Working Class Audio

My guest today is Grammy Nominated Mixer, Producer, Sean O'Keefe who has worked with Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, and The Plain White T's, among many others.  In this episode, we discuss: Chicago 4 Track Recording Academic Father Quitting School Living in an Office Wednesday Warriors Lessons Learned from Gravity Studios Hacking the Intern Process Smart Studios Fall Out Boy Evanston Soft City M...

My guest today is Grammy Nominated Mixer, Producer, and Recording Engineer Travis Ference. Travis has worked with Imagine Dragons, John Mayer, Ariana Grande, and Bush, to name a few.  In this episode, we discuss: North Carolina Blooming Late Selling his only Zeppelin CD! Talent Shows Sports Berklee College of Music Boston LA Capital Studios Waiting for the Phone to Ring Life As a Studio Runner Dis...

My guest today is recording and mixing engineer Leslie Brathwaite, who has worked with Pharrell Williams, Outkast, Björk, TLC, Jay Z, Madonna, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Akon, T.I., Monica, Michael Jackson, Cher, Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G just to name a few.  In this episode, we discuss: Virgin Islands Calypso Music Birth of Hip Hop Drum Machines Island Culture Making Dubs Leaving The Islan...

My guest today is Grammy-Winning Mix Engineer and Producer Craig Alvin. Craig's recording credits include Hanson, Little Big Town, Amy Grant, Vanessa Carlton, Will Hoge, Andrew Belle, Brittany Howard, and a Grammy for his mix work on Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour album in 2019. In this episode, we discuss: Vancouver, Washington Bible College Neves 5 O'Clock People Joe Chicarelli Always Be Listening...

Today, my guest is producer, engineer, composer, and electrician Mike Blodgett, the owner of Electric Sparky Land recording in East Oakland.  In this episode, we discuss: East Oakland Live/Work Space Reno, Nevada Viola Field Recording 4 Tracks Starving Musician Becoming an Electrician Business Practices Building a Studio Creating A Record Label Recording Bands Live Choosing Gear Talking Electricit...

My guest today is Live Sound engineer Beckie Campbell. Beckie does FOH for major acts like the Indigo Girls and the Commodores. She's also the owner of B4Media Production LLC, where she Produces corporate events, festivals, and live shows all over the US.  In this episode, we discuss: Live Sound Union Work The UP of Michigan FullSail Building A Resume Worship Sound Controlling The Live Beast Build...

Today's guest today is sound designer, mixer, composer, and writer Dante Fumo. Dante started recording indie bands in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has since branched out into sound design for film and games and relocating to Minnesota.  In this episode, we discuss: Copywriting Prog Rock Audio School Recording for 6 Packs Basement Studios Day Jobs Freelance Writing Building a Studio Working From Home P...

Today's guest is producer, engineer, mixer Chuck Zwicky, making a return appearance on WCA. Chuck has worked with Prince, Soul Asylum, The Rembrandts, Mandy Moore, and many others.  In this episode, we discuss: Collaboration Social Media COVID Money Survival Analogies Prince Nostalgia AI Radio Flowers Next To Your Name 1000 Sheets of Paper Deterministic Latency Outboard Gear  Matt's Rant: My Favor...

Today's guest is producer, engineer, mixer, Tim Palmer known for his work with Pearl Jam, U2, Cutting Crew, Tears for Fears, and many more. This is Tim's second appearance on the show.  In this episode, we discuss: Key to Repeat Clients Treating People Well Humanizing Revisions "Prodixing" (Producing + Mixing) Remote Clients Past vs. Present State of Songwriting  Mutt Lang Handling Compromise Stud...

My guest today is podcast engineer, content producer, and thought leader Tanner Campbell.  In this episode, we discuss: Pound Puppies Holding Court IT Influence Podcasts Marijuana Legalization  Colorado Podcast Audio Quality Imposter Syndrome  Portland, Maine ATM Studio Joanne Fabrics Podcast Studio Corporate Clients Joan London Marketing Locally Quality of Character Surviving COVID Bankruptcy Dis...

My guest today is producer/engineer/mixer, Steve Sykes. Steve has worked with Stanley Clark, Al Jarreau, Smokey Robinson, Enrique Iglesias, and many more. He talks to us from his studio in Los Angeles.  In this episode, we discuss: Jazz in Philadelphia 10th-Grade Education Lunch in Denver Homelessness  The Guys in the White Coats The Deli Accident Payphone Gig Offer Learning Drums Day Labor Jobs R...

My guest today is Grammy and Emmy award-winning producer/engineer Cynthia Daniels. Cynthia has worked with an incredible amount of talented ed people from the worlds of music, Broadway, television, radio, and film.  In this episode, we discuss: Stamford, Connecticut  Early Influence of Audio Equipment Not The Chick on The Couch Al Grundy Institute of Audio Research Paying Dues Boot Camp of Audio W...

Today's guest is Grammy-winning producer, engineer, and mixer Collin Dupuis who has worked with many artists, including Lana Del Ray, Cage The Elephant, and the Black Keys.  In this episode, we discuss: Growing up In Michigan Norman Druce Glenn Brown Productions Impedance The Learning Process Detroit, MI Nashville, TN Al Sutton Wiring and Tech Work Working Late Hours Vintage King Working in Italy...

Today's guest is producer, engineer, mixer, and assistant professor at Berklee school of music, Sean McLaughlin. Sean has worked with notable producers Andy Johns, Jimbo Barton, Carmen Rizzo, and artists Rush, Elliott Smith, Marilyn Manson, Death Row Records, and many others. This is Sean's second appearance on the show, with his first being on WCA #037. In this episode, we discuss: Zoom Teaching...

My guest today is GRAMMY-nominated mastering and restoration engineer, audio preservationist, and educator Jessica Thompson. Jessica originally appeared on WCA in episode #080, and I'm thrilled to have her back on the show to talk about backup strategies for audio, restoration, some gear talk, and changes in her new studio she is planning at her house.  In this episode, we discuss: Admin Work Arch...

My guest today is live sound mixer, audio coach, and noise abatement consultant Peter Claes, who lives in Hasselt, Belgium. Peter has a great Youtube channel that I watch called Masterclaes (spelled with his last name in mind ) Master Claes, and I enjoy his approach to teaching and sharing knowledge. After connecting on Linkedin, we made arrangements to join me to share his experience working in l...

My guest today is producer, engineer, mixer Val Garay. Val has had an incredible career working with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kenny Rogers, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Pablo Cruise, Queensrÿche, Santana, and many others. Val has garnered 5 Grammy wins, over 100 gold and platinum records, an Emmy nomination, and over 125 million worldwide record sales. In 1982, he sh...

My guest today is engineer, former studio owner, author, and vintage gear dealer, Dan Alexander. Dan was a fixture of the Bay Area recording scene in San Francisco for many years. He ran the same studio space I did, the former Coast Recorders building on Mission Street in San Francisco as well as Coast on Harrison. He’s spent many years of his life buying and selling vintage guitars and vintage re...

My guest today is musician, songwriter, author, and producer, Jack Rubinacci. Born in Rome, raised in the UK, and now residing in Norway.  Jack has been through the music industry on both sides of the glass including recorded his debut release with Tchad Blake Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, he’s sold produced and mixed his own releases, he’s opened for Joe Cocker, Lionel Richie, and Arcade Fi...

My guest today is producer, engineer, mixer Alex Crescioni. Alex is based in Los Angeles at his studio Stygian Sound, located in the legendary Sound City studio complex. He works with a wide variety of rock & metal bands on Nuclear Blast Records, Napalm Records, Wind-Up Records, Craft Recordings, Cleopatra Records, Metal Assault Records, Steamhammer Records, Sliptrick Records, EMP Label Group,...

My guest today is Frank Filipetti, a producer, engineer, mixer, and a seven-time Grammy winner.  Frank has worked with many artists, including Foreigner, KISS, Carly Simon, The Bangles, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and Paul McCartney, to name a few. Frank talks to us from his home in Connecticut about his journey, which I think you'll e...

My guest today is Michael Castañeda, who is an audio engineer who does location recordings, post-production, producing, and consultation for podcasts. In this episode, we discuss: West Covina Tape Syncs Covid Audio Practices Cassettes Drum & Bugle Corps.  School Band Citrus Community College UC San Diego Sending Resumes Craigslist Illness Reality Show Gigs The Grind of TV Recording School Band...

My guest today is Bill Schnee who is an internationally renowned producer, engineer, and mix master. He has over 125 Gold and Platinum records and 50 top twenty singles and is known as an engineer’s engineer. Bill has worked on dozens of Grammy-nominated and winning albums, and has been personally nominated 11 times for The Best Engineered Album category, winning twice for Steely Dan’s  Aja  and ...

My guest today is Mastering Engineering Joe Caithness. Joe has worked on mastering the soundtrack music for games such as Borderlands, and Tekken, the soundtracks for the Netflix movie Close, bands such as Don Martin 3 and Palooka 5 and he does it all from the comfort of his mastering studio located in his backyard in Nottingham, England.  In this episode, we discuss: Shakespeare Early PC Recordin...

My guest today is producer, engineer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and, songwriter, Alan Evans. This is Alan’s second time on the podcast. He first joined us on episode 133. This time around He talks to us from Massachusetts where we have a great chat about his studio and, his record label, and what’s been happening lately in his life.  In this episode, we discuss: Studio Remodeling Alan's...