Shure’s Axient Digital and Axient Digital PSM wireless systems are keeping the audio steady on the Gorillaz The Mountain world tour. Sound engineer Colin Woodward moved guitarist Jeff Wootton onto the PSM in-ear system when his old in-ear setup clashed with the guitar transmitters.
The old in-ear system caused guitar dropouts on the AD1 packs, Woodward said in a production profile published by LSi Online. “The other system we were using for IEMs on stage caused some interference issues, including guitar dropouts on the AD1 packs,” said Woodward. “We also noticed a small amount of noise present when these units were close to the guitar amps — and as Jeff likes to move around a lot, it’s not possible to avoid the amps.”
Axient Digital PSM uses a receive-only design for the onstage bodypack’s audio-reception. Moving Wootton to it ended the clash.
“Axient Digital PSM has solved all those issues while sounding great,” Woodward said. “It’s been absolutely rock-solid for me, and the noise floor is really impressive, to the point where you have to double check it’s on when the mix is quiet. He’s a big fan of the sound.”
Woodward said the timeline recording in Wireless Workbench helped him track down the dropouts. That led to the switch. He uses an AXT600 spectrum manager and plans to upgrade to Shure’s newer AD600.
Vocals run on Shure KSM8 capsules, the microphone Albarn uses, according to monitor engineer Dave Guerin. “For decades, Damon was on an SM58,” Guerin said. Front of house engineer Matt Butcher suggested the KSM8 after trying one with another act. The production carries about 10 KSM8 capsules and puts a new one in Albarn’s mic every year.
