Meet Frank Lenz: the audio engineer behind the broadcast
On a live broadcast, the audience watches the host, guest, or game. The audio engineer listens to everything around them: every microphone, remote feed, cue, level change, and possible point of failure.
There is no pause button when something goes wrong.
That pressure is part of Frank Lenz's working world. Today, you will find him in live and digital broadcasting. His audio work has included Vox Media, DAZN, and Yahoo Sports, where he is credited as Audio Engineer at Yahoo Sports/Uncrowned on The Ariel Helwani Show.
The audience hears a smooth conversation. Frank is listening for the microphone that is a little too loud, the remote guest who is dropping out, and the cue that cannot be missed. His job is to catch the problem before most people know there was one.
So, how did Frank get there?
Frank Lenz
Before the live shows and high-pressure cues, Frank trained at New York Audio Institute.
He worked on the foundations: how sound travels through a signal chain, how to listen beyond the obvious, and how to stay useful when other people are depending on you. He also learned that audio is a team sport. Technical skill gets you into the conversation; strong relationships and a cool head help people trust you with the next session.
New York Audio Institute operates inside Engine Room Audio, a working commercial recording studio. After Frank trained there, the NYAI team brought him on for mastering and freelance engineering work in the studio. Mastering trained him to hear small details and make careful decisions. Session work taught him to solve problems without bringing everything to a halt.
Those habits followed him into broadcast. The rooms changed. The deadlines got tighter. The job still came down to listening, understanding the signal, and knowing what to do next.
What did Frank learn at New York Audio Institute?
Listen before you touch anything
When the sound is wrong, the fastest engineer is not always the person who reaches for the most controls. Frank learned to hear the problem first.
Know where the sound is going
Signal flow is the path audio takes from the microphone to the audience. Follow that path and you can find where a problem starts instead of poking buttons and hoping for the best.
Be someone the crew can trust
Live audio puts technical decisions, deadlines, and people in the same room. Show up prepared. Communicate clearly. Keep calm when the feed does not cooperate.
Gear is easy to buy. A calm pair of ears takes practice.
Want to do what Frank does?
Frank did not begin with a Yahoo Sports credit. He began by learning how sound behaves, how a professional studio works, and how to keep improving from one session to the next.
You can build that same kind of foundation through the Audio & Music Production program at NYAI. You will record, edit, mix, and master inside Engine Room Audio, with one-on-one feedback while you work.
If you can picture yourself behind the console—or behind the scenes of a live show—come visit us for a tour. Meet the team, see the studio, and tell us where you want audio to take you.