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Television production sound mixer Andrew Stoakley relies on Audio-Technica AT4051b condenser mic
NAB Show, Las Vegas, NV, April 19, 2026 — When fans settle into their living room to watch a professional baseball game on TV, they expect to see and hear the players’ actions. The satisfying crack of the bat, the snap of a pitch into the catcher’s mitt, the sharp infield chatter—these are sounds that you hear naturally when you’re at the ballpark. But how do those sounds get transmitted into the living room—bringing the game to life—without excess noise from the thousands of fans in the stadium? Behind the scenes, Andrew Stoakley, broadcast audio engineer specializing in live sports, is one of those making sure these moments ring true. And he’s recently found a new MVP for his audio lineup: the AT4051b cardioid condenser microphone from Audio-Technica.
Stoakley, the veteran audio lead for Toronto Blue Jays professional baseball home broadcasts, has spent years fine-tuning the sound of baseball for television. Among his most essential tools? KLOVER MiK 16 parabolic microphone dishes, which are strategically placed to capture the action at home plate with pinpoint accuracy. But the dish is only half of the story; the mic at the center of the dish is also critical—and that’s where the AT4051b has truly shined.
“The day I put the A-T mics in the parabolic dishes, I had the radio guys from both teams stop me in the hall to ask if I had done something with the bat-crack mics and I just smiled and said, ‘Yes, yes I have.’ The AT4051b is about an inch and a half from the center of the dish. I really like how it sounds.”
The area around home plate is filled with advertising, padding, netting and now a pitch clock (or pitch timer). Introduced in the 2023 MLB season to speed up games, the pitch clock limits the amount of time between each pitch. Fortunately, the clock has some space around it, so a mic can fit there as well. Using a focused pickup in that location has been a game-changer for audio, particularly in today’s MLB environment. But audio engineers face new hurdles—many microphones used in the center of the parabolic dish inadvertently pick up unwanted electronic noise generated by the clock’s moving parts. Also, internal relays and switches can be noisy and emit an electromagnetic field.
The AT4051b offers excellent off-axis rejection, eliminating both the noise and EMI while still delivering a fuller, richer sound of bat-to-ball contact.
“With the previous set of condenser mics I was using, I had to stop using them due to the lack of really good EMI shielding. The first time I installed the AT4051b mics there was absolutely zero noise. Clean as a whistle, which is challenging inside the dome.”
Since the AT4051b is a modular microphone, consisting of a body and interchangeable capsule, Stoakley also tested the AT4049b-EL omni capsule and found it provided a nice ambient field. “I liked the omni,” he notes. “It gave a more open sound. But in a live game setting, the cardioid capsule of the 4051b really focused in on the sweet spot.”
The payoff has been immediate and noticeable. “Many of my colleagues have come up to me asking, ‘What have you done to the audio? It sounds fantastic!’” Stoakley says. “That’s when you know you’ve made the right choice. The sound is more defined, more consistent. It just elevates the entire broadcast. Baseball audio is all about the crack of the bat, and with the AT4051b mics I’ve found my sweet spot.”
For Stoakley, it's all about creating an immersive, authentic experience for viewers. And with the AT4051b nestled inside his KLOVER parabs, he’s found the perfect formula to capture baseball’s most iconic sound: the unmistakable crack of the bat.For more information, please visit audio-technica.com.
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Photo file 1: AndrewStoakley_AT4051b.JPG
Photo caption 1: The setup favored by baseball broadcast audio professional Andrew Stoakley: an Audio-Technica AT4051b cardioid condenser microphone paired with a KLOVER MiK 16 parabolic microphone dish.Established in 1962, Audio-Technica has grown to become a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio products and is recognized as one of the world’s top broadcast audio brands. Pros rely on Audio-Technica’s full suite of professional broadcast microphones – ranging from lavalier and interview mics to camera-mount and shotgun mics – plus broadcast headsets and immersive audio solutions to deliver consistent, natural sound even in the most challenging environments.
For more information about Audio-Technica, please visit audio-technica.com.
—For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica products, contact Jamie Bobek, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, OH 44224. Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752; Web: www.audio-technica.com
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