Sydney-based Innovative Production Services invested in Shure solutions during the upgrade of their aging radio microphones.
A leading provider of audio, lighting, vision and staging solutions, Innovative Production Services serves an extensive base of corporate customers and events businesses in Sydney as well as along the Eastern seaboard.
Having decided to replace some of their aging radio microphones, Innovative Directors Jeremy Koch and Brendan Sadgrove faced the challenge of choosing a product that would not only produce a high quality result, but pack as many channels as possible into an increasingly crowded radio environment in the CBDs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Jeremy explained that some of their existing stock of radio microphones needed to be replaced but an even bigger issue was the availability of spectrum. After evaluating the market and testing leading solutions, Jeremy and Brendan invested in 34 channels of Shure ULX-D.
According to Jeremy, ULX-D not only lets them use the Shure Wireless Workbench management software, but also offers more advanced scanning abilities, better channel management and ability to handle a denser amount of microphones in one location than any of the competition. He observed that Shure ULX-D simplified channel syncing, enhanced usability, and enabled easy implementation.
Combining the Shure SB900 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery with the eight-slot SBC-800US recharger has meant huge cost and management advantages for Innovative’s crew. The company has spent over $10,000 on batteries and has over 144 batteries in stock, with every mic having at least two, if not more. Having the spare batteries is useful in jobs where there is no time to recharge. Their battery management has been simplified with the use of battery kits, which inform the staff during pack-up whether all the batteries have been put back.
Combining practicality and efficiency, Innovative’s battery kits have been built into a Pelican-style roadcase with a special foam cut-out. Each case has a charger and battery slots in it ready to go. The charger has been modified with the powerCON on the outside, so that the case can sit on a shelf plugged in, with the batteries charged at all times, ready for use.
With 90% of Innovative’s work in the corporate market, being visually unobtrusive, maximising space and keeping gear portable are important. Since an average corporate gig requires them to take out eight to 12 channels, the rack density of the ULX-D quad receivers is a big advantage, requiring only one or two rack units for eight microphones.
With an existing stock of Shure UHF-Rs and other workhorses from the Shure range, Innovative is familiar with the range of Shure capsule options. For the latest purchase, they chose SM86 capsules for their excellent feedback rejection; they are also particularly good when someone is off the microphone, which is important in corporate Q&A sessions.
Having been associated with both Shure and Jands for a long time, Jeremy was familiar with Jands’ extended finance programme, Jands Hire Assist, which he chose for the upgrade. The cash flow control facilitated by Jands Hire Assist allowed them to invest in 34 channels, which would have been out of their reach under normal circumstances.
