Signal To Noise Podcast

Latest Episodes:

264. Inside The Sound Design For A Unique Broadway Musical Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 264, Sean and Andy talk with two members of the production team for the Broadway musical How to Dance in Ohio, sound designer Connor Wang and Liz Weber, who was a member of the Access Team for the show and also works as a sound engineer. The musical is based on the Peabody Award-winning documentary about the challenges and triumphs of a group of autistic young adults working toward their first spring formal dance, notably starring actual autistic actors as the characters. Connor and Liz talk about the unique approaches the show took to make sure it was sensory-friendly for both the cast and the audience. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
The production also made strides in making every aspect of the show accessible to those with autism, both on stage and in the audience, for which it won a Special Award for Authentic Autistic Representation Team from the Drama Desk Awards in July 2024. Connor and Liz also discuss the use of assistive listening devices, headphones, and the careful design of sound effects to accommodate individuals with sound sensitivities, and highlight the importance of authentic casting and representation in the show. Further, they focus on the challenges and considerations of mixing sound for a theater production generally and How to Dance in Ohio specifically, including the importance of creating a full mix for the performers on stage without letting volume levels get out of control. Liz (they/them) also shares a bit about their work as a sound engineer for music venues and how the sensory issues their autism brings to the table influence their approach to mixing, proving as much a benefit as it can be a challenge.
Episode Links:
Connor Wang On Instagram
Liz Weber On Instagram
Connor Wang Designs
Meet the Folks Making How to Dance in Ohio Accessible at Every Performance
How to Dance in Ohio Access Team Drama Desk Award Acceptance Speech
“How to Make a Sound System More Accessible”
How to Dance in Ohio Performance At The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
How to Dance in Ohio (Original Documentary)
Episode 264 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d l

263. Mike Dias Returns To Talk IEMs & Microphones Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Veteran audio professional Mike Dias picks up where he left off with last week (in Episode 262), digging into the other side of his career in the worlds of in-ear monitors and microphones. He spends time addressing and demystifying some myths about IEM technology, discusses why we each tend to favor a brand and/or types of IEMs that we do, and digs into changes with the Earthworks mic lineup over last few years. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
When Mike isn’t selling microphones (as a management coach and consultant for Earthworks) and serving as the executive director of the In-Ear Monitor International Trade Organization, he writes and speaks about “What Entertainers Can Teach Executives” and “Why Nobody Likes Networking.” He offers personalized experiential keynotes and workshops for conference and event attendees.
In fact, Mike is generously offering his “Nobody Likes Networking” workshop — which he’s previously charged $50 per student — for free to Signal to Noise listeners. The online workshop will take place as three short sessions on Monday 8/19, 8/26, and 9/2 at 2 pm U.S. ET. See below for details on the workshop and how to sign up, and we hope to see you there! (Register here)
Episode Links:
Register For The Nobody Likes Networking Workshop
Nobody Likes Networking Website
Networking from Six Feet
Mike Dias Speaks Website (Coming Soon)
Mike On LinkedIn
Episode 263 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

262. Mike Dias On The Value Of Networking Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Veteran audio professional Mike Dias returns in Episode 262 to convince us that networking needn’t be a four-letter word! Whether you’re a sound company owner, a freelance engineer, or full-time staff, networking is an important non-audio tool in the toolbox. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
When Mike isn’t selling microphones (as a management coach and consultant for Earthworks) and serving as the executive director of the In-Ear Monitor International Trade Organization, he writes and speaks about “What Entertainers Can Teach Executives” and “Why Nobody Likes Networking.” He offers personalized experiential keynotes and workshops for conference and event attendees.
In fact, Mike is generously offering his “Nobody Likes Networking” workshop — which he’s previously charged $50 per student — for free to Signal to Noise listeners. The online workshop will take place as three short sessions on Monday 8/19, 8/26, and 9/2 at 2 pm U.S. ET. See below for details on the workshop and how to sign up, and we hope to see you there! (Register here)
Episode Links:
Register For The Nobody Likes Networking Workshop
Nobody Likes Networking Website
Networking from Six Feet
Mike Dias Speaks Website (Coming Soon)
Mike On LinkedIn
STN Episode 213 With Mike
Episode 262 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

261. Checking Back In With Up-And-Coming AV Pro Evan Turunen Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

It’s been a year of huge growth and focus shifts for Evan Turunen and Turunen Audio Visual — first featured in Episode 221 — so Andy and Sean wanted to check back in with Evan and see how things have changed and what he’s learned since he last visited. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Topics discussed include making a similar major inventory pivot similar to the one Sean recently did for his company (Audio Engineers Northwest), moving the company into a proper warehouse after starting in a backyard shed, effectively planning and communicating logistics to a crew when you won’t be onsite yourself, remembering to maintain a life outside of work, and much more!
Episode Links:
Turunen Audio Visual
Turunen AV On Instagram
Steam Scrambled Eggs — Jody Williams
Buvette (New York/Paris/Tokyo/Seoul/Mexico City)
Twisted Sage Cafe (San Dimas, CA)
Episode 261 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

260. Meeting Up For A Music Festival & Much More Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

For the first time in 10 months of podcasting, Sean and Andy were together in the same place, so how better to celebrate than with a livestream? They talk about meeting up for a music festival Sean’s company (Audio Engineers Northwest) provided a PA and support for, in addition to presenting a demo of the TT+ GTX 12 line array (courtesy of show sponsor RCF). This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
They also discuss how accommodating an artist’s needs for the second day of the festival led to getting to experience some less common subwoofer tuning techniques to avoid power alleys. Andy also recaps his two days earlier in the week attending a d&b audiotechnik Soundscape workshop, followed by taking questions from the live audience in the text chat — and Sean espouses the awesomeness of a Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito.
Episode Links:
TT+ Audio GTX 12
d&b Soundscape
Todd’s S2N Food Recommendations (Google Sheet)
Episode 260 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

259. Summer Concert & Event Fun From The Great (U.S.) Northwest Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Summer concert and event season is in full swing, and Sean’s company (Audio Engineers Northwest) has been running full steam with some exciting gigs the last couple weeks. Two of his regular freelancers, Kyle Shaw and Matt Ratza, join the show this week to talk about what it took the last couple weeks to pull off a huge open air concert on a dockside barge with audience both landside and on boats, and then flip the same PA over in 24 hours to cover a 50,000-attendance Fourth of July fireworks show. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
The episode also touches on the freelancer versus sound company relationship, and managing and handling negotiating rates and schedule conflicts and changes.
Matt Ratza is a FOH/monitor mixer and production manager with years of touring experience for bands covering a wide range of genres, ranging from TECH N9NE to The Stylistics to Dennis Edwards and the Temptations. He regularly freelances in the Seattle area when not on tour.
After graduating from the Blackbird Academy live program in 2017, Kyle Shaw worked in installs and as an A2 for professional sports venues before pivoting to freelance work in the corporate and rock and roll markets.
Episode Links:
Precision Audio Services Case Study: The PA Design For The Gas Works Park Fireworks Event
Episode 259 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

258. Theatre Sound Designer ien DeNio Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Over the Fourth of July holiday, Andy teamed up with some Signal to Noise guest host alumni, as Kate Foretek pulled up the co-host chair once more to hang with previous guest host, theatrical sound designer and live foley artist ien DeNio. The jam-packed episodes includes tales of travel hijinks, pounding beers as part of a puppet show sound design and much more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
ien DeNio is a New York City-based trans non-binary sound designer who sought refuge in theatre after college oboe studies led to a falling out with Mozart and — a couple decades later — hasn’t looked back since. ien’s career has taken them to theatres all over the world, from Israel to Broadway to Cedar City, Utah and beyond as associate, designer, composer, and live sound effect artist.
Kate Foretek is a NYC-based sound engineer with extensive experience as mixer, A2, and associate designer on and off-Broadway, as well as in the corporate and Broadcast realms, including the Broadway productions of Waitress and Chicago, and broadcasts of the Tony Awards, MTV VMAs, Kennedy Center Honors, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction.
Episode Links:
ien DeNio’s Sound Monkie Designs
PUPPETCINEMA’s Planet Egg
NASA – Crab Nebula Sonification
The Sounds of Star Wars — J. W. Rinzler
WALL·E — Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up
Jimmy MacDonald (legendary Disney sound effects artist) on David Letterman
Disney Family Album — Jimmy MacDonald
Episode 224 - Lindsay Jones with Guest Co-Host ien Denio
Episode 258 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to <

257. Chris Tsanjoures Of Rational Acoustics Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

This week, the hosts get nerdy with Chris Tsanjoures, one of the Rational Acoustics folks behind the Smaart measurement platform, a veteran podcast guest and an avid enthusiast of squiggly lines and measurement geekery. He answers all of Sean and Andy’s questions about Rational’s new Smaart Data Modeler in addition to addressing some of their other Smaart-related questions. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Smaart Data Modeler is a new DSP modeling software tool designed to allow you to perform virtual audio system alignment and optimization through the use of level, equalization, polarity, and timing adjustments and to view the effects of those adjustments on Smaart measurement data.
Episode Links:
Smaart Data Modeler
Smaart Data Modeler 10-day Demo
Smaart Data Modeler Support Page (Sample Projects & Data)
CheatSheet (MacOS)
Episode 257 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

256. Broadway Sound Engineer Heather Augustine Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

Fresh off mixing the Broadway musical The Outsiders to a Tony Award win for Best Sound Design of a Musical for sound designer Cody Spencer, Broadway sound engineer and regular SoundGirls contributor Heather Augustine sits down with Andy and Sean to chat about her long touring career (including Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and Mean Girls), her transition from touring to subbing on Broadway shows such Funny Girl, SIX, and A Beautiful Noise to mixing her first full-time show on Broadway, and more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Episode Links:
Heather Augustine On SoundGirls
Clip From Mix Training Video For The 2019 National Tour Of Miss Saigon
NPR Article Featuring Heather
Heather On The SoundGirls Podcast
Glass Slippers Give You Blisters (Book)
Cody Spencer’s Tony Acceptance Speech
Episode 256 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there
Episode 256 Transcript

255. Sound Engineer Joe “Chef” McGrath Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 255, Andy is joined by DC-area based sound engineer Joe “Chef” McGrath, fresh off working together on a now rare “industrial musical” in NY this week. They start off talking about Joe’s extensive work as the mixer for the Ultimate Rap League, and why the mic of choice for them for rap battles might be the brand you’d expect, but almost certainly isn’t the model you’d guess! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
From there, they discuss different aspects of freelance life, including setting and negotiating rates, and when and how to take a gig you really want even if they can’t pay your usual rates without getting taken advantage of.
Episode Links:
Ultimate Rap League
Episode 255 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

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