At the Avon Theatre this season, seven new DPA 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun Mic microphones are quietly transforming the sound of live theatre. Positioned along the lip of the stage for all four productions, the mics have achieved something every theatrical sound designer strives for, which is amplification that audiences never notice.
Previously used microphones required significant EQ adjustments, especially in the high end, to make them blend naturally into the environment. Even then, unwanted fan noise from stage lights and projectors often crept into the mix, and the microphones carried a recognizable sonic “colour” that made their presence obvious. Phasing between microphones as performers moved across the stage only added to the challenge.
For the creative team at the Avon Theatre, subtlety matters. They value silence as much as sound, making transparency in reinforcement essential. The goal, according to the audio team, is “mixing in the bubble,” ensuring every word is heard without the audience ever feeling amplified sound.
This year, the DPA 4097 CORE microphones have come remarkably close to achieving that ideal. Their sound is so natural and transparent that, unless listeners know the microphones are active, they simply perceive the stage itself as acoustically alive. Turning the mics on and off reveals the difference, but while in use, they disappear into the performance.
The microphones are featured prominently in productions such as The Hobbit, where they line the front edge of the stage alongside DPA 6061 lavaliers worn by actors on stage. In The Importance of Being Earnest, the microphones are concealed within floral arrangements, further emphasizing the production’s commitment to invisible technology.
For longtime users of DPA microphones, the result comes as no surprise. Mike Watters sums it up as “DPA never disappoints.”
DPA 4097 Mics Disappeared into the Stage in Stratford's Avon Theatre