Vancouver 2010: Audio-Technica To Provide Sounds of the Olympics

Over 3,000 Audio-Technica microphones will be used at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver this month. Audio-Technica has been consistently involved with the Olympics since the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.

Olympic Broadcast Services Vancouver (OBSV) is the Host Broadcaster for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, responsible for producing and distributing audio and video coverage of the Games. OBSV will transmit this international production to all radio and television Rights Holding Broadcasters, who will adapt the signal for transmission on their networks.

OBSV will use the AT4050 Large Diaphragm Multi-pattern Microphone and BP4025 X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone to create the 5.1 surround sound ambience at the Olympic events.

“The sound of competitive sports is crucial, and Audio-Technica is proud to be a critical part of bringing the experience of the Games to viewers around the world,” says Michael Edwards, Audio-Technica Director of Product Management. “When Audio-Technica began a successful relationship with the Olympic broadcasters in Atlanta in 1996, we made a dedication to the capture of audio in broadcast sports. Because of this, we have been given the opportunity to help improve the sound and reduce mic visibility in the process. As a result of our experience with Olympic broadcasts, Audio-Technica continues ongoing product development in order to meet the needs of professional broadcasters in a variety of settings around the world.”

In Vancouver, there are several different audio environments, each of which will present unique challenges for the broadcasters and audio engineers. For instance, in ski jump alone, there are three distinct surround-sound scenarios that will employ a combination of AT4050’s and BP4025’s: the start house, the preparation for and start of the jump, and the jump in motion. When viewers start to see the crowd, the mixers will also try to blend in the surround sound of the crowd base.

The sonic details will be added by a plethora of Audio-Technica’s shotgun microphones as well. The 21.22”-long BP4071L Line + Gradient Condenser will be utilized for outdoor and long-distance pickup in such sports as downhill skiing, figure skating, and half-pipe sports. The AT898 Subminiature Lavalier Microphone with individual body packs will cover curling. Perhaps most exciting, up to 48 channels of simultaneous wireless custom A-T boundary mics will capture the sounds of Olympic hockey in Vancouver.