Los Angeles, CA (June 21, 2016)—James Corden may be the host of The Late Late Show on CBS, but one of the show’s biggest draws is musical director, comedian and announcer Reggie Watts. Helping him keep tabs on everything during each show taping in the TV studio is a Sensaphonics 3D AARO Active Ambient IEM System.
Watts’ in-ears get the band feed, host James Corden’s mic, and the IFB feed from the control room, but Watts additionally uses them to add controlled ambience to his personal in-ear mix via small mics embedded in the earphones.
“I’m really big into using the 3D,” said Watts. “I love the Full Ambient mode, where you just open up the mics and hear the room as your ears would be hearing naturally. It’s extra cool during the show, because I get people coming up to tell me things—or when James walks up and talks to me, I just click the switch and I’m immediately hearing him. Then I flip back to my full monitor mix with the band when we go to the break.”
Watts first found out about Sensaphonics 3D when OK Go appeared on the program and each member sported a second bodypack. “I was hanging out with them and asked, ‘What’s the idea behind the extra pack?’ and they were like, these in-ears have microphones in them,” he recalls. “I was immediately very, very excited. It was like a product I had hoped for had suddenly appeared. I got on it right away and ordered myself a set.”
Watts opted for the dual-driver version: “At first, I wasn’t sure, because I was used to five drivers per side, and I kept hearing about in-ears with 8, 10, 12. It’s like driver wars out there. But one thing the 3D taught me is, it’s not about how many drivers you’ve got; it’s about the whole system working as one. The Sensaphonics 3D does that, and it sounds great.”
While Watts may be a comedian, he’s actually quiet serious when it comes to hearing conservation. “I’ve always been a freak about preserving my ears,” he said. “Wherever I go, I’ve always got my custom earplugs—which are silicone, of course—and I actually carry an extra pair in my left pocket at all times. I’m super concerned about it, not just on stage, but when I go to shows or even parties. I tell all my friends, ‘invest in your ears.’ If you love music, it’s really important.”
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www.sensaphonics.com
