For the past two decades, freelance A1 Mixer Andrew Stoakley has worked on many of the major sports and entertainment shows produced in Canada. With assignments ranging from MLB baseball to NHL hockey and curling (among others), Stoakley has come to rely on the flexibility and features of Calrec consoles to capture the various dynamics of each sport. In this Craft Interview with Calrec he talks about the importance of being flexible and how dynamic range really hits home in baseball.
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
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
For the past two decades, freelance A1 Mixer Andrew Stoakley has worked on many of the major sports and entertainment shows produced in Canada. With assignments ranging from MLB baseball to NHL hockey and curling (among others), Stoakley has come to rely on the flexibility and features of Calrec consoles to capture the various dynamics of each sport. In this Craft Interview with Calrec he talks about the importance of being flexible and how dynamic range really hits home in baseball.
