The Glyndebourne opera house adopted Shure’s Axient Digital Wireless System for its summer festival season, now being followed by an autumn season of opera and concerts.
The Axient Digital system at the renowned Sussex venue serves multiple purposes, from facilitating communication during rehearsals to supporting recording and broadcasts of productions. The system’s flexibility has proven particularly valuable in Glyndebourne’s repertory setting, enabling rapid redeployment of configurations between different productions.
To meet the complex audio demands of multiple simultaneous productions, the Glyndebourne technical team turned to HD Pro Audio to handle the rigorous requirements of live opera while maintaining the highest levels of audio fidelity. Shure’s Axient Digital Wireless System was specified for the project.
The Shure equipment used in the Glyndebourne festicals included seven AD4Q Four-Channel Digital wireless receivers, 20 ADX1M Micro Bodypack transmitters, a AD600 Axient Digital Spectrum Manager, two AD3 Digital plug-on wireless transmitters, and four AD2 handheld wireless mic transmitters. This suite of equipment provided Glyndebourne with unparalleled flexibility and reliability in managing complex audio set-ups across productions.
‘The Axient Digital frequency management’s ability to handle large numbers of channels within the same bandwidth was invaluable in managing the frequency-dense environment at the festival,’ says Andy Huffer, Sales Director at HD Pro Audio.
‘Glyndebourne’s adoption of Axient Digital showcases the system’s versatility in high-stakes performance environments says Glyndebourne Productions Head of Sound & Video Jonathan Moss. ‘The small, lightweight beltpacks have been a game-changer, allowing for easy concealment without compromising the intricate costume and wig designs or performer comfort. The integration with our SSL mixing desk and the system’s robust frequency management provides a new level of freedom, control, and reliability that is crucial for live opera productions.’
‘Reliability and consistency are paramount in live opera, and Axient Digital delivers that unequivocally,’ Moss adds. ‘Shure’s Wireless Workbench software was straightforward to use and the Axient system’s integration with our production network makes simultaneous use across multiple applications effortless. It’s not just about sound quality – it’s about having a system we can trust night after night, regardless of the production’s demands.’
‘Working with an institution as prestigious as Glyndebourne is always exciting,’ says Shure Sales Manager, Peppe Mallozzi. ‘Their use, and planned future use, of Axient Digital’s features, demonstrates the system’s capability to meet the exacting standards of world-class opera. We’re proud to play a role in bringing these incredible performances to life with pristine audio quality.’
In coming years, the Glyndebourne team plans to explore the Axient Digital Quadversity options to provide coverage in its dressing rooms for testing as well as on the stage.
