When in January 2024 Shure announced its new Microflex Advance MXA901 ceiling array microphone, a low-profile conferencing microphone array with a compact round form factor, it immediately generated excitement amongst media production and broadcast professionals. It was clear that the design could be useful in very specific production situations where normally there’s little more they can do but place multiple shotgun microphones in the hope to eventually capture something they can use. Those discussions resulted in multiple suggestions that Shure embraced to create the DCA901, based on the same platform of the MXA901, but with specific processing features such as Automatic Gain Control and Automatic Mixing to better fit the applications.
Extensively tested and refined in the field, the resulting Shure DCA901 digital broadcast microphone array opens new possibilities for capturing sound delivering eight channels of audio through a single network cable. Highly directional shotgun microphones need to be specifically pointed at a desired sound source to achieve the best results. On-axis sounds are captured clearly, while those from the sides and rear are substantially attenuated. Yet, when used in a fixed position somewhere, the chances are that only occasionally something of value gets captured by the very narrow capture beam.
In contrast, steerable pickup zones allow the production to isolate all the sounds that matter within a wide coverage area, while still minimizing ambient noise. With built-in DSP, fewer cables, and faster setup, the Shure DCA901 replaces bulky analog systems while supporting experiential, story-driven sound and modern production workflows - including being a perfect fit for the increasingly common practice of remote production.
Steerable lobes let the sound team virtually adjust pickup zones, reducing mic count and eliminating the need to reposition gear. A single Dante or AES67 connection delivers audio, power, and control, simplifying routing and minimizing failure points.
The built-in DSP handles EQ, compression, delay, and automixing, while presets streamline deployments and ensure consistent configurations across shows or seasons. The microphone array can also be used to support seamless 5.1 immersive capture and stereo conversion, while its low-profile design installs cleanly in stadiums, studios, or mobile setups and blends into camera-ready environments.
“The DCA901 can completely change workflows in any broadcast sport because it provides ultimate capture flexibility and allows you to change things in an instant if needed. It won’t compromise any element of the show. I deployed them in an NBA game and was completely shocked at the amount of coverage: that two arrays could cover the whole NBA floor. I would have needed twelve mics to try to capture the same thing. It was unbelievable,” shares Dave Grundtvig, Senior Audio Supervisor, Remote Operations.
“The DCA901 represents a strategic milestone, expanding Shure’s presence in digital broadcast and sports audio capture, aligning with the company’s vision of seamless, scalable, and software-driven audio systems. Conventional methods for capturing audio have become increasingly complex as broadcast production standards and audience expectations continue to rise,” says Nick Wood, Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Management at Shure. “With the DCA901, audio engineers can now do more with less, delivering sound that pulls viewers even closer to the action with fewer microphones and cables.”
As Shure states, the new DCA901 “lays the foundation for the future of experiential audio capture, delivering unmatched detail, superior control, and simplified workflows.” The company expects the DCA901 to be particularly useful in immersive experiences and multichannel audio by capturing previously elusive elements like talent dialogue and on-set or on-field movements. Its digitally steerable lobes isolate voices and action, minimizing crowd noise and bleed.
Predicted to become available in 2026, the Shure DCA901 will also benefit from direct integration with existing broadcast solutions for specific fields of application. As an example, Shure is collaborating with EDGE Sound Research to pair the DCA901 with the startup’s Virtual Sound Engine software. Working in tandem, the two tools adapt in real-time to follow the movement of players, referees, or the ball, individually or in combination. Together, the DCA901 and Virtual Sound Engine reveal moments that were once buried in the mix, giving engineers unprecedented adaptability and creative control.
"Using Shure’s DCA901 in live sports enables the pairing of world-class capture with our Virtual Sound Engine to advance the future of sports storytelling,” says Valtteri Salomaki, co-Founder & CEO of EDGE Sound Research. “Together, we are moving beyond static mixes into dynamic, object-based broadcasts that bring fans closer to the game and enhance the live viewing experience."
According to Brent Shumard, Senior Staff Acoustic Engineer at Shure, leading the development effort, the DCA901 is the first product in Shure’s new Arqos portfolio, a program designed with the vision of bringing together MEMS microphone arrays, signal processing, and software to deliver cleaner and more precise audio acquisition, remote management, and efficiency for productions. Developments in MEMS microphones with much improved SNR will allow expanding applications to new domains with the demonstrated advantage of capture flexibility and the ability to leverage the powerful pre- and post-processing tools available today.
The Shure DCA901 is also currently being tested in multiple sports and studio productions, including reality shows, proving ideal for situations where body-worn or visible microphones are not possible.
www.shure.com
