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 ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
29/09/2026
Oak View Group (OVG) has announced Cisco as an Official Technology Partner, with plans to standardize infrastructure across its venue network on Cisco solutions...
29/09/2026
SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) won three honors at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
Program awards went to Bucs BP in the Sports Program Live category (produced ...
29/09/2026
The Professional Women's Hockey League has announced home openers for all 12 teams for the 2026-27 season, along with a broadcast partnership with CBC under...
29/09/2026
Manifold technologies has been recognized as a contributor to the Media eXchange...
29/09/2026
FuboTV has announced My Local Sports, allowing subscribers in select markets to add their local regional sports network (RSN) as an add-on to a Fubo Sports subs...
29/09/2026
Asian News International (ANI), a wire agency and video news provider based in India, has deployed Grass Valley's AMPP Media Operating System and Framelight...
29/09/2026
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has deployed Ikegami UHK-X600 cameras as part of an upgrade to IP-based production infrastructure. The deployment ...
29/09/2026
REMI, REMCO models will drive the bulk of the broadcaster's NHL productions ...
29/09/2026
Three years in, the facility is supporting more centralized race production, com...
29/09/2026
NBC, Peacock, and NBSN are carrying all four Wild Card series with a production ...
29/09/2026
19 Nonfiction Projects Across All Stages of Production to Receive More Than $1 million in Support as Documentary Film Program Approaches 25th Anniversary
LOS ...
29/09/2026
Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles
Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...
29/09/2026
All-in-one bus processor revealed
Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...
29/09/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Ikegami announces that the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has chosen Ikegami UHK-X600 camera systems as part of an advance to IP-based operation ...
29/09/2026
Blendkit Offers 20% Discount to Celebrate Crossing 150K Asset Milestone
Brie Clayton September 29, 2026
0 Comments
Blendkit, the largest 3D asset libr...
29/09/2026
Interactive streaming specialist Ease Live supported more than 76.5 million fan sessions across three major European media operators during this summers FIFA Wo...
29/09/2026
Ease Live has added support for VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) to its graphical overlay technology, opening up new ways for broadcasters, streamers and rights...
29/09/2026
Rise AV has announced the launch of the inaugural Rise AV Awards, a new global awards programme celebrating the women, advocates and organisations across the AV...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/09/2026
Clear-Com announced that First Baptist Nashville has upgraded its production communications with a Clear-Com intercom solution as part of a comprehensive sanct...
29/09/2026
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Captured Action Shots for Sketch
Brie Clayton September 28, 2026
0 Comments
Camera's portable design and dynamic range...
29/09/2026
Kean Production Services Deploys AJA ColorBox to Deliver Consistent, Accurate Co...
29/09/2026
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards A total of 28 Berklee alumni and faculty earned nominations across 20 categories this ye...
29/09/2026
Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop Now in its fifth year, the series brings together artists, industry leaders, and s...
29/09/2026
We tend to think we live in a digital world, with hopes and fears around artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, data centres and the next big technolo...
29/09/2026
Today, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Apple relea...
29/09/2026
Final Cut Camera, the professional filming app for iPhone, receives a major upda...
29/09/2026
RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...
28/09/2026
The NHL has announced Adobe as an Official Creative, Marketing and AI Partner beginning with the 2026-27 season. The partnership will provide the league and its...
28/09/2026
MultiDyne will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (October 5-7, Dubai Exhibition Centre), showcasing an expanded technology portfolio following its June 2026 acquisition of...
28/09/2026
ARRI and HONOR have announced the HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, a flagship smartphone carrying ARRI branding on the device and packaging as the first product-level expr...
28/09/2026
Net Insight has added the Nimbra 1020G to its pan-Asian live media trial network, giving customers and partners in the region a way to evaluate ST 2110 and JPEG...
28/09/2026
Vindral has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the category of We...
28/09/2026
Interra Systems will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (Stand B2-37, Dubai Exhibition Centre, October 5-7), demonstrating its BATON QC platform, ORION monitoring solutions...
28/09/2026
Two years into its new production facility, the TOUR is expanding centralized wo...
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.
