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WCA #317 with Ryan Gilligan

WCA #317 with Ryan Gilligan – Quad Studios, Busta Rhymes, Duffle Bags of Hard Drives, Michael Brauer, and Mixing Based on Emotion

My guest today is Grammy award-winning mixer engineer and producer Ryan Gilligan. Ryan got his start at Quad Studios in New York, where he started as an intern, then assistant before taking on a year-long engineering gig for Busta Rhymes. Following that, he returned to Quad and began a mentorship with Michael Brauer that would last for seven years. He worked alongside artists, such as Coldplay, John Mayer, Kanye West, Shakira, Grizzly Bear, and many others. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to work with producer John Hill on music for Adele, Gwen, Stefani, and Florence and the Machine. He ended up staying in Los Angeles and continues to work there to this day freelancing. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Playing Trumpet
  • Interning
  • Quad Studios
  • Electric Lady
  • Busta Rhymes
  • Duffle Bags of Hard Drives
  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Michael Brauer
  • Health Challenges
  • Mixing Based on Emotion
  • Surviving on Mixing
  • Strict Budgeting

Matt’s Rant: Banking! Yes, seriously.

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: Ryan Gilligan
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #316 with Jenny Ortiz aka mixedbyJNY

WCA #316 with Jenny Ortiz aka mixedbyJNY – Behind The Scenes Videos, Using Social Media, Networking, Having Patience and Plan B

My guest today is Jenny Ortiz, also known as mixedbyJNY. Jenny has worked with K.A.A.N., JLA, Contraband, and Thurs. She talks to us from her home and home studio in Southern California, where we have a great conversation. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Behind The Scenes Videos
  • College Audio
  • Wrapping Cables
  • Shantih Hasst of Studio 770
  • Interning
  • Aligning Tape Machines
  • Being a Dispatcher
  • Spreading Her Wings
  • Networking
  • Using Social Media
  • Being a Runner
  • Not Depending on Others
  • Marketing Herself
  • Having Patience
  • Mixing Durning Covid
  • Home Studio Facility
  • Plan B

Matt’s Rant: Home Studio Income Ideas

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: Jenny Ortiz aka mixedbyJNY
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #315 with Paul Fig

WCA #315 with Paul Fig – Punk Rock Ethics, Handling Crashes, Mailbox Money, Managers, and Getting Out of the Chair

My guest today is engineer, musician Paul Fig. Paul has worked with Alice In Chains, Slipknot, Bush, the Def Tones, Rush, Stone Sour, The Mars Volta, and Johnny Cash. Paul’s also worked alongside Joe Barresi, Matt Hyde, Don Smith, Matt Wallace, David Bianco, George Drakoulias, and Greg Fidelman. He’s a former member of the band Amen. And when he’s not working on other people’s records, he’s working on music for television and film, including the HBO documentary series Sonic Highways, Fox Sports, and MTV. Great guy. We hit it off immediately, and he comes to us via Joe Barresi. Once again. Thank you, Joe, for the referral.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Eddie Van Halen
  • Dantes Jazz Club
  • Punk Rock Ethics
  • Assisting
  • Falling Budgets
  • Acquiring Gear
  • Video People
  • Mailbox Money
  • Handling Crashes
  • Getting Gigs
  • Low Overhead
  • Managers
  • Getting Out of the Chair

Matt’s Rant: Gear Chat

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Paul Fig
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #314 with Shuta Shinoda

WCA #314 with Shuta Shinoda – Tokyo to London, Sacrificing, Visa Challenges, Surviving, and Listening to Your Instincts

My guest today is engineer Shuta Shinoda. Based in London, originally from Tokyo. We talk all about Shuta’s journey from Japan to the UK and everything in between. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Learning Audio
  • Visa Challenges
  • Working in Japan
  • Working in England
  • Cleaning windows
  • English classes
  • Sacrificing
  • Peak time Train Battles
  • Moving to London
  • Connecting with Local Bands
  • Surviving During Covid
  • Future Outlook
  • Listening to your Instincts

Matt’s Rant: A Little Business and a Little Inspiration

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: Shuta Shinoda
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #313 with John Baffa

WCA #313 with John Baffa – Cal Arts, Stable Shows, Forecasting, Creating a Reverb Chamber, and The Hardest Thing About Teaching Audio

My guest today is Grammy award-winning recording engineer John Baffa. He’s worked with a wide array of people, including Mike Patton, Henry Rollins, the Melvins, as well as the Los Angeles percussion quartet. He joins us from his home in Southern California, and we talk about many things, including his work at Cal Arts as an instructor. John Baffa, coming up here on the working class audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • John’s Diverse Upbringing
  • Live Sound
  • Touring
  • The Troubadour
  • FOH
  • Paying Attention
  • Introduction to Recording
  • CAL ARTS
  • Late Nights 
  • The Hardest Thing About Teaching Audio
  • John’s House Studio
  • Going Solar
  • Socially Distanced Sessions
  • Remote audio instruction
  • Creating a Reverb Chamber
  • Ghosts in the Building
  • Diversification
  • Stable Shows
  • Forecasting

Matt’s Monologue: DIversification, again!

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: John Baffa
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #312 with Jesse Cannon

WCA #312 with Jesse Cannon – Panic Attacks, Producing, Podcasts, Diversifying, Steve Albini and Big Words

My guest today is Jesse Cannon. Jesse is a man who covers a lot of territory. He produces, engineers, mixes, and masters. He hosts podcasts, he’s an author, and he’s the host of a YouTube channel. He does a lot of stuff, and he comes to us as a recommendation from our good friend, former WCA guest, Steve Evetts, and I’m excited to have him on. We had a great conversation the other day. And I’m looking forward to you hearing that conversation. Jesse Cannon, coming up here on the Working Class Audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • WFMU
  • Producing
  • Podcasting
  • YouTube
  • Books
  • Identity
  • Steve Albini
  • Big Words
  • Freedom
  • Daily Beast
  • Panic Attacks
  • Managing Bands
  • Surviving
  • Diversifying

Matt’s Monologue: Paying it Forward

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: Jesse Cannon
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #311 with Maria Rice

WCA #311 with Maria Rice – Quitting Architecture School, Following Your Gut, Interning, Being Resilient, Restoration, and the Florida Simulation

My guest today is Boston-based mastering and restoration engineer. Maria Rice, Maria works at Peerless mastering and has received three nominations for the Grammy award for Best Historical Album. Her remastering work also includes the 2018 reissue of Blondie’s Heart of Glass. Maria and I connected over LinkedIn, and I reached out to her, and she graciously accepted my invitation to come on the show. So I’m very much looking forward to bringing you Maria Rice here on the Working Class Audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Dorm Room Studio
  • Live Recording
  • Audio Tough Love
  • Quitting Architecture School
  • Divided Focus
  • Jessica Thompson
  • Guilt
  • “Real Job” Pressure
  • Interning
  • Florida Simulation
  • Following Your Gut
  • Quitting Her Day Job
  • Transferable Skills
  • Mastering
  • Restoration
  • Being Resilient
  • Diversification

Matt’s Monologue: Knowing Yourself

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

  • Guest: Maria Rice
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #310 with Steve Evetts

WCA #310 with Steve Evetts – Knowing Your Worth, Repeat Clients, Dealing with Opinions, The Moment Of Discovery, and The Power of Commitment

My guest today is producer engineer mixer Steve Evetts, who has worked with the Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, The Cure, Poison the Well, Alesana, The Wonder Years, and many, many others. Steve comes to us as a recommendation from our good friend, Joe Barresi.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Parents Attic
  • Bass Guitar
  • Foster X15
  • Tracks East in New Jersey
  • First Studio Job
  • Power Of Commitment
  • Billing By The Day
  • Ross Robinson
  • Management
  • Work/ Life Balance
  • Supportive Spouse
  • Knowing Your Worth
  • Covid
  • Repeat Clients
  • Outside Perspective
  • Burn Out
  • The Moment Of Discovery
  • Dealing with Opinions
  • Social Media

Matt’s Monologue: Preparing and Practicing in the Off Hours

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Steve Evetts
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #309 with Michael Romanowski

WCA #309 with Michael Romanowski – Mastering, Shared History, Deep Listening, Old Dogs, Staying Upright, and Fuzzy Quarters

My guest today is a friend of 20 years who plays a role in the formation of Working Class Audio. I’m talking about mastering engineer Michael Romanowski. Michael and I go way back. We were building partners at our studio in San Francisco. Michael had a mastering facility in the front. I had a recording studio in the back, and together we were co-tenants in the space that he helped bring me into. Michael played a part in the formation of Working Class Audio because he’s the one that helped me get off the lease without damaging our relationship with the landlord, which was crucial. Very excited to bring you this interview with him. We met up over it at his house, where he has a residential mastering facility nominated for a TEC award. Michael Romanowski, coming up here on the Working Class Audio podcast. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Home Mastering Facility
  • TEC Nominated Room
  • Compromise
  • Shared History
  • Paul Stubblebine
  • Lifeboats
  • Andrew Scheps
  • The Tape Project
  • Michigan
  • Nashville
  • Motorcycles
  • Math
  • Chris Takes the Truck
  • Curmudgeon University
  • Learning From Others
  • Deep Listening
  • Gear Buying Decisions
  • Time Investments
  • The Game of Inches
  • Audiophile Wingnuttery
  • Fuzzy Quarters
  • Protecting Your Ears
  • NARAS
  • Social Media
  • Old Dogs
  • Beards
  • Immersive Audio
  • Being You
  • Taking a Break
  • Staying Upright
  • Golf
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Addressing Mistakes
  • Paying Attention
  • Process of Elimination

Matt’s Monologue: Supporting Small Business

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Michael Romanowski
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Matt Boudreau