JBL systems enable crystal-clear sound on 'American Idol'

Due to the complexity of the popular talent show on CBS, the new season will feature different JBL systems to ensure clear and loud sound both on stage and in the jury set and audience stands.

American Idol, one of the most successful television shows in the United States, has in its studio at CBS Television City in Hollywood the line array of JBL. ATK Audiot has provided new professional speakers for the new season to meet the unique audio demands that this show requires.

Pat Baltzell, sound engineer and head of audio design at American Idol, has assured that “we have had to adapt to a series of needs for the new location at the CBS Television City studios in Hollywood, which could not be met by a “one-size-fits-all” system. The main PA needs to be heard loud and clear by the artists and the audience. However, we need a separate audio system for when host Ryan Seacrest and the contestants are speaking, because they are on lavalier microphones and the judges are situated right in the center of the main PA system.”

For the new season of the popular talent show, a dozen JBL VERTEC VT4889s have been arranged on each side of the stage. The main PA is complemented by a front-facing system with six VRX932LAPs with constant curvature. Two VRX928LA compact speakers have also been installed in the area where the jury and presenter evaluate the contestants. Finally, four JBL Control 8SR speakers have been arranged to complement the dialogues between Ryan and the contestants.

Clean sound throughout the set

Baltzell has assured that "because the judges are separated from the stage, it was necessary to have three compact JBL AC15 speakers. We know that as the season progresses, the audience becomes more animated and the ambient noise is even louder. In this case, the judges have to continue to hear the performances clearly. The mix that is sent to the speakers in the jury area is only the lead vocals and the background singers. The AC15 does an extraordinary job."

"Another very important aspect is that many of the contestants are young and have great voices, but their microphone technique is very limited. This places great demands on the audio engineers to control the mix and apply limitations, as well as to present to the jury with the AC15 speakers a clear and loud sound without distortion."