Ellen’s Stardust Diner is renowned for its Broadway-themed decor, retro 1950’s decor and singing waitstaff. Recently, the diner upgraded its audio system, opting for Sennheiser’s XS Wireless System.
An important requirement was that the system needed to be ‘always on’ — with no buzzing, interference or drop outs: ”Our very talented staff is trained to multitask, and they continuously sing while waiting tables,” explained Ken Sturm, co-owner of Ellen’s. “Before we went with Sennheiser, our wireless microphones would sometimes pick up radio interference, and it was definitely a hindrance to the performances. Now, our waitstaff is able to seamlessly sing, serve food and drinks — without ever having to worry about quality.”
The XSW 35 Vocal Set, an all-in-one package that is also plug-and-play was chosen. Its e 835 dynamic cardioid microphone capsule, which is used by touring musical artists, is able to cut through the mix with feedback rejection. Further, each handheld transmitter can handle up to ten hours of operation, and features an intuitive mute button.
With 24MHz of bandwidth and 8 frequency banks, the XS Wireless also has intuitive scan and sync features. Six channels of XS Wireless were set up in ’grab and go’ fashion to accommodate the changing shifts of the waitstaff. Two antennas were installed in the ceiling to increase wireless range and help eliminate potential RF interference. The system covers the entire perimeter of the diner, and up to six different performers can sing at any given time.
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