Holophone H2-PRO surround sound microphone selected for Super Bowl HDTV broadcast

Holophone, a division of Rising Sun Productions, has announced that two of its new Holophone H2-PRO surround sound microphones have been selected to capture live 5.1 Surround Sound from the field for Fox Television’s HDTV Broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIX, including all entertainment (pre-game, anthem, halftime and post-game shows), in 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound.
AudioTek Corporation (AtkCorp) from Burbank California is handling on-field audio broadcast production for Super Bowl XXXIX and has chosen to utilise two H2-PRO surround sound microphones to assist in capturing the most realistic, 5.1 surround sound at the source on the field and feed it back to the Fox audio production truck for mixing and live broadcast in 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound to accompany Fox’s HDTV feed. It will also be combined into a stereo pool feed for the international broadcast world, which may include as many as 20 nations with announcers in attendance in many broadcast booths.
One Holophone H2-PRO will be mounted on a pole and positioned on one sideline to capture the sounds of the on-field action during the game, while a second will be utilised during the half-time performance by Paul McCartney. This second H2-PRO will be positioned in the center of the stage audience and above their heads in front of and facing the stage to provide television viewers with a realistic sense of "being in” the audience for this historic performance by the former member of The Beatles.
“Andrew Waterman, audio supervisor and mixer at ATK, has come up with an innovative way to capture the entertainment ambiance at a broadcast football game,” said Gary Baldassari, technical advisor at DPA Microphones who is assisting the production team. “He has eliminated a dangerous variable that has plagued many of us over the years. At the same time, the feeling that you are there will be intense,” continued Mr. Baldassari. “The two Holophone H2-PROs - one for game, one for entertainment - will optimise all ambient situations. I can’t wait to hear this on my home surround system on game day.”
(GB)