Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Tech Focus: Immersive Audio, Part 1 - A Toolkit Focused on Capture

04/12/2024

Tech Focus: Immersive Audio, Part 1 - A Toolkit Focused on Capture Manufacturers are making the mics more accessible and easier-to-use By Dan Daley, Audio Editor

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - 7:00 am

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

Conversations around immersive audio for broadcast have a tendency to focus on the outputs: mostly, the number and placement of loudspeakers, especially the four overhead. With Dolby Atmos the dominant immersive-audio format in the U.S., it's usually a foregone conclusion. However, getting sound into the immersive machine and processing its audio is a more complicated proposition. Microphones to capture it and consoles to process and mix it offer a small but growing array of increasingly necessary options. This month's Tech Focus looks at both, starting with microphones.

Multichannel Mics The 2024 Paris Olympics were a case study in immersive capture. NBC Sports deployed 3,680 microphones, including multichannel mics, as part of its immersive-sound strategy to, as Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) Senior Manager, Audio, Nuno Duarte described it at SVG Europe's Sports Audio Summit 2024 in November, provide a consistent product across every sport, all in 5.1.4, for two weeks straight.

Interest in the multichannel-microphone category is accelerating, says Joel Guilbert, audio specialist, Dale Pro Audio. Citing several examples, including the Voyage Spatial Mic and Shoeps ORTF-3D array, he points out that network capabilities are making these multi-capsule mics easier to manage.

We're seeing more traction with [Power-over-Ethernet]-equipped multichannel mics, he says. We see this as coming from a number of fronts. One is that, with Dante and PoE connections, it's more plausible to connect four-plus mic capsules without having a massive snake or one with tricky smaller connectors. Also, more and more network infrastructure is available. Camera CCUs and most consoles have some kind of Dante connectivity, or most trucks or facilities have some kind of fiber available to use. The necessary accessory items are becoming available without being super-specialty items. We've put together kits with solid, relatively off-the-shelf PoE injectors with fiber converters for pretty low cost. These tools all make it easy to work with these [kinds of] mics in a real-world environment.

Single-Point and Multichannel Approaches DPA Microphones 5100 mobile surround microphone

An early stalwart of the category, DPA Microphones 5100 mobile surround microphone is a self-contained plug-and-play solution. It was introduced in 2008 for 5.1-audio capture (priced at $3,780) but has been deployed in immersive applications as well. Among its applications for sports are Winter Olympics ice skating and Wimbledon Court 1 in 2023.

However, according to DPA Global Support and Business Development Manager Paul Andrews, use of multiple single-point microphones in arrays, the original technique for capturing surround sound, remains a valid approach to capturing immersive sound as well, offering more-flexible configurations. Some of our users - Sky Sports, for instance-prefer using single-channel microphones in multiple places to get a more immersive field than just [a single multichannel microphone] might provide.

But, even within those arrays, he points out, the multichannel 5100 has been used to provide the four height channels of the Atmos format. There are a number of combinations [of single-point and multichannel mics] you can use to achieve immersiveness, depending on the kind of sound you want.

It's All About Technique That's also how Sennheiser envisions its new MKH 8030 ($1,499) figure-8 polar-pattern microphone. The latest in the 8000 series are being deployed for immersive capture.

Sennheiser MKH 8030

For sports, says Brian Glasscock, project manager, Sennheiser Pro Labs, we've seen a variety of microphone techniques. For crowd noise, we've seen a lot of benefit from using a dual-diaphragm mic, like the MKH 800 Twin, especially in these kinds of non-coincident microphone techniques. With the 8030, you can achieve that effect with a double-midside [configuration] that's easily placed somewhere and is less complicated for cable running. Choosing [specific microphones and techniques] is really about application and the constraints of time and locations or other types of limitations that sports [productions] may face.

Sennheiser also has a single-mic solution for immersive capture: the AMBEO VR ($1,499) with its four matched cardioid capsules in a tetrahedral arrangement. However, Glasscock considers a unit like the 8030 a keystone for the array of microphones already aboard most remote-production trucks.

We see a lot of value in that, he says, because people aren't going to want to buy a different mic array for each application. I think having this toolset of baseline, high-quality microphones and maybe a couple of specialty microphones able to be used in different arrangements makes sense for the immersive application as the way most people will go.

A New Approach Voyage Audio SpatialMic

Voyage Audio is the new kid on a small but growing block, and its SpatialMic has a kind of Millennial-esque flexibility: it's designed to accommodate various output configurations - stereo, 5.1.4, 7.1, etc. - internally and to adjust to future ones, such as 4.0.4 (no LFE channel) via firmware updates.

It's kind of interesting with broadcast right now, says Voyage Audio co-founder Steve Silva. It isn't full Atmos yet, but I think that's the trajectory and the goal for everybody. There's still plenty of 5.1 around sports, like the Olympics, so the goal is to expand on what's being done today. The demand is for a tool to get to those formats quickly, easily, and out of the box, so to
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/12/04/tech-focus-immersive-audio-part...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

04/08/2026

Dalet Announces Commercial Availability of Dalia, Bringing Media-Aware Agentic AI to Enterprise Productions

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

04/07/2026

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in Dolby Cinemas Across Japan, Presented in Dolby Atmos and Dolby ...

April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...

05/06/2026

LSUs Sarah Ramundt on Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of The Brand

The university-wide initiative has pushed their creative content to a new level Although collegiate athletics at a single institution can contain numerous spo...

05/06/2026

SVG GameDay, Ep. 18: New York Islanders Brooklyn Boyars - A Career Filled With Championships

In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...

05/06/2026

Synamedia Enters New Chapter Following Lumine Group Acquisition Agreement

Synamedia has announced that Lumine Group has agreed to acquire its Video Network business. The company is positioning the transition as the start of a new phas...

05/06/2026

Ateme, BCE, and Scaleway Announce Sovereign Cloud Media Supply Chain Partnership

Ateme, Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE), and Scaleway have announced a strategic partnership to deliver a cloud-based media supply chain covering ingest through...

05/06/2026

Audinate Adds Three Models to Dante AVIO Install Adapter Line

Audinate has announced three new additions to its Dante AVIO Install adapter series: a 4-Channel Analog Input, a 4-Channel Analog Output, and a 2-Ch In/2-Ch Out...

05/06/2026

Sportradar Extends Data and AV Betting Rights Agreement for Wimbledon Beyond 2026

Sportradar Group AG has announced a multi-year extension of its exclusive global...

05/06/2026

M6 Group to Broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 in 4K UHD via Fransat Satellite Platform

The M6 Group will broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live and in Ultra High D...

05/06/2026

The Athletic Adds PGA TOUR Highlights to Golf Coverage

The Athletic has announced that PGA TOUR highlights will be integrated into its golf coverage beginning with the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. PGA T...

05/06/2026

Op-Ed: Beyond the Stadium: Why Real-Time Visual Intelligence Will Define World Cup 2026 Security

When the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America in 2026, it will bring more tha...

05/06/2026

FIFA+ Launches Exclusively on DAZN

FIFA and DAZN have announced the launch of FIFA exclusively on DAZN, consolidating FIFA's content portfolio within DAZN's sports platform. The move fol...

05/06/2026

Telemundo Announces Group Stage Broadcast Schedule and Talent Assignments for FIFA World Cup 2026

Telemundo's exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 G...

05/06/2026

Peacock to Stream Telemundos FIFA World Cup 2026 Coverage in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

Dolby Laboratories and NBCUniversal have announced that Peacock will stream Tele...

05/06/2026

Formula 1 Extends Las Vegas Grand Prix Through 2037

Formula 1 has announced a 10-year extension to keep the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the F1 calendar through 2037. Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., Clark County, and the ...

05/06/2026

Inside SailGP New York: How Riedel Provides Tech Backbone for Challenging Production Effort

The broadcast-engineering team overcomes wind, speed, and salt water - and dista...

05/06/2026

Virtual Eye Powers Broadcast Graphics Across Golf Productions in Busy Three-Event Week

Deploying both onsite and remote crews, the company is providing calibrated-came...

05/06/2026

ESPN Pivots From REMI to Full On-Site Production for UFL Playoff Game on Daytonas Blank Canvas

With Inter&Co Stadium unavailable, ESPN's UFL team rebuilt its broadcast pla...

05/06/2026

Free Registration for SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Ends Today!

One of the most exciting and informative events on the SVG annual event calendar is the Regional Sports Production Summit, an annual gathering of industry profe...

05/06/2026

FOX Returns to Saratoga Race Course for 158th Running of Belmont Stakes

For the race's third year at the historic racetrack, the broadcaster has added cameras and will incorporate multiple drones The 158th edition of the Belmon...

05/06/2026

Ratings Roundup: NBCs Spurs-Thunder Game 7 Best Since 2016, ESPNs Stanley Cup Final Opener Hits Seven-Year High

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...

05/06/2026

Sonuscore release LUX Orchestral Strings Essentials

Built from the same recordings as flagship library Sonuscore's LUX Orchestral Strings has been met with widespread praise since its launch in late 2025,...

05/06/2026

RME unveil the ADI-2 Pro EX

High-end converter, interface & headphone amp upgraded Said to represent the next evolution of RME's all-in-one reference converter concept, the all-new...

05/06/2026

Soundgas Sounds: Latest prize draw announced

Win a Soundgas Type 636P & Type G preamps Soundgas, one of the UK's leading vintage and boutique audio equipment specialists have just announced the lau...

05/06/2026

New leadership of Technology Systems Division at Rohde & Schwarz

New leadership of Technology Systems Division at Rohde & Schwarz On July 1, 2026, Hansj rg Herrbold and Andreas H gele will take over as Executive Vice Presid...

05/06/2026

Hitachi and Intel announce strategic collaboration to accelerate AI transformation across key industries

Hitachi and Intel announced a strategic collaboration to explore opportunities t...

05/06/2026

Nielsen, Mediaocean Announce New Integration to Power The Next Phase of Data-Driven Linear, Advanced Audience Measurement

MRI-Simmons and S&P Global Mobility are expanding advanced audience capabilities...

05/06/2026

Latest Nielsen data reveals insurance advertising climbs as Australians weigh cost, cover and loyalty

New Nielsen data shows insurance ad spend grew 11%, while consumers remain highl...

05/06/2026

Nielsen Adds New Audience Data Partnerships

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

ASG Promotes Joe Marchitto to Western Regional CTO

ASG Promotes Joe Marchitto to Western Regional CTO Brie Clayton June 5, 2026 0 Comments Appointment to Support Engineering Alignment and Client Experi...

05/06/2026

Stargate Studios Colombia Uses DaVinci Resolve Studio for Vertical Microdramas

Stargate Studios Colombia Uses DaVinci Resolve Studio for Vertical Microdramas Brie Clayton June 5, 2026 0 Comments End to end post in one platform al...

05/06/2026

People Need to Come First When We Use AI

People Need to Come First When We Use AI Andy Marken June 5, 2026 0 Comments It's just surviving. Life's very existence requires destruction....

05/06/2026

Fahad Haider Joins NESN as VP, Operations and Engineering

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

GatesAir Opens New Brazil Office to Back DTV+ Rollout

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Supreme Court Upholds FCC's Authority to Levy Fines

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Montclair State University Will Run NJ PBS

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Merkhet's Sam Matheny Urges Congress to Expedite BPS Deployment

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Sinclair Launches NextGen TV Campaign in Columbus, Ohio

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

NAB Releases New Keep the Game On' Spot

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

NCTC, ACAC Going to Disney World for Independent Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Nielsen Announces New Integrations for Improved Measurement

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/06/2026

Frequency Launches In-Scene Advertising to Accelerate Str...

Frequency, the engine powering many of the world's leading streaming television channels, today announced the launch of In-Scene Advertising, a new monetiza...

05/06/2026

Berklee Study Reveals Video Has Become Essential to Music Careers

Berklee Study Reveals Video Has Become Essential to Music Careers Survey findings show social platforms have become the primary source of music for video cont...

05/06/2026

RT Radio 1 Folk Awards 2026 Date Announcement

RT Radio 1 Folk Awards to take place on Tuesday 10th November 2026, Vicar Street, Dublin Moya Brennan, D nal Lunny, Mary Black and Christy Moore among previou...

04/06/2026

Sony's New PTZ Cameras Deliver 4K 60p; New STARVIS Sensor Meets Low-Light Demands

Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...

04/06/2026

SVG Students To Watch: Alex Albert, Texas A&M University

This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...

04/06/2026

USGA Brings AI Recaps, 3D Range Tracking, and Predictive Shot Tracing to U.S. Womens Open

For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...

04/06/2026

Panasonic PT-RQ45 Projectors Power Lille Video Mapping Festival Opera House Installation

Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...

04/06/2026

Bitmovin and Akamai Support NRJ Groups Deployment of Akamai Adaptive Media Player 2

Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...