Press release
17.11.2011 - Almere/ Zellik
Within Temptation Tours With Sennheiser
Audio specialist Sennheiser was involved from the start in helping the Dutch symphonic rock band Within Temptation allocating a wide range of microphones and related wireless equipment. Lead vocalist Sharon den Adel personally selected the Neumann KK 104 S cardioid capsule in combination with the Sennheiser SKM 5200-II handheld transmitter for her vocals.
Within Temptation recently started their European tour called The Unforgiving, (named after their latest album) at the Szigetfestival in Budapest. Before the actual start of the tour Sharon spent a full day reviewing equipment and testing microphones with Guus Bridié, sound designer and front of house engineer, Bennie Veenstra, monitor engineer and Vincent Tilgenkamp, RF engineer and Technical Project Coordinator from Sennheiser Benelux.
After several A-B comparisons between different capsules and wireless microphone systems, both Sharon and Guus where convinced the SKM 5200-II with the Neumann capsule was the best suitable microphone solution. “Using the SKM 5200 Sennheiser microphone together with the KK 104 head is simply the best combination I have used and heard so far with the lead singer of Within Temptation – Sharon den Adel – It gives her vocal range both a clarity and power in a way that I haven’t heard before. Together with the EM 3732-II receiver it has all the reliability that you would expect from a Sennheiser Wireless System” explains Guus, who has been working with Within Temptation since 2006.
In addition to Sharon’s use of the vocal microphone solution the complete band is also outfitted with Sennheiser’s 2000 in-ear monitoring system. Bennie Veenstra: “What I really like about the Sennheiser 2000 series in-ears is their wide frequency range, which make them ideal for international touring. Sound wise they are as good as they'll get.” Within Temptation also uses an array of other microphones, including Neumann’s, to capture the instrument sounds and wireless bodypack transmitters are used for the bass and guitars. Guitarists Ruud Jolie and Stefan Helleblad liked the sound and “flavour” of the HDX compander and therefore selected the ew 500 series. Also Sound Engineer Guus is very pleased with the Sennheiser guitar solution: “Within Temptation has travelled a long way trying to find the best wireless system for the heavy guitar sound. With the high volume used, its very important to have a system that is as quiet as possible, the ew 500 G3 system gives us not only the ultra low noise but also the best guitar sound we have been looking for.”
Hans Kortenhorst, Managing Director of Sennheiser Benelux is pleased that Sennheiser is the choice of Within Temptation for their upcoming tours. “The intense and professional cooperation in search of the best solution to get their unique sound from stage to the ears of so many fans is very rewarding and inspirational for the Sennheiser Benelux team. That Within Temptation at the same time becomes our brand ambassador is an additional benefit.”
ABOUT WITHIN TEMPTATION
Within Temptation has come a long way in the last fourteen years. From their humble beginnings, the Dutch band has now sold over 2.8 million CD’s and DVD’s world-wide, making them not only one of Holland’s biggest selling musical export but also one of the biggest rock acts internationally. Formed in 1996 around the nucleus of guitarist Robert Westerholt and vocalist Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation released their debut album “Enter”. Fourteen years later they worked on their fifth studio album “The unforgiving”, which was released in the spring of 2011.
ABOUT SENNHEISER
As an innovative producer, Sennheiser is always searching for new applications for audio technology. That benefits the user options and the sound quality of the products. Sennheiser Benelux imports audio products that are marketed under same name in the Benelux market. In addition to its own Sennheiser Group brands (Sennheiser, Sennheiser Communications, Neumann, Klein + Hummel), Sennheiser Benelux also represents König & Meyer, IC Audio, Fisher Amps, Overline, Televic, K-array, APart and Phonic Ear.
