Close-up and on-player audio — also known as miked-up sound — is transitioning from a novelty used for special events to an integral part of regular broadcast-sports audio. It’s still subject to an array of controls, including by leagues and teams, and even individual athletes, but it has become clear that viewers are responding to this new level of sonic intimacy.
Close-Up Sound Enhances Connection Between Athlete and Fan
The trend toward more-comprehensive sound for broadcast sports stems from increased fascination with the sounds of sport, says Paul Johnson, CEO of Quantum 5X, the Canadian company behind the PlayerMic, the compact transmitter that was the first bespoke piece of equipment for wiring athletes for sound.