Novel Sound System Used By Japanese Revue

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 15

Novel Sound System Used By Japanese Revue

The round system used in the “Cherry Blossom Revue.” although not previously heard of in New Zealand, has been in existence in Japan for the last eight years. According to toe “sound mixer” with the show, Mr A Nakazato, it is considerably more expensive than the more conventional microphone-on-stage system, although he considered toe effect achieved on stage more than outweighed the financial factor The Japanese technique, discovered by sound engineers several years ago, needed no obvious microphones or visible wiring. It worked on a principle of remote control and directional pick-up. This, he said, required the beaming of a signal from a small microphone without wires carried by a performer. The signal was amplified by a technician off-stage to provide toe clarity and perfection required. The small microphone, said Mr Nakazato. was usually concealed in the clothing or on the person of toe performer. The beam was picked

up at toe amplifier control in the wings and relayed into toe theatre. So far on the New Zeeland tour all had gone well, though at Palmerston North outside interference caused a little embarrassment. “These small, batteryoperated microphones work on set frequencies and have a pick-up radius of more than 200 yards. By chance while at Palmerston North we beamed in a passing taxi, which caused considerable surprise both to the performer, the audience and myself,” he said. Mr Nakazato said that to operate the amplifying control system an experienced sound engineer needed about two months’ practice, whereas a newcomer would take much longer to learn toe operation.

Mr Nakazato has been four years with toe Toho Company. which owns the "Cherry Blossom Revue.” Normally, he works at toe Nichigeki Theatre in Tokyo. He said yesterday that he began as a radio ham and then took a course in electrical engineering.