SoundField microphones provide surround sound at Athens 2004

SoundField microphones were used to provide the surround sound for US National Broadcast at the Olympic games in Athens.
The SoundField systems were selected to meet the requirements of the end delivery format with Dolby Surround Pro Logic II encoding.
Three systems each comprising of a MKV control unit, SPS422B microphone system and SP451 Surround Processor were utilised for both live and recorded broadcasts of the athletics, gymnastics and diving events. Pieter Schillebeeckx, SoundField’s head of technical support, arrived in Athens ten days prior to the opening ceremony to test and position the systems in each of the venues.
He said: “The broadcaster loved the system. It meant that instead of at least five individual microphones just one our SPS422B microphone systems could be used, with the sound stage being changed remotely. Apart from the obvious placement advantages, the fact that the system could be changed from the command centre was invaluable as it could be optimised from day to day to take into account the different conditions and audience capacities.”
(GB)