Countryman Microphones Help Wisconsin Singers Rock “Hot! Hot! Hot!”
ISOMAX Headsets in a recent performance of Hot! Hot! Hot!
ISOMAX headset mics delivers warm, pleasing audio performance with a secure, comfortable fit
Madison, WI… Founded in 1967 by Arlie Mucks Jr., the Wisconsin Singers has evolved into a professional entertainment company focused on Broadway-caliber productions, hands-on educational opportunities, and community service. Featuring the most talented singers, dancers, and instrumentalists from the University of Wisconsin (UW), the Wisconsin Singers is a financially independent non-profit organization that receives no funding from the university. As a program of the Division of Student Life, it is run almost entirely by the students themselves. Performing in 35+ communities around the nation and working in clinics with more than 1,000 grade 5-12 students, the Wisconsin Singers helps to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year for community initiatives through family-friendly entertainment—and to ensure clear, natural vocal performances, they rely on ISOMAX Headset microphones from Menlo Park, CA-based Countryman Associates.
Robin Whitty-Novotny has served as the Director/Producer of the Wisconsin Singers/University of Wisconsin-Madison for the past 23 years. Being responsible for all music and administrative direction of the Singers as the only full-time professional staff member, she understands that quality sound reinforcement has a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of many musical performances. She discussed her reasons for choosing Countryman’s ISOMAX Headset microphones.
“We’ve been using Countryman ISOMAX Headset mics for nearly twenty years,” Whitty-Novotny reports. “Currently, we have seventeen vocalists outfitted with the microphones for our current show Hot! Hot! Hot!—written by Robert Dietz and choreographed by Broadway professionals. The show features selections from timeless legends like Ella Fitzgerald and the Beatles to current pop icons like Maroon 5 and Katy Perry. We use our ISOMAX Headsets with Shure ULX wireless systems and, together, they make a compelling package.”
When queried about those aspects of the Countryman ISOMAX Headsets that she finds most appealing, Whitty-Novotny offered the following thoughts, “As a choral educator with strong opinions on the importance of a quality vocal sound that can be enjoyed by our audiences, I find Countryman ISOMAX microphones to be consistently reliable with a warm and pleasing sound. We perform in more than thirty different venues each year, including state-of-the-art theaters, high school auditoriums, convention halls, gymnasiums and outdoor venues. Our ISOMAX mics are responsive in all acoustic environments and easy to EQ in a variety of different situations.”
“Our vocalists are dancing throughout the show and they find the mics provide a secure, comfortable fit that stays put for the duration of a ninety-minute performance,” Whitty-Novotny continued. “The ability of the ISOMAX to fit the way it does is critically important because you certainly don’t want a microphone to detract one’s focus from the performance. The mics are very robust and knowing we can count on the headsets to function well on a consistent basis is very reassuring.”
Robin Whitty-Novotny outfitting a vocalist with a Countryman ISOMAX Headset
When queried about her experience with Countryman’s customer and technical support services, Whitty-Novotny was equally complimentary. “The customer service/tech support that Countryman provides is remarkable,” she said. “Our student sound engineers have received exceptional guidance when needed and consider Countryman’s technical support a great resource. Over the course of almost two decades, there has been, of course, the occasional need for servicing of our equipment. Here too, the Countryman staff has been terrific. We have never had to return a mic that has been repaired and are always impressed with the level of service the company provides.”
Reflecting on a long and mutually beneficial relationship with both their Countryman microphones and with the company itself, Whitty-Novotny offered these final comments, “With the amount of travel, performances, and variety of venues we perform in, Countryman is a perfect ‘fit’ for the Wisconsin Singers. We have never considered going elsewhere for our microphone requirements because we know we are working with a company that values our business, respects our needs, and goes above and beyond normal customer service. The sound quality for voices is exceptional and we look forward to hearing from our audiences how the show sounded ‘better than Broadway.’”
To learn more about the Wisconsin Singers, visit their website at www.wisconsinsingers.com.