DPA Microphones is proving its staying power in the theatre industry by supplying orders for large quantities of microphones to a number of British theatrical sound specialists, with particular emphasis on the miniature range. The mikes have all been purchased from the Danish manufacturer's UK distributor Sound Network, based in the heart of London's West End.
Autograph Sound Recording, which has purchased 135 of the DPA 4060 miniatures, has earmarked 70 of them for the international tour of Mamma Mia! that went on the road in late September. A further 40 are being used on Andrew Bruce's sound design for Mary Poppins that opened at the Bristol Hippodrome in September.
Also in Bristol, theatrical specialist Stage Electrics has purchased 35 DPA 4061 miniatures for the UK tour of Kiss Me, Kate, with sound design by Jem Kitchen. "DPA Microphones are one of the few brands we specify for our theatrical productions, and Jem felt that they were absolutely right for this tour," says Stage Electrics' head of audio Glen Beckley.
In Gibraltar, six of DPA's recently-introduced 4088 miniature cardioid headband mikes have been purchased by Sound Reinforcement Systems. Their inaugural use was on an outdoor production of Extravaganza, a locally-produced show featuring extracts from top West End musicals. This was followed by Arrow, a musical based on the Robin Hood story, at the Alameda Gardens open air theatre.
"Apart from the sound quality of the 4088s, I was really impressed with their rigidity," says SRS owner Ian Maclaren. "Once they are fitted correctly they stay in place really well, retaining a tight fit around the head."
The next generation of theatrical sound experts have also been receiving a thorough training with DPA Microphones. The Guildford School of Acting has purchased five DPA 4066 miniature headband mikes for a graduation show of The Pirates of Penzance, directed by Tim Flavin, US director of the original Broadway version.
"Tim wanted the best mikes I could possibly buy for singing and dialogue," says Paul McConkey, head of sound at the school. "We used them to mike up all the lead characters and found the pickup pattern was excellent."
The mikes have since been used for conference and seminar work as well as for productions. They are also proving invaluable when teaching students how to assemble a radio mike system.
DPA 4061 miniatures are also currently being used by Wigwam Acoustics on a 30-date UK tour of Oh What A Night, with Steve McManus as sound consultant.
For more information, please visit www.dpamicrophones.com.