With her 2014 Dare To Dream the first self-released soprano album to score a No.1 in the UK Classical Albums Chart, Rebecca Newman is a rising star in the world of classical music. Not only does she sing, but she also prefers to choose to own her own microphone system…
Prior to the success of Dare To Dream, she had sold in excess of 15,000 albums as an independent artist, headlined her own successful UK tour, appeared extensively on TV and radio, and performed with the likes of Aled Jones and Russell Watson. Now she joins Russell Watson on his Up Close and Personal tour, taking in more than 50 theatres around the UK.
By retaining control of the choice of wireless microphone system, she selects the combination of components that best reproduce her powerful and distinctive voice. ‘Having a microphone you can rely on in any situation makes an enormous difference to your performance as a singer,’ she says. ‘It gives you the confidence to use your voice exactly as you would when singing unamplified, in a room with fantastic acoustics. It means you can give the audience your best performance.’
Ahead of her forthcoming tour she felt the time was right to review her equipment choices and approached Pro Audio Systems with a request to try some alternatives. PAS arranged a test session where several different microphone capsules from various manufacturers were given a thorough workout, through an evaluation system comprising Meyer Sound loudspeakers, the latest Sennheiser wireless equipment and a Yamaha digital mixing console. The results of the test were conclusive, coming down heavily in favour of the DPA d:facto and Sennheiser head, but PAS arranged for Newman to take it to a tour rehearsal so that she could evaluate it in real-world circumstances.
The tour rehearsal confirmed the initial results and she is now the owner of one of the best vocal wireless systems available, the quality and road-worthiness of which will serve her for years to come. ‘I am extremely happy with the DPA d:facto,’ she reports. ‘It’s a fantastic mic and I love using it’.
‘Working with Rebecca was a real treat for us, she’s obviously a star in her own right but so professional and ready to take advice,’ says Pro Audio Systems’ Dave Simpson. ‘It was also really interesting for us to hear this equipment in this environment and with such a powerful performer – a part of the job we really enjoy and something we don’t get to do every day. As well as the obvious benefits to us, the immediate advantage to Rebecca was to allow her to make an informed and confident choice.’
