Debuting in 2020, Tempo provides an interactive personal training solution that brings a team of expert trainers into the home virtually with adaptive technology that delivers real-time guidance and creates custom workout plans around a user’s fitness goals. Instructors are filmed in a dedicated recording space in San Francisco and provide users audio with help from DPA Microphones.
According to Cemil Revan, Tempo’s head of studio, the company first selected DPA 4288 and 4088 headset microphones to support its audio needs. Following a preference from instructors, the studio later incorporated a pair of 4017B shotgun mics in an XY pair overhead and 4098 gooseneck mics on the floor.
“Our trainers move all over the place and get really sweaty, so I went to DPA to help problem-solve our unique situation,” explains Revan. “Gabriel [Antonini, DPA Business Development and Global Support Manager] helped with the idea of having external microphones to capture trainers.”
Ultimately, Revan and Antonini settled on the 4017B and 4098 as the primary mics for the live workouts, which are now used in both the original location and the newly opened second Tempo recording space. “We’re running all DPA equipment at our two recording spaces. We have the headset microphones for other types of audio capture at our old studio, which still has a bit of reverb due to the acoustics in that space. The acoustics are much better at our new space, and the DPA mics are crisp; we couldn’t be happier,” adds Revan.
Tempo has the 4017Bs arranged together overhead in a coinciding pair, so they can achieve a strong capture while limiting the reverb. The 4098 gooseneck is set up on the ground for when the trainers are closer to the floor or doing floor exercises.
Tempo consists of a physical “Studio” — an armoire with a 42-inch touchscreen; 75 pounds of competition-grade weights, including two dumbbells and a barbell; and storage, along with personal training guidance powered by 3D Tempo VisionTM. This adaptive technology tracks movement with a 3D sensor and delivers form feedback, personal weight recommendations and progressively more intense workouts as a user gets stronger. Designed for users of every fitness level, interest and schedule, Tempo offers thousands of live and on-demand classes in nearly every category, including strength training, HIIT, mobility, yoga, low impact, prenatal, bodyweight, boxing and more.
“We’re thrilled with the performance of the DPA mics,” Revan says. “We wanted a microphone that doesn’t sound like a microphone, and the DPAs make it sound like you’re in the room with that person. I knew that DPA would be the right brand for us.”
