
442 episodes

Working Class Audio Working Class Audio
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- Music
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4.8 • 184 Ratings
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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.
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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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
Customer Reviews
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.
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!
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.