SVG Summit 2018: Microphones Get Lots of Attention New transducer designs and concepts became a theme of the event By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, December 20, 2018 - 8:00 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Last week's two-day SVG Summit covered a lot of ground, from IP production and workflow to cloud virtualization and the latest on spectrum activity. But, if there was one area that showed a major burst of activity, it was microphones. The show featured several announcements concerning new products and new owners, as well as a look at an ambitious microphone-array system that could have significant impact on how sound is captured from the field of play in the immersive era.
Soft Power
Two wireless receiver products focused on pliant form factors made their debut at the Summit.
Designed specifically for use by NHL officials, Quantum5X's new RefMicHD is a model QT5100 transmitter with the on/off switch physically integrated into the transmitter's form factor. Previously, the NHL had been using the QT256 transmitter along with a separate on/off element. The RefMicHD combines all of those functions into a single unit. It underwent trials during regular-season games last season.
Compatible with receivers from both Shure and Lectrosonics, RefMicHD kits are now assigned to each of the league's 31 arenas, with the system's electronics installed in a dedicated rack at each.
The PlayerMic is in use by the NBA and MLB, said Q5X CEO Paul Johnson, but this is the first time we've had our receivers used on both the player and the officials' sides.
Also at the show, Zaxcom, which also specializes in advanced wireless transmitters for the broadcast-sports industry, introduced the ZMT3-Flex wireless transmitter, which uses a form factor and materials that bend and conform to and with the athletes wearing them.
Constructed of a soft yet durable silicon rubber, the ZMT3-Flex provides an elevated level of safety for the professional athlete. The design also features rounded corners, is extremely thin at only 0.4 in. (1.02 cm), and weighs only 3 oz. (85 g).
The ZMT3-Flex can transmit a fully encrypted digital audio signal while simultaneously recording the audio internally and is capable of transmitting audio from a single mono microphone or dual microphones in stereo through two microdot inputs. The lossless internal recording simultaneously provides a catalog of all audio, whether transmitted or not, to a microSD card with timecode. The ZMT3-Flex is also equipped with Zaxcom High Density (ZHD) modulation, which increases the number of available channels at a location, an especially important feature as RF spectrum continues to contract.
Zaxcom has always been part of the sports and entertainment industry and wanted to develop something that boosted functionally while maximizing player safety, said Zaxcom President Glenn Sanders.
Consolidation Continues
Also announced at the show, DPA Microphones has been acquired by RCF Group, which acquired loudspeaker manufacturer EAW earlier this year. RCF has manufactured microphones and loudspeakers since 1949 at its facilities in Italy, becoming one of the first European OEM suppliers for international brands. RCF's PA systems are in leading sports venues, including Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, home to the NHL Predators.
With a history extending back six decades, DPA Microphones has specialized in miniature and flexible microphone and mounts for theatrical and other markets. In 2017, the Danish manufacturer used the AES Show in New York to introduce its CORE microphone-amplifier technology, with which it intended to achieve deeper penetration into broadcast-sports audio.
We've had good market share in sports broadcast, especially in Europe, where our shotgun and lavalier microphones are used by sports broadcasters like Sky Sports in the UK and TV2 in Denmark, Christopher Spahr, VP, sales and marketing, U.S., told SVG at the time, adding that both ESPN and Fox Sports also use its lavalier and headset mic elements.
Coming Full Circle
During the DTV Audio Group meeting, Sennheiser revealed a development effort around beamforming microphone arrays that have 31 of its MKH 8070 long shotgun microphones installed in a circular array that would theoretically provide seamless coverage of a large area, such as a soccer pitch. Sennheiser's Brian Glasscock explained that the initiative is aimed at the incipient immersive-audio market, specifically to capture audio as objects from the field. The circular design avoids off-axis spots in field coverage and will increase low-frequency response and directivity, he said.
At 1.5 meters in diameter, the prototype is somewhat ungainly, but Glasscock said it can be reduced by at least a third in the very near future.
Microphones made some major - and major-league - strides forward at the Summit, demonstrating that a lot of people are indeed listening.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
SVG Summit 2018: Microphones Get Lots of Attention New transducer designs and concepts became a theme of the event By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
