442 episodes

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.

Working Class Audio Working Class Audio

    • Music
    • 4.8 • 184 Ratings

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.

    WCA #442 with Louie Gonzalez - Family, Listening Habits, Recording as a Drug, Financial Consistency, Day Gigs, and Being Happy

    WCA #442 with Louie Gonzalez - Family, Listening Habits, Recording as a Drug, Financial Consistency, Day Gigs, and Being Happy

    My guest is Recording Engineer/Mastering Engineer/Producer, Louie Gonzalez who has worked on projects with Tropa Magica, Discordant, 4thy, LIV, Suzie True, little fighter, and Banana Leaf Boy. 

    In this episode, we discuss

    San Pedro California

    Swimming

    Family

    Access to Music

    Oldest Child

    Value in Failure

    Death Metal Pedal

    Recording as a Drug

    Cal State Dominguez

    The Apple Store

    Financial Consistency

    Viacom CBS

    The Shelter Studios

    Moving to Mastering

    Listening Habits

    Saying No

    Day Gigs

    Purchase Decisions

    Having Audio Pay For Itself

    Being Happy


    Matt's Rant: Taking My Own Advice

    Links and Show Notes

    Cesar on WCA

    Louie's Site


    Credits

    Guest: Louie Gonzalez

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 1 hr 13 min
    WCA #441 with Anna Frick- Polyester School Band, Mix Tapes, Post College Challenges, Saturn Return, and Surviving the Cut

    WCA #441 with Anna Frick- Polyester School Band, Mix Tapes, Post College Challenges, Saturn Return, and Surviving the Cut

    My guest is Colorado-based mastering and restoration engineer Anna Frick who has worked on projects for Billy Strings, Wayne Gottstine (of Split Lip Rayfield), Wood & Wire (GRAMMY-nominated), Ben Sollee, Bill & the Belles, Stelth Ulvang, Cellista, Cody Qualls, Curtis McMurtry, Lil Smokies, LVDY, Dzirae Gold, Justin Hiltner, The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records (Third Man Records), the Navajo Nations (oral history project).

    In this episode, we discuss

    Fort Collins Born

    Outdoor Upbringing

    Polyester School Band

    Game Boy Soundman

    Recording Friends

    Positive Recording Experience

    Mix Tapes

    Music Industry Studies

    CU Denver

    Post College Challenges

    Booking Agency Internship

    Trying to Get a Foot In The Door

    Calling the Cops

    Audio Book Publishing

    Editing Room Tone

    Airshow Mastering

    Saturn Return

    Financial Planning

    Developing Workflows

    Mastering Mastering

    QCing 

    The Growth of Hearing

    File Management

    Surviving the Cut

    CRM Nerd Fest

    Going Solo

    Setting Up Shop

    Wind Over the Earth

    Branding

    Centering Oneself


    Matt's Rant: How Are We Spending Our Time?
    Links and Show Notes

    Anna's Site

    Anna on Instagram

    David Glasser on WCA

    Jason Livermore on WCA

    Credits

    Guest: Anna Frick

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 59 min
    WCA #440 with Tess Greenham - Training the Ears, Understanding the Business, Mastering Notes, Sonic Growth, and Working with Her Dad

    WCA #440 with Tess Greenham - Training the Ears, Understanding the Business, Mastering Notes, Sonic Growth, and Working with Her Dad

    My guest is Los Angeles-based Mastering Engineer Tess Greenham, who has worked with Trousdale, McCall, RF Shannon, Cami Petyn, and Bellsaint.

    In this episode, we discuss

    Growing Up In SF

    Moving to LA

    Awareness of Audio

    Working with Her Dad

    Pandemic Discovery

    Training the Ears

    Understanding the Business

    Keeping Calm with Clients

    Mastering Notes

    Sonic Growth

    Appreciating Analog Gear

    Honoring the Artist's Intention

    Dealing with Slammed Mixes

    Learning From a Parent

    Being a Nepo Baby

    Being Organized

    Leaving the Sonic Nest

    Working From Home

    Financial Approach


    Matt's Rant: Taking Care of the Clients

    Links and Show Notes

    Tess and John's Site

    Tess on Instagram

    Credits

    Guest: Tess Greenham

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 57 min
    WCA #439 with John McBride - Always Learning, The Golden Rule, The Next Lennon and McCartney, Positive Attitude, and Inside Blackbird

    WCA #439 with John McBride - Always Learning, The Golden Rule, The Next Lennon and McCartney, Positive Attitude, and Inside Blackbird

    My guest is Engineer/Mixer, Studio Owner, and Live FOH Engineer John McBride, who many know as the man behind Blackbird Studios. John has worked with his wife, Martina McBride, Stevie Nicks, Dave Stewart, Take 6, Joss Stone, and Greta Van Fleet, to name a few. 

    In this episode, we discuss

    Wichita, Kansas

    Joe Walsh

    Parents Musical Tastes

    The 10 Best Years of Music 

    Piano Lessons

    Save The Music

    Dissecting Music

    The Next Lennon and McCartney

    Chemistry Major

    Getting Laughed at By The Bank

    Starting a Sound Company

    Always Learning

    Parents House Collateral

    Selling to Clare Brothers

    Having No Debt

    Positive Attitude 

    James Brown to Metallica

    RATT and the Birth of KYFO

    Small World of Touring

    Moving to Nashville

    Garth Brooks

    The Golden Rule

    Building Blackbird Studios

    Richard Dodd

    Vance Powell

    Rolf Zweep

    Mark Rubel

    Luck in Business

    Gretch Round Badge

    Inside Blackbird

    Trina Shoemaker


    Matt's Rant: Investing in Yourself!

    Links and Show Notes

    Inside Blackbird

    Blackbird Studio

    Blackbird Academy

    Blackbird Rentals



    Credits

    Guest: John McBride

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 1 hr 23 min
    WCA #438 with Orlando Torres - Discovering His Uncles Walkman, Multi Tracking with Cassettes, Recording at Mom's House, Putting Yourself Out There, and Enjoying Family

    WCA #438 with Orlando Torres - Discovering His Uncles Walkman, Multi Tracking with Cassettes, Recording at Mom's House, Putting Yourself Out There, and Enjoying Family

    My guest is engineer Orlando Torres based in Los Angeles. Orlando has worked with Abraham Laboriel, Joey DeFrancesco, Alex Acuña, Lee Rocker, and Kobe Bryant, to name a few. 

    In this episode, we discuss

    Born in Mexico

    Mexican and US Culture

    Discovering the Walkman

    Late Night Edgy Television

    Guitar Lessons

    Multi Tracking with Cassettes

    Construction

    Audio School

    Recording at Mom's House

    Learning the Techincal Ropes

    Figuring It Out

    Ditching an Office Job

    Love and Laughter Studios

    Mentors

    Diversification

    Playback Gigs

    Enjoying Family

    Permanent Job Considerations

    Introverts and Extroverts

    Coffee the Great Connector

    Helping Others

    Putting Yourself Out There

    Finances

    Working from Home

    Local Work


    Matt's Rant: Don't Be Afraid to Fail!

    Links and Show Notes

    Orlando's Site

    Acorn

    Betterment

    Credits

    Guest: Orlando Torres

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 1 hr 5 min
    WCA #437 with Noam Levinberg - Tel Aviv and New Jersey, Sibling Competition, Earning Your Place in the Studio, Building Plugins, and Diversification

    WCA #437 with Noam Levinberg - Tel Aviv and New Jersey, Sibling Competition, Earning Your Place in the Studio, Building Plugins, and Diversification

    My guest is Noam Levinberg, a mixing and mastering engineer in Tel Aviv, Israel. He has worked on various projects for Artlist.io, providing music for companies such as Netflix, Volvo, Stripe, Google, Adobe, Shopify, and Nike. He's also the owner and creator behind the plugins from Safari Pedals. 

    In this episode, we discuss

    Tel Aviv and New Jersey

    Sibling Competition

    Teenage Recording

    Supportive Parents

    Hanging Outside a Studio

    Dreaming About Studios

    Earning Your Place in the Studio

    Recording and Living in India

    Fluid Time in India

    Building a Client Base 

    Working Relationships

    MWTM Revalations

    Building Plugins

    Having Kids

    Diversification


    Matt's Rant: Are You Running on Autopilot?

    Links and Show Notes

    Safari Pedals

    Baba Prasad WCA #281

    Noam's Site


    Credits

    Guest: Noam Levinberg

    Host: Matt Boudreau

    Engineer: Matt Boudreau

    Producer: Matt Boudreau

    Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau 

    WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 

    Announcer: Chuck Smith

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
184 Ratings

184 Ratings

Mystic Fig ,

Great audio engineering podcast for everyone else

Really great insights into the real world of audio engineering. Matt brings a refreshingly grounded take on the recording business, and unlike some other audio engineering podcasters, he asks questions and gets out of the way to let his guests answer.

JRG_666 ,

I’m so stoked to have this.

Hey just wanted to say that this is my new fav podcast. Going through most of the back logs. WOW. So much great info.
Thanks Matt and the WCA team for sharing what you do!

Bradford Swanson ,

An incredible collection of interviews

This podcast has collected so many great interviews across the industry and connects with the human side of all these people instead of just talking about gear or work. Really inspiring to hear stories from so many people who’s recordings and work I’ve admired for years, and understand where they've come from, how they balance their work with their lives, and realize all the challenges they've overcome to get where they are.

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