Paul McCartney rocks out in front of a Shure mic.
ESPN and FOX Sports chose DPA microphones to help battle the wind and the noise of Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium during Super Bowl XXXIX, while Shure mics captured Paul McCartney’s halftime performance.
Various types of DPA mics were used by the networks for pre-, post- and live game coverage, according to Gary Baldassari, a DPA technical adviser. “The 4088 Miniature Cardiod headband mics were used by a panel of ESPN commentators at a place called the Freedom Fountain, down on the river,” Baldassari said. He added that while ESPN commentators Chris Berman and former Dallas Cowboy great Michael Ervin were using the headworn 4088s, FOX Sports own sideline reporter Pam Oliver has been a devotee of DPA headworn mics since Super Bowl XXXVI.
Moreover, DPA headworn mics were also used exclusively on FOX pre-game, halftime and post-game shows with Fox’s commentating crew of James Brown , Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Jimmy Johnson.
Baldassari notes that DPA supplied multiple Windpac windshield systems on the NFC side of the field and on each 20-yard line was a large Windpac used to shield 4011 cardiod microphones. The Windpac system is reportedly capable of withstanding wind gusts of up to 85mph while still allowing for accurate sound recording and audio transparency.
The DPA 4011 Cardiod Microphone was employed due to its linear frequency response range from 40Hz to 20Khz and the ability to be pointed to reject stadium PA scoreboard sound, enabling a clear audio feed that was used to supply at least 25 other domestic and international networks. “All the cardiods used were pointed to minimize scoreboard PA intrusion,” Baldassari reiterated. “Again, the DPAs are known for their excellent rejection and at the Super Bowl, there’s a whole lot of noise that you don’t want going out over the air.”
Meanwhile, during the halftime show, Paul McCartney sang through a Shure Beta 58A. McCartney’s background singers used Beta 58A and SM58s, and the drummer played with Beta 98s on toms and KSM 27s on cymbals and hi-hats.
End result: The New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21.
For more information on DPA mics, visit www.dpamicrophones.com.
For further details on Shure mics, visit www.shure.com.
