Live From PyeongChang: Extreme Cold Affects Mic Operations Vendors offer suggestions for adapting to the weather By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 10:27 am
Print This Story
The Winter Olympics is putting cold-weather sports on the front burner. The temperatures in PyeongChang - at a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony, the temperature was 6 degrees F with a wind chill of -7 degrees, so cold that audiences walked out in the middle of the rehearsal, according to USA Today - reaching record lows for the Games, are putting the performance of the most fundamental broadcast-audio element, the microphone, in the spotlight.
Extreme cold and wind in PyeongChang can wreak havoc on broadcasters' equipment.
Audio-Technica, whose AT4050ST and BP4025 stereo mics are used to capture venue ambience in various venues, cautions via its blog that the most prevalent problem with using microphones in an extremely cold environment is that a stiff diaphragm can become noisy.
Freezing the mic will not hurt it. However, with freezing, you automatically create humidity. There is no way around this, the commentary warns. If you use the mic in freezing temperatures, you should expect it to be noisier and have frequency-response changes (due to stiffness of the diaphragm), and for there to be added noise (due to moisture, which [affects] element capacitance).
According to Michael Johns, product manager, wireless systems, Shure, wireless microphone systems like Shure's Axient Digital, 10 channels of which are deployed on the ski runs in PyeongChang, can be directly affected by extremely low temperatures. For starters, the LCD displays that indicate channels and battery status can become less responsive and, at some point, blank out completely. In addition, rechargeable batteries are specified to work only within certain temperature ranges.
If the temperatures get low enough, he explains, it can affect the performance of the battery, interfering with delivery of current to the microphone or bodypack, and also affect the ability of the battery be recharged.
(In fact, many battery warranties will not cover recharging applications below 32 degrees F. See this forum for a lengthy and detailed explanation of ion transfer rates and related issues.)
Johns also points to wind as anathema for wireless microphones, though not for the usual reasons having to do with inducing noise in the capsule. Rather, he says, the kinds of extreme winds found in very high altitudes, like winter-sports sites, can play havoc with the decidedly non-aerodynamic shapes of typical wireless systems' antennas: Antennas are often shaped like paddles and can act like sails in the wind.
The solution is to be aware of wind speed and direction and to gaffer antenna stands when necessary.
Most local weather forecasts cover wind speed and direction, as well as the potential for gusts. If the event site is near an airport, very specific, on-demand information can be obtained from the local Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which broadcasts that information on a loop on a separate frequency from approach and tower frequencies. Local ATIS frequencies can be obtained through this link. (The writer knew his flight training would come in handy at some point.)
Johns adds that Axient Digital's design enables key elements, such as bodypack clips, to be accessed with gloved hands and battery compartments to be accessed with one ungloved hand. In addition, the Axient series is currently undergoing Ingress Protection ratings testing, which will provide users with standards-based levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from moisture.
The Winter Olympics will go on through Sunday, but, because Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow several weeks ago, broadcasters can likely expect cold-weather operations to continue for a while.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/05/2026
Liberty University on why broadcast technology isn't just a technical invest...
08/05/2026
COW Jobs: UGC, On-Camera Video Content
Brie Clayton May 7, 2026
0 Comments
UGC, On-Camera Video Content
April 17, 2026Documentary Editor - US,......
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Multi-year partnership positions Victory+ as a free home for Dallas Cowboys orig...
07/05/2026
From sideline reporting to directing and producing, the talented sophomore is building a well-rounded foundation for a career in live sports production
In the ...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital has received two Future Best of Show awards at NAB Show 2026. The COBALT blueCORE platform was recognized by TV Tech, and the COBALT PACIFIC ULL-...
07/05/2026
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 202...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI, the global film streaming platform, has selected Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner. Bitmovin's encoding infrastru...
07/05/2026
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and the U.S. Soccer Federation have announced...
07/05/2026
Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Victory have announced a regional broadcast partnership bringing live match coverage to fans across the greater Los Angeles...
07/05/2026
Spiideo has announced the launch of AI Highlights inside Spiideo Play, its automated sports production platform. AI Highlights combines video, event data, audio...
07/05/2026
Leostream Corporation has announced a unified remote access ecosystem for high-p...
07/05/2026
The Atlanta Dream has partnered with Victory to stream all locally broadcast Dream games for free, expanding the team's digital distribution strategy and g...
07/05/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the appointment of Marc Engroff as Chief Fin...
07/05/2026
SES and ARD, Germany's largest public broadcasting network, have announced a long-term extension of their satellite distribution partnership through 2039. U...
07/05/2026
UpLight Technologies delivers a flexible video and lighting system for a new televised sportLaunching the Pro Cheer League required more than creating a compell...
07/05/2026
Full Day Productions and GSE Worldwide have announced Spikes Under the Lights, a...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
07/05/2026
Modular-inspired sound generation with digital control
Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company's complex oscill...
07/05/2026
Combines analogue voices with digital synthesis and sequencing
Polyend have announced Drums, a new hybrid analogue and digital drum machine that combines sy...
07/05/2026
Control surface now officially supports four DAWs
When Nektar launched the Panorama CS12 control surface, it worked exclusively with Apple's Logic Pro, ...
07/05/2026
In the first quarter 2026, SGL Carbon generated consolidated sales of 184.5 million, which was 49.8 million, or 21.3%, lower than in the prior year (Q1 2025: ...
07/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave achieve precise and fast ESA antenna characteriz...
07/05/2026
Two multi-role L3Harris products - the Red Wolf launched effects vehicle and SK...
07/05/2026
L3Harris will be developing key features of a secure and resilient digital infra...
07/05/2026
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
Cobalt Digital Wins Two Future Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
Manufacturer Recognized by TV Tech and TVBEurope for Innovation in signal processing
Cobal...
07/05/2026
Software and hardware platforms, AI power and user-friendliness on show...
07/05/2026
Intinor will demonstrate its latest technical enhancements for the Direkt series at BroadcastAsia 2026. With a continued focus on reliable contribution and remo...
07/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that MUBI has chosen Bitmovin as its cloud VOD encoding partner, replacing MUBI's legacy on premises encoding setup to improve scalab...
07/05/2026
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2026 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
07/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/05/2026
At BroadcastAsia 2026, Interra Systems will demonstrate its latest innovations in automated quality control (QC), real-time monitoring, and captioning. The comp...
07/05/2026
At this year's Broadcast Asia, PlayBox Neo is set to unveil recent innovations across its PlayBox Neo Suite and integrated range of broadcast media solution...
Live From PyeongChang: Extreme Cold Affects Mic Operations Vendors offer suggestions for adapting to the weather By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
