DPA microphones deployed for Fortune Global Forum
Published: ASIA
CHINA: A large selection of DPA microphones were used at the recent Fortune Global Forum, held in Chengdu and attended by a procession of the world’s top CEOs alongside Chinese dignitaries including vice premier Zhang Gaoli. The Danish brand was selected for the prestigious event by Fortune audio designer Ron Lorman following his long-term use of the d:fine headset microphone.
The Global Forum was first staged in 1995 and is described by Fortune as ‘convening the heads of global business on the dynamic frontiers of international commerce’. The Chengdu event marked the fourth time the Forum has taken place in China, culminating in a gala dinner during which guests were entertained by 30 guzheng players, opera singers, choral and pop singers, and a piano performance by Lang Lang.
Mr Lorman initially prepared for the event by contacting DPA’s Ken Kimura at the company’s Hong Kong office. He explained: ‘This event was of huge importance and it was vital that I delivered exceptional audio quality, therefore DPA was the obvious first port of call when it came to sourcing the right microphones.’
To determine the best solution, Mr Lorman worked alongside Mr Kimura and Pike Xin, product manager at Chinese DPA distributor Digital Media Technology. He ultimately applied DPA models to all of his primary inputs.
‘During the conference sessions, I used assorted mics including my own stock of d:fine headsets for the various presenters,’ he continued. ‘The Gala Dinner, however, presented a number of interesting challenges, and this was where the advice and help I received from Ken and Pike was invaluable.’
Mr Lorman’s main goals were miking multiple diverse artists with rapid set changes, including guzheng players, percussion ensemble, lead vocals, choir, flutes, harps and a string quintet. He also had to ensure an elegant sound from Lang Lang’s Steinway piano.
‘I had very little prior information about the guzheng players, so I wasn’t sure if I needed to mic every instrument – or indeed where it would be best to mount the microphones,’ he explained. ‘In the end we used d:vote 4099 instrument microphones that we placed underneath the instruments, mounted to the stands with universal clips. They were able to capture the sound without getting in the way of the performance. The various mounting systems proved to be extremely flexible and well thought out.’
For Lang Lang’s piano, Mr Lorman used a d:vote 4099P stereo microphone system comprising a pair of sensitivity selected 4099s on goosenecks with magnetic mounts. Elsewhere, d:vote 4099s and d:facto vocal mics were used for a traditional Chinese ensemble with flute, harps, ziao and zhnogruan as well as orchestral musicians playing violins, violas, cello and bass, that played to guests during dinner. A further number of d:vote mics were used for a percussion ensemble. ‘The drums were very dynamic and the d:vote 4099s captured every nuance,’ Mr Lorman enthused.
Meanwhile, d:facto handhelds used in conjunction with Shure UHF R wireless channels were deployed for singers Liao Changyong, Laura Wright, You Hongfei and Tan Weiwei.
‘I haven’t experienced the d:facto Vocal Microphone before and I was very impressed by it,’ commented Mr Lorman. ‘It was very smooth and clean, and perfect at the top end. The off axis response was very tight, with excellent plosives rejection and subtle proximity effect, all excellent characteristics.’
Following the event Mr Lorman was impressed enough with the DPA mics to buy them for his own stock. ‘I can predict that they will be getting plenty of use,’ he concluded.