Attracting 10,000 delegates from more than 90 countries, the fourth Web Summit had communication at the top of its agenda. The audience for the two-day tech convention held in Dublin were in good hands, however, as the key speakers were all provided with DPA Microphones systems

Given the importance of the event – and the fact that the opening ceremony was broadcast live on television and streamed live online – the technical facilities were of the highest importance. ‘We often use DPA headset microphones, especially in venues such as old buildings and echo-y, cavernous churches where there are lots of reflections,’ explains Tony Lanigan, Technical Director and Production Manager at rental/staging company Avtek, who was responsible for specifying the audiovisual equipment for the event. He chose DPA d:fine 4088 Headset Microphones for the speakers and presenters. ‘With more than 200 exhibitors, they were absolutely the right choice because they really hit the mark.’

In total, Avtek used 50 DPA microphones – a mix of d:fine 4088 Cardioid Headset Microphones and d:screet 4066 Omnidirectional Miniature Microphones. DPA’s Irish distributor Big Bear Sound provided some new d:fine units to add to Avtek’s rental stock.

‘Wherever possible, we tried to use d:fine 4088 headset mics with Sennheiser beltpacks because their cardioid characteristic was able to give us enough SPL handling to overcome the ambient noise,’ Lanigan says. ‘Some of the pitching stages were in the middle of the exhibition areas with up to 10,000 people roaming through the space chatting and selling their apps. In that environment, a speaker with a lapel mic would have struggled to be heard.’

Lanigan reports that he was pleased with the d:fine 4088’s performance as a cardioid handheld mic: ‘They certainly helped reduce or eliminate feedback, which was critical at the opening ceremony because the event was streamed on New Livestream.com from four of the conference rooms and transmitted live to millions of viewers worldwide,’ he says. ‘The d:fine headset mics also went down well with the speakers, who found them very comfortable to wear. It was certainly the first time anyone has seen our Taoiseach wear one, so he must have found it ok.’

Seen as an innovator and market leader in Ireland, Avtek specialises in high-end conferences, launches and events, the majority of which are in the corporate sector. It also provides in-house audiovisual solutions and services to venues and hotels around the world. ‘DPA headset microphones often find their way onto our equipment riders, especially for conferences and award shows, because with these mics we can ensure that our MC is never just a moving mouth in a room full of people in high spirits,’ Lanigan adds.

The Web Summit proceedings began when Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny rang the NASDAQ bell – reflecting the New York stock exchange’s association with tech start-ups.

More: www.dpamicrophones.com