Music
**Working Class Audio**

Peel back the glamour of the professional recording world. Guests from the world of audio for music, film, games, restoration, and more share their insights on how they made their journey, how they survive, their advice on the real things including wins, losses, working with other people, money, and career advice.
Hosted by audio engineer Matt Boudreau.
The Working Class Audio Podcast – Navigating the World of Recording with a working class perspective.

Latest Episodes:

WCA #205 with Frank Socorro Nov 17, 2018

Show notes

Franklin Emmanuel Socorro started his audio career in the early 2000s working in the Miami area recording the diverse styles that happen in a city that’s such a melting pot. During that time an opportunity to work on a Bad Boy project put him on a fast track that led to him working with artists such as Mary J Blige, Lenny Kravitz, and Lauryn Hill. Eventually, he would land a position as head engineer for super-producer Salaam Remi. This new position brought a wider range of projects from Nas and Cee-Lo to major motion picture work for Rush Hour and Sex and the City. Along the way came 5 grammy nominations and several gold and platinum plaques. He currently operates his own studio while working with the future of audio at the SAE Miami campus

About this Interview:

Frank joins me to tell of his incredible story of his rise to the top and the thing that changed it all, his early training with Charles Dye, working with Salaam Remi, Diddy, Tony Maserati, and finding peace in claiming control of his time. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

AEA KU5A: https://goo.gl/km8139
Audio Life on Gearslutz: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/audio-life/

WCA #204 with Streaky Nov 12, 2018

Show notes

Streaky’s mastering journey began in 1996 when he landed his first job at Zomba’s Battery Studio in London, learning the art of compact disc mastering alongside Chris Parmenidis. The first record he mastered was ‘Return of the Mac’ by Mark Morrison, following that early Groove Armada and other 90’s club classics!

Moving on to The Soundmasters in 2000 learning how to master for vinyl under the veteran mastering engineer Kevin Metcalfe. Here working with some legendary artists including Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Usher, The Prodigy to name a few. In 2003 whilst at Soundmasters Streaky set up the world’s first online mastering studio ‘eMasters’ this method has now become the norm for mastering as the internet has developed.

2013 saw Streaky base himself at Metropolis Mastering in London, taking the opportunity of working alongside mastering legends John Davis, Stuart Hawkes & Tim Young where he continued to help artists big and small to achieve their dream sound.

2017 Streaky opened his own mastering studio within Pinewood Studios, the story continues…

About this Interview:

Streaky joins me to chat about his journey to mastering starting out as a 12-year-old DJ, his perspective on mastering, networking, minimalism, cracked plugins, and mentoring the next generation. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

AEA KU5A: https://goo.gl/km8139
Audio Life on Gearslutz: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/audio-life/
Matt Carnes Colorado Recording: http://coloradorecording.com/
Streaky’s Site: https://streaky.com/
Streaky’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvxjA3B1UURjGrdAJX_Yjg

WCA #203 with Doug Clarke Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

Doug Clarke is a passionate audio engineer, mixer, sound designer, and musician. Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Doug works as a freelance engineer at multiple studios. Working with

artists and songwriters as well as doing sound design and mixing for TV and Films. Following his graduation from the Queensland University of Technology in 2013 with a Bachelor

of Music, Doug worked at Hunting Ground Studios recording bands such as Bay Harbour, Sun Heights (Pee Records), Matt McGuire, SkullClub (Sony), Skies

Collide, First Sight, El Monstro, and Courtney Heaton. After an intense 18 months of recording nonstop, Doug moved to Sydney in late 2015

and began working at various studios such as One Flight Up and A Sharp Recording. Going freelance in late 2016, Doug extended his audio network into post-production by working at Two Dogs TV, Warner Bros ITVP, and Endemol Shine. 2018 has been a busy year for Doug as he finished producing and mixing the debut record with Vacant Shade at Arthur Street Studios, mixing Channel 10’s hit new shows ‘Pointless’ and ‘Bachelor in Paradise, as well as doing sound design/effects editing for ‘Under the Cover of Cloud’ (Melbourne International Film Festival 2018), Living Universe (Event Cinemas), and ‘Own The Sky’ (TBC).

About this Interview:

Doug joins me to talk about his journey from university in Brisbane to moving to Sydney and jumping into the world of live sound, studio recording, and post-production. From survival, mistakes, and negotiating to picking and choosing his own gigs. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dougclarke/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dougclarke-3
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8897822/?ref_=nv_sr_2
At Headphones I’m trying: https://goo.gl/m7X51z
AEA KU5A: https://goo.gl/km8139
Audio Life on Gearslutz: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/audio-life/
Dourrough! https://www.dorrough.com/

WCA #202 with Mixerman Oct 29, 2018

Show notes

Mixerman, professionally known as Eric Sarafin, is a producer, mixer, and recordist with multiple gold and platinum sales awards to his name. After 25 years of operating out of Los Angeles, Eric currently resides in Asheville, NC, where he produces and mixes acts from around the world. Eric has worked with numerous National and International acts including The Pharcyde, Tone Loc, Spearhead, The Brand New Heavies, Ben Harper, Amy Grant, Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies, Hillary Duff, Foreigner, and Australian phenom Pete Murray, just to name a few.

Mixerman gained notoriety as an author from his first work, The Daily Adventures of Mixerman, a satire of a Major Label recording session from the early aughts that delighted and surprised well over 150,000 unique visitors. In 2008, Hal Leonard picked up his Adventures, and since 2010, Mixerman has written 5 books including Zen and the Art of Mixing, Zen and the Art of Producing, Zen and the Art of Recording, followed by another music business satire #Mixerman and the Billionheir Apparent.

His latest book Musician’s Survival Guide to a Killer Record (the only gear you’ll need) is written specifically to help today’s musicians get the engineering out of the way so that they can focus on what’s important–the music itself.

About this Interview:

Mixerman joins me to discuss his journey in recording from New Jersey to California to North Carolina. We discuss his time at Capitol Studios, advocating for yourself, early internet forums, the creation of Mixerman, trolling, book writing, and empowering musicians. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

Current sponsors & promos
Musician’s Survival Guide to a Killer Record :https://amzn.to/2Q4ilL9
The Daily Adventures of Mixerman: https://amzn.to/2JmY2Gg
#Mixerman and the Billionheir Apparent: https://amzn.to/2yF26h4
Zen and the Art of Mixing: https://amzn.to/2Jpz5Km
Zen and the Art of Producing: https://amzn.to/2Q1FUnO
Zen and the Art of Recording: https://amzn.to/2DbxebN
Blog: Mixerman.net/word
Mailing list: Mixerman.net/list
Courses: Mixerman.net/courses
Discography: Mixerman.net/discography
Facebook: Mixerman.net/facebook
YouTube: Mixerman.net/YouTube
Twitter: @mixerman
Explore Ashville, NC: https://www.exploreasheville.com/

WCA #201 with Christopher Scott Cooper Oct 22, 2018

Show notes

Christopher Scott Cooper has played guitar since age 5, composer/songwriter since age 15, and audio engineer/producer for the last 30+ years. Became a FOH mixer/Live Sound Engineer by default and spent the late 80s touring and providing services for many a band. In 1990 decided a new path in the studio was a better option and spent the next 15 years at Music Annex studios going from an intern to Chief Engineer. 15 years ago he chose the independent route and built a cozy high-end studio (Blue Seven Audio), and came full circle to being a FOH mixer again for the Fox Theatre in Redwood City and for various events and bands around the Bay Area. Experienced in live recording, live sound, sound effects capture, sound design, studio recording, toys, games, TV/Film, wiring, the system installs, computer/data management, electronics repair… all by necessity. He has also taught courses at Cogswell College and guest lectures at various Audio Institutions. Chris still writes and composes for his band New Sun, TV/Film, and various unusual ambient labels.

About this Interview:

Chris joins me at Highwire Coffee in Oakland, California for not only coffee but a chat about his time at the Music Annex, building his own studio, diversification, survival in audio, and his start in live sound. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

At Headphones I’m trying: https://goo.gl/m7X51z
AEA KU5A: https://goo.gl/km8139
Audio Life on Gearslutz: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/audio-life/
Home Workout App on IOS: https://goo.gl/TpWugp
Home Workout App on Android: https://goo.gl/pPQreJ
Christopher’s studio: http://www.bluesevenaudio.com
Christopher’s band: http://www.new-sun.com

WCA #200 with Tchad Blake - Shooting Armadillos, Motorcycles, Buying ribs for Keith Richards, Surviving Cancer and yes...... the Sans Amp. Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

When I asked Tchad if he had an official bio he said…”Probably, It’s just not written down. ” 🙂

Tchad has worked with many artists including Arctic Monkeys, State Radio, Apartment 26, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, Brazilian Girls, Gerard Way, Sheryl Crow, November 2nd, T-Bone Burnett, Travis, Marike Jager, Crowded House, Finn Brothers, Liam Finn, The Pretenders, Bernard Fanning, Los Lobos, The Bad Plus, Sam Phillips, Suzanne Vega, The Bangles, Stina Nordenstam, Phish, Bonnie Raitt, Lisa Germano, Fishbone, Al Green, Tracy Chapman, Phantom Planet, Gomez, The Dandy Warhols, American Music Club, Jed Davis, Blitzen Trapper, Cibo Matto, Haley Bonar, David Rhodes, The Black Keys, U2, Nico Vega, Halloween, Alaska, Cheese People, Kula Shaker and Soul Coughing, Delta Spirit, The Sheepdogs, Clarance Bucaro, Charlie Mars, The Van Jets, Indy Grotto, RZA, Nive Nielsen, Mutemath, Max Gomez, Living In Question, Justin Townes Earle, Luella And The Suns, Aṣa, Nina Violet, Tracy Bonham, Little Fish, Blackroc, Gary Myrick and The Figures, among others.

Tchad has a long running partnership with producer Mitchell Froom, and the two formed Latin Playboys with David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez of Los Lobos. Tchad of course is known for his unconventional recording and mixing technics and his use of binaural recording. He has won a number of Grammy Awards, beginning with a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for Sheryl Crow’s The Globe Sessions (1998). He won another Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work on Suzanne Vega’s Beauty & Crime (2007). Blake won two Grammys for his work with The Black Keys on 2010’s Brothers.

About this Interview:

Tchad joins me to talk about his journey starting in Baytown, Texas shooting Armadillos and riding motorcycles, to Los Angeles buying ribs for Keith Richards while working at Wally Heider’s studio. We also cover his work with Mitchell Froom, surviving cancer and yes……a little discussion of mechanical filters and the Sans Amp.

Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

Lol Coxhill – I Am the Walrus: https://youtu.be/xccLqr4jW7c
Tchad on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchad_Blake
Tchad Blake ‘Binaural Recording’ Documentary: https://vimeo.com/143727933
Wally Heider: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Heider

WCA #199 with Pete Lyman Oct 08, 2018

Show notes

Pete Lyman is a GRAMMY-Nominated mastering engineer based out of Nashville, TN and owner of Infrasonic mastering, an audio and vinyl mastering studio with locations in Echo Park, California and Nashville, TN. Pete has mastered Grammy-nominated projects for Panic! At the Disco, Weezer, and Grammy-award winning albums for Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton. In 2016 he was recognized with a GRAMMY Nomination for Album of the Year for Chris Stapleton’s Traveller.

Pete’s music career began at the age of 14, playing bass in a number of bands in Boulder, CO, California’s Bay Area, and Los Angeles. Over the years he has shared the stage with a variety of bands including My Bloody Valentine, The Mars Volta, and Sebadoh. In 2004, Pete opened Infrasonic Sound a 2000 sqft tracking studio in the northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno. During its tenure, the studio was host to numerous bands including The Mars Volta, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Beck, People Under The Stairs, and Liars. By 2005, he added a mastering suite to the Infrasonic complex which became home to his 1956 Neumann AM-32B cutting lathe.

As he began to focus strictly on mastering, Pete and his studio partner Jeff Ehrenberg sold the El Sereno space, and together opened a new custom-built facility at 1176 W. Sunset Blvd in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 2015, the Infrasonic welcomed mastering engineer Dave Gardner, founder of Magneto Mastering in Minneapolis, MN. Bringing over 19 years of experience and a roster including Hot Snakes, Bassnectar, and The Hold Steady, Dave currently serves as Infrasonic West’s Head Mastering Engineer.

In 2018, Pete opened his second studio facility, Infrasonic East, in Nashville, TN. Infrasonic East is now home to Pete Lyman’s custom mastering suite, the Neumann cutting lathe, and Infrasonic’s newest mastering engineer, Daniel Bacigalupi. The engineers at Infrasonic Sound continue to work with a diverse client roster – from John Prine and Dierks Bentley to Fall Out Boy and Halsey – on projects of all sizes.

About this Interview:

Pete joins me to talk about his journey to mastering inspired by Richard Simpson, the birth of Infrasonic, living in Los Angeles, moving to Nashville, economic relaxation and learning to breath. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

NAD CD player: https://goo.gl/gSZeKF
Infrasonic on the web: http://www.infrasonicsound.com/
Infrasonic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infrasonicsound/
Infrasonic on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infrasonicmastering/
AEA KU5A Ribbon: https://www.aearibbonmics.com/products/ku5a/
F. Reid Shippen: https://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-049-with-f-reid-shippen/

WCA #198 with Fela Davis Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

Fela Davis is a graduate of Full Sail University and has over 17 years of experience in audio engineering. Her past experiences include working for industry powerhouses Clair Broadcast and House of Blues. Fela is currently the front-of-house engineer for Christian McBride. Fela co-founded 23 DB Productions with Denis Orynbekov. The company does a variety of work including mastering, recording &mixing as well as video content. 23dB has been a gateway for Fela to begin producing, shooting, and editing for endorsement and product videos for social media (Focusrite, Lewitt Microphones, and Big Joe Stomp Box). Using the videos to teach the audio community about new products and hone her skills at video production. 23dB eventually created their own video series called The Art of Music Tech. The series featured audio giants Leslie Ann Jones (Head of Skywalker Audio) and Jeff Bova (Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock). Each featured guest talked about their career in audio and the audio gear used on their biggest hits! They have since made The Art of Music Tech video series into a weekly podcast that Fela and Denis host together. When Fela is not creating content for 23dB Productions or working with SoundGirls, she’s traveling the world mixing front of the house for Christian McBride.

About this Interview:

Fela chats with me about her 8th-grade career test that said audio engineering was a possibility, her time at Full Sail, folding airbags for Honda Accord’s, paying her dues, driving long distances for low-paying audio gigs, and her willingness to never give up. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

Velcro Straps I mentioned: https://goo.gl/u56WAZ
Fela’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1rNL-kPwYY
23db Productions: https://www.23dbproductions.com/
Sammy Hagar’s Biography: https://goo.gl/5mnmwf

WCA #197 with Pete Weiss Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

Pete Weiss is a New England-based producer/engineer/mixer/musician. His unfussy, organic, “artist first” work has earned him a reputation as an outstanding producer who can adapt to many musical genres and is unafraid to ignore stylistic conventions. Notable artists Weiss has worked with include Charlie Chesterman, Chris Brokaw, Kustomized, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Doug Yule, Moe Tucker, The Upper Crust, Aimee Mann, Lee Ranaldo, Bell X1, Drive-By Wire, One Happy Island, Kingsley Flood, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Two Dollar Pistols, Bow Thayer & Levon Helm, Don Lennon, Hayley Thompson-King and many others.

In 1989 he co-founded Zippah Studio in Boston. Selling his share of Zippah in 2004, he built and opened Verdant Studio, an “open room” retreat-style studio with artist lodging in rural Vermont which he now uses as a home base.

When not in the studio, Weiss fronts the instrumental band The Weisstronauts and is a member of the experimental pop collective known as Sool. He released a solo album in 1996 and three albums while fronting the subversive Pete Weiss & the Rock Band from 1995-2000. He has scored four independent films, “Methods” (1998), “Metal” (2001), “Bad Gravity” (with Sool 2006), and “The Arcadian Ideal” (2007).

He is a Senior Contributor for Tape Op Magazine, writing reviews of audio equipment as well as conducting interviews with recording industry figures. Over the years he has served on many panels & workshops at Tape Op’s and Potluck Audio conferences. In the early 1990’s Weiss authored two books on baseball, “Baseball’s All Time Goats” and “Longshots!”, both published by Adams Media.

About this Interview:

Pete joins me to talk about his early career and decision making, his transition to building a rural studio, the lessons learned in that rural environment and his decision to sell and try a different recording adventure. plus much more. Enjoy! – Matt

Show Notes and Links

Pete’s site : www.weissy.com
Verdant Studio: www.verdantstudio.com
Verdant Studio for sale info / photos: https://goo.gl/AQ5Zy6
My instrumental guitar band: www.weisstronauts.com
Articles / interviews I’ve done for Tape Op Magazine:: https://tapeop.com/articles/by/pete-weiss
Gear reviews I’ve done for Tape Op: https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/by/pete-weiss
My personal page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pete.weiss.7
Instagram: peteweiss2000
Pete’s work on Spotify.: https://goo.gl/QSEjJR

WCA #196 with Adam Rossi Sep 17, 2018

Show notes

Adam Rossi is a music and sound producer working in San Francisco. Past projects include music production for local Bay Area artists Jeffrey Halford and The Healers, Morsifire, Brad Brooks, The Welcome Matt and Luce; music scores for VR games War Hammer: Betrayal at Calth and Bounce (Steel Wool Studios), and sound design, music and voice over for award winning toys by KID Group.

Adam’s work in the VR world has led to music, sound design and voice over work on immersive projects for the films Ready Player One and Jigsaw, Mercedes-Benz, Visa, SAP, Lexus, Sprint, LG, Kaiser, Carnival and many others.

When he’s not locked in the studio, Adam can be found playing keyboards with local Bay Area artists and jumping on the occasional tour to Europe with Jeffrey Halford and the Healers.

About this Interview:

Adam joins me to talk about his journey that started with an 8th grade run-in with Eric Valentine to his mom’s garage to crappy midi composing jobs to making records with Tom Luce and much, much more!. Enjoy! – Matt