Working Class Audio

Rafa Sardina is a Los Angeles based Grammy winning producer/engineer and mixer who has worked with D’Angelo & The Vanguard, Elvis Costello And The Roots, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Placido Domingo, Camila Cabello, Miguel, Lady Gaga, Clare Fischer Big Band, Alejandro Sanz, Calle 13, Natalia Lafourcade, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Arturo O’Farrill with The Afrocuban Jazz Big Band Orchestr...

No, I'm not interviewing myself! As it turns out, there are two Boudreau's in the world of audio named Matt (Me) and Matthew (my guest).  Matthew Boudreau is a field recordist, podcast producer, consultant and editor, and sound designer living in Buffalo, NY.  Matthew has been working in podcasting since 2008 and has over 20 years experience as an audio professional, working in computer multimedia...

Carlos Novais is a sound engineer, tour manager and production manager. He was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil and came to the United States in 1999. He has worked with Candlebox, The Plain White T's, Vonda Shepard, Survivor, Amos Lee, Andrew Bird, Sugarland, Keb’ Mo’, Thin Lizzy, The Answer, Ace Frehley, Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, among others. In this episode, we discuss: Growing up i...

Katie McMurran is a sound engineer with over 10 years of experience recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio for public radio and podcasts. She has also provided sound design and original music for theater, film, corporate conferences and art installations.  In this episode, we discuss: NPR KQED Podcasts Interviewing for radio gigs CODECS Staying Calm Under Pressure Rates Links and Show Note...

WCA #273 with Maya Finlay – Mentors, Rosanne Cash, Meditation, Finances Being an Introvert and taking City Cabs Maya Finlay  is an audio engineer, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in San Francisco, CA. In this episode, we discuss: SFJAZZ Mentors VO Work Live Sound Dolby Labs Rosanne Cash Work/Life Balance Being an Introvert Meditation Finances City Cabs Passion for Music C...

Alberto Hernandez is a San Francisco Bay Area-based audio engineer, music mixer, and music producer.  In this episode, we discuss: Fantasy Studios Languages Health Insurance Planning for Sessions Budget Rejection Serving the Clients Mistakes Business advice Worth to your Work Retirement Links and Show Notes: Alberto's Site: https://www.albertohernandezaudio.com/ Quickbooks Self Employed: http://fb...

Dusty Wakeman is a bass player, producer, engineer and currently the President of Mojave Audio. In this episode, we discuss: Mad Dog Studios Texas Roots Playing bass Running a studio Hard Drives and Hammers Mojave Audio David Royer Viral Meningitis Coronavirus Hot Yoga Dwight Yokam Links and Show Notes: Mojave Audio: https://mojaveaudio.com/ Peter Doell: https://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-051-w...

Dereck Blackburn is a consultant, recording engineer/producer, and multi-instrumentalist in Bedford, Massachusetts. You can read more about Dereck at http://quiethouserecording.com/ . In this episode, we discuss: MIT Audio Builders Workshop Building Quiethouse Recording Not working too many hours Productivity Tools Dual Electrical Systems Energy Bills Mini Splits Community Participation Mastermind...

Lij Shaw is the host of the podcast Recording Studio Rockstars, producer/engineer and the force behind Save Home Studios. In this episode, we discuss: Saving Home Studios Podcasts Creating Paid Content Nashville Growth The Hay Bale Studio.  Links and Show Notes: Lij's site to save home studios:  http://www.savehomestudios.com/ Petition:: https://bit.ly/2w0SpLb Bill BL2019-48: https://bit.ly/31LO1M...

WCA #268 with Frank Joly – Live Sound, Simple Plan, Family Grocery, Learning English and Government Funded Recording. Frank Joly  is a live and studio engineer from Canada. In this episode, we discuss: Touring Live Sound Simple Plan Songs Government Funded Recording Learning English Selling Gear to Retire Bob Rock Family Grocery Store Links and Show Notes: Franks Instagram: @frank_joly Simple...

WCA #267 with Stephen Marsh – Goat piss to gasoline, Curveballs, Framing, Fuzzy math, Communication, and 911. Stephen Marsh  is a Los Angeles based mastering engineer who has been active for 25 years.  In this episode, we discuss: Stephen’s journey as a mastering engineer Home studios Knowing your value Financial philosophy Providing maximum value Discussing money with clients Links and...

NAMM 2020 took place over January 16th-19th. The show was well attended and I had loads of fun. In this episode, I’m joined by mastering engineer Kim Rosen of Knack Mastering, drummer Emily Dolan Davies of emilydrums.com as well as mastering engineer Pete Lyman of Infrasonic Sound. Short interviews talking about NAMM and a NAMM wrap up by me! Enjoy, Matt. In this episode, we discuss: All things NA...

WCA #265 with Alex Oana – Science Experiments, Imposter Syndrome, Spinach, Exercise, Motivation, Failure, and Audio Test Kitchen. Alex Oana , is the creator and co-founder of Audio Test Kitchen. Alex started out as a musician, became a recording engineer and producer, got into pro audio sales and marketing, and designs and develops products.   In this episode, we discuss: Imposter Syndro...

WCA #264 with Justin Perkins – Diversification, Diet, Commercial Space Benefits, Keeping Clients Happy, Teaching Audio, Disengaging from Audio Forums, and Mastering Therapy. Justin Perkins is a mastering engineer located in Milwaukie, Wisconsin. In this episode, we discuss: Diversification Diet One gig leading to another Commercial space benefits Keeping Clients Happy Teaching Audio Disengaging fr...

WCA #263 with Jacob Sciba  – 99 Cent Pizzas, The IRS, Mailbox Money, Game Planning, and Fear of an Empty Calendar. Jacob Sciba  is a producer/engineer/mixer based out of Austin, Texas.  In this episode, we discuss: Music Store Influence Microphone Obsession 99 Cent Pizzas Studying Business Low Overhead The IRS Fear of an Empty Calendar Game Planning Pre Production of life Mailbox Mo...

WCA #262 with Jordan Richter – Going Broke, Burning Out, Keeping Audio Fresh, and Moving into Coding. Jordan Richter  is a producer/engineer who, after 25 years of making records, has decided to move full time into coding.  In this episode, we discuss: Nashville Portland Burnout Recording for joy Scarcity Being a business person Going broke Jackpot Studios Keep audio fresh Identity Links...

WCA #261 with Dave Gardner – College Radio, Critical Thinking, Diversity, Power Dynamics, Communication, Compromise, and Context. Dave Gardner  grew up in Pittsburgh, became an adult in Minneapolis, and lives in Northeast Los Angeles. He is the Chief Mastering Engineer at Infrasonic Los Angeles and a long time fan of loud sounds. His mastering and producing credits include Sun Ra, Rocket From...

WCA #260 with Ben Bernstein – Being a guide, Low friction, Planning, Getting credit, and Being a team player. Ben Bernstein  is a producer, engineer, and mixer based out of Oakland, California. This is Ben’s second appearance since first appearing on WCA #055 (  https://bit.ly/2E2ND0o  ). More on Ben :  https://www.benbernsteinmusic.com/ In this episode we discuss: Live sound D...

WCA #259 with Lenise Bent – The smell of tubes, Leon Russel’s studio, Roger Nichols, Mike Chapman, Cancer, Networking and Diversification Lenise Bent  is an American audio engineer who has worked in both the music and film industry. She was one of a handful of women working in the Hollywood recording studio business in a technical role during the 1970s and was the first woman to rec...

WCA #258 with Jason Livermore – Selling Beer, Studio Ownership, Production Details, Cross Fit, and Thousand Dollar Vape Machines. Jason Livermore is a producer/engineer/drummer and co-owner of the Blasting Room Studios located in Fort Collins, Colorado. For more info on Jason visit:  https://theblastingroom.com/ In this episode we discuss: Selling Beer Fort Collins Studio Ownership Partnershi...

WCA #257 with Music Expo – Warren Huart, Lenise Bent, Michael James, Starita, Emiliano Caballero Music Expo San Francisco 2019 took place at the SAE Institute in Emeryville, California on November 9th and 10th. It featured a wide array of panels and discussions. The Producers and Engineers panel was the Keynote panel held on the 10th. Enjoy. -Matt For more info on Music Expo:  https://musicex...

WCA #256 with Scott Evans – Quitting his day job, Drug money, Wrestling mixes, Imposter syndrome and being financially conservative. Scott Evans  is an engineer and mixer based in Oakland, California. This is Scott’s second appearance on WCA. His first appearance was Episode #010 in 2015. We met at his studio for a great discussion and follow up to our first interview. For more info on Scott...

WCA #255 with Steven Gillis – Chicago winters, studio partnerships, Chuck Berry, HVAC systems, SSL myths, and the last studio he’ll ever build. Steven Gillis  is a drummer producer/engineer and mixer working out of Transient Sound, his studio in Chicago that he shares with studio partner Vijay Tellis-Nayak. For more info on Steven visit:  https://www.transientsound.com/ In this episode w...

WCA #254 with Jonah Strauss – DIY Attitude, The Aftermath of Fires, Advocacy, Dealing with Debt, The Dynamics of East Oakland and Serving his community. Jonah Strauss  made his first appearance on WCA #016. Since then he’s been through some experiences that have changed his perspective and outlook. He’s back with a new studio, new approach and primed to serve a community dear to his heart. Fo...

WCA #253 with Mary Mazurek – Recording live, Knowing your worth, Complicated gigs & Parents with multiple fridge/freezers. Mary Mazurek  is a Grammy-nominated recording engineer, artist, educator, speaker, and consultant. She currently works as a producer/engineer at WFMT in Chicago, teaches as an Adjunct professor at DePaul University as well as an instructor at Columbia College and Illi...