American Idol Microphones

I was always trying to figure out which wireless mics American Idol contestants used, and a few weeks ago when a contestant tilted the mic down I caught "Sennheiser" right on the top. After a few quick searches I found the mic system they use.

Sennheiser SKM 5200 (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/500434)

with

MD 5235 Capusul (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/502164)

Source
http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/424/Faustino-chooses-Sennheiser-for-American-Idol

That combo retails for around $3000 not including receivers...just amazing to me how much these companies can get people to pay for their products.

Every item has a purpose, function and dependability rating. For a show like American Idol and major concert tours you don't want to have a mic drop out in the middle of a performance. You have to pay for that performance reliability!

It's probably hard to believe, but it's not uncommon for us to sell a $50,000 to $80,000 wireless system for CCS (Critical Communications Systems) applications. As Steve said, when it HAS to work, price is not the issue. I should have our CCS specialist chime in on this, he has a pretty awesome graphic on the wireless spectrum. I think that would shed a lot of light on what we are really asking of our wireless systems.

It's just like most things, it's a balancing act between three factors: Time, Function and Price. You can't have them all, the more you give to one, the more you have to take away from the others.

Ben

I was always trying to figure out which wireless mics American Idol contestants used, and a few weeks ago when a contestant tilted the mic down I caught "Sennheiser" right on the top. After a few quick searches I found the mic system they use.

Sennheiser SKM 5200 (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/500434)

with

MD 5235 Capusul (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/502164)

Source
http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/424/Faustino-chooses-Sennheiser-for-American-Idol


That combo retails for around $3000 not including receivers...just amazing to me how much these companies can get people to pay for their products.

I would have guessed a far more expensive system... like 5x that price.

I would have guessed a far more expensive system... like 5x that price.

I'm not sure, but I think thats just the mic, I'm not sure which receivers they are using.

I'm not sure, but I think thats just the mic, I'm not sure which receivers they are using.

I know. But if ANY TV show was going to spend top $$$, it would be AI... as they are the highest rated TV show, and make the most money every season.

Actually, the World Wrestling Entertainment Monday night show uses $10,000.00 dollar handhelds for the in ring standups.

Ben, you wouldn't happen to know who they contract with for sound, would you?

I know who does their lighting design - but not the sound portion.

I'd bet A Idol pays nothing for the products.
I'll bet the products are used in exchange for bragging rights for the manufacture.
Or the manufacture pays THEM to have their products used.

Notice the Coke drinking glasses, I hear coke pays huge bucks for that.

I was always trying to figure out which wireless mics American Idol contestants used, and a few weeks ago when a contestant tilted the mic down I caught "Sennheiser" right on the top. After a few quick searches I found the mic system they use.

Sennheiser SKM 5200 (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/500434)

with

MD 5235 Capusul (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/502164)

Source
http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/424/Faustino-chooses-Sennheiser-for-American-Idol

That combo retails for around $3000 not including receivers...just amazing to me how much these companies can get people to pay for their products.


For additional reading!
http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/424/Faustino-chooses-Sennheiser-for-American-Idol