Point Loma Nazarene University invests in DPA for chapel services
Published: WORSHIP
WORLD: The Media Services department at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) has recently invested in d:vote 4099 instrument mics from DPA Microphones for its chapel services, conferences, student orientation and music department events.
PLNU’s Media Services department is responsible for supplying the PA system for musical performances at the university’s chapel services, music department concerts and other campus events. As the school’s previous two microphones posed a few challenges – one being that one set was diminishing in audio quality whilst the other did not fit under the lid of the grand piano – PLNU media supervisor Bryan Pridmore began to look for a new solution.
Having used DPA Microphones at the church he attends, Mr Pridmore was familiar with the audio quality and size of the d:vote. ‘The DPA d:vote microphones were a really good option because they are well isolated from vibration and highlight the quality sound of the instrument,’ he explained. ‘Our previous mics had a lot of hissing and buzzing, and were way past usable. The d:vote not only provides an impressive audio reproduction, but also very good isolation and gain before feedback, especially when the piano lid is closed.’
An integral piece of the school’s jazz performances is its Steinway grand piano, and as a result, the Media Services department mics this instrument most often.
‘We had a solo pianist in recently who I outfitted with the d:vote, and the performance highlighted just how phenomenal the microphone is,’ continued Mr Pridmore. ‘He played the full range of the piano – lows and highs - and the audience was not only able to hear and feel the music, but also got a true sense of the awe of the piano and the performer’s musical talents. We weren’t thinking about how the mic was picking up the sound, but rather about the music itself. The d:vote was completely transparent, and that is what I want in a microphone.’
Mr Pridmore added that he also relies on d:votes for other instrumental performances. ‘When we’re not using the piano, the stereo pair of d:votes also enable me to separate the mics for other musicians on stage,’ he explained. ‘This is especially great for instances when a performer prefers to hear only the high-end audio through the monitor wedges. The low end also fills out the PA and makes the instruments sound full and big. The microphone has been really fantastic with subwoofers.’