Studio Berar is the sole contributor of all AKG pro audio equipment that is awarded to the contestants as final prizes.

AKG Expands Industry-Leading WMS 4500 Capabilities With The Addition Of Two New Frequency Bands

Today at Musikmesse, AKG announced the addition of two new frequency bands to the WMS 4500 wireless system capabilities with the introduction of Band 7 and Band 8. The recent expansion to the WMS 4500 frequency range now allows users to operate on two additional user channels and multi-channel applications in today’s crowded RF environment.

The two new frequency bands, Band 7 (500-530 MHz) and Band 8 (570-600 MHz), support the WMS 4500 system’s components; the SR4500 receiver unit, the PT4500 emitter and the HT4500 handheld microphone unit.

Since the wireless systems release at InfoComm 2008, the WMS 4500 has been selected for large-scale events such as the 2009 GRAMMY’s, and has produced outstanding results for artists such as Steven Tyler, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Brooks & Dunn.

The WMS 4500 offers a wide range of available components for operational adaptability and has been modified for greater durability and flexibility with accompanying wireless applications.

The SR4500 receiver unit features an adjustable backlight setting, a factory reset, modified presets and the elegant new casing displays a stylish stage black finish. The receiver’s internal software features AutoSetup for inter-modulation free channel selection, EnvironmentScan settings for RF range scanning, and a RehearsalMode selection, which can be used to save system data during rehearsal set-up. Important settings like squelch threshold, carrier frequency selection, and the listed user name can be edited and stored with an easy-to-use menu.

The PT4500 emitter has also been redesigned with enhanced durability that protects the system from years of rigorous stage use. The major electronic components are enclosed in a metal casing for protection.

The PT4500 bodypack accepts both microphone and line-level input signals as well as adjustable input sensitivity. A lockable TA-3F Mini-XLR attachment easily connects with a broad range of AKG headsets, lavalieres, instrument microphones and instrument cables.

The HT4500 handheld transmitter also features an updated metal casing with a stage black finish that allows for interchangeable microphone modules to be removed and switched to meet any vocalist’s needs. Models available for the WMS 4500 system include the D5, C5900, C5, and C535 EB, as well as the new D7.

The WMS 4500 can be integrated into a Harman HiQnet™ system using the optional HUB 4000 Q. With the System Architect™ software, the WMS 4500 can be configured, controlled, and monitored remotely from a PC. System Architect makes frequency management incredibly easy with tools like the new 1 Click Setup RF Monitor, Device Manager, Environment Scan and Auto Setup.