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WCA #307 with Kevin Churko

WCA #307 with Kevin Churko – Family Band, Family Business, Mutt Lange, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins Drums, and Graceful Exits

My guest today is Kevin Churko. Who’s originally from Canada, currently resides in the United States, and he is a producer-engineer, mixer, and songwriter. He’s worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Papa Roach, Modern Science, Five Finger Death Punch, Shania Twain, and Hellyeah amongst many, many others. One aspect of his career that’s fascinating that we’re going to talk about is that Kevin worked for four years for Mutt Lange in Switzerland. He moved the whole family there. We’re going to talk all about that in his journey, which I think you’ll find quite fascinating. And I’m very excited to have Kevin join us today. So Kevin Churko, coming up here on the working-class audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Canadian Upbringing
  • Family Band
  • Shania Twain
  • Working for Mutt Lange
  • Living in Switzerland
  • “Just Get Good”
  • Taking Care of Customers
  • Moving to Los Angeles
  • Moving to Las Vegas
  • Ozzy Osbourne & Zack Wylde
  • Graceful Exits 
  • Phil Collins’ Drums
  • Saying No
  • Working with His Kids
  • Financial Advice
  • Keeping the Faith

Matt’s Monologue: Random Goings On

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #306 with Daniel Bacigalupi

WCA #306 with Daniel Bacigalupi – Infrasonic Sound, Supportive Parents, Poker, CD Text Fails, and a Collapsing Lung

My guest today is Nashville based mastering engineer Daniel Bacigalupi. Daniel is a member of the team over at Infrasonic Mastering. That includes Pete Lyman, Dave Gardner, and Piper Payne, all who have been guests here on WCA. We’re going to get into Daniel’s journey to Nashville and into mastering here shortly. Daniel Bacigalupi coming up here on the working class audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Pine City Beginnings
  • Supportive Parents
  • Trombone
  • Collapsing Lung
  • Ithaca College
  • Alex Perialas
  • Mastering
  • Sterling Sound
  • Nashville
  • Georgetown Masters
  • Assisting Reid Shippen
  • Pete Lyman
  • Infrasonic Sound
  • Having A Life
  • Rates and Billing
  • Your Room
  • Golf
  • Poker
  • His Great Wife
  • Covid
  • Therapy
  • Dealing with Stress
  • Fear of Rejection
  • CD-Text Fails

Matt’s Monologue: Participation

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #305 with Anne-Marie Pleau

WCA #305 with Anne-Marie Pleau – Saying Yes to Gigs, Album Credits, 9 to 5, Health Care, Moving to Hawaii, and Starting Audio Later in Life

My guest today is Anne-Marie Pleau, who is an engineer and theatrical sound designer. And you might recognize her name because she just so happens to be the editor of the Working Class Audio Podcast. That’s right. So every time I do an interview, I ship it right on over to Anne-Marie. She does her round of magic. She sends it back to me, and I assemble the show, and wallah, You have a podcast. So she plays a pretty, monumental role in the show and has since episode 220 with Butch Vig. She’s been with WCA for quite some time now, and I’m pleased to have her with us today. Anne-Marie Pleau, coming up here on the Working Class Audio Podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Moving to Hawaii
  • Starting Audio Later in Life
  • Album Credits
  • Audio Class
  • Outworking Others
  • Supportive Spouses
  • Environmental Choices
  • Health Care
  • 9 to 5
  • Diversification
  • Fears 
  • Saying Yes to Gigs

Matt’s Monologue: The Beginners Mindset

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #304 with Joyce Lieberman

WCA #304 with Joyce Lieberman – Hitchhiking, Woodstock, Electronics School, Fresh Air, WHYY, and the Avocado Cutlass Supreme

My guest today is Joyce Lieberman. Joyce has been working at WHYY in Philadelphia for the last 44 years, starting in 1976. She worked for 11 years as a Technician, 11 years as a Technical Director of Fresh Air, and 22 years as a Radio Engineering Supervisor. Joyce and I met at a dinner in Los Angeles four or five years ago. I discovered that she worked for WHYY and Terry Gross, and I began lobbying her to come on the show. Fast forward five years later, I get an email from Joyce saying, “Hey, I’ve got some free time. I’m ready to do this.” So we have a great conversation about Joyce’s career and all the details of WHYY. Very excited to bring you, Joyce Lieberman, here on the Working Class Audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Radio Roles
  • Terry Gross and Fresh Air
  • Music
  • Long Island
  • Math and Science
  • Hitchhiking
  • Woodstock
  • The Cutlass Supreme
  • Philadelphia 
  • WHYY
  • Nurses and Teachers
  • Feminism 
  • Cuba
  • Basic Electronics Theory
  • Radio Theory
  • Television
  • Electronics School
  • Breaking into Radio
  • Bicycling Tapes
  • Salaries

Matt’s Monologue: The Passing of Moto, Recording, and Perspective

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #303 with Steve Baughman

WCA #303 with Steven Baughman – Hip Hop, Alpha Dogs, Sonic Puzzles, Happiness, and Respecting The Wood

My guest today is Steve Baughman, also known as Steve B. Steve has worked with Dr. Dre, No Doubt, Michael Jackson, and Eminem as well as several others. And his credits include recording, mixing, mastering, and production on a wide array of projects that stretch from big-band jazz to rock, to hip hop, Steve Baughman, coming up here on the Working Class Audio Podcast

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Early 4 track overdubs
  • Criminal justice 
  • Business
  • Chico state
  • Larrabee Studios
  • Hip Hop
  • Dr. Dre
  • DJ Muggs
  • Will Smith
  • 50 Cent
  • Work Ethic
  • Being Assertive
  • Respecting The Wood
  • Alpha Dogs
  • His Amazing Wife
  • Health Insurance
  • Pseudo Empty Nesting
  • Pigeon Hole
  • Big Band
  • Squeaky Wheels
  • Keeping Up Relationships
  • Inspiration From The Kids
  • Happiness 
  • Taxes
  • Minimal Gear
  • Doing Life
  • Fires
  • Sonic Puzzles

Matt’s Monologue: Filling Holes in Your Schedule

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #302 with Leslie Gaston-Bird

WCA #302 with Leslie Gaston-Bird – Black Women In Audio, AES, Recording The TV, Dolby Atmos, Morph The Cat, and Running vs. Pancakes

My guest today is Leslie Gaston-Bird. She has been in the industry for over 30 years. Twelve of that in public radio (including National Public Radio), Seventeen in sound for picture, and Thirteen years as an educator. She’s the author of the book “Women in Audio.” She’s a member of the AES, where she chairs numerous committees and on the board of governors. She runs Mix Messiah Productions as a freelance re-recording mixer and sound editor. She was a tenured associate professor of recording arts at the University of Colorado Denver and is co-director for the Sound Girls, UK chapter and Sound Girls scholarships, travel grants. She’s been busy, to say the least, and I’m thrilled to have her on the show. Leslie Gaston-Bird, coming up here on the Working Class Audio Podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Growing Up In Ohio
  • Dads’ Reel to Reel
  • Recording The TV
  • Making $4.10 an Hour
  • NPR
  • The Magic Number
  • The Arrakis Workstation
  • Sounds Restoration For Film
  • Academia vs. the Private Sector
  • AES
  • Unicorns
  • Black Women In Audio
  • Dolby Atmos
  • New Mixing Space
  • Rate Cards
  • Networking
  • Morph The Cat
  • Being a Planner
  • Chicken Heads
  • Languages
  • Running vs. Pancakes

Matt’s Monologue: Labeling Your Work

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #301 with Ryan Freeland

WCA #301 with Ryan Freeland – Bob Clearmountain, Making Things Better In The World, The Artistry Of Engineering, and Beepers At The Beach

My guest today is Ryan Freeland. Ryan is a producer, songwriter, engineer, and mixer based in Los Angeles. He’s also a five-time Grammy award winner, and he’s best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, Ray LaMontagne, Amy Mann, Grant-Lee Phillips, one of my favorites, Rodney Crowell, as well as Loudon Wainwright III. He talks to us from his Stampede Origin studio located in Culver City, California, and we have a fantastic conversation. And I’m really looking forward to having him on. Ryan Freeland coming up here on The Working Class audio podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Studio Building
  • Recording at Age 12
  • Working For Bob Clearmountain
  • Lessons Learned From Bob
  • Working with Mixing Clients
  • Leaving The Nest
  • Handling Slowdowns
  • Beepers At The Beach
  • Budgets
  • The Artistry Of Engineering
  • Useful Gear Designs
  • Tape Is Not Your Savior
  • Making Things Better In The World
  • The Importance Of The Engineer

Matt’s Monologue: Perspective

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #300 with Andrew Scheps

WCA #300 with Andrew Scheps – Life in the UK, Yoga and Astronomy, Soundflow, Selling His Gear, Staying Visible, and Squid the Cat

Andrew Scheps. is a mixing and recording engineer, producer, and record label owner based in the United Kingdom. Andrew’s worked with various artists, including Green Day, Low Roar, Adele, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hosier, My Brightest Diamond, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay Z, and black Sabbath. Andrew returns to help us celebrate number 300. He initially appeared on WCA #009, and we met up over Zoom, where he talked with me from his home in the UK, and I’m thrilled to have him back for another great discussion.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Life in the UK
  • Staying Visible
  • Life Outside LA
  • Squid the Cat
  • Tchad Blake
  • Chrissie Hynde 
  • Green Day
  • Monnnow Valley Studio
  • Selling His Gear
  • The Retirement Plan
  • Tonequake Records
  • Low Roar
  • Video games
  • Andrew’s In-The-Box Rig
  • Loopback
  • Back in Black
  • My Brightest Diamond
  • Long Term Survival
  • Diversification
  • Board Games
  • Soundflow
  • The Influence of Peers
  • Cracked Plugins

Matt’s Monologue: Reflecting on 300 shows

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #299 with Audrey Martinovich

WCA #299 with Audrey Martinovich – Studio Business Systems, Wisconsin Weather, Confidence, Organization, and Avoiding Papercuts

Audrey Martinovich is a producer/engineer who co-owns Audio for the Arts in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin. Audrey’s clients include TDS Telecom, Comedy Central, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, and The Nursery Movie. Audrey was the first female contributor to Pro Tools Expert and has given presentations at “Between the Waves Music Conference” and “Empowering Women in Audio Clinics”. In addition to teaching audio classes at Central Madison Public Library. She is also a member of SoundGirls and Women’s Audio Mission.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Studio Business Systems
  • Wisconsin Weather
  • Following Through
  • Having Confidence
  • Staying Organized
  • Figuring out Your Hourly
  • The Positive Effects of Covid
  • Social Media
  • Relationship Building
  • Buying A Church
  • Avoiding Papercuts
  • Fiscal Responsibility
  • Fitbits and Health

Matt’s Monologue: Professional Jealousy

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #298 with Nathan Smith

WCA #298 with Nathan Smith – Sound Design, Storytelling, Inspiration from Challenges, Learning from Failure, and The Nuances of Recording Guns

Nathan Smith is a seasoned sound designer with for film and video games. Nathan has worked on games such as Borderlands 3, Battleborn, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters as well as feature films and documentaries including We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, Matrix and The Scorpion King.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Musical Beginnings
  • Sound Design
  • The Rose Parade
  • Film Audio Roles
  • Game Audio
  • Storytelling
  • What to Charge
  • Work Slowdowns
  • Nathan’s Youtube Channel
  • The Reasons to Record at 192Khz
  • The Inspiration of Sylvia Massey
  • The Nuances of Recording Guns
  • Covert Grocery Store Recording
  • Inspiration from Challenges
  • Gear Advice
  • Helicopters
  • Learning from Failure

Matt’s Monologue: Audio Minimalism

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #297 with Michael Rosen

WCA #297 with Michael Rosen – Rogue Tape Machines, Tent Cities, Post Pandemic Predictions, Being Ready To Record, and Going Above & Beyond

Michael Rosen is a Grammy-winning producer/engineer who has worked with Santana, Rancid, Papa Roach, Tesla, AFI, The Donnas, Journey, Death Angel, Tony Macalpine, and Testament……..to name a few! In addition to recording and producing he also teaches at Chabot College and San Francisco State and is an alumnus of the famed Automatt studios where he got started on his professional recording journey.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Small Hot Studios
  • Rogue Tape Machines
  • Moving Studios
  • Open Control Rooms
  • Talkback Buttons
  • Tent Cities
  • Quadratic Equations
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Post Pandemic Predictions
  • Hips Surgery
  • Band Deals
  • Going Above & Beyond
  • The Next Wave
  • Being Ready To Record
  • Plotting The Next 20 Years

Matt’s Monologue: Taking a Day Off

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #296 with Max Perry

WCA #296 with Max Perry – Selling Beats, Family Influence, Lawyers, New York Hip Hop, Balance, and Cannabis

Max Perry is a Grammy Nominated, multi-platinum record producer, engineer, composer, and musician who has worked with J Boog, Snoop Dogg, Berner, Wiz Khalifa, Twista, Big K.R.I.T & Vital Deshawn as well as many others.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Family Influence
  • Contracts
  • SCSI and Zip Disks!
  • New York Hip Hop
  • Studio Closings
  • Cannabis
  • Selling Beats
  • Copyrights
  • Diversification
  • Balance
  • Lawyers
  • The Cares Act
  • Working in Hawaii

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #295 with Reto Peter

WCA #295 with Reto Peter – Starting Over, Green Day, Diversification, Recording Restrictions, Family, and Redefining Success

Reto Peter is a producer/engineer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Reto has worked with Green Day, Counting Crows, Smash Mouth, Flipsyde and many other artists in his 20 year plus career. He also writes and produces music for television and can be heard on various cable networks and national ad campaigns.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • National Service
  • Switzerland
  • Berklee School of Music
  • The Magic of New York
  • Starting Over
  • Green Day
  • Studio Hierarchy
  • Paying Dues
  • 3 Year Patterns
  • Michael Urbano
  • Diversification
  • Frugality
  • Working From Home
  • Saying No
  • Counting Crows
  • Recording Restrictions
  • Studio Community
  • Perseverance
  • Family
  • Redefining Success

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #294 with McKay Garner

WCA #294 with McKay Garner – Remote Production, Curveballs and Lemonade, Production Mindset, Community, and Burritos

McKay Garner is a producer, engineer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer, he has worked on records for artists such as J Dilla, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mike Shinoda/Linkin Park, Michael Buble, Dead & Company/Mickey Hart, made music in films such as the Transformers movie, in video games, and for television shows such as Total Recall, America’s Next Top Model, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more. He has been fortunate to work as an engineer on projects with amazing producers and engineers such as Rick Rubin, Ariel Rechtshaid, Dana Nielsen, and Ryan Hewitt, among others.

After studying music at the University of N.C. School of the Arts, McKay Garner’s career has spanned decades performing in front of countless audiences and creating music in recording studios. McKay is an active member of the Bay Area music scene. As an elected leader volunteer, he served two terms as co-chair of the Producers and Engineers Wing and is an active Board member of the Recording Academy SF Chapter (the Grammys and more), McKay now strives to bring attention to experimental, innovative, and traditional music voices within the industry.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Remote Production
  • Residential Rental Recording Spaces
  • Supportive Spouses
  • Curveballs and Lemonade
  • Drummers as Producers/Engineers
  • LA to SF
  • Life In LA
  • Music and Technology
  • Burritos
  • Production Mindset
  • Production Financials
  • Licensing
  • Community

Links and Show Notes

Credits:

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

WCA #293 with Heidi Trefethen

WCA #293 with Heidi Trefethen – Live Sound, Recording, French Horn, Struggles with The Mormon Church, Session Mindset, Sexism and Learning to Evolve

Heidi Trefethen is a French Hornist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and sought-after sound engineer, Heidi Trefethen shuttles back and forth across continents frequently, in roles both onstage and off. As a hornist, she has performed in numerous ensembles and venues in Italy, the UK, Bosnia, Thailand, Guatemala, Israel Turkey, and the US, including the LA Philharmonic, the JazzUp Festival in Italy, Cleveland’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall and SFJAZZ’s Miner Hall.

As a live sound engineer, she has worked with the likes of Shawn Colvin, Meshell N’degeocello, Odetta, Ellis Paul, Joan Baez, Joan Armatrading, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Holly Near, John Stewart of the Kingston Trio, Dar Williams, Al Stewart, Jane Siberry and Lucy Kaplansky, often at the legendary Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA. Heidi can be often seen behind the sound boards at SFJAZZ where she was recently recruited as a FOH and A2 engineer. 

As a recording engineer, she studied at the California Recording Institute’s intensive sound engineering program. An internship at the historic Coast Recorders and a job at Rocket Lab mastering house had her working side-by-side with technical heavyweights John Cuniberti, Dan Alexander and Michael Romanowski. Heidi’s engineering credits include Tammy Hall’s “Blue Soul,” Jessica Jones and Mark Taylor’s “Live at the Freight” 2011, Lucy Kaplansky’s “Kaplansky Sings Kaplanksy,” 2000, Michael Burles’ currently “Untitled Recording” 2017, Nestler and Hawtin’s “Duality” 2014, co-engineered with Bryan Bell, Herbie Hancock’s first engineer, and full production of Anne Rainwater’s solo piano recording of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • SF Jazz
  • French Horn
  • Freight & Salvage
  • Teaching
  • Learning to Evolve
  • Mentoring
  • Women’s Audio Mission
  • Covid’s Effect
  • The Audio Pro Advantage
  • The Importance of Recording & Music
  • Overdubbing at a Young Age
  • Education
  • Open Mic Nights
  • Live Sounds
  • Producing
  • Session Mindset
  • Communication Style
  • Struggles w/The Mormon Church
  • Empathy
  • Women in Audio
  • Sexism
  • Bay Area
  • Speaking Italian
  • Making a Living
  • Not Working for Free

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #292 with Jessica Paz

WCA #292 with Jessica Paz – Manhattan Special, Soda Stream, Theater Sound, Women in Audio, Sound Design, Advocacy, and Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Jessica Paz is a Tony Award-winning Sound Designer for theater, film and music. Most recently, she collaborated with Nevin Steinberg on the sound design for Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed production of Hadestown, which earned the duo a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination.

On Broadway, Jessica was an Associate Sound Designer on projects including Dear Evan Hansen, Bandstand, Disaster! The Musical; The Assembled Parties (MCC); and Fela!.

Other design credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Westside Theater); Kiss My Aztec (Berkeley Rep); Twelfth Night, Othello, Miss You Like Hell, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and As You Like It (The Public Theater); Burn All Night (A.R.T Oberon Stage); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout); A Sucker EmCee, and The Muscles in Our Toes (LAByrinth); The Kings Whore (Starcatcher Productions); Becoming Dr. Ruth (Westside Theater); Looking for the Pony (Vital Theater Co.); Women Beware Women (Red Bull Theater); STRETCH – A Fantasia (New Georges); Welcome to Fear City (KC Rep); Scott & Hem in the Garden of Allah, and See How They Run (Barrington Stage); Legally Blonde, and 9 to 5 The Musical (North Shore Music Theater); Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare on the Sound’s Productions); SCKBSTD (Virginia Stage Co) ; Volcanoes Birthright (Organic Magnetics); TempOdyssey, And Her Hair Went With Her, Bookends, and Minstrel Show (NJ Rep).

Jessica has been a Front of House Engineer for musicians including The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Antibalas, Julia Haltigan, Femi Kuti, Lady Antebellum, Candy Shop Boys, People vs. Larson, Michael Arenetta, Bugaboo, Carte Blanche, King Holiday, The Woes, Stone Cold Fox, The African Children’s Choir and many others. She has also been a Lecturer of Sound Design in addition to student advisor for Princeton Universities production of Next To Normal, and was the Sound Designer of the Actor’s Studio Drama School’s yearly Master’s Thesis productions from 2009 – 2014.

Jessica is fascinated by music studio and live concert techniques. She is constantly learning and researching innovative approaches from the traditional music recording world, and bringing them into her theater work. A proud member of IATSE Local 829; Soundgirls.org; Woman’s Audio Mission; USITT; and Co-Chair of the board of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. She currently resides in New York. Pizza is her favorite food group. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Manhattan Special
  • Theater Sound
  • Broadway/Off Broadway
  • Theater Sound Design
  • System Design
  • Audio Teams
  • Audio Roles
  • Mentors
  • Large Budgets
  • Network Audio
  • Rain vs. Audio
  • Women in Audio
  • Theater vs. Club Sound
  • Union Rules
  • Money
  • Passion for Audio
  • Past Jobs
  • Trying to Leave Audio
  • Advocacy

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #291 with Greg Gordon

WCA #291 with Greg Gordon – Great Landlords, Glee Club, Relationships, Early Days of Internet Audio, Online Mentorship, Pyramind, and the Letter I

Greg Gordon is a the Founder/Director at PYRAMIND.com, as well as a producer, educator, and entrepreneur. Greg has worked with HTC Vive, Microsoft Studios, Insomniac Games, SONY, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Disney, Blizzard, Zynga, Amazon, Samsung, HP, Nvidia, GoPro, LifeBeam, The Battery SF, Brandcast and many more. His music production credits include Rob Garza (Thievery Corporation), Giorgio Moroder, K Theory, Rain Phutureprimitive, The Bronx, Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead) and Rocker T & Joan Baez.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Relationships
  • Great Landlords
  • Glee Club
  • Early Days of Internet Audio
  • Game Soundtracks
  • The Letter I
  • The History of Pyramind
  • Downsizing
  • Online Mentorship

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #290 with Joe Chiccarelli

WCA #290 with Joe Chiccarelli – Frank Zappa, Producing, Psychology, Budgets, Learning From Others, Sharing Knowledge, and The Tonelux Mic Collaboration

Joe Chiccarelli is a ten-time Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer/mixer whose credits include such artists as Tori Amos, Beck, U2, The Strokes, The Killers, Elton John, The Shins, The White Stripes, Morrissey, Alanis Morrisette, Jason Mraz, Juanes, Julieta Venegas, The Raconteurs, Cafe Tacuba, and My Morning Jacket. Other projects through his twenty-year career have included music supervision of films such as Suicide Kings and Men with Guns, the TV series Cracker and Robert Altman’s The Gun. Joe is the studio designer for the state-of-the-art Royaltone Recording Studios (now Sphere) in Burbank, CA, and has served as an A&R consultant for several major and independent labels.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Matt & Joe’s Connection
  • Frank Zappa
  • Roy Thomas Baker
  • Joe’s Approach to Producing
  • Inexperienced Managers
  • Psychology
  • Handling Disagreements
  • Fresh Perspectives
  • Working in Multiple Genres
  • Mix with the Masters
  • Getting the Most Out Of a Budget
  • Learning From Others
  • Sharing Knowledge
  • The Tonelux Mic Collaboration
  • Planning the Year

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #289 with George Vlad

WCA #289 with George Vlad – The Draw of the Outdoors, Field Recording, Ecology, Adventure, Bribes, and Bees

George Vlad is a sound recordist, photographer and expedition leader with a keen interest in wildlife and conservation. George travels extensively and records a variety of sounds, from natural ambiances and wildlife to odd vehicles and vintage aircraft. He also supports a variety of conservation initiatives around the world, either directly, by sharing my work with them or by employing them in my travels. When he’s not traveling George works as a sound designer and composer for video games from his studio in Southern England. His audio work is heard by millions of players every month.

Episode Bonus Content: Gear Talk with George Vlad https://bit.ly/2VCU4AF

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Languages
  • Burning Out
  • The Draw of the Outdoors
  • The Listening Experience
  • Travel
  • Ecology
  • The language of Birds
  • Field Recording Technique
  • Trip Planning
  • Man-Made Sounds
  • Threat of Extinction
  • Recording Attention
  • Bribes
  • Fear
  • Adventure
  • Fixers
  • Packing
  • Bees
  • Experience vs ROI
  • Sound Libraries
  • Sound Design
  • Game Sound Implementation

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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

WCA #288 with Jens Bogren

WCA #288 with Jens Bogren – Chaos Theory, Working in Metal, Psychology, Banks, Sports Fishing and, Motion Sickness

Jens Bogren is a Swedish record producer, mixer and recording engineer who has worked Opeth, Sepultura, Katatonia and a long list of many other bands.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Working in Metal
  • Banks
  • Studio Naming
  • Building A New Studio
  • Sports Fishing
  • Motion Sickness
  • Chaos Theory
  • Bogren Digital
  • Trail of Luck
  • Determining What to Charge
  • Managers
  • Psychology of Showreels
  • Psychology of Production Work
  • Leadership
  • Surround Sound Work

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

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