Autograph and Clear-Com - Providing Essential Communications Across London’s West End And Beyond

The importance of reliable communications in modern theater cannot be overstated--productions have become more sophisticated in line with audience expectations and with the ‘blockbuster’ shows that headline the West End and touring theater scenes. Thus, the ability for technical personnel to communicate throughout the show has never been of greater importance.
 

Similarly to virtually all areas of entertainment technology, modern communications designs have embraced the digital age and that means using the license-free and relatively uncluttered 1.9GHz and 2.4GHz broadcast bands. These systems also offer unprecedented levels of flexibility for both sound designers and users, as their central programmability allows quick and simple creation of new point-to-point connections, the creation of additional user groups, a choice of several operating modes and much improved audio quality.
 

The current volume of shows and tours using Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II® Digital Wireless Intercom Systems supplied by Autograph Sound emphasizes how well this technology adapts to different styles of performance and production. The touring versions of Warhorse, The Book Of Mormon, The Lion King and Les Miserables are all FreeSpeak II-equipped. In London’s West End, the technical production teams for Hamilton, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, the new production of Les Miserables (in the refurbished and re-named Sondheim Theatre) and the recently opened Mary Poppins also all rely on FreeSpeak II.
 

HelixNet® Digital Network Partyline is now also well-established in theater, providing simple, effective and configurable group communications for complex contemporary productions. Additionally, the ability to mix and match products from within the Clear-Com portfolio to produce variant solutions is both cost-effective and can enhance operational efficiency.  Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and The Lion King UK Tour, for example, all feature a custom HelixNet / FreeSpeak II combination solution.
 

Ben Lloyd, Autograph’s Production Sound Engineer on the Lion King UK Tour, commented, “Using the HelixNet and FreeSpeak II combination has enhanced the process of setting up comms for shows. The ability to jump on the show’s tablet and access the settings using the browser-based software means that not only is it a simple, foolproof way to set the network up initially, but it also enables us to make changes on the fly when a member of the creative team decides that they need to be able to contact a particular member of the show team.”
 

About Clear-Com®
Clear-Com, an HME company, is a trusted global provider of professional real-time communications solutions and services since 1968.  We innovate market proven technologies that link people together through wired and wireless systems.
 

Clear-Com was first to market portable wired intercom systems for live performances. Since then, our history of technological advancements and innovations has delivered significant improvements to the way people collaborate in professional settings where real-time communication matters. For the markets we serve -- broadcast, live performance, live events, sports, military, aerospace and government-- our communication products have consistently met the demands for high quality audio, reliability, scalability and low latency, while addressing communication requirements of varying size and complexity. Our reputation in the industry is not only based on our product achievements, but also on our consistent level of customer engagement and dedication to delivering the right solutions for specialized applications, with the expertise to make it work. Around the globe and across markets, Clear-Com’s innovations and solutions have received numerous awards and recognitions for ingenuity and impact to customers.