PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINKIN PARK AND AUDIO-TECHNICA MICS
HIT THE ROAD ONCE AGAIN
— FOH Ken “Pooch” Van Druten uses a wide selection
of A-T wireless and wired mics to capture Linkin Park’s live performances
—
SUMMER NAMM SHOW, NASHVILLE, TN, June 20, 2008
— Multi-platinum GRAMMY®-winning rock band Linkin Park has
one of the most intense touring schedules of any band in recent years.
They continue to divide their time on the road playing shows ranging
from giant festivals and selected “one-off” shows to headlining
an all-star bill on their own Projekt Revolution tour. In order to keep
up with this grueling schedule, Linkin Park has three complete stage
and touring rigs equipped with a wide array of Audio-Technica wired
and wireless microphones.
Front-of-House (FOH) engineer Ken “Pooch”
Van Druten is one of the key people responsible for engineering Linkin
Park’s sound and making equipment choices while on the road. Pooch,
who has worked with such diverse acts as KISS, System of a Down and
Kid Rock, says he was sold on using Audio-Technica mics when he first
auditioned them. “I have used Audio-Technica mics for years because
of their sound quality, reliability and the support the company has
shown for myself and the artists I work with. A-T is a very unique company
when it comes to their support of artists and their touring personnel.
They are extremely responsive, and that kind of support makes a big
difference, especially when you are doing as many dates as we are. That’s
why the band not only uses Audio-Technica, they endorse them as well.”
Linkin Park vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda
use the Audio-Technica Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF True Diversity
Wireless System, consisting of the AEW-R5200 true diversity frequency-agile
dual receiver and AEW-T6100 hypercardioid dynamic microphone. Additionally,
AEW-T1000 UniPak transmitters are employed for wireless guitars. In
total, Linkin Park has 65 channels of Audio-Technica wireless systems
for this year’s touring schedule.
“When it came time to select microphones, we actually
had a shoot-out of every single A-T front line vocal mic. Monitor engineer
Kevin “Tater” McCarthy and I spent three or four rehearsals
swapping out mics and trying them with the band,” said Pooch.
“We ended up choosing the 6100 — it sounds great on Chester
and Mike.”
The band is also employing a wide selection of A-T hard-wired
microphones, including the AT4050 on guitars and overheads; AT4047 on
guitar cabinets; AE2500 on kick; ATM350 on rack and floor tom; ATM450
on hi-hat; AE5100 on ride; and AT835STs for audience.
For Ken “Pooch” Van Druten, his day involves
not simply going to a sound check and then mixing a live Linkin Park
show. It goes well beyond that. He explains, “When you go to a
Linkin Park show, ticket holders are able to buy a CD that contains
liner notes of that show plus a download link. Within ten days after
the show they just attended, they are able to go online and download
the complete set they had just heard. This adds additional pressure
on me, since I am not only FOH for the live show, but the following
morning I get off the tour bus, walk into a dressing room and start
mixing the show from the night before, so fans can access and download
the set onto the CD they purchased. All things considered, I am mixing
approximately 12-14 hours of Linkin Park every day!”
With such tight scheduling, Van Druten has no room for
error. “It is very comforting to be able to walk out of the makeshift
mixing room and go right into soundcheck and know that the Audio-Technica
mics are going to work consistently night after night. That’s
one less thing for me to have to worry about, and that’s worth
everything.”
...ends 309 words
Photo File: AT_LinkinPark.JPG
Photo Caption: Shown L-R are Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of
Linkin Park performing with the Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite®
5000 Series UHF True Diversity Wireless System, consisting of the AEW-R5200
true diversity frequency-agile dual receiver, AEW-T6100 hypercardioid
dynamic microphone and AEW-T1000 UniPak transmitter. (This photo may
be used by the press only for purpose of one-time reproduction. Unauthorized
use or alteration of this image is strictly prohibited.)
Celebrating over 45 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.
—For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica
products, contact
Karen Emerson, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow,
OH 44224.
Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752; Web: www.audio-technica.com