458 episodes
Working Class Audio Working Class Audio
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- Music
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4.8 • 188 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 #458 with Matt Hennessy - Radio Shack, The Legendary Traxster, Chicago Basements, Cognac, and Being Locked into the Studio, Literally
My guest is Grammy-nominated mixer/engineer Matt Hennessy. Matt has worked with R Kelly, Jay Z, Kanye West, Twista, The Legendary Traxster, Jamila Woods, PJ Morton, and G Herbo.
In this episode, we discuss
Illinois Upbringing
Radio Shack
The Walkman
Playing Alto Sax
Eye of The Tiger
Berklee School of Music
Interning
The Reality of the Music Biz
Changing Direction
The Grind of School
Back Street Boys Studio
In Over His Head
Cabrini Green
Chicago Tracks
Assembling Frankin-takes
Transitioning to Pro Tools
Being in Touch with RnB and Hip Hop
Drug Dealers Washing Money
Safe-Guarding Clients Work
Thug Labels
The Legendary Traxster
Being Literally Locked into the Studio
Rebuilding the Client Base
Being in Control of Your Building
6 Feet of Sewage
Cognac
Chicago Basements
Albini and Tape
The Village Business Model
ATMOS
Financial Philosophy
Matt's Rant: Discovery
Links and Show Notes
Matt's Studio Site
Credits
Guest: Matt Hennessy
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith -
WCA #457 with David Davis - Fuzzy Sharks, The Fantasy World of LA, Hipster Sleep Noise, Headbangers Ball, and Mountain Dew
My guest is Grammy-winning producer/mixer David Davis, who has worked on projects for PWNT, Izzy Bizu, Miguel, and The War on Drugs.
In this episode, we discuss
East Tennessee Upbringing
Headbangers Ball and Mountain Dew
Chicago Metal Shows
Running from The Law
White Zombie
Hour Drive to School
Going to CRAS
LA Internships
Roaches
Moms Passing
The Fantasy World of LA
Being Grateful
Great Radio
Ocean Studios
Runner Positions
East West
Climbing the Ladder
Leaving East West
Maintaining a Home Studio
Fuzzy Sharks
Fried Chicken
Fireman
Hipster Sleep Noise
Creating Home Base
Work/Life
Production
Not Getting Credit
Matt's Rant: Audio Grownups
Links and Show Notes
David's Site
Jaxsta
Credits
Guest: David Davis
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith -
WCA #456 with Ryan Hewitt - Taking Care of Business, Solution-Oriented Thinking, Infinite Possibilities, Spare Mics, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers
My guest is Producer/Mixer/Engineer Ryan Hewitt, known for his work with The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink-182, and Noah Kahan, among many others. Ryan last appeared on WCA in 2015 on WCA #023.
In this episode, we discuss
Reflecting on the Past
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Keeping Things Fresh
Enthusiasm for ATMOS
Being Solution Oriented
Management Decisions
Taking Care of Business
The Point System
Lawyers
Working During Covid
Los Angeles
Revisiting Analog
Letting Go
Upleveling
The Optimist View
Staying Focused
Discipline
Awareness
Solution Oriented Thinking
Infinite Possibilities
Spare Mics
Matt's Rant: The In-Between Moments
Links and Show Notes
Ryan's Site
Ryan's First WCA Episode
Huberman Lab (Mentioned in the interview)
Credits
Guest: Ryan Hewitt
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith -
WCA #455 with Josh Garcia - SoCal Upbringing, Straight to Chaos Life, Audio Parenting, Dealing with Life, and The Wretching Crew
My guest is Record Producer/Mixing Engineer/Front of House Engineer Josh Garcia. Josh has worked with Depeche Mode, Leftover Crack, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, and Uke Hunt.
In this episode, we discuss
SoCal Upbringing
Behavioral Issues
Remo Drums
Recording to 4 Tracks
Internship in LA
Robin, The Yeller
Moving to Santa Cruz
The Banana Slugs
Internship in San Jose
Straight to Chaos Life
Interning at The Plant
Getting Fired
Joining Hyde Street
Studio in Chico
Audio Parenting
Front of House
Depeche Mode
Santa Barbara
SF Soundworks
Self Promotion
Dealing with Life
The Wretching Crew
Matt's Rant: Remote Recording
Links and Show Notes
Arnie Frager on WCA
Matt Kelley on WCA
Mike Wells on WCA
Gabrial Shepard on WCA
Josh's Site
Credits
Guest: Josh Garcia
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith -
WCA #454 with Jeff Powell - Cutting Lacquer, not Vinyl, Daily Fed Ex Visits, Fathers, Mothers, Stampers, Charlie Brown Christmas, and 1950's Technology
My guest is Vinyl Mastering Engineer Jeff Powell, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Jeff has worked with Jackson Browne, Allison Kraus, and Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Dusty Springfield, Afghan Whigs, T-Bone Burnett, Al Green, Elvis Presley, and The Black Keys.
In this episode, we discuss
Focus on Laquer Cutting
Cutting Lacquer, not Vinyl
Daily Fed Ex Visits
Sam Phillips
Chip and Swarf
Apollo/Transco Fire
MDC Lacquers
Keeping the Line Moving
Curing, Ditches, Halos,
Blowing a Cutter Head
3 Step Plating
Fathers, Mothers, and Stampers
Charlie Brown Christmas
Humidity
T-Bone Burnett
Chris Muth
Larry Nix
HD Vinyl
Culture of Vinyl
Backlog of Work
1950's Technology
Business Planning
Last Minute Loans
Credits
Preview Deck
Elliptical EQ
Matt's Rant: Revisiting Backing Up
Links and Show Notes
Jeff On WCA #015
Neo Finder (mentioned in Rant
Hire Jeff! jeff at takeoutvinyl.com
Credits
Guest: Jeff Powell
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith -
WCA #453 with Jason Kick - Basketball Band, Working at Radio Shack, The Tascam 388, Playing in Bands as Exercise, and Black Magic
My guest is Producer/Audio Engineer Jason Kick, who is the chief engineer at Santo Recording in Oakland. Jason has worked with Mild High Club (Gold-certified), Marinero, Sonny & the Sunsets, Abracadabra, Maus Haus, Healing Potpourri, Mustard Service, Mae Powell, and Body Double.
In this episode, we discuss
Basketball Band
Garage Band
Music Theory
Positive Studio Experience
The Tascam 388
Live Sound
Adobe Audition on PC
Daytrotter Sessions
San Francisco Studios
Santo Recording
Surviving
Stage Hand Work
Working at Radio Shack
Being Frugal
Studio Economics
LA living
Finding Work
Playing in Bands as Exercise
David Lynch
Transcendental Mediation
Unfocused Bands
Tracking vs. Mixing
Black Magic
Matt's Rant: To Self-Promote or Not
Links and Show Notes
Santo Recording
Jason on Instagram
Josh Roberts on WCA
Credits
Guest: Jason Kick
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.