Marti Pellow Tour Uses DPA N-Series Wireless for Handheld Vocals

Scottish singer Marti Pellow plays arenas, theatres and festivals, and his handheld vocal microphones on tour now run on DPA's N-Series digital wireless system. The setup is managed by monitor engineer Martijn Van Renterghem, director of the UK rental company A-Live Sound LTD, which supplies complete tour packages across the UK and Europe.

One sound in very different rooms

Van Renterghem says his main task each night is consistency. Stage conditions and audience noise change a lot between a theatre and a festival field, but the vocal has to sound the same. His test for any wireless system is whether it can be told apart from a cable. A-Live was among the first users of the N-Series, and he reported that he hears no difference between the wired and wireless versions of the same microphone.

Capsule change during the run

The tour started with the DPA 4018 VL capsule on the wireless handheld. As the shows moved into louder venues with lively crowds, Van Renterghem switched to the DPA 2028 vocal handheld. He explained that the 2028 is more enclosed, which helps when stage levels rise.

He also pointed out practical details of the N-Series transmitters: they are light, they have no external screens, and their plain look suits shows that are filmed. According to Van Renterghem, the noise floor is very low, and the singer likes how the microphone feels in the hand.

Beyond vocals

• For orchestral concerts with up to 80 musicians, the team uses DPA microphones on every source, including the 4099 instrument mic, to keep the tone the same across inputs.
• A-Live has added the N-Series to its general rental stock and uses it on other tours and festivals.
• Van Renterghem reported that engineers and artists who tried the system responded positively.