When the English Premier League resumes play on Wednesday, NBC broadcasts will feature crowd noise from EA Sports’ FIFA video game series. Fans will not be allowed inside venues, so the games would otherwise be quiet.
FIFA uses sounds that have been recorded at real-life soccer matches. According to the Associated Press, broadcasters will have access to more than 800 sound clips from Premier League matches.
FIFA’s sound library includes crowd noise from other soccer leagues, making this solution applicable not just to the EPL. Spain’s La Liga resumed play last Thursday and also added crowd noise from FIFA into its broadcasts.
“The simple way to look at it is the sound operator will be like a DJ. He will have a mix board and sound board where he can hit the button for reaction from a tackle from an away player or a shot from the home team,” EA Sports producer Andrew Vance told the AP. “There is nothing simulated or generic. It is all club-specific content.”
NBC announcer Arlo White will also hear the crowd noise in his headset while calling EPL games.
