How Armored MMA Brings Viewers Inside the Cage with DCA901
Key Takeaways
- Armored MMA adopted the DCA901 broadcast microphone array to capture more of the sounds happening inside the cage, including armor impacts, weapon strikes, and fighter interaction.
- A single DCA901 microphone array replaced three to four microphones positioned around the cage, simplifying broadcast audio setup while improving coverage.
- The production team heard details they had struggled for more than a year to capture consistently by using the DCA901.
- Enhanced in-cage audio helped create a more immersive experience for live stream and pay-per-view viewers, bringing audiences closer to the action.
Armored MMA is unlike most sports broadcasts. The sound of the fight is part of the spectacle.
Inside the cage, fighters compete in full armor using steel weapons, creating a soundscape filled with sword strikes, shield blocks, armor impacts, footsteps, and verbal exchanges between competitors.
Capturing those sounds consistently for broadcast audio had proven difficult.
That search for a better way to bring the in-cage experience to viewers led the Armored MMA production team to the DCA901 broadcast microphone array.
Chasing the Clinks and Clanks of Armored Combat
For Armored MMA, broadcast audio is about more than capturing the crowd. The production team wants viewers to hear what makes armored combat sound different: armor impacts, sword strikes, shield blocks, fighter movement, and the interactions happening inside the cage. According to Jesse Nunez, Executive Producer at Armored MMA, the team had been searching for a way to bring more of the in-cage experience to broadcast viewers.
Like many live productions, the team relied on microphones positioned around the cage to capture the action.
"We've been trying to get the clinks and the clanks inside the cage for the last year, and we've fallen short. We were putting three or four mics around the cage trying to capture the sound."
Traditional Microphone Placement Wasn't Delivering the Detail
Like many live productions, the team relied on microphones positioned around the cage to capture the action.
While the setup captured portions of the fight, many of the sounds that define armored combat remained difficult to hear consistently in the broadcast audio mix.
One Broadcast Microphone Array Replaced Multiple Cage Mics
After struggling to consistently capture the sounds of armored combat with multiple microphones around the cage, the Armored MMA production team took a different approach. Instead of adding more microphones, they deployed a single DCA901 broadcast microphone array above the cage.
The difference was apparent before the fight even started, with fewer microphones, less cables, and a simpler setup.
For John Wakim, Broadcast Manager at Armored MMA, the operational benefits were just as significant.
“The way we normally do it, we have so many different microphones all over the place. It's a hassle. And many times, we have RF issues with that. But with this, it was super quick and super easy.”
The single array approach reduced the amount of gear required for the broadcast.
Hearing Every Step, Swing, and Shield Block in the Broadcast Mix
The first listen made an immediate impression on Jesse:
“We're capturing not only that sound, but it's clear it's better. It's capturing everything we need. I heard every step. I heard every swing of the sword. I heard every block of the shield.”
For John, the improvement addressed a long-standing challenge with the team's previous microphone deployments.
| “With how we normally did it, our microphones are all preset. Sometimes fighters are in a part of the cage where we can’t properly hear what they’re saying to each other or the swords hitting. We've lost a lot of finer details with the way we've been setting it up in the past. With the DCA901, I would be surprised if we missed anything now.” |
The difference wasn’t only noticeable to the production team. One fighter remarked that, when listening back, they could hear exactly where strikes landed because of the level of detail captured.
Creating a Cage-Side Experience for Viewers
For the Armored MMA team, the goal was to create a better broadcast experience for viewers. As Jesse explains:
| “With the DCA901, the viewer is going to be completely immersed in this fight. They’re. going to hear everything that we want them to hear, so that they feel like they’re in the stadium with us.” |
According to Rob Tovar, Showrunner at Armored MMA, viewers will notice the difference.
“Our listening audience on pay-per-view is amazed with what they’re able to hear now because we are definitely elevating the sound experience.”
For a sport built around armored combat, that difference is between simply watching the fight and feeling closer to the cage.
Learn more about the DCA901 broadcast microphone array and how it can bring more of the action into the mix for sports broadcasts and live productions.
FAQ: Armored MMA and the DCA901
Why was Armored MMA looking for a new audio capture solution? The production team wanted to capture the sounds that make armored combat unique, including armor impacts, sword strikes, shield blocks, and fighter interaction. According to the team, their previous microphone setup could not consistently capture those details across the cage.
How did the DCA901 change Armored MMA's microphone setup? Before deploying the DCA901, the production team used three to four microphones positioned around the cage to capture the sounds of combat. According to the team, moving to a single microphone array simplified setup and reduced equipment around the cage.
What sounds could the DCA901 capture during Armored MMA matches? According to the Armored MMA production team, the DCA901 captured details such as armor impacts, sword strikes, shield blocks, footsteps, fighter interaction, and even verbal exchanges that had previously been difficult to hear consistently in the broadcast mix.
How did the DCA901 impact the viewing experience? The additional detail captured by the DCA901 creates a more immersive broadcast experience by helping viewers hear more of what is happening inside the cage, from weapon strikes and footsteps to the chatter between fighters.
What was the biggest takeaway from the Armored MMA deployment? For the production team, the biggest benefit was the combination of simplified setup and improved audio detail. The DCA901 helped them capture sounds they had been trying to hear for more than a year with a single array mic above the cage instead of multiple microphones positioned around the octagon.
