AKG Products On Display At Current Tina Turner World Tour

On Tina Turner’s current world tour, sound engineer Dave Natale deployed AKG C214 microphones as well as a WMS4500 wireless system to provide outstanding audio quality and versatility on stage. Natale initially tested the C214 mic on a sound check in AKG’s hometown of Vienna, Austria and immediately began using the mic on the current tour.


Dave Natale is no stranger to working with some of the world’s biggest stars, including The Rolling Stones, Lionel Richie, Liza Minelli, Joe Cocker, Van Halen as well as engineer for the 1998 Grammy Awards. On the current Tina Turner tour, Tina, Live in Concert, Europe and the US, Natale fell in love with the wide range of capabilities of the C214.

“While touring Austria on the Tina Turner tour, I had the ability to experiment with the C214 as well as other AKG products and I immediately fell in love with the C214’s features and capabilities,” commented Natale. “I am very impressed with the C214 and they are now my new standard. The older mic's that I use become harder and harder to find, and it is great to find alternatives. This is truly the first microphone, ever, that I have used flat!”

In addition to the C214 on the Tina Turner tour, the bassist, Warren McCrae, is very pleased with the wireless capabilities of the WMS4500 wireless system. “The exceptional quality of the wireless system delivers a clear and accurate sound without any distortion, interference or latency,” McCrae states. “I have also taken full advantage of the system’s capabilities to save and recall the previous shows on the tour, which has increased production and efficiency and has saved valuable time on the road.”

The C214 is a cost effective alternative to the revolutionary C414 and is capable of handling the rigors of high-pressure sound, such as amplified guitars, with sensitivity perfect for voice and orchestral instruments as well. The C214 also boasts the highest dynamic range in its class.

The WMS4500 is available in two new frequency bands: Band 7 (500-530 MHz) and Band 8 (570-600 MHz) that offer more options for multi-channel systems in today's crowded RF environment. The system’s components, the SR4500 receiver unit, the PT 4500 emitter, and the HT 4500 handheld microphone unit all offer new features and sleek new construction.

AKG Features Industry-Leading WMS 4500 Wireless Microphone System At AES

AKG Acoustics is showcasing the recently released wireless WMS 4500 microphone system which offers improved audio capabilities versatile enough to handle multiple users and multi-channel applications simultaneously. Like its predecessor, the WMS 4000, 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 WMS 4500 is available in two new frequency bands: Band 7 (500-530 MHz) and Band 8 (570-600 MHz) that offer more options for multi-channel systems in today's crowded RF environment. The system’s components consist of the SR4500 receiver unit, the PT4500 emitter, and the HT4500 handheld microphone unit offering new features and sleek new construction.

"The WMS 4500 is an industry-leading wireless microphone system that is reliable, versatile, and cost-effective," explains Alfred Reinprecht, Vice President of Marketing, AKG. "We’ve redesigned the popular WMS 4000 system with updated features and components and packaged it in a sleeker, more durable design.”

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, D3700, D3800, 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 RF Monitor, Device Manager, Environment Scan and Auto Setup.

“The WMS 4500 wireless system is designed for professionals in the field who require a reliable system even in environments that are unreceptive to RF transmission,” added Reinprecht. “It is the best in its class and offers every feature required by sound engineers, musicians, speaker systems, system contractors, and system integrators.”