Las Vegas, NV (August 30, 2017)–When multi-platinum artist Pitbull recently acquired a Sennheiser Digital 9000 wireless system, the first thing he did was put it to the test in one of the most RF-congested spots on the planet—Las Vegas—as he played an eight-show residency called “Time of Our Lives” at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Using a Digital 9000 system comprised of a SKM 9000 transmitter, MD 9235 capsule and EM 9046 receiver has made a difference in the mix, according to front-of-house engineer Will Madera. “The microphone system gives body and clear definition to his voice, and it cuts through really well,” he said. “We’ve got percussion, drums, keyboards, bass, and backing tracks—all of which are really energetic and loud during the show. But with the Digital 9000, there is no issue and the vocal is right there in front of everything.”
“This is our fifth time here in Las Vegas, and as everybody knows, it’s kind of an RF nightmare,” monitor engineer Matt Holden said. “On our other systems, I would have full signal bars and clean frequencies, but we would lose him if he went to certain spots and this meant we were constantly on edge. With this system, I never have to think about it and can instead focus all my energy on his mix and performance.”
That, in turn, has led to the artist adopting IEMs. “If the mix is perfect for Pitbull, he will take the performance to another level,” Holden noted. “He stops thinking about the technical side and gets into the crowd. The difference in performance is very noticeable. Switching over to the Digital 9000 also proved to be the catalyst for him to start using in-ear monitors, which previously he was never 100 percent happy with sonically. This gives him even more freedom on stage.”
Currently, Pitbull has eight channels of the Digital 9000, which are used on vocal microphones, bass guitar, and a djembe—and all of it will get a workout this fall as the artist hits the road again with Enrique Inglesias for an itinerary that includes arenas like the Staples Center, The Forum and Madison Square Garden.
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