SUMMER NAMM SHOW — Multi-platinum GRAMMY®-winning rock band Linkin Park has one of the most intense touring schedules of any band in recent years. They continue to divide their time on the road playing shows ranging from giant festivals and selected “one-off” shows to headlining an all-star bill on their own Projekt Revolution tour. In order to keep up with this grueling schedule, Linkin Park has three complete stage and touring rigs equipped with a wide array of Audio-Technica wired and wireless microphones. Front-of-House (FOH) engineer Ken “Pooch” Van Druten is one of the key people responsible for engineering Linkin Park’s sound and making equipment choices while on the road. Pooch, who has worked with such diverse acts as KISS, System of a Down and Kid Rock, says he was sold on using Audio-Technica mics when he first auditioned them. “I have used Audio-Technica mics for years because of their sound quality, reliability and the support the company has shown for myself and the artists I work with. A-T is a very unique company when it comes to their support of artists and their touring personnel. They are extremely responsive, and that kind of support makes a big difference, especially when you are doing as many dates as we are. That’s why the band not only uses Audio-Technica, they endorse them as well.” Linkin Park vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda use the Audio-Technica Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF True Diversity Wireless System, consisting of the AEW-R5200 true diversity frequency-agile dual receiver and AEW-T6100 hypercardioid dynamic microphone. Additionally, AEW-T1000 UniPak transmitters are employed for wireless guitars. In total, Linkin Park has 65 channels of Audio-Technica wireless systems for this year’s touring schedule. “When it came time to select microphones, we actually had a shoot-out of every single A-T front line vocal mic. Monitor engineer Kevin “Tater” McCarthy and I spent three or four rehearsals swapping out mics and trying them with the band,” said Pooch. “We ended up choosing the 6100 — it sounds great on Chester and Mike.” The band is also employing a wide selection of A-T hard-wired microphones, including the AT4050 on guitars and overheads; AT4047 on guitar cabinets; AE2500 on kick; ATM350 on rack and floor tom; ATM450 on hi-hat; AE5100 on ride; and AT835STs for audience. For Ken “Pooch” Van Druten, his day involves not simply going to a sound check and then mixing a live Linkin Park show. It goes well beyond that. He explains, “When you go to a Linkin Park show, ticket holders are able to buy a CD that contains liner notes of that show plus a download link. Within ten days after the show they just attended, they are able to go online and download the complete set they had just heard. This adds additional pressure on me, since I am not only FOH for the live show, but the following morning I get off the tour bus, walk into a dressing room and start mixing the show from the night before, so fans can access and download the set onto the CD they purchased. All things considered, I am mixing approximately 12-14 hours of Linkin Park every day!” With such tight scheduling, Van Druten has no room for error. “It is very comforting to be able to walk out of the makeshift mixing room and go right into soundcheck and know that the Audio-Technica mics are going to work consistently night after night. That’s one less thing for me to have to worry about, and that’s worth everything.” Celebrating over 45 years of audio excellence worldwide, Audio-Technica is a leading innovator in transducer technology, renowned for the design and manufacture of microphones, wireless microphones, headphones, mixers, and electronics for the audio industry. —For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica products, contact Karen Emerson, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, OH 44224. Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752; Web: www.audio-technica.com Audio-Technica is exhibiting at Booth #500 during the 2008 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, TN.