Sunday, October 16, 2011
Masque Sound sticks around
Variety: Theatrical shingle Masque Sound can certainly attest to the fact that Broadway doesn't sound like it used to. While purists may bemoan the rise of amplification, which now includes wireless mics and digital audio Masque, which has been in existence for 75 years, was around in the days of phonograph sound effects and slide whistles, says topper Geoff Shearing, grandson of one of the founders. The New Jersey-based company -- which provides audio tech and support for current Main Stem shows including "The Phantom of the Opera," "Mamma Mia!" and "The Book of Mormon" -- feted its longevity with an Oct. 17 shindig at the New Amsterdam Theater, and has tapped designer Milton Glaser to create an anniversary logo.
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2 comments:
Its great to see a company in theatre that can survive such a great longevity in the industry and keep up with ever changing standards and equipment. In a way I wish the company had kept to their roots and their artificial sound effects and was successful in that field, but I'm glad they could adapt what they do to fit the needs of the times. It also sounds like the company is still doing very well for themselves, and will hopefully be around for a long time more.
Masque remains one of the big three companies, and is generally better perceived than PRG Audio or Sound Associates. In addition to the rental business mentioned in this article, Masque has always had talented people in house who have modified and built application-specific equipment, like modifications to the venerable Cadac J-Type, and their own line of 'listen stations' for wireless rigs. It's not uncommon to see Masque listen stations on PRG shows. The helical antenna that Masque adopted from PSW is also a staple in the industry, particularly in large outdoor applications like the super bowl.
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