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24.02.2010 - Wedemark, Germany

Tokio Hotel Takes Sennheiser on the “Welcome to Humanoid City” Tour

The members of German rock super-group Tokio Hotel have just barely entered their twenties, but already they have gone ten-times platinum, scored four number one singles, and sold out gargantuan arenas across Europe. The band is, by many accounts, the biggest thing to come out of Germany in decades, and support for Humanoid, Tokio Hotel’s fourth studio album, is extensive. The “Welcome to Humanoid City” tour kicked off in late February and takes the band to over thirty of the biggest venues in Europe, where Sennheiser microphone and wireless technology ensures that the throngs of black-clad TH fanatics, who fill those venues, enjoy a performance worthy of their favorite band. Lead singer Bill Kaulitz will emote his fans’ favorite songs using a Sennheiser SKM 5200 wireless microphone encrusted with gems. All four band members, as well as the technical crew, are using the Sennheiser ew 300 IEM G3 wireless monitor system, while bassist Georg Listing and guitarist Tom Kaulitz find the freedom to run around the stage by using SK 2000 wireless instrument packs. Veteran soundman Christopher Hedge handles FOH with equally experienced Tom Vollmers running monitors.
   

Germany’s biggest music export in decades – Tokio Hotel (Photo Credit: © Sebastian Steffens)

When asked about Bill’s vocal mic, Vollmers commented, “The Sennheiser SKM 5200 has the kind of RF performance we need on a tour of this magnitude. “We’ve chosen the Sennheiser MD 5235 capsule for its very high gain-before-feedback while still delivering us plenty of low-end power and overall clarity.” Both engineers were excited to try the Sennheiser HSP 4 headsets for backing vocals and applaud their performance.

  

Tokio Hotel’s Bill Kaulitz (Photo Credit: © Sebastian Steffens)

When dealing with eight stereo channels of Sennheiser ew 300 IEM G3 wireless monitors, two Sennheiser SK 2000 wireless instrument packs, an SKM 5200 wireless lead vocal mic, and, most critically, the RF environment of whatever city the tour finds itself, reliable RF performance is a must. “In the past, I’ve always managed to find space within the spectrum using Sennheiser, even in areas with multiple radio stations, multiple bands, and a lot of taxi, military, or airport activity,” said Hedge. Added Vollmers, “I agree. Sennheiser is really at the top of the industry in terms of RF performance and technical support. We are especially pleased with their unique Global Relations team who are quick and competent. I am particularly happy with Sennheiser wireless personal monitors. I first worked with them in 1999, and swear it was the first time I didn’t have to spend half the day tuning things up to get proper RF performance for every musician.” Sennheiser evolution series mics adorn the set of drummer Gustav Schäfer with a combination e 901 and e 902 on kick, e 905 on snare, three e 904s on toms, and an e 902 on gong tom.

“I really like thee 901 on kick,” said Hedge. “It delivers a great attack sound but is still noticeably more naturally tonal than other boundary mics in the same application. For toms, the e 904 delivers very musical, open, deep sound.” Concluded Vollmers, “We’re using a Sennheisere 906 on The Mesa Boogie guitar amp with a Sennheiser MD 421-II on the bass cabinet. The e 906 is warm sounding and transmits all of the frequencies – not just the mids as other ‘guitar’ mics do. Of course, the MD 421-II is legendary and a premium choice for bass cabinets.” Four Sennheiser e 914 small diaphragm condensers provide ambient pick-up to keep the musicians in touch with the roar of the crowd.
    
The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of over €385 million in 2008. Sennheiser employs more than 2,100 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA, and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centers).
 
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press_release_240210.zip (1,2 MB)
    

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Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Press & PR • Edelgard Marquardt
Am Labor 1 • 30900 Wedemark • Germany
Tel.  +49 (51 30) 600 - 329
Fax +49 (51 30) 600 - 295
edelgard.marquardt@sennheiser.com
       

Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
Mick Whelan
Manager Global Relations
Tel.  +1 (952) 564-1658
mick.whelan@sennheiser.com