Midtopia Meets

Midtopia

Step into the world of music education with our engaging workshops and enlightening podcasts tailored specifically for musicians and industry workers. Whether you're an aspiring artist looking to refine your craft or a seasoned professional navigating the intricacies of the music business, our curated content provides a unique blend of knowledge and inspiration.

Episodes

  1. 01/07/2025

    Midtopia Meets: Josh Cary

    In this episode of Midtopia Meets, Josh Cary, Midtopia's Audio Director, sits down for an engaging conversation about sound and dives deep into the art and science of audio engineering. With 27+ years of experience, Josh shares expert insights on topics like signal flow, EQ, compression, and mastering techniques. Whether you’re a beginner, hobbyist, or seasoned professional, this episode provides actionable insights and practical advice to level up your audio production game. The conversation explores Josh’s journey into audio engineering, from his early experiments with sound to mastering modern digital workflows. The engaging discussion highlights key engineering principles like signal flow, EQ, compression, and time-based effects, alongside practical advice for optimizing home studios, with a focus on room acoustics. Josh also emphasizes the importance of fostering a comfortable and creative environment for artists, encouraging experimentation to unlock their full potential.  What You’ll Learn: - Josh’s audio journey: From cassette tapes to cutting-edge digital tools - Signal flow 101: How sound moves through the studio setup - EQ & Compression: Breaking down the tools that shape your sound - Home studio tips: Why room acoustics matter more than fancy gear - Creative collaborations: How to make artists feel comfortable and spark innovation  Key Takeaways: - “Room acoustics over expensive mics” – why great sound starts with your space - Creativity unlocked: Never say “no” to experimenting in the studio - Reverse-engineer your favorite sounds: Learn to listen critically

    Midtopia Meets: Josh Cary
  2. 09/18/2024

    Midtopia Meets: Gooding

    Gooding is a dynamic force not just as an artist who has built an impressive career navigating the music industry, but also as a change agent seeking to uplift the next generation of creatives. He is a financial literacy advocate and educator who founded the non-profit, Funding the Future, which aims to make financial literacy a requirement in every school so that young people can have a solid foundation for creating a successful life. Since its inception 10 years ago, they've reached 300,000 students across 38 states and raised nearly $4 million dollars for financial literacy. Gooding talks with us a bit about his early music interests, including seeing his first Kiss show at age 4, as well as his early days as a working musician in Wichita. He speaks about how his upbringing by his single mom motivated him in later years to help others understand the basics of money and making smart financial decisions. He gives practical advice for musicians just starting out, as well as how to play the long game, as he talks about his own journey working his way to success in a rapidly changing industry. He talks about many of the societal and structural barriers that make it challenging for musicians to make smart financial decisions and offers resources for how to better manage money. He also speaks a bit about the documentary he's working on with the Wichita-based company Digital Brand that explores these topics in depth. Woven though the conversation is the importance of understanding how to balance authentic creative pursuits with the practical needs of life that require resources. Gooding's rich storytelling and talent for weaving personal narrative into larger issues are on full display in this episode, making this a fun and engaging must-listen! Resources: Gooding Music https://www.goodingmusic.com/ Funding the Future https://www.fundingthefuturelive.org John Hope Bryant "Financial Literacy for All" (recommended reading) Scott Gallaway "The Algebra of Wealth" (recommended reading) Host: Marrque Nunley Videographer: Austin Engler Audio: Drew Mullen

    Midtopia Meets: Gooding

About

Step into the world of music education with our engaging workshops and enlightening podcasts tailored specifically for musicians and industry workers. Whether you're an aspiring artist looking to refine your craft or a seasoned professional navigating the intricacies of the music business, our curated content provides a unique blend of knowledge and inspiration.