For the fifth election cycle in a row, Audio-Technica was the premier mic supplier for the USA's presidential debates. Audio-Technica provided wired and wireless microphone solutions for the presidential debates in Coral Gables, Florida on
30 September, St. Louis Missouri on 8 October and Tempe, Arizona on 13 October.
A-T also provided onsite technical expertise at the first two debates of the
series and had a strong presence, including onsite technical expertise, at the
vice presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio,
near A-T's Stow corporate headquarters.
A leading audio resource for high-profile broadcast events, A-T has been outfitting
the debates since 1988, when the Commission on Presidential Debates assumed
sponsorship and production responsibilities. With the company again acting as
the premier mic supplier for all four debates this election year, a host of
microphones from Audio-Technica’s comprehensive product line was employed
to cover the diverse needs of each application.
The town hall setting in St. Louis, Missouri on October 8 was the most challenging
audio environment, requiring a variety of dependable, high-quality mics to facilitate
the fast pace and complicated format of this debate. Audio-Technica's acclaimed
Artist Elite® 5000 Series Wireless Systems with AEW-T5400 large-diaphragm
handheld transmitters were chosen to ensure clear, accurate reproduction of
the candidates' every word. In addition, the moderator used the unobtrusive
AT898 and AT899 Subminiature Lavaliers, integrated with the 5000 Series systems
for maximum intelligibility. Numerous other A-T microphones were featured, including
30 handheld AE6100 Hypercardioid Dynamic Microphones feeding signal into 7 AT-MX351
SmartMixer® automatic mixers for the audience question and answer segment.
The formats of the other three debates extended further opportunities to apply
the advanced capabilities and functionality of Audio-Technica microphones. At
the first as well as the final presidential debates, a custom-engineered A-T
podium mic provided split audio feeds via three separate elements encased in
a single housing, enabling audio from each candidate’s podium to be flexibly
routed for optimum sound at the venue and broadcast outlets. The AT898 and AT899
lavaliers were also utilised by both candidates and the moderator during the
vice presidential debate.
Michael Edwards, Audio-Technica Product Manager, remarked; “It is an
honour to have our microphones recognised and chosen by notable audio professionals,
but the ultimate satisfaction is always seeing them succeed in the most critical
applications, where there is no second chance to get it right. From the GRAMMYs
to the Olympics to the presidential debates, A-T has proven our commitment to
providing outstanding sound for every audience.”
Audio-Technica microphones were used at the 2004
presidential and vice presidential debates. Bush and Kerry used A-T’s
Artist Elite® 5000 Series Wireless systems in St. Louis on 8 October 2004.
Audio-Technica
Celebrating over 40 years of audio excellence worldwide, Audio-Technica is
a leading innovator in transducer technology, renowned for the design and manufacture
of microphones, wireless microphones, headphones, mixers, and electronics for
the audio industry.
