Inside the 2025 SVG Audio Symposium: Boats, Bikes, and Breakthroughs
This year’s SVG Audio Symposium took place in Detroit, gathering top broadcast audio minds and A1s (head audio mixers) from across the industry for a deep dive into the current and future landscape of sports audio—and the Dale Pro Audio Advanced Wireless Group was there in full force. From cutting-edge gear to creative workflows, the event showcased innovation from every angle.
Spotlight on Boats and Bikes
While stick-and-ball sports usually take center stage, this year’s Symposium gave some attention to less-covered, technically challenging sports like America’s Cup sailing and MotoGP/MotoAmerica racing.
Steve Hartley from Steve's Audio Services LTD shared a behind-the-scenes look at the last three America’s Cup races, where boats reach speeds up to 60mph on water. His team’s success in deploying multiple microphones—using custom waterproofing solutions—proved that high-quality audio capture is possible even in the most extreme marine environments.
Rodrigo Thomaz from Audio-Technica walked the audience through the staggering logistics of MotoGP, which moves the equivalent of four 747s worth of infrastructure from event to event, sometimes with setup windows as short as four days. Audio-Technica’s BP28L shotgun mic also earned praise for its clarity and reach, featured prominently in the workflow of Jeromy Hogue, Senior Audio Engineer for MotoAmerica.
Dale’s Joel Guilbert on Spatial Audio in the Field
Joel Guilbert, Technology Development Manager at Dale Pro Audio, participated in a session that included real-world applications of the Voyage Spatial Microphone at large-scale sporting events.
His presentation highlighted the simplicity and power of the Voyage mic’s design: a single network cable for eight channels of pristine audio, with the added flexibility of remote pattern and position adjustments. Photos and case studies shared from NHL arenas and NFL stadiums made it clear—this mic is a game changer for capturing immersive, broadcast-ready sound without the usual complexity.
The Rise of AI in Broadcast Audio
No surprise here—AI-driven tools were a major talking point. Demonstrations included beta-stage applications for automated language translation and file labeling, both of which have the potential to dramatically reduce the tedious and time-consuming tasks faced by post-production mixers.
Attendees left with a sense that AI’s role in broadcast audio is not just coming—it's already here and poised to eliminate bottlenecks in workflows while boosting efficiency across the board.
Takeaway: From waterproofed microphones at sea to AI-assisted editing on land, this year’s SVG Audio Symposium made one thing clear: the future of sports broadcast audio is fast, flexible, and incredibly smart.
