When Grease: Live, a television adaptation of the 1971 musical Grease, aired on
FOX, Audio Supervisor/Designer Bruce Arledge knew that DPA Microphones would
provide the perfect audio support for the multitude of actors on set. Brought on by
Producer Greg Sills and Production Mixer Mark King, Arledge was confident that the
DPA mics would catch every syllable, both spoken and sung.
Shooting on four stages at Warner Bros. Studios and outfitting multiple performers,
Arledge needed microphones that would complement the unique sound setup, while
still delivering unwavering audio quality. He chose 50 of DPA’s d:screet™ 4061
Omnidirectional Microphones due to their adaptability and ease of use in unusual
miking applications.
“My audio assistants worked directly with the teams in wardrobe, hair and makeup
to find an optimum place underneath the wigs to integrate the mics,’ says Arledge,
who designs and supervises award shows and live TV broadcasts along the West
Coast. “We did a lot of colouring and painting on the mics to match hair tones.
Throughout this process, the sound quality captured by the d:screet™ 4061s
remained flawless. During live performances, it is important to incorporate the mics
as seamlessly as possible, even through multiple wig changes, and with the DPA
mics I was able to do that.’
The d:screet™ 4061 Omnidirectional Microphone is specifically designed for use with
wireless systems in theatre, television and close-miked instrument applications. It
is conveniently unobtrusive and exhibits surprisingly accurate omnidirectional
patterns with its small size.
Grease: Live had several quick transitions between dialog and vocal performances.
The same DPA mics were used throughout the entire production. “It was a hybrid
production, where a lot of the scenes shift between dialogue and music,’ says
Alredge. “The DPAs functioned perfectly and seamlessly adapted with the
performers.’
The moisture-resistant microphones performed as flawlessly as the cast throughout
the entire 180-minute show. “Rain was also an unfortunate factor that day because
we were running between inside and outside sound stages,’ continues Arledge. “The
mics didn’t miss a beat. Even through the sweat from the actors and the
precipitation that day, the d:screet™ 4061s played their part and provided
exceptional audio quality.’
Another key reason Arledge chose DPA was due to “its consistency when using
multiple units. We had 50 wireless microphones active at once and I needed the
sound for each one to match up. All the 4061s sounded the same, which was
extremely important during a production of that size.’
Arledge brought in Dave Bellamy, Majority Partner of Soundtronics Wireless, to
provide RF design, technical support and coordination throughout the entire
production. “When Bruce brought me on board I was thrilled to be involved,’
explains Bellamy. “We are also big fans of DPA. They are our go-to microphones for
Broadway type shows and are widely sought after throughout the industry. DPA
helps us make our customers happy and when they are happy, I’m happy.’
DPA Microphones continue to be in the spotlight and are being used on Arledge’s
other projects, including Dancing with the Stars and the upcoming Hairspray Live! in
Winter 2016.
