latest news headlines
Audio-Technica Supplies Complete Microphone Requirement For Athens Olympic Broadcasting
Following Audio-Technica successfully providing similar support at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games and the Manchester Commonwealth Games, Athens Olympic Broadcasting (AOB) used Audio-Technica microphones and wireless microphones throughout the 41 venues over the entire duration of the event, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
As host broadcaster, AOB was responsible for providing radio and television coverage of the Games to the 10,000 rights holding broadcasters who purchased the Olympic Broadcast Rights to broadcast the Games in their respective countries. The AOB provided feeds, comprising camera, audio and graphics from all 41 venues, covering all events, across 28 sporting disciplines.
More than 5000 Audio-Technica microphones and wireless microphones, comprising 25 different models, were used to provide the audio soundtrack to every competition and different type of event. Sound designer for AOB, Dennis Baxter explains, “Microphone selection and placement is a key to the quality of the broadcast. You need to hear the athletes running, the bat cracking the ball. You should be able to close your eyes and know what sport is on TV, whether it is gymnastics, track and field, badminton, whatever.”
Audio-Technica shotgun and stereo shotgun microphones were used extensively by Baxter and his sound team, specifically the AT4071 and AT4073 Line + Gradient condenser and AT815ST and AT835ST stereo models; the stereo models having been designed for use at the Sydney games in 2000. Also used was the ultra-directional AT895 Adaptive-array system, with its DSP-controlled fives-element, proprietary DeltaBeamŽ technology. The AT481 omni boundary mic proved particularly useful in miking gymnastics and AT830 and AT831 omni and cardioid miniature lavaliers and the brand new AT899 sub-miniature omni lavalier – just 5mm in diameter – were also used extensively, often with wireless systems.
“Coming from a studio background I believe in using a lot of mics, aggressively when necessary. The quality of their diaphragm technology has been critical in designing very successful shotgun models, which has helped me tremendously in my job. We also had 115 wireless mics out, 12 out on the sailing, a lot on the jumps for the equestrian events and extensively on referees,” explains Baxter.
“All mics were meticulously placed – and coloured where necessary, either painted or with tape. Safety issues are very high up the agenda with the likes of gymnastics, with kids flying all over the place. The boundary mics are now standard for this; it looks like a small stealth bomber and the athletes can even stand on it. The look of events like the gymnastics is very clean, which is a testament to having a variety of mics to pick-up from.”
Baxter has worked with Audio-Technica for several years on the broadcasting of major sporting events and puts the success of the relationship down to both product quality and commitment from within the company. “We get a lot of support from Audio-Technica and from the chairman himself.”
15th September 2004
HEADLINES
news archive
search stories
FOOTNOTE: Select the news type you require in the red band above; this will enable you to see the current news stories from that section
© 1999 - 2012 Entertainment Technology Press Limited News Stories
