Key Takeaways

• Broadcast Audio Engineer Marty Farrelly explains the challenge of capturing clear baseball broadcast audio across a large field, especially around second base where traditional microphones struggle to isolate player and game sound
• During a professional baseball broadcast, Marty tested the Shure DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array, using digitally steerable lobes to create flexible infield audio coverage without constant microphone repositioning
• A single DCA901 array at first base captured complete play sequences—from the runner approaching the bag through the entire play—while another delivered clear player conversations behind second base without buried mics or wireless packs
• Real-time lobe control from the broadcast truck, combined with Dante networking and built-in DSP, simplified setup and allowed faster adjustments during live production
• Replay teams, producers, and fans all experienced the impact of clearer, more immersive baseball audio, with isolated lobe outputs tied directly to camera shots for stronger highlight packages and a more authentic broadcast experience

Customer Profile

Marty Farrelly, Broadcast Audio Engineer

Marty has 15 years of experience mixing live sports broadcasts in Chicago, including professional baseball, basketball, hockey, and college sports. His role is to capture the game as it sounds in the venue and translate that energy into clear, immersive broadcast audio.

“The most difficult part of a live broadcast is time. From call to air, we often have six hours to wire, place, and fax everything. If you do not have the right tools and knowledgeable technicians, you might not make it.”

The Challenge of Covering Baseball Sound

Capturing clear, consistent baseball broadcast audio is one of the toughest challenges in live sports. The field is large, the action is constantly moving, and there’s a lot of crowd & PA noise that make it difficult to isolate key sounds.

Traditional setups rely on shotguns and parabolic microphones that demand multiple placements, long cable runs, and constant adjustments to follow the play. 

Crews have tried wireless packs hidden in bases or placed on players; however, these setups proved intrusive and inconsistent. Even with those efforts, areas such as behind second base remained difficult to capture.

“We could never consistently capture intelligible sounds behind second base unless we buried a mic or put RF on a player. It just was not practical.”

Designing Coverage Instead of Chasing It

For a professional baseball broadcast, Marty tested the Shure DCA901 Broadcast Microphone Array to improve baseball audio capture across the field. Each unit provides up to eight digitally steerable lobes, each delivering a full-frequency response across a wide area.

Marty was able to aim and adjust the roles remotely in real-time from the truck, designing coverage zones instead of chasing sound by physically repositioning microphones on the field.

At first base, a single broadcast microphone array captured the entire play. 

“We arranged the lobes so you could hear the runner approach, hit the bag, and continue through. That has never been captured from one mic before. It gives you the ability to capture a sequence in time as opposed to just a snap in time.”

At second base, the DCA901 delivered something previously out of reach for baseball broadcast audio: clear player communication between infielders, captured without wireless packs or hidden mics.

“We could finally hear conversations between players behind second base. That was something new.”

For Marty, this was more than expanded coverage. It represented a new way of thinking about broadcast audio and a new approach to capturing infield audio in baseball broadcasts.

The DCA901 carries audio, power, and control through a single network cable. The onboard DSP handled EQ, compression, and automixing directly at the microphone, reducing reliance on external gear and allowing Marty more time to focus on the mix.

What Changed for Replay, Producers, and Fans

The benefits extended beyond Marty’s position. Replay operators tied isolated lobe outputs directly to camera shots, giving highlight packages a stronger connection between what viewers saw and what they heard.

“The replay team could get a particular part of the field tied to a camera feed. That gave their packages a lot more impact.”

Producers noticed more detail in the live mix, while fans experienced a broadcast that felt closer to the diamond than ever before. 

What the DCA901 Delivered in Professional Baseball

• Captured clear, intelligible audio behind second base without wireless packs or buried mics.
• Recorded complete play sequences at first base from a single microphone, capturing continuous infield action rather than isolated moments.
• Used up to eight digitally steerable lobes to provide broad, flexible baseball audio coverage from one array.
• Allowed real-time coverage adjustments from the truck, eliminating on-field microphone repositioning.
• Delivered isolated audio stems aligned with camera shots, giving replay teams stronger highlight packages and improving workflows.
• Simplified setup with Dante routing and onboard DSP, letting engineers focus on sound quality.

Marty’s Take: The Next Step Forward

After years of mixing baseball broadcast audio with traditional setups, Marty heard something from the DCA901 he had never heard before.

“The first time I heard the DCA901, I was impressed and honestly a little scared. It changes how we think about capturing sports. After using it, I see it as the next step.”

Transform Baseball Broadcast Audio with the DCA901

The Shure DCA901 broadcast microphone array captures baseball broadcast audio that traditional microphones cannot. From intelligible conversations behind second base to complete play sequences at first base, the DCA901 gives broadcast engineers precise control over infield audio capture, delivering a richer and more immersive experience for fans. 

Move beyond snapshots. Capture the full sequence.

Explore the Shure DCA901 or schedule a demo today to test this broadcast microphone in your workflow and experience a new way to cover the game.