Audio-Technica Mics Chosen for All Four 2012 Presidential Debates

	President Obama and Governor Romney at the October 16 town hall debate at Hofstra University, each using Audio-Technica's 5000 series wireless systems with AEW-T5400a condenser handheld transmitter. Photos by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Audio-Technica, a manufacturer of transducer technology currently celebrating "50 Years of Passionate Listening," provided a wide selection of microphones to capture every word from the candidates, moderators, and selected crowd members at the 2012 presidential debates. The events were held October 3 at Colorado's University of Denver; October 11 (Vice Presidential) at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky; October 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York; and October 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Larry Estrin, of Best Audio in Studio City, California, serves as audio and production communications director for the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) and chose to use Audio-Technica microphones at these landmark events. Steve Savanyu, Audio-Technica's director, educational services, was also present at each debate for on-site support. Audio-Technica microphones have been chosen for the presidential debates since 1988.

Michael Abbott, A1 for the debates, stated, "The Audio-Technica microphones, which we've used on all the previous debates, performed flawlessly -- which is exactly what you need them to do for an event of this magnitude of importance. Every word, every nuance has to be captured and captured accurately, and that's what the A-T mics did, at all of the debate locations. Dependability and accuracy -- that's what A-T delivered."

An audio resource for high-profile broadcast events, Audio-Technica provided a host of microphones from their comprehensive product line to pick up crisp, intelligible audio and cover the diverse needs of each debate.

Audio-Technica products used on both candidates at their lecterns (President Obama and Governor Romney) at the first 2012 presidential debate, held October 3, included Engineered Sound ES991 dual-element podium microphones as well as AT898cW Subminiature Cardioid Condenser lavalier microphones with 5000 Series wireless. On moderator Jim Lehrer, wired and wireless versions of the AT898 Subminiature Cardioid Condenser lavalier microphones were used (AT898cW with 5000 Series wireless). Audio-Technica's broadcast and production BP4071 Line + Gradient Condenser microphones were used for room ambience.

Products used at the October 11 VP debate (conference table format) included A-T's Engineered Sound ES935ML6 MicroLine Condenser gooseneck microphones on vice president Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan. Two AT898cW mics with 5000 series wireless were used for moderator Martha Raddatz. Audio-Technica's BP4071 mics were used for room ambience. Backup mics at the event included AT898cW wireless lavaliers and AEW-T5400a handheld transmitters with 5000 series wireless for the candidates, and AT898 wired lavalier mics for Raddatz.

Products used at the next event, a town hall format, included A-T's 5000 series wireless with AEW-T5400a condenser handheld transmitters and AEW-R5200 receivers for President Obama and Governor Romney (allowing the candidates to freely roam while answering the evening's questions); AT898cW lavalier mics with AEW-T1000a body packs (doubled for redundancy) for moderator Candy Crowley; AE6100 Hypercardioid Dynamic handheld (wired) microphones, connected to Audio-Technica's AT-MX351a SmartMixer five-channel mixers, for audience members asking questions of the candidates; and BP4071 mics for room ambience. Candidate backup mics, required for redundancy, were additional AT898cW units with AEW-T1000a body packs and AEW-R5200 receivers.

The fourth debate (conference table format), held on the evening of October 22 in Boca Raton, Florida, wrapped the 2012 debate series. Microphones used included AT898cW lavalier mics (5000 series wireless with AEW-T1000a bodypacks) on each candidate and moderator Bob Schieffer, as well as wired AT898 mics for backup and redundancy and BP4071 mics for room ambience.

Estrin stated, "The primary reason that I chose to once again use Audio-Technica microphone and mixer products for the Presidential Debates is their 'extra-mile' support. We utilized the 5000 series wireless, and we used the T5400a transmitter for the town hall meetings, giving us proven reliability and studio-quality audio. Two key features of the AEW-T1000a UniPak body-pack transmitter are its safety cover, which protects the soft-touch controls from being accidently activated, and a superior locking microphone input connector. We used the AT898 miniature lavalier microphones at all the debates, and each candidate always wore two systems, for redundant backup. In most cases the wireless microphones were used as the primary mics while the wired microphones were the backup mics. In addition to the hardware support, Audio-Technica also sends one of their employees to all of the debates to assure the support we need from the factory."