Preparing for the Return of Sports: A1s Ready To Mix Live Broadcasts in the Age of Empty Arenas
30/03/2020
Monday, March 30, 2020 - 11:49 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The precipitous shutdown of most major-league sports three weeks ago, including the NCAA's iconic March Madness series, took almost everyone by surprise. But, even as the leagues were devising their doomsday scenarios, the frontline audio troops were working on tactical solutions for making the games happen in empty arenas - efforts that will likely still pay dividends: although the events are canceled for now, the solutions the audio teams have devised will be ready when sports return to the air, likely with fan attendance limited until the pandemic has significantly abated.
Phil Adler, who had been scheduled to mix the First Four games of the NCAA's March Madness for Turner's TruTV in Dayton, OH, describes what that might have sounded like.
Audio mixers have developed strategies in case attendance is limited when sports first return to television.
If it's a close game, that's when you're really going to miss the sound of the crowds, he says. We'll have lots of [court] effects and the announcers but minimal ambient sound. There's not much I can do about that.
Mixing NCAA games involves fewer audio sources than NBA games offer, because college basketball doesn't allow players or coaches to wear microphones. And piping in prerecorded ambient and crowd sounds is out of the question, Adler points out: We're here to document a live event; we're not making a film. If there is no one in the stands, then you can't fake it. It's a national [news] story.
Fewer Mics, Carefully Placed
Adler says he has had to deal with crowds of various sizes over the decade or so that he has mixed these games, so there is some precedent for dealing with sparsely populated echoic venues. Crowd microphones would still be deployed, to provide at least some ambience enveloping the more focused court effects. However, he cautions, their placement has to be carefully considered.
If they're too far away, like the two we usually have on the high-center cameras, too much of the court sound can get into them because they're not being filled with the crowd noise, and that can cause delay problems with the microphones that are picking up the court sounds directly, he explains. Instead, we'll move those mics to the slash-corner cameras, which are on more like a mezzanine level and closer in.
Veteran NCAA A1 Wendel Stevens's strategy for large reverberant arenas is less is more, dialing back his overall microphone count with the goal being to hear fewer discrete sounds.
My thought is that players and coaches will be too easily heard and understood, he says, creating specific bits of audio that could distract from the game instead of contributing to a larger ambient bed around it. In addition, dialog from the game could be colorful' and might compete in the mix with announcer dialog. I think I still have to put out rear [surround] mics to give the show some depth, even though they'll be pointed into an empty bowl. But we need something back there to swirl into the mix.
Crowds Count
The coronavirus pandemic has compelled broadcasters to radically rethink how sports audio may have to be mixed on television when the crowd-sound element is not available.
I don't think we mixers realize what a [foundational] ingredient the crowd noise is to a mix, Stevens observes, noting that the crowds provide both a palette of individual elements that mixers can emphasize when appropriate and a flexible sonic mortar that acts like a grout around the many other sound elements in a sports mix, helping hold them together. In addition, crowd sounds actually mask the mix process itself, making the audio experience seamless and transparent and helping create the sense that the home viewer is there in the stands.
We actively mix to pull out game sounds, with the crowd noise helping us hide all the mixing going on, he explains. It will probably be much easier to hear the actual mixing of sources without something there to smooth it over.
Wiring athletes for sound has added a huge new dimension to sports broadcasts in recent years. However, that intimate audio may depend more than many realize on being part of a larger, more complex mix.
I believe mixers will need to be more cautious with player mics, opines Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Fred Aldous, who mixed NFL and NASCAR in a long career. Without having the crowd as a base to mix in and out of, player mics have the potential to sound unnatural and too dry in the mix. There is also a greater potential of hearing more language that is not suitable for broadcast by not having the crowd to mix against and bury the unwanted language.
Uncertain Future
No one knows how this singular situation for sports on television will turn out, but Aldous sees two sides in possibly broadcasting with empty seats.
From an audio perspective, he explains, a positive by-product of not having the contamination of loud PA systems and loud crowd is that the sound of the event should be phenomenal; the mixer should be able to pick up the nuances of the sport that we would not normally get.
On the negative side, he continues, I am a fan of big, loud crowd at an event; it helps bring the energy level up for the players as well as bringing that excitement to the viewing audience at home. When I mix an NFL game, I prefer a louder crowd to mix in and out of, making the broadcast more exciting. If the crowd is not that into it, it makes it more difficult to bring the excitement to the viewer, albeit it allows the mixer to get be
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/03/30/preparing-for-the-return-of-spo... |
See more stories from svg |
Most recent headlines
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with URSA Broadcast G2
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
28/03/2024
The 4K cameras giving audiences an astronaut's view of Earth
TVBEurope meets Charles Black, founder and CEO of Sen, which has sent a payload of 4K cameras to the ISS to livestream images of Earth to audiences around the w...
28/03/2024
2024 Big Night In Raises $145k to Support Triangle Arts Councils
Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV once again proudly supported our local arts community with the broadcast of Big Night in for the Arts Thursday, March 7, 2024. ...
28/03/2024
JIC, MRC Announce Accord On Roles In Judging Measurement Companies
With more companies offering different approaches to measuring television viewing and campaign effectiveness, two of the groups that evaluate potential media bu...
28/03/2024
Hulu Added to Disney Plus App for Bundle Subscribers
The Walt Disney Co. said that it launched Hulu on Disney Plus, which makes Hulu programming available via the Disney Plus app....
28/03/2024
GroupM To Double Ad Spending On Women's Sports Programming
Giant media buyer GroupM said it plans to double its media spending on women's sports....
28/03/2024
Scripps Renews State Farm As Sponsor of Friday Night WNBA on Ion
Scripps Sports said that State Farm has signed a new multi-year agreement to continue as the title sponsor of Ion's Friday night WNBA telecasts....
28/03/2024
Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington Sign On for Imperfect Women' on Apple TV Plus
Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington will star in, and executive produce, Imperfe...
28/03/2024
Telemundo Station Group Addresses Climate Change With Month-Long Initiative
Telemundo Station Group launches the month-long climate change initiative Our Planet Thursday, March 28. The multiplatform campaign ends on Earth Day, April 22,...
28/03/2024
Circle City Broadcasting Renews Nielsen Ratings Deal
Nielsen said that Circle City Broadcasting, owner of WISH-TV in Indianapolis, has renewed its local TV measurement deal....
28/03/2024
Lionsgate Extends Deal With Seth Rogen's Point Grey Pictures
Lionsgate Television said it extended its deal with Point Grey Pictures, the production company led by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver....
28/03/2024
Ariana DeBose Back as Tonys Host
Ariana DeBose returns as host of the Tony Awards Sunday, June 16, on CBS and Paramount Plus. It is her third consecutive time hosting, and it will be the 77th T...
28/03/2024
The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed for Season 18
The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for its 18th season in national syndication, Tracie Wilson, executive VP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios & E! News, sai...
28/03/2024
Sinclair Selects Embrace as Its Media Orchestration Engine
PARIS Embrace, a developer of advanced automation and orchestration software solutions, has announced that Sinclair Broadcast Group has selected Embrace's P...
28/03/2024
Nielsen and Circle City Broadcasting Renew Local TV Measurement Deal
NEW YORK Nielsen has a multi-year renewal with Circle City Broadcasting, Indianas only locally owned and operated broadcast and digital news media network, for ...
28/03/2024
JVC to Demo Its First Ever 40x Zoom PTZ Camera Series at 2024 NAB Show
LAS VEGAS JVC Professional Video has announced that it will debut its new KY-PZ540 Series PTZ Cameras with 40x zoom at 2024 NAB Show (Booth C4720)....
28/03/2024
Brightcove Launches Cloud Playout 2.0
BOSTON Brightcove has announced the launch of Cloud Playout 2.0, a platform that the company said will offer customers new ways to create linear channels, monet...
28/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago to Air First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Telecast
The Chicago Blackhawks and NBC Sports Chicago have announced a collaboration with the NHL to bring fans the first-ever local animated real-time sports telecast....
28/03/2024
The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional
The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional Andy Marken March 28, 2024 0 Comments Hero image source News of the World, Perfect Wo...
28/03/2024
Generations: The Legacy - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Generations: The Legacy - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The S...
28/03/2024
Prison Journalism: Witness the Cycle from the Streets
Prison Journalism: Witness the Cycle from the StreetsWesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore...
28/03/2024
Prison Journalism: Inmate pre-release and release processes
Prison Journalism: Inmate pre-release and release processesDean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor Correctiona...
28/03/2024
Streaming today: When You Finish Saving The World' on Netflix - 28 March 2024
Streaming today: When You Finish Saving The World' on Netflix - 28 March 20...
28/03/2024
Prison Journalism: The Story of Paulus
Prison Journalism: The Story of PaulusDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the restorative justice progra...
28/03/2024
Prison Journalism: Inside and Outside
Prison Journalism: Inside and OutsideFawaaz Adendorff was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre and participated in a Restorative Justice programme whil...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Muvhango: Imani escapes Khumo's hellhole
Tonight on Muvhango: Imani escapes Khumo's hellholeDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Muvhango on SABC 2 on DS...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Generations: Kea can sense her brother is hiding something
Tonight on Generations: Kea can sense her brother is hiding somethingDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Generation...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Magolide and Tiny compete against each other
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Magolide and Tiny compete against each otherDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Champions: Washington's struggle takes an unexpected turn
Tonight on Champions: Washington's struggle takes an unexpected turnDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Champio...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Tibi's meltdown softens a teacher
Tonight on Scandal: Tibi's meltdown softens a teacherDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on e.tv on DS...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Gqeberha: Lulama tells Thulani that she's pregnant with his child
Tonight on Gqeberha: Lulama tells Thulani that she's pregnant with his childDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie...
28/03/2024
Tonight on My Brother's Keeper: Ndumiso has the wrong end of the stick
Tonight on My Brother's Keeper: Ndumiso has the wrong end of the stickDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie My Br...
28/03/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa doubles down on his ill-treatment of Pretty
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa doubles down on his ill-treatment of PrettyDon't miss Thursday, 28 March's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem ...
28/03/2024
Thales speeds up its development of AI for defence
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Thales, Europe's leading high-tech company in the civil and defence fields, has announced the creation of cortAIx, which bri...
28/03/2024
Get Cozy With Palia' on GeForce NOW
Ease into spring with the warm, cozy vibes of Palia, coming to the cloud this GFN Thursday. It's part of six new titles joining the GeForce NOW library of ...
28/03/2024
Smoke and Mirrors: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Smoke and Mirrors: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Af...
28/03/2024
Muvhango: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Muvhango: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African web...
28/03/2024
Gqeberha: The Empire - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Gqeberha: The Empire - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The Sout...
28/03/2024
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...
28/03/2024
House of Zwide: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
House of Zwide: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South Africa...
28/03/2024
My Brother's Keeper: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
My Brother's Keeper: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The So...
28/03/2024
Uzalo: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [video]
Uzalo: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...
28/03/2024
Scandal!: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Scandal!: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African web...
28/03/2024
Umkhokha: The Curse - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Umkhokha: The Curse - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South...
27/03/2024
UKTV sets up second series of Dream Car Fixers for Yesterday and UKTV Play
Wednesday 27 March 2024 - UKTV has commissioned a second series of Dream Car Fixers (6x60) for leading factual channel Yesterday and free streaming service UKTV...
27/03/2024
Inside the Archives: It's Lights, Curtains, Action When Sundance Films Become Stage Productions
By Jen Scott It's time to unwrap those noisy candies and put your phone on ...
27/03/2024
Paving the Way' for Spotify's NextGen Scholarship Recipients
Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future....
27/03/2024
Sencore and Showfer Announce Collaboration at NAB 2024, With a Brand-New Content Management and Distribution Solution
Las Vegas, NV, April 14-17, Booth W2401 Sencore, a leading provider of profess...
27/03/2024
Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program in Australia, returns for its 21st year with new guests
Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program ...