Los Angeles - The 66th Academy Awards were held here at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Music Center of Los Angeles. This prestigious annual event featured an all Apogee Sound System for the sixth consecutive year. The system was designed and mixed by Patrick Baltzell, a leading freelance sound mixer for live televised events.

The all Apogee speaker system consisted of two arrays of four 3X3s2 tri-amplified three-way concert loudspeakers for the main left and right FOH sound source. Eight AE-3s2 single-amped, two-way loudspeakers were utilized for front fill, while an additional two AE-3s and five AE-2s2 wide angle loudspeakers were used for the under balcony fill. Four AE-5 bi-amped, two-way loudspeakers covered the first and second balconies and five AE-5 NCs (Narrow Conical) loudspeakers covered the top balcony. For stage monitoring four additional 3X3s were used for sidefill, while eight AE-6B bi-amped, two-way monitors and eight AE-3Ms2 single amp, two-way monitors provided foldback for the performers. Apogee and Crest amplifiers powered the system.

Both Gamble and Soundcraft consoles were used for the house mix, while a PM-4000M was used for the monitor mix. Outboard equipment included Klark-Teknik digital delays and a special Dolby based 'soft gating' device for the podium microphones.

The aforementioned sound system, which augmented the permanently installed Apogee system in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, was provided by veteran rental company Burns Audio of Sun Valley, California. When asked about his choice of loudspeakers for his rental inventory, Bruce Burns, president of Burns Audio, cited the "...exceptional sonic quality, ruggedness and predictability of the Apogee product line. All of the different Apogee speaker models can be used together in different areas of the house and the result is one large, integrated system." Mr. Burns continued, "We use Apogee for theaters, sports arenas and outdoor shows and the results are uniformly excellent."

The broadcast audio and video mixing for the 22 million dollar production was handled by two G, C & C (formally Greene, Crowe & Company) full-size remote broadcast trucks, while the orchestra was submixed in the Design FX truck on an API console. The G, C & C trucks, which handle many internationally broadcast live events, have 'accordion' sides which extend on a motor drive after the truck is parked in place. This allows the directors and producers to face sideways in the truck with far greater room to work than in a conventional design. Broadcast audio was mixed by Paul Sandweiss, while the orchestra sub-mix was handled by Lee de Carlo.

Apogee's CORREQT room equalization was provided by Ken DeLoria, president of Apogee Sound, Inc. CORREQT, which is an acronym for Computer Optimized Room Resonant EQualization Technique, is an FFT-based method of room equalization that is performed not only before, but also during the show. This is due to the fact that CORREQT allows the program music or speech to be used as the test signal. With this technique fine adjustments can be made continually during the performance, compensating for acoustical changes that occur when the audience is present.

Performances of nominated 'Best Song' included Bruce Springsteen, "Streets of Philadelphia," Neil Young, "Philadelphia," Janet Jackson, "Again," a duet of "The Day I Fall In Love," sung by Dolly Parton & James Ingram and "A Wink and A Smile," performed by Keith Carradine.

Sue Arrington, on-site technical manager for ABC, commented that she was "extremely pleased with the excellent sound quality throughout the house," and that "the event was a major success from an audio standpoint."

In a letter to Mr. Bruce Burns, Jeff Margolis, Television Director for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, writes "Thank you for helping make 'The 66th Annual Academy Awards' the best one yet. What a truly magical evening. I'm glad you were a part of it. Good job. Thank you." Mr. Margolis also holds the honors as 'Best TV Director' for the 1993 Academy Awards, from the Directors Guild of America.