Shure Axient® Digital Runs the Show at Eurovision Song Contest 2023
LONDON, 1, June 2023 — Eurovision, one of the largest and most complex entertainment events in the world, demands reliable and flawless audio for attendees in person and viewers at home. Hosting on behalf of Ukraine, the United Kingdom welcomed a global viewing audience of more than 161 million into the Liverpool Arena to hear performances from the top 26 countries during the grand finale, aired live on May 13. Shure Axient® Digital Wireless System was selected to provide a phenomenal experience for artists and viewers alike.
Britannia Row provided audio equipment for the 67th edition of Eurovision Song Contest. Tom Brown, Project Manager at Britannia Row, together with his team and Robert Edwards, Head of Sound at ESC 2023, specified an extensive system of Shure Axient Digital, PSM® 1000 in-ear monitoring, AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager, ShowLink®, Wireless Workbench® Software, and Wavetool Software to provide the robust and solid solution required.
Tom Brown commented: “We needed a reliable system that we could be confident in pushing to its limits, and the Shure systems provided a comprehensive set of tools and products to manage this effectively. The reliability and known robustness of the PSM 1000 in-ear monitors, huge tuning range of the Axient Digital Wireless System, frequency diversity, and invaluable support of ShowLink were imperative.”
Robert Edwards, Head of Sound of Eurovision Song Contest 2023 added: “In collaboration with our technical partners at Brit Row, the Shure Axient Digital system of microphones was at the very heart of the audio production plan, and the enormous system performed flawlessly during the entire production period of five weeks. It has been described as the most technically proficient and best-sounding Eurovision ever. It’s always a challenge keeping the 37 delegations happy from a sound point of view, but I think in Liverpool, we managed it!”
Given the limited amount of available RF spectrum and high quantity of wireless channels required to deliver an exceptional and unique Eurovision, the event necessitated a solution that could manage one of Europe’s most challenging audio environments. Thanks to the solid performance of Shure Axient Digital, the technical team easily overcame the complexity to ensure a seamless celebration of another exciting Eurovision edition.
Josh Lloyd, Head of Engineering at Britannia Row, explained: “Axient Digital helped with managing spectrum, allowing us to squeeze a lot of channels into reduced spectrum. We had 10 or 12 ShowLink access points across the arena, and it meant we could have control over the handhelds used by all artists in all spaces.”
As part of the equipment, Shure Wireless Workbench (WWB) software was used for monitoring the signal of all radio mics and in-ears, forming one Shure ecosystem. Josh Lloyd continued: “We pushed Wireless Workbench to its limits, using all the tools available in the software to help artists feel fully comfortable on stage. The AD600 Digital Spectrum Manager was also very useful - the monitor antenna receiver and 6 inputs meant we could monitor antennas on and off stage. This unique tool made our workflow much quicker and efficient.”
The technical team used Wavetool – a professional audio and RF monitoring and listening software for audio engineers – to integrate the Shure kit while monitoring dropouts and pops/crackles to ensure that artists could feel comfortable before going on stage. Due to the sheer scale of the show and high number of RF channels, there was a wide and experienced crew just looking after RF. This team relied on Shure’s exceptional audio equipment. At such a large event, the ability to quickly respond to any scenario is imperative. Only a solid audio solution and software could ensure such a flawless performance.
The Shure team was onsite supporting and providing expertise from previous Eurovision celebrations. Josh Lloyd commented: “Having Aart Heus from the Shure team was incredibly useful for optimising RF performances. It is a luxury to have a manufacturer you can rely on. Both Tuomo Tolonen, who was involved in the planification, and Aart Heus’knowledge, attention, and help were invaluable. When pushing product limits, they were able to go and check with R&D directly. It was remarkable to have that level of dialogue with a manufacturer.”
Andrew Lillywhite, part of the Britannia Row team and responsible for RF at Eurovision added: “I really can’t imagine what it would have been like doing this show without the functionality that Showlink and Wireless Workbench together with Axient Digital provide. With the benefit of Showlink and the remote control and monitoring it provides alongside a host of other features that I am already taking for granted it does make life a lot easier for a show of this size and scale.”
Stuart Moots, Director of Pro Audio at Shure UK, concluded: “The entire team at Shure are proud and extremely honoured that Britannia Row chose to use Axient Digital and PSM 1000 for Eurovision. It speaks volumes that both systems performed flawlessly at the event, especially given the sizable channel count and wireless that were in use.
To see Wireless Workbench being used to its full potential alongside Wavetool, which was taking care of monitoring, was one of the most comprehensive deployments of wireless we’ve seen in Europe.”
Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was an exceptional event and a night to remember. Only with the highest Shure quality and reliability can teams, artists, and audiences enjoy to the fullest.
To learn more about the Shure Axient Digital Wireless System, please visit www.shure.com/axientdigital.
Gerelateerde producten en accessoires
Gerelateerde verhalen
Shure RETURNS TO IBC 2024 WITH CUTTING-EDGE WIRELESS SOLUTIONS FOR BROADCAST AND CONTENT CREATION
Shure will be back at IBC2024 Show happening from the 13th to the 16th of September in Amsterdam. With almost a century of audio expertise, the company will showcase its most innovative wireless technology for broadcast, location sound and content creation applications. This includes the new SLX-D Portable Digital Wireless Systems, MoveMic Wireless Lavalier System for creators on the go, and other audio solutions and software.
Shure Gear Provides Outstanding Audio for Coronation of King Charles III
Last month, the world’s eyes were on the spectacular ceremony celebrated at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III, a key moment in recent history. For the celebration, including the start-studded Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, Terry Tew Sound and Light was elected as the official audio supplier who relied on Shure gear to provide outstanding audio throughout these historic events.
100 Million Batteries Saved from Landfills by 2027 with Shure Innovation
By 2027, more than 100 million AA batteries will have been saved from landfills, according to Shure, a global leader in audio solutions. The number is based on data calculations from customers worldwide in music production, theater, touring, education, business, government, houses of worship, and more.
Shure Equipment Helps Discovery Show Highlight Veterans in Outdoor Recreational Settings
The Discovery Network TV Show, “Operation: Healing Heroes” features a different veteran in each episode, from all eras of war, telling their stories. Now in its seventh season, the show has allowed veterans to share their experiences and challenges. The interviews are typically conducted in outdoor settings like fishing boats, where production quality can be tricky because of the need for wireless, capturing sound in remote locations, and natural sounds that could interfere.
Rocken met de nieuwe Shure KSM11 Microfooncapsule: Deep Purple vertrouwt op Shure voor de Europese Tournee
Deep Purple, dat wordt gezien als een van de meest invloedrijke Engelse rockbands van de jaren '70, verblijdt zowel de oude als nieuwe fans met hun nieuwe Europese tournee. Voor deze glorieuze terugkeer op de Europese podia heeft Ian Gillan, de leadzanger van de band, gekozen voor de nieuwe draadloze KSM11 zangmicrofoon van Shure.
Shure Launches the Next-Generation of Frequency Coordination for Audio Professionals: The AD600 Axient® Digital Spectrum Manager
Today, Shure unveiled the successor to its highly respected AXT600 Axient® Spectrum Manager, the new AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager. The AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager is a powerful, next-generation tool for planning and managing frequency coordination in the most demanding professional audio applications, including touring, broadcast, location sound, theater, and houses of worship.Singaporean Artists Alfred Sim and Tay Kewei Select Shure Axient® Digital and New KSM11 Mic Capsule For First Live Concert In Two Years
Well known for its world-class venues and artistry, live performances in Singapore were heavily impacted in recent years. Now, some relief has come to the local music industry. After a long, two-year hiatus, renowned Singaporean artists Alfred Sim and Tay Kewei were given the opportunity to perform RE: BIRTH, an inventive reimagining of the duo’s hits and new songs, in concert at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. The celebrity couple dazzled the crowd with their talent while relying on the pristine audio quality of Shure Axient Digital® Wireless and PSM® 1000 Advanced In-Ear Personal Monitoring System.
