For the fifth election cycle in a row, Audio-Technica was the premier mic supplier for our nation’s presidential debates. Audio-Technica provided wired and wireless microphone solutions for the presidential debates in Coral Gables, FL September 30; St. Louis MO October 8; and Tempe, AZ October 13. A-T also provided onsite technical expertise at the first two debates of the series and had a strong presence, including onsite technical expertise, at the vice presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, near A-T’s Stow corporate headquarters.

A leading audio resource for high-profile broadcast events, A-T has been outfitting the debates since 1988, when the Commission on Presidential Debates assumed sponsorship and production responsibilities. With the company again acting as the premier mic supplier for all four debates this election year, a host of microphones from Audio-Technica’s comprehensive product line was employed to cover the diverse needs of each application.

The town hall setting in St. Louis, MO on October 8 was the most challenging audio environment, requiring a variety of dependable, high-quality mics to facilitate the fast pace and complicated format of this debate. Audio-Technica’s acclaimed Artist Elite® 5000 Series Wireless Systems with AEW-T5400 large-diaphragm handheld transmitters were chosen to ensure clear, accurate reproduction of the candidates’ every word. In addition, the moderator used the unobtrusive AT898 and AT899 Subminiature Lavaliers integrated with the 5000 Series Systems for maximum intelligibility. Numerous other A-T microphones were featured, including 30 handheld AE6100 Hypercardioid Dynamic Microphones feeding signal into 7 AT-MX351 SmartMixer® automatic mixers for the audience question and answer segment.

The formats of the other three debates extended further opportunities to apply the advanced capabilities and functionality of Audio-Technica microphones. At the first as well as the final presidential debates, a custom-engineered A-T podium mic provided split audio feeds via three separate elements encased in a single housing, enabling audio from each candidate’s podium to be flexibly routed for optimum sound at the venue and broadcast outlets. The AT898 and AT899 lavaliers were also utilized by both candidates and the moderator during the vice presidential debate.

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