NILES, IL., September 19, 2017—Taped live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the 11th ACM Honors was broadcast Friday, September 15, as a two-hour special on CBS. Honoring the biggest names in country music through special Academy of Country Music awards and live performances, the ACM Honors program recognizes musicians, songwriters, and a wide range of others making significant contributions in the industry.
Produced for television by dick clark productions, the ACM Honors event was mixed for broadcast by Chip Matthews and Paul Sandweiss, recorded by Tom Holmes. Ryman Auditorium chief sound engineer Les Banks handled the live house mix, while Tom Graham provided the monitor mixes for all performers, with J.D. DuCrest on hand as RF coordinator. Artists performing included award winners Toby Keith, Kelsea Ballerini, and George Strait, along with Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, and Chris Janson, among others. Another highlight of the evening was special recognition for Songwriter of the Year Award winner Lori McKenna.
Wireless microphones and in-ear monitors have become an integral part of live music performance, and this year’s ACM Honors was no exception. To ensure superior sound quality and flawless performance, J.D. DuCrest brought in 20 channels of Shure Axient® Digital wireless as the default microphone system. A variety of Shure capsules were available, including the SM58®, KSM9, and Beta® 87A. Axient Digital bodypack systems were also available, handling instrument microphone duties for various stringed instruments as well as the three-piece horn section, which used Shure Beta® 98A clip-on mics.
Experiencing Axient Digital in his work with Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn, DuCrest was excited to have the opportunity to deploy it at ACM Honors. He also brought in six Shure PSM® 1000 and two PSM® 900 in-ear systems for the headliners and house band.
“Bringing in both Axient Digital and PSM in-ears as a package was clearly the best option,” notes DuCrest. “The sound quality is just outstanding, and the RF performance is the best I’ve ever encountered. Plus, it allowed me to coordinate the entire production using Shure Wireless Workbench software. Working with so many amazing artists on the Ryman stage, this show demanded the best, and Axient Digital delivered.”
Front of house engineer Les Banks agrees. “This was my first experience with Axient Digital at the Ryman, and my first impression was simple: It sounded like copper,” he says. “The sound quality was superb and the RF signal was rock solid. In other words, there was really nothing to notice sonically – and that’s a good thing.”
In addition to 20 channels of Axient Digital for vocalists, presenters, and instrumentalists as the primary microphone wireless systems, Shure UHF-R® wireless was in use for another application. Four channels of UHF-R systems were deployed for the two podium systems, with one UR1 bodypack and UR1M micro-pack on each, eliminating the need for cables for those key microphones.
Shure’s Nashville Artist Relations Manager, Ryan Smith, was also on hand for the festivities. “The annual ACM Honors is a fantastic event, so I was very pleased to hear that J.D. DuCrest had requested Axient Digital systems for this show,” he notes. “The performers enjoyed the benefit of clean digital audio, plus the crew at the Ryman was able to experience it for the first time. It was a great night for everyone involved.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
