Calrec Craft Interview: Florian Brown, A1
Brie Clayton March 27, 2023
0 Comments
Last year, veteran A1 Florian Brown spent a full day at Florida-based Full Sail University talking to students about what it's like to work as an A1 and the benefits of working in the broadcast audio. His talk covered many of the different freelance possibilities in audio, video, EVS, editing and more.
Brown began working as an A1 in 1995 and over the past 17 years, his career has led him to work on high-profile events such as the US Open (Tennis) where he worked as an audio supervisor. He's also worked on Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the ABC NFL Football draft. He's been using Calrec consoles for the duration of his career and during his time at Full Sail, he had a Calrec Artemis console on hand to show the students what it would be like to work on an audio mixing console that's so prevalent in broadcast.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you get started in professional audio?
My father was a freelance A1. He started at a news affiliate in Cleveland and then became the Audio Guarantee for Laclede Communications. But they struggled to find A1s so he mixed most of the shows himself. He then went freelance in 1988. I joined the Army and went to nursing school to become a licensed nurse practitioner. Once I got out of the service, nursing no longer appealed to me, so my father suggested I go down and work as a utility in his field. I was putting up ice mics on my first day. The rest is history.
2. How long have you been working in the broadcast industry and more specifically as an A1?
I started in the field in 1995 working as a utility and I was quickly promoted to A2. By 1998, a couple of the regular A1s moved out of town and the local crewer asked if I would be interested. I asked if taking the role would mean more work? Little did I know it was the start of what has been a wonderful and fulfilling career for me.
3. What are some major projects/broadcasts you've recently worked on and/or are currently working on?
I mix a lot of tennis including Wimbledon and the Australian Open. I'm one of the Audio Supervisors at the US Tennis Open. I also currently mix a lot of golf US Open, TPC Sawgrass, British Open, and the Ryder/Presidents Cup. I mixed last year's pre-game Super Bowl show and the ABC NFL Draft. I even mixed the Indy 500 back in the day. I've worked on almost every sport.
4. What are the highlights of being an A1? What makes the job exciting and why is it a good professional path?
The best part of being an A1 is never knowing just how your day is going to unfold. Some days are easy, some days are more challenging, but it's always interesting and it's certainly never boring! You get a real jolt of exhilaration every time you go live, plus a real sense of accomplishment after the show.
5. Tell us about the talk you gave at Full Sail University. How did it come about?
I was asked by Chris Fichera, VP of Group One (Calrec's US partner) if I would be interested in explaining the profession to some younger minds. I live in Tampa and Orlando, where Full Sail is, so just a short drive, so it seemed like a no brainer. We just discussed all the different opportunities and how easy it is to jump into the business.
6. Why did Full Sail University decide to do this education session with you?
I have worked with a couple of Full Sail graduates. I helped their careers, so Vincent Lepore, (Full Sail University's former Director, Event Technical Operations), heard of me through them and thought it would be good to get an experienced operator in to discuss the business. I was immediately intrigued at the idea and very happy to take this on.
7. What topics did you cover in your education session?
We covered all the different freelance positions available in audio, video, EVS, editing and more. We discussed what traits the crewing department and bosses on site are looking for. I made it clear to the students that punctuality and a good attitude are first and foremost.
8. We understand you did some demos/tutorial on the Calrec Artemis console. What did you show the students and why did you choose the Artemis for this? What were the benefits to the students for you to use the Artemis?
There were over 40 people in the audience, I wanted to show them that what an A1 does isn't much different from show to show and sport to sport. You can set up a loose default and that then becomes the bones for almost every sports broadcast. The idea was to take some of the magic and mystery out of the process. Calrec is the premier console for American sports and the Artemis, specifically, is widely used in this industry. It is prevalent in the industry and it made sense to use the audio console that I think students will encounter the most in their careers. Afterwards, lots of people had questions. I think they appreciated hearing from someone actually working in the business with almost two decades of experience.
9. What was the overarching goal of the event? What was your aim?
Sports broadcasting needs new, young, fresh talent. The problem is that not many folks know that these professions exist. You also don't have to travel 250 days a year to be successful.
Related COW News
March 14, 2023Producing for TikTok: Learn How KQED Is Adapting Its Video Editing Workflow to Serve a New Viewing DemographicEvolve or Die has to be the most defining phrase of the
February 23, 2023openGear Freedom with the Power of 12GIf you're a fan of openGear, it's most likely because it gives
10. How familiar are you with Calrec's technology?
Last year, I took a trip to Hebden Bridge in the UK where Calrec is headquartered, but I have been using their technology ever since I started mixing. Calrec consoles are some of the best in the bu
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
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...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Calrec Craft Interview: Florian Brown, A1 
