New York, NY - The 36th Annual Grammy Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall, utilized an all-Apogee Speaker System for the sixth consecutive year. The event, which features performances from Rock to Rap, and Jazz to Classical, puts an intense demand on the sound system and operating personnel. In both this New York venue and the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, the Apogee sound system has proven over and over again to be more than equal to the task.

Live performances by Aerosmith, Sting, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Winwood, and many others were broadcast around the world to an audience of nearly one billion!

This year the FOH system consisted of twenty-two tri-amplified, three-way 3x3s2 concert loudspeakers and twelve bi-amped, two-way AE-5 NC (narrow conical) loudspeakers. Twelve single-amped, two-way AE-3s2 loudspeakers were utilized for front fill. Specially featured were Apogee AE-15 subwoofers, the newest addition to the Apogee family. Identical in size to the 3x3s2 concert loudspeaker, the AE-15 provides extended bass with a very fast transient response time, adding "punch" to the music without muddying up the bottom end. The AE-15 employs four fluid-cooled 15" drivers in an articulated baffle arrangement, yielding exceptional mutual driver-loading properties. A total of eight AE-15s provided rich bass response.

Stage monitoring consisted of sixteen bi-amplified, two-way AE-6 and AE-6B wedge style monitors, along with twelve of the new bi-amped, two-way AE-8B wedge monitors. The AE-6 models employ a 12" cone with a 1" throat horn, while the AE-8B utilizes a 15" cone and a 2" throat driver for exceptional power output. Sidefill monitoring was accomplished with four 3X3s in the wings.

The system was designed by Patrick Baltzell, who also mixed the music for the show. Mr. Baltzell commented: "The new AE-15 subwoofers provided us with all the low-end punch that we needed without producing the low frequency 'mud' usually experienced in the Radio City Music Hall."

Burns Audio of Sun Valley, California, with sub-contracted assistance from Muse Productions of Birmingham, Alabama, provided the all-Apogee Sound system. According to Apogee Sound Domestic Sales Manager, James Lamb, "Muse Productions was contacted at the last minute to provide an additional eight AE-8B Monitors. At that time Burns Audio, as well as all East Coast Apogee rental inventories, were depleted of this model. Robert Hawthorne, president of Muse Productions was good enough to personally drive the eight monitors to New York City himself."

Mr. Hawthorne, who also assisted in "teching the (Grammy sound) system," found the opportunity to work the Grammys, "A fantastic learning experience." Mr. Hawthorne, who described the entire installation as "...smooth sailing," also went on to offer an opinion about the new Apogee AE-15 subwoofers. "The news subs were very punchy and much more responsive then anything I had ever heard in the past." Mr. Hawthorne, who also inventories a substantial amount of Apogee loudspeakers, stated the AE-15s are an "excellent addition to the (Apogee) line."

Murray Allen, Senior Sound Designer for all of the show's audio requirements added: "...several pro sound engineers in the audience stated they thought it was the best sound ever heard in Radio City Music Hall." Mr. Allen went on to add, "..the system, especially the bass, was focused, defined and transparent. The overall audience opinion was that the sound was fantastic!"