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WCA #370 with Nikki McGuinness

WCA #370 with Nikki McGuinness – Farm Life, Studio Building, Thinking on Your Feet, Pygmy Goats, and Falling Off Ladders

My guest is Songwriter / Engineer / Producer Nikki McGuinness, who runs Creation X Recording based on a farm in Berkshire, England.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Farm Life
  • Building a Studio
  • Contractors
  • Open Recording Spaces
  • Learning to Record
  • The Corporate World
  • Low-Grade Depression
  • Health Issues
  • Thinking on Your Feet
  • Pygmy Goats
  • Loving Life
  • Ladders
  • Creative ventures
  • Choosing Gear
  • Sylvia Massey

Matt’s Rant: Capturing Stories

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Nikki McGuinness
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #369 with Heidi Trefethen & Ben Bernstein

WCA #369 with Ben Bernstein and Heidi Trefethen – Dolby Atmos, Gear Purchases, Audio Janitors, and Breaking Into Matts’ House

My guests today are former WCA guests Heidi Trefethen and Ben Bernstein. Heidi is a French Hornist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and sought-after sound engineer. Ben is a producer, engineer, and mixer based in Oakland, California.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Dolby Atmos
  • Studios Vs. Covid
  • Future Sessions
  • Skywalker Sound
  • Gear Purchases
  • Studio Ownership
  • Breaking Into Matt’s House
  • Gear Lending Library
  • Broken Guitars
  • Mountain Music
  • Great Musicians
  • Getting Along
  • Audio Janitors

Matt’s Rant: Mixing it Up!

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Heidi Trefethen & Ben Bernstein
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #368 with Wavy Wayne

WCA #368 with Wavy Wayne – Thinking Bigger Picture, One Bad Night, Audio Education, Social Media Advice, and 7 AM Algebra

My guest is mixing engineer and audio educator Wavy Wayne, who has worked with Jim Jones, Future, Ashanti, Yo Gotti, Dave East, and many more.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • St. Louis
  • Discovering Music
  • Being a Kid Rapper
  • Positive Studio Exposure
  • Stage Fright
  • Sony Acid
  • Education
  • 7 AM Algebra
  • One Bad Night
  • Getting Kicked Out of Full Sail
  • Surviving in New York
  • Audio Education
  • School Debt
  • Thinking Bigger Picture
  • Teaching in St. Louis
  • Social Media Advice

Matt’s Rant: Clear the Clutter!

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Wavy Wayne
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #367 with Brad Dollar

WCA #367 with Brad Dollar – Moving to Nashville, Getting Work, Classic Money Mistakes, Survival, and Time Travel Retrospective

My guest is producer, engineer, and coach Brad Dollar who has worked with Bob Weir, Journey, G-Eazy, and Parmalee. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Moving to Nashville
  • Coaching
  • Transition of Culture
  • Music Business
  • Competition
  • Buying a House
  • Getting Work
  • Bay Area vs. Nashville
  • Recording School
  • Mentors
  • Grammy U
  • Survival
  • Classic Money Mistakes
  • Managing Money Tip
  • Time Travel Retrospective
  • Just Ask
  • Advice For Newbies

Matt’s Rant: Do We Really Need A Website?

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Brad Dollar
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #366 with Perry Leenhouts

WCA #366 with Perry Leenhouts – Anything is Possible, US & Europe Comparison, Punk Rock Lessons Learned, and Living in an Abandon School.

My guest is Perry Leenhouts, producer, engineer, and owner of Point Break Sound Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. Perry is also a member of the band, The Travoltas. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Point Break Sound
  • Welfare State
  • US & Europe Comparison
  • The Travoltas
  • Punk Rock Lessons Learned
  • Working with Others
  • Being in The Van
  • From Drummer to Engineer
  • Living in an Abandon School
  • Public Radio Internship
  • Anything is Possible
  • Stockholm
  • Shared Space
  • Marketing
  • Finances
  • Taxes

Matt’s Rant: Another Dolby Atmos Update

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Perry Leenhouts
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #365 with Alex Allinson

WCA #365 with Alex Allinson – Cooking, Parallels, Presentation, Running a Studio, and Taking the Crooked Path

My guest is Alex Allinson, producer/engineer, and co-owner of The Bridge Sound and Stage in the greater Boston area.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Interning
  • Being Driven
  • Taking the Crooked Path
  • Cooking
  • Parallels
  • Not Coasting
  • Avoiding Growing Stale
  • Moving On
  • Diverse Clients
  • Presentation
  • Running a Studio
  • Saving For the Future
  • Financial Mentors

Matt’s Rant: End of The Year Downtime

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Alex Allinson
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #364 with Chris Collier

WCA #364 with Chris Collier – Fathers Influence, Controlling Your Destiny, Getting Involved, Client Tree Branches, and Realizing Your Worth

My guest is producer, engineer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Collier, who has worked with Lynch Mob, Mick Mars, Korn, Whitesnake, and many more. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Fathers Influence
  • Home Studios
  • Getting Your Name Out There
  • Identity Crisis
  • Being a Homebody
  • The Drive of Recording
  • Just Doing It
  • Discovering Pro Tools
  • Getting Involved
  • Controlling Your Destiny
  • Recording Dave Grohl Style
  • Moving to Vegas
  • Mick Mars
  • Client Tree Branches
  • Realizing Your Worth

Matt’s Rant: Remembering the Bigger Picture

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Chris Collier
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #363 with Chaz Root

WCA #363 with Chaz Root – Classical Training, Going Blind, 4 Track Mastery, and Residential Recording

My guest is producer, engineer, and mixer Charles Root III, better known as Chaz Root of Electric Owl Works Recording in upstate New York.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Root History
  • Playing Bars
  • Drinking Ages
  • Classical Training
  • Stuttering
  • Going Blind 
  • Garbage Picking Stereos
  • Wah Wah Discovery
  • Rudy Van Gelder
  • 4 Track Mastery
  • Starting Small
  • Electric Owl Works
  • Residential Recording
  • Finances

Matt’s Rant: Taking a Break from the Audio Party

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Chaz Root
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #362 with Matt Ross-Spang

WCA #362 with Matt Ross-Spang – New Studio, 60’s and 70’s Inspiration, 30,000 Feet Of Cable, 15% Red Neck, and Nice But Not Too Nice

My guest today is grammy-winning producer, engineer, and mixer Matt Ross-Spang. This is Matt’s second appearance on WCA.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Sam Phillips Recording
  • New Studio
  • Crosstown Concourse
  • Sun Studios
  • Workflow
  • Steven Durr
  • Wiring
  • 30,000 feet Of Audio cable
  • Aesthetic Choices
  • 15% Red Neck
  • 60’s and 70’s Inspiration
  • Custom Headphones System
  • Howard Hughes OCD
  • Nice But Not Too Nice
  • The Price of Wood

Matt’s Rant: Staying Positive

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Matt Ross-Spang
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #361 with Patrick Keane

WCA #361 with Patrick Keane – Tinkering, Being Prepared, Choosing Gear, Room Building, and Problem Solving Lessons

Today, my guest is Portland, Maine-based mastering engineer Patrick Keane. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Growing up w/out Screens
  • Tinkering
  • Problem Solving Lessons
  • Being Prepared
  • FOH
  • Producing
  • Discovering Mastering
  • Bob Ludwig
  • Choosing Gear
  • Selling Gear
  • Room Building
  • Finances
  • Retirement

Matt’s Rant: A Belated Birthday Celebration

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Patrick Keane
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #360 with Bryan Matheson

WCA #360 with Bryan Matheson – Keeping a Studio In Business, Always Learning, Good Landlords, and RTFM!

Today, my guest is studio owner, engineer, composer, and vocalist Bryan Matheson who owns and runs Skyline Studios in Oakland, California.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Teac 2340
  • PCM Beta
  • Leos Pro Audio
  • Skyline Studios
  • Converting A Warehouse
  • Chips Davis
  • Ad Work
  • Keeping Outside Noise Out
  • Client Growth
  • Keeping a Studio In Business
  • Always Learning
  • RTFM
  • Covid Survival
  • UVC Lights
  • Good Landlords
  • Live Streaming
  • Sustaining Waves
  • Work/Life Balance

Matt’s Rant: Use It or Lose it!

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Bryan Matheson
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #359 with Will Yip

WCA #359 with Will Yip – Feeding Off Stress, Setting Goals, Power of Routine, Investment in Songs, and Hard Working Parents

Today, my guest is Grammy-nominated record producer, audio engineer, songwriter, and musician Will Yip who has worked with Lauryn Hill, Panic! at the Disco, Blacklisted, and many others.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Hard Working Parents
  • Strict Upbringing
  • Drums
  • Feeding off Stress
  • Falling in Love with Recording
  • Free Demos
  • Setting Goals
  • Mom’s Basement Studio
  • Buying into a Studio
  • Investment in Songs
  • Starting a Record Label
  • Management
  • Power of Routine
  • Taking Care of Your Body

Matt’s Rant: Complacency

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Will Yip
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #358 with Robert Carranza

WCA #358 with Robert Carranza – East LA, Lessons from Musicians, Gear vs. Good Songs, Listening, and Family

My guest today is 4x Grammy Awarded Mixer, Engineer, Producer Robert Carranza. Robert has worked with Ozomatli, Marilyn Manson, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos, and many others.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • East LA
  • Black Sabbath
  • Music Today
  • First 4 Track
  • Bruce Swedien
  • Floating Assistant
  • Studio Managers
  • Pagers
  • Paul Rothchild
  • Getting Fired
  • Lessons from Musicians
  • Asking Questions
  • Listening
  • Emotion
  • Money Management
  • Gear vs. Good Songs
  • The Beatles
  • Mentors
  • Ego
  • Family

Matt’s Rant: Communication

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Robert Carranza
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #357 with Michael James

WCA #357 with Michael James – Small Town Strategies, Dolby Atmos, Alternator Records, Shelter In Place, and a Room of 100 People

Today, my guest is producer, mix engineer, and artist Michael James. Michael has worked with Hole, L7, Robben Ford, A.J. Croce, and many others. This is Michael’s second appearance on the show.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Reflecting on Petaluma vs. Los Angeles
  • Balance
  • Pandemic Related Changes
  • Fiber Internet
  • Rogue Amoeba
  • Zoom
  • Dolby Atmos
  • Alternator Records
  • Shelter In Place
  • Alternative Audio Business
  • Tire Balancing
  • Having Open Plans
  • Small Town Strategies
  • Room of 100 People

Matt’s Rant: Dolby Atmos Update

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Michael James
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #356 with Todd Hutchisen

WCA #356 with Todd Hutchisen – Blinders on Head Down, Serving the Scene, Anti-Trend, Triple Sessions, and Family Balance

Today, my guest is musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Todd Hutchisen, co-owner of Acadia Recording Company located in Portland, Maine.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Taking Ownership of Acadia
  • Studio Names
  • Tripple Sessions
  • Rudy Van Gelder
  • Don Zientara
  • Anti-Trend
  • Gear Restraint
  • Buying and Building Once
  • Analogies
  • Studio Ownership
  • Blinders on Head Down
  • Family Balance
  • Financial Philosophy
  • Serving The Scene
  • Safe Covid Sessions

Matt’s Rant: Knowing when to say Yes or No to Gigs

Links and Show Notes

Credits

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

WCA #355 with Jason Phelps

WCA #355 with Jason Phelps – Lobster, Landlords, Studio Partnerships, Portland, Maine, and Bluegrass

Today, my guest is producer, engineer, and musician Jason Phelps, co-owner of Acadia Recording Company located in Portland, Maine.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Portland, Maine
  • Lobster
  • Acadia Recording CO. 
  • Gateway Mastering
  • Landlords
  • Mini Splits
  • Studio Business
  • Shared Workflows
  • Studio Partnerships
  • Grants and Loans
  • Handling Studio Money
  • Trust
  • Making People Comfortable
  • 8 Tracks
  • Back Ordered Guitars
  • Bluegrass
  • Networking
  • Teaching
  • Having A Plan

Matt’s Rant: Having Coffee with New Friends

Links and Show Notes

Credits

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

WCA #354 with Tom Gordon

WCA #354 with Tom Gordon – Granny’s House, Weed Offerings, 80 Hour Weeks, Sammy Davis Jr., and Advice from Shelly Yakus

My guest today is Producer, Engineer, and Educator Tom Gordon. Tom has worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Dr. Dre, The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, Willie Nelson, Whitesnake, and Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden, to name a few.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Growing up In Reno
  • Theater Parents
  • Sammy Davis Jr. 
  • Reel to Reel Discoveries
  • Endless Love
  • Granny’s House
  • USC
  • Discovering Recording
  • Advice from Shelly Yakus
  • Milli Vanilli
  • Spec Deals
  • Music Bias
  • Weed Offerings 
  • Working with Famous People
  • Whitesnake
  • Imirage Studios
  • Teaching
  • 80 Hour Weeks
  • Lessons for Students

Matt’s Rant: Inspiration from Other Things

Links and Show Notes

Credits

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

WCA #353 with Matt Qualls

WCA #353 with Matt Qualls – Van Burnout, Doctors Office Recording, Working with Limitations, Sound Baths, and Memphis. 

My guest today is recording, mixing, and mastering engineer Matt Qualls who is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Growing Up In Memphis
  • Early Recording
  • Van Burnout
  • Doctors Office Recording
  • Ardent Studios
  • Working with Limitations
  • Neve VR-60 and Toothpicks
  • Studio Maintenance
  • The Bay Area
  • Albuquerque
  • Feeling Retired
  • Gear Talk
  • Sound Bath
  • Moving Back to Memphis
  • Young Avenue Sound
  • Nashville vs. Memphis
  • Invasion
  • Sacrifices

Matt’s Rant: Over Committing

Links and Show Notes

Credits

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

WCA #352 with Sean O’Keefe

WCA #352 with Sean O’Keefe – Quitting School, Wednesday Warriors, Hacking the Intern Process, Managers, Royalties, and Soft Cities

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
  • Managers
  • Royalties
  • Economic Lessons
  • Gear Doesn’t Matter

Matt’s Rant: Random Thoughts

Links and Show Notes

Credits

  • Guest: Sean O’Keefe
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Engineer: Matt Boudreau
  • Producer: Matt Boudreau
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #351 with Travis Ference

WCA #351 with Travis Ference – Talent Shows, Capital Studios, Waiting for the Phone to Ring, and Doing Awful Things to Audio

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
  • Disney Pop
  • Doing Awful Things to Audio
  • Independence
  • Personality Types in Audio

Matt’s Rant: Staying Organized

Links and Show Notes

Credits

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