As an accomplished A1 for almost 20 years now, Canada-based Patrick Castonguay loves the challenge of being creative with every live mix he produces. He's worked on high-profile sports events including the Olympics (every year since 2002) and NHL and CFL games in Canada, as well as the JUNO Awards. The first Calrec console he ever used was the T Series, which was an analog/digital hybrid design.
We know you've been working as a freelancer for Dome Productions since 2001 and that your audio career began in a recording studio with your love of live music. In more detail, what does your current role entail?
I go between A1 (Audio Broadcast Mixer), Audio Guarantee and Comms Engineer. I have the fortunate pleasure of using those skills in every type of television production from live sports to news specials to entertainment. I work a lot of NHL and CFL games in Canada, which I really enjoy.
What was it about broadcast audio that attracted you and what keeps you interested and challenged?
The fact that I'm never in the same place, the same office with the same people every day makes it fresh for me. It includes the challenges of putting together a live television show. The evolving technology keeps my brain and curiosity always challenged. I get to be creative and I never get to do the same show twice!
Can you talk us through the project you've most enjoyed working on and/or that really stands out in your career?
I've had the pleasure of working on every Olympics in different capacities since 2002. I remember mixing figure skating for OBS (Olympic Broadcast Services) at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and my Technical Manager asking me if I was nervous. I asked why. He told me that there was a potential viewing audience of over one billion people watching that night around the world; that blew my mind that so many people were listening to my work.
Another event that stands out is mixing The NHL 100 Classic in Ottawa in a football stadium where I was in charge of everything audio and comms for the lead truck and responsible for all the audio and comms feeds to four other broadcasters. All this was done battling -35C weather. I feel very fortunate to have been exposed to all kinds of memorable events over the years. There are truly too many to count.
Can you describe a typical broadcast audio setup that you use?
I mostly work NHL and CFL games in Canada, which for the most part are daily gigs so you're in and out. I spend a lot of time setting up before a show and part of my workflow consists typically of knowing ahead of time the location of the venue, any mobiles I'm working with, the audio crew I have available to me and the production requirements that are needed on any particular day/show. Now I can base my prep not only on that show but the audio desk and intercom. So when I arrive on show day, my audio layout, integrated with intercom needs, is ready and notes are prepared for the A2s. It's an attempt to keep the stress of the day low and keep things efficiently moving.
Most of the TV mobile trucks I use have a Calrec console: typically an Alpha or an Apollo, though there have been others. I have four sub-groups and five VCAs set up in the center. I like to keep all my mic sources on the left (FOP EFX, announcer mics, PA and Ref, etc)., and all my line sources on the right (EVS, Music, Spotbox, Duet, etc.)
When did you first start working with Calrec products and what Calrec consoles have you used over the years?
I started working on Calrec consoles in 2002. The first one was the Calrec T series, which was an analog/digital hybrid design. I've worked on pretty much every model since then.
What's a recent example of a project where you used Calrec technology?
The last project I used a Calrec was the JUNO Awards, which is the Canadian version of The Grammy's. I've been the Comms Engineer on that show for the last nine years. I use the Calrec Artemis console to bridge signals between the Hydra boxes on the floor and the MADI card in the RTS frame for all the wireless channels. I also use it to route many other comm sources to either a multitrack recorder or router points.
What are the workflow advantages of the Calrec console(s) that you're using?
I like to double and even triple assign sources to different destinations with different delays and or routing points. The Calrec makes it painless. Last year during the CFL season we started doing live mic games, which consist of having six players and two coaches mic'd and mixed in live during the broadcast. This becomes a challenge especially when the broadcast is in 4K. I have to provide eight discreet masters with different delays and the Artemis delivers that easily. Also, I've never run out of DSPs on a Calrec console - yet. That's my own personal challenge, I admit!
How do you view the current talk of, and move to, AoIP? What's the real-world impact?
I'm curious, excited and cautious all at the same time. The technology is there and coming on fast but I see it as a new tool. Audio-over-IP is a really new technology that's going to help me get the job done; it's another one to add to the toolbox. It's a good technology that I look forward to working with more in the future.
The world of eSports has been on the increasing rise. How much does working in that world interest you and what experience do you have in that space?
I've worked on two different eSports events in the last two years. I mixed one and was a wireless comms tech on the other. It's another exciting format in the new generation of pro sports.
How have second screens (smartphones, laptops) changed how mixes are produced? What about viewer expectation for the perfect viewing experience; how has that impacted how you do your job?
I try to record every show I mix wh
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
06/12/2025
In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...
06/12/2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...
06/12/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...
06/12/2025
NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...
05/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...
05/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...
05/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...
05/12/2025
Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...
05/12/2025
FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...
05/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...
05/12/2025
Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...
05/12/2025
As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...
05/12/2025
ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...
05/12/2025
It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...
05/12/2025
Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...
05/12/2025
In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...
05/12/2025
In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...
05/12/2025
LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...
05/12/2025
The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start.
December ...
05/12/2025
Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premier...
05/12/2025
Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Co...
05/12/2025
Friday 5 December 2025
A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...
05/12/2025
Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head.
In the autumn we were approach...
05/12/2025
Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...
04/12/2025
Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...
04/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...
04/12/2025
SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...
04/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: LiveU Lightweight Sports Production: A Step Change in Spor...
04/12/2025
London to Riyadh: DAZN brings the boxing glamour to new production levels for Be...
04/12/2025
Analysis: Paramount bets on the battering ram' with Champions League play By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 10:12
Print ...
04/12/2025
Space City Home Network Launches SCHN DTC App for Astros and RocketsThe Rockets and Astros were previously the lone NBA and MLB teams without a DTC appBy Jason...
04/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Content Workflows Workshop Spotlights Evolution of Spor...
04/12/2025
New Sponsor Spotlight: Geotech's Patrick Wambold On the Unreal Engine Revolu...
04/12/2025
Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nationally and RegionallyBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:52 pm
Print This Sto...
04/12/2025
(L-R) Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki, and Judith Helfand att...
As an accomplished A1 for almost 20 years now, Canada-based Patrick Castonguay loves the challenge of being creative with every live mix he produces. He's worked on high-profile sports events including the Olympics (every year since 2002) and NHL and CFL games in Canada, as well as the JUNO Awards. The first Calrec console he ever used was the T Series, which was an analog/digital hybrid design.
