Andrew Stoakley
08/05/2019
Q: Can you provide some background on who you are and what you do?
A: For the past two decades, I have freelanced as an A2 and A1 Mixer and I work on many of the major sports and entertainment shows produced in Canada. As a freelancer for Dome Productions, my main roles include mixing Toronto Blue Jay's baseball games, professional curling and NHL hockey games.
Q: How did you end up working in the broadcast audio industry?
A: I really just fell into it. I originally went to school for radio and quickly realized that I wasn't going to make a decent living in the industry because I did not want to be on-air. At that point, I moved into the production space and began working for CBC in Toronto as an A2. I was there for seven years, but I didn't get the opportunity to mix. So, I left and went to Canada's Business News Network (BNN), where I spent six years learning the fine art of mixing. I started freelancing in 2007- working mostly for Dome Productions, which has a focus in sports broadcasts. Soon after, I received the opportunity to take over as production sound mixer for the Toronto Blue Jays (I happened to be in the right place at the right time).
Q: Tell us about some of the recent projects you have been involved in.
A: I recently worked on the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada's national women's curling championship, in Nova Scotia. When I'm mixing curling, I mix for almost nine to 10 hours straight. Every player wears a microphone, so there are 32 RF channels for me to work with, and that's not including announcers, cameras, FOP or stadium mics, so it's crucial that I don't get hand fatigue. With Calrec, the ergonomics of the console are laid out very well, so I can spend hours mixing without my hands bearing the consequences. I can manipulate six faders with one hand opposed to other consoles where I can only manipulate three at a time.
Q: Over the span of your career, how has your work been impacted by the evolution of audio technologies?
A: Many years ago, consoles in mobile units were analog, so we were limited to how many channels of audio we could use. Nowadays, it's really limited to DSP power. For example, in curling, not all the players wore mics because the console couldn't handle that many inputs. Now, every player is wearing one - giving the viewer a perspective you never hear in other professional sports. With an increase in mics and channels, there is a lot more for me to be aware of when mixing sound. In hockey, I am more aggressive in my mixes because I want to hear the skates, the puck and the on-ice chatter. Curling really stands out for me because all the players are fully mic'd, so that's 48 faders that I need to access - 28 RF microphones and another 20 effects mics buried in the rink - on top of the 14 talent mics that we have. If I have to go looking for mics on the console, I'll miss the opportunity to get a critical moment on-air. The new software on the Apollo goes way above and beyond, but it doesn't matter which Calrec console I'm using - when I sit down to an Artemis, Apollo or Alpha, I feel very comfortable.
Q: When did you first start using Calrec and why?
A: I was first introduced to Calrec in 2008 by Dome Productions, Calrec's largest Canadian user.
Q: As a sound mixer in the sports space, what are some of the biggest audio challenges you face? How did you overcome them?
A: In sports broadcasting, it is crucial for sound mixers to find a balance between the announcer, sound effects and background noise - any broadcast mixer's arch nemesis is the PA. Viewers tune in to hear the announcers talk about the sport, so I must make sure that they are clear and present in the mix. In this job, we are constantly mixing, always moving fingers and faders to achieve the perfect sound. That's why I like baseball - there is so much dynamic range, and I love that. It makes for a much more dynamic mix. Calrec has a new automix feature that helps when one announcer is quieter than the others. I can use the automix to even-out the sound and some of the other features help me mix the most natural sound.
Q: What Calrec gear are you currently using and how does it improve your workflow?
A: I use Calrec's Artemis and Apollo, along with the original Alpha, which I still love. Calrec's new Apollo and Artemis consoles have considerable fader space and real-estate that allow sound mixers to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. The new Apollo software allows me to easily clear the console and label it the way that works best for me. These consoles were designed to help me do my job better. When other brands' consoles launched digital boards, they felt unfamiliar, but Calrec's new digital boards still make me feel comfortable when I'm using them.
Q: As a freelancer who uses the console provided on projects, how do Calrec's consoles stand out from other consoles you have used when mixing sound?
One reason that Calrec stands out for me is because the company's customer service is top-notch. If I ever have any questions, both the Dave's [Letson and Lewty] are always available. Studio Consultants, in New York, has a wealth of knowledge, and I am forever grateful for their help. The overall use of the console, paired with the clear sound and the user interface, make
More from Calrec
25/03/2024
NEP Australia expands IP and remote production with Calrec Argo
NEP Australia expands its IP and remote production capabilities with first install of Calrec Argo consoles NEP Australia, a division of NEP Group and a prominen...
25/03/2024
NAB 2024 Preview | Why attend NAB 24?
NAB 2024 Preview | April 14 -17 | Booth C6307 | Las Vegas Convention Center We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at the 2024 NAB ...
11/12/2023
How I won a Sports Emmy Award for supporting FOX Sports
The show must go on: How I won a Sports Emmy Award for Calrec's work supporting FOX Sports' presentation of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 By Elliot Rober...
16/11/2023
Calrec's Argo Wins 2023 NAB Show Product of the Year Award
Calrec's Argo Wins 2023 NAB Show Product of the Year Award Calrec has won the 2023 NAB Show Product of the Year Award for its configurable Argo audio contr...
27/10/2023
An Insightful Look into the World of Calrec
An Insightful Look into the World of Calrec By Will Wayman Before going to Calrec I was excited and looking forward to the many experiences I would be able to...
08/10/2023
Calrec finds new zeal and expertise with Protel
Calrec finds new zeal and expertise with Protel...
08/10/2023
Group One partners with AVL Group in Puerto Rico
Group One extends its relationship with Puerto Rico's AVL Group Calrec distribution partner Group One has teamed up with supply and service specialists AVL ...
08/10/2023
Group One invest in IP with new Calrec technical support hires
Expanding on its already robust technical support team and further investing in IP, Group One, professional audio and lighting distributor of Audiotonix brands ...
08/10/2023
IP specialist Tim Casey joins Group One
Group One expands its Support team with IP specialist Tim Casey Group One has hired Tim Casey to join its growing team of Calrec Customer Support Technicians in...
08/10/2023
EMG UK chooses Calrec for ROC
EMG UK flexes with Calrec for its Stratford Remote Operations Centre Expanding on its 30-year relationship with Calrec to satisfy its complex audio needs, OB an...
08/10/2023
IBC 2023: 6 reasons to join Calrec at IBC
IBC 2023 Preview | 15 18 September | Hall 8, Booth D60 | RAI, Amsterdam We're looking forward to meeting up with friends, customers and partners at the I...
08/10/2023
Calrec launches into the German market via a new partnership with Cerberus
IBC 2023 sees Calrec announce its launching into German market for the first time via a new partnership with Cerberus Media Solutions At IBC 2023, Calrec, a lea...
07/10/2023
EMG Stratford ROC
EMG UK flexes with Calrec for its Stratford Remote Operations Centre Expanding on its 30-year relationship with Calrec to satisfy its complex audio needs, OB an...
07/10/2023
NEP goes remote with ImPulse
NEP flexes its remote capabilities with Calrec's IP ImPulse engine NEP Group, the leading media technology partner for content creators around the globe, is...
07/10/2023
INA TV kick off world cup with Calrec
Greece-based INA TV used Calrec's Summa console and Hydra2 networking technology to satisfy the complex UEFA technical specifications to broadcast European ...
07/10/2023
Calrec partners with AV Worx to expand its presence in South Africa
Calrec partners with AV Worx to expand its presence in South Africa Calrec, a leading designer and supplier of broadcast audio mixing consoles and equipment, a...
05/10/2023
NAB New York 2023 Preview
NAB New York 2023 Preview |October 25 -26 | Level 3, Booth 217 | Javits Center, New York We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at...
04/10/2023
Inside Broadcast Hungary's 4K Outside Broadcast Truck
Inside Broadcast Hungary's 4k Outside Broadcast Truck Last month at IBC, KitPlus sat down with Calrec's International Sales Manager, Michael Reddick to ...
03/08/2023
Join our quest
We have big news! Calrec has always been on a quest to solve tomorrow's audio challenges, and we have some big news to share on the Calrec booth in Hall 8, ...
03/08/2023
NAB 2023 Preview
NAB 2023 Preview | April 16 -19 | Booth C6107 | Las Vegas Convention Center We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at the 2023 NAB ...
01/06/2023
Inside SuperSport's New 4K Outside Broadcast Truck
Inside SuperSport's New 4K Outside Broadcast Truck Take a look inside one of the most advanced outside broadcast (OB) trucks in the world! SuperSport's...
28/04/2023
Join Calrec at MPTS 2023
Join Calrec at MPTS 2023 | May 10-11 | Stand A40 | Olympia, London We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at this year's Media ...
27/03/2023
Calrec Wins Media & Entertainment Best in Market 2022 Awards
Calrec Wins Media & Entertainment: Best in Market 2022 Awards for Argo We are delighted to have been selected as one of the winners in this year's Media & ...
15/03/2023
The Super Bowl by Shawn Peacock
The Super Bowl by Shawn Peacock Shawn Peacock, Broadcast Audio Engineer A1 for over 20 years, encompassing college football, X Games, tennis and motorsports inc...
21/02/2023
Calrec makes switching to ST2110 more affordable with ImPulse1
Calrec makes switching to ST2110 more affordable with ImPulse1 IP engine Following on from its new Argo audio mixing control platform launched at IBC 2022, Cal...
23/12/2022
The Audio Checklist by Freelance A1 Andrew Stoakley
The Audio Checklist by Freelance A1, Andrew Stoakley Over the course of interviewing, recording and editing my podcast series, Idle Hands: Conversations with T...
03/10/2022
Audiotonix Gets Even More Creative with Slate Digital Acquisition
About Audiotonix Audiotonix is a global market leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of professional audio mixing consoles and ancillary products...
02/09/2022
IBC 2022: 10 reasons to join Calrec at IBC
IBC 2022: 10 reasons to join us at IBC We're back! It's been three years since we've been to IBC 2022, and we can't wait to get back into it w...
15/07/2022
A Statement from Calrec
Statement from Calrec July 2022 Recently we have received many comments via social media that mistakenly claim Calrec are in some way supporting Russian state...
14/07/2022
NAB 2022 Preview
We're excited to be back at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on 23-27th April. Here is a sneak preview of what we will be unveiling!...
08/07/2022
Sounding out the future
Sounding out the future I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future. Ralph Abernathy By Madison O'Reilly...
30/05/2022
ABEX 2022
One of our International Sales Managers recently attended the ABEX 2022 Morava Montreux 2022, an international electronic media and television conference in M...
01/04/2022
Star Acadmie TVA
Jean-S bastien Roy, Sound Engineer at Headroom Productions talks to Calrec about his work on Star Acad mie on TVA in Montreal, Canada. As a Sound Engineer and ...
31/03/2022
Craft Interview: Myles Carlyle, Audio Engineer
Canada-based Myles Carlyle was exposed to the world of broadcast audio at a young age. As an audio engineer, he mixes a variety of live sports and worked at the...
17/03/2022
Audio in 2021: The future is now
Audio in 2021: The future is now By Dave Letson, VP of Sales, Calrec 2020 was a year of necessity; of using technology in ways it had been designed for and so...
16/03/2022
Calrec IP Primer
IP Primer Welcome to Calrec's eight-part primer on AoIP! The IP Primer builds up your knowledge of IP and will enable you to create reliable AoIP networks...
09/03/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Network Design
Calrec IP Primer Part 8: Network Design Welcome to the final chapter in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the last 7 weeks, we have released an I...
03/03/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Network Switches
Calrec IP Primer Part 7: Network Switches Welcome to the seventh in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the last 6 weeks, we have released an IP ch...
23/02/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Quality of Service QoS
Calrec IP Primer Part 6: Quality of Service (QoS) Welcome to the sixth in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next three weeks, we will be rele...
16/02/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Latency and Jitter
Calrec IP Primer Part 5: Latency/Jitter Welcome to the fifth in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next four weeks, we will be releasing an I...
10/02/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Bandwidth
Calrec IP Primer Part 4: Bandwidth Welcome to the fourth in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next five weeks, we will be releasing an IP cha...
02/02/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Precision Time Protocol PTP
Calrec IP Primer Part 3: PTP Welcome to the third in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next six weeks, we will be releasing an IP chapter eve...
26/01/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Multicast
Calrec IP Primer Part 2: Multicast Welcome to the second in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next seven weeks, we will be releasing an IP ch...
19/01/2022
Calrec IP Primer: Introduction
Calrec IP Primer Part 1: Introduction Welcome to the first in an eight-part series of articles on AoIP! Over the next eight weeks, we will be releasing an IP ...
06/01/2022
Calrec's IP solution selected for state-of-the-art Sportsnet Studios
Calrec's IP solution selected for state-of-the-art Sportsnet Studios Two Calrec Artemis consoles with AoIP ImPulse cores and Gateway technology lie at the h...
16/12/2021
Ross Production Services choose Calrec for all live and esports output
Ross Production Services (RPS) recently purchased its fifth 96-channel Calrec Brio audio console to standardize on Calrec technology. The new Brio is installed ...
26/11/2021
IBC 2021 Cancelled: Calrec's 7 Key Focuses
IBC 2021 Cancelled: Although we can't meet in person, we can still have a chat Get in touch for a catch-up, or book a remote demo with Calrec's broadca...
24/11/2021
IBC 2021: 7 magnificent reasons to speak to Calrec
Not travelling to IBC 2021? We can still have a chat. Get in touch, or book a remote demo with Calrec's broadcast specialists, to get up close and personal...
23/11/2021
7 magnificent reasons to speak to Calrec
Not travelling to IBC 2021? We can still have a chat. Get in touch, or book a remote demo with Calrec's broadcast specialists, to get up close and personal...