Action Isolator Is Changing What Live Sports Broadcasts Sound Like

• Action Isolator is a professional audio processing software from Shure that isolates game-defining sounds in live sports broadcasts while reducing crowd and ambient noise.
• Who it is for: Broadcast engineers and audio professionals working in live sports production.
• Why it matters: Traditional noise suppression tools were not designed for the speed, complexity, or unpredictability of live sports. Action Isolator isolates specific action sounds in real time across up to eight channels independently.
• What makes it different: Five selectable modes trained on real game audio. 24 ms broadcast-ready latency. Works with existing Dante sources and microphones.
• Availability: Free for a limited time from Shure. Requires Dante Virtual Soundcard and Windows 11. 

The Sounds That Matter Most Are the Hardest to Hear

The crack of a bat. Sneakers on hardwood. A puck hitting the boards. These are the sounds that create an emotional connection between the viewer and the game. They are the difference between watching a game and experiencing it.

But in a live sports venue, they are typically buried under everything else. Crowds, PA systems, music, and ambient noise all compete for space in the mix. The louder the moment gets, the harder it becomes to deliver clean, immersive audio.

Today's viewers expect to hear the game with the same intensity they see on screen. They want to feel courtside, behind the home plate, or front row at the rink. For broadcast engineers, that means the sounds that define the game need to lead the mix, even in the loudest environments.

Why Live Sports Broadcasts Need Smarter Tools

Live sports audio is chaotic and unpredictable. Every venue is built differently. Every sport sounds different. The loudest moments in a broadcast, the ones that matter most, are the moments where clean audio is hardest to deliver.

General noise suppression tools have been the standard approach for years. They broadly reduce unwanted sound, but they were never designed for the demands of modern live sports environments. They often come at the cost of clarity, added latency, or artifacts that pull the viewer out of the moment.

Reducing noise is not enough. What live sports need is smarter isolation.

Action Isolator Brings Game Audio Forward

Action Isolator is an advanced AI-trained DSP software from Shure that identifies and isolates the sounds that matter most in a live sports broadcast across up to eight channels independently, in real time.

Game and effects audio come forward. Crowd and ambient noise fall back. The energy of the venue stays in the mix.

Broadcast engineers have spent years trying to remove crowd noise from audio without flattening the broadcast. Action Isolator addresses that problem directly and delivers clean, immersive sound. Beyond isolating game audio, it also improves close-mic voice isolation for a clean on-air feed. The software provides general background noise reduction, making it a versatile tool across a range of broadcast scenarios.

Five Modes Built for Live Sports Broadcasts

Action Isolator includes five selectable modes, each developed through AI-assisted training on real game audio captured from live sporting events and empty arena environments. This allows the software to recognize and separate game-defining sounds from the noise around them. 

During production, the software applies trained algorithms. AI is not active or processing in the background. Engineers maintain full control and transparency over the mix.

Each mode applies a single algorithm across all output channels. Select the right one for the sport or scenario and the audio processing adapts accordingly.

Action Isolator Modes

How Action Isolator Gives Engineers Real-Time Control

• Process up to 8 audio channels via Dante Virtual Soundcard, inserting action isolation anywhere in your signal chain
• Choose from five trained modes, each built to recognize specific action sounds
• Isolate true action while reducing crowd and ambient noise without stripping energy from the mix
• Enable intelligent automixing that opens channels based on detected action, not signal level alone
• Adjust isolation, smoothing, and wet/dry balance globally or per channel
• Save and recall complete configurations to move instantly between productions
• 24 ms broadcast-ready latency keeps audio aligned with video throughout the production

Action Isolator fits into existing broadcast workflows. It works with Dante audio sources and analog microphones, including raw mics, submixes, and full effects feeds — no additional hardware required.

For optimal performance, it pairs with the Shure DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array. The DCA901 captures game audio with precision. Action Isolator processes it in real time.

Hear the Action. Cut the Noise.

The sounds that define the game deserve to lead the mix. Action Isolator gives engineers the control to make that happen. It isolates game-defining sounds in real time, works with the gear you already have, and gives you precision control over every channel in the mix. For broadcast teams ready to deliver clean, immersive sound without adding complexity, this is where it starts.

Action Isolator is free for a limited time. It requires Windows 11 with minimum specs and Dante Virtual Soundcard. 

Download today and isolate the sounds that matter. Get the software at shure.com/action-isolator

Action Isolator Software: Frequently Asked Questions

What type of software is Action Isolator? Action Isolator is a DSP (digital signal processing) software that runs on a Windows 11 PC (minimum system requirements apply) and processes audio in real time via Dante Virtual Soundcard.

Where does Action Isolator sit in the signal chain? It can be inserted anywhere in the signal chain via Dante Virtual Soundcard, whether on raw microphone feeds, submixes, or full program feeds.

Can I switch modes during a live production? Yes. Modes can be changed during production, and complete configurations can be saved and recalled instantly to move between setups.

Does each channel have to use the same mode? Each mode applies a single algorithm to all output channels.

Do I need the DCA901 to use Action Isolator? No. Action Isolator works with any Dante sources and existing analog microphones. It pairs with the Shure DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array for optimal performance, but it is not required.