Before digital consoles, prediction software, analyzers, plugins, and virtual soundcheck, there were engineers like Ken Newman figuring it all out in real time. Ken’s career spans more than four decades and includes artists such as Barry Manilow, Paul Anka, Shirley MacLaine, Anita Baker, Liza Minnelli, Chris Isaak, Julio Iglesias, and many more. But what makes his story fascinating is not just the list of artists. It’s the path he took to get there. Growing up around electronics and ham radio through his family’s business, Ken started building recording rigs and modifying mixers while still in high school. Long before live sound had established rules or standardized systems, he was learning through experimentation, failure, curiosity, and instinct. In this conversation, Ken reflects on the early days of regional sound companies, homemade consoles, analog outboard gear, Atlantic City showroom productions, the transition from analog to digital mixing, and the endless pursuit of what he calls “audio nirvana.” Along the way, he shares stories about: recording local bands with a custom-built Gately Pro Kit mixer, discovering live sound while working with regional PA companies in the 1970s, troubleshooting a Doobie Brothers tour console failure, learning from legendary engineers and system techs, navigating difficult artists and high-pressure situations, and why honesty, consistency, and challenge matter just as much as technical ability. More than anything, this episode captures the mindset of a generation that helped build modern live sound from the ground up, often without formal training, established workflows, or even proper equipment. For Ken, the goal has always remained the same: make it sound great, make people happy, and keep chasing the next level. You can check out more of Ken’s work here www.newmanaudio.com
