Gearhouse secures The X Factor audio deal

The company’s Audio division will provide the majority of presenter and contestant radio microphones for both the ITV1 and ITV2 shows on Saturdays and Sundays, a set-up amounting to fifty-four channels of various RF equipment throughout the Studio. 

It will be the sixth year in a row that Gearhouse has provided audio facilities for the show.

Managing director Eamonn Dowdall said: “Drawing on our vast experience of live television production we understand the time constraints involved and the need to work within budget and to provide reliable, quality systems. We will create a multi-purpose radio microphone solution to meet the large scale requirements of this high profile show.” 

All radio equipment will be configured to meet the specifications of BAFTA award winning sound director Robert Edwards of VSS Limited, who has set out the requirements for both shows.

In total seven x8-way receiver racks will be rigged at the Studios. The seven racks will be used in conjunction with a Sennheiser custom built ‘Titan X’ aerial combiner which will allow full diversity coverage throughout the studios during the shows allowing access to backstage areas, green rooms, dressing rooms and connecting corridors.

The Titan combiner is a bespoke solution built by Gearhouse Broadcast in conjunction with Sennheiser, specifically to meet the audio RF demands of The X Factor and provide a multi-zone radio microphone system. 

Other equipment to be supplied by Gearhouse Broadcast includes 43 Sennheiser SK 5012 microphones and 5212 transmitters, five Sennheiser SKM 5200-U transmitters,  two Sennheiser SKP 30 plug on transmitters and a set of two Sennheiser wireless in ear monitors.

A custom calculated frequency plan was needed to avoid any interference between the equipment. This will be developed in conjunction with the audio manufacturer Sennheiser and radio spectrum managers JFMG.  

The X Factor live studio shows start this Saturday (10 October).