Shannon Deane has been working in post-production sound for over 15 years. Shannon has been working as a freelance engineer for the last ten years, and her specialties are sound design, editing, and mixing for film, TV and new media. She owns, operates and works as creative director and ninja for DeaneCreative.

You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
We bring to you the stories of women working in audio, from the groundbreakers to the next generation.

The EQL Directory
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The EQL Directory is a global database of professionals that seeks to amplify the careers and achievements of women working behind the scenes in music and audio. Any person around the world can add their name and claim their space. And, any person looking to hire a more inclusive creative team can find professionals in their area.

Persistence is Key

“People can tell you no, but it’s up to you whether you listen to them.” One subject few people talk about is the immediate situation after leaving university, especially for those who want to work in media.

Alexandra is a recent graduate from the University of Exeter. Her main passion throughout university was her role as ‘Head of Station Sound’ for XpressionFM. She has had experience working at BBC Devon, Cornwall and Newcastle as well as PhonicFM (Exeter).

Making a Case For Audio School

It’s the time of year for application deadlines and acceptance letters. I have noticed a lot of discussions lately about whether it is worthwhile to enroll in school for audio engineering.

Chelsea Body is a freelance sound editor and foley recordist based in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Audio Post Production and Music Industry Arts programmes at Fanshawe College and is currently a Foley Editor and Operator at Footsteps Post Production.

Editing SoundGirls into Wikipedia

Wikipedia Hackathon to add Women in Audio into Wikipedia. Nicole has provided SoundGirls with a roadmap. It is a great step by step guide.

Nicole Kirch is a North Carolina based recording engineer and musician. In her short career, she has worked on location sound, post-production, stage crew, and electronics.

Knowing Your Limitations

As we are still at the beginning of the new year, it is now we should look at those new years resolutions that we made, our dreams that we want to become real and the goals we would like to achieve.

Olive Olin is based in London. She holds a BA degree in Music Production and is the full-time Production Manager at The Ned, a 5-star hotel in the heart of London.

Take the Note and Move On

You spent all that time letting your creative juices flow into this tornado, and it was perfect! You let so many people listen to it, and everyone loved it. Everyone except the one person who gets the final say. “Let’s cut the tornado cue,” will be the saddest thing you’ve heard all day.

Elisabeth Weidner is a sound designer, composer, and engineer based on California’s Central Coast. She is currently the Sound Director and Resident Sound Designer/Composer for PCPA, Pacific Conservatory Theatre.

What's Your Rate?

Determining your rate can be frustrating and confusing. Most of those searching hope to find a specific number shared by those with substantial experience in the pricing game. I wish there was the perfect formula for rates in our industry, but that is not the case. I can offer my perspective on some other qualifiers that you might take into consideration as you determine your rate.

Heather Holm, holds a BA in Broadcasting and Digital Media Communication and an MS in Organizational Change Leadership. Heather has over seven years of working in higher education dealing with event logistics and production technology.

A GOLDEN AGE

Women and the Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. Though audio has made many advancements, women’s representation is still playing at a low volume: Out of 415 nominations in this category, only ten women have ever been counted as nominees.

Ainjel Emme is a musician, songwriter, and producer. She has spent the past 20 years immersed in the study and practice of record production and making records via her Los Angeles-based production house, Block of Joy.

Behind the Board

The importance of knowing how to record, mix, and master. Learning what microphones are going to best capture the way your guitar or vocals sound, and knowing how to mic up a drum kit. All of these things are incredibly beneficial. Not only that, but it’s honestly very exhilarating (and a struggle at times) to work on all aspects of your own music as an artist.

Virginia Haladyna is a musician, songwriter, performer, and freelance recording engineer based out of Austin, Texas.

Seven Steps to Creating an Exciting Aural Aesthetic. Creating signature sounds is a skill that is absolutely essential to setting yourself up as a high-quality professional sound designer

Kate Finan works in post-production audio and is a co-owner of Boom Box Post. Kate has been nominated for MPSE Golden Reel Awards, Music + Sound Awards, and a Daytime Emmy.

SoundGirls of Mexico Blog

To work in live sound, it is essential to know how to use various types of equipment, as well as the workflow of the devices we use to work. Having theoretical knowledge on the basics of sound, acoustics, and signal flow will help us to understand much better the process of mixing for live sound. We must also have clear concepts such as gain structure, frequencies, dynamics, and time processors work and dedicate a lot of time to issues related to the phase, design, and optimization of systems. And yet, sometimes, we forget the one fundamental: The Mix.

SoundGirls of Mexico Blog

Para realizar sonorizaciones en vivo, es de suma importancia saber utilizar múltiples equipos relacionados con el sonido, así como tener claro el flujo de trabajo de los aparatos que utilizamos para trabajar. El tener conocimientos teóricos sobre los fundamentos del sonido, acústica, flujos de señal, nos ayudará a entender mucho mejor el proceso de realización de una mezcla para sonido en vivo. También debemos tener claros conceptos como estructura de ganancia, saber cómo funcionan los procesadores de frecuencia, dinámica, tiempo y dedicar mucho tiempo a cuestiones relacionadas con la fase, el diseño y la optimización de sistemas. Y, sin embargo, en ocasiones, nos olvidamos de lo fundamental: La Mezcla.

Lost in Translation

Should we be mixing with lo-fi portable devices in mind? Some say “a great mix is a great mix”, and they’re not wrong. However the question remains a constant source of discussion, amusement, and point of frustration between friends and internet strangers alike – should we be mixing with lo-fi portable devices in mind?

Michelle Sciarrotta is a singer/songwriter, composer, and musician. Michelle has worked all over the UK and Europe as a guitarist and co-writer with Blaze Bayley, and she self-produces her solo projects. She is passionate about women’s rights and education for girls.

The Importance of Critical Listening as an Audio Engineer

Critical listening was one of the first ideas taught during my Recording Arts degree program at Indiana University, Going into the recording program at IU I was an avid music fan, musician, and music consumer, but I hadn’t quite grasped or even understood the value of critical listening practices until those first lessons.

Kate Haldrup is a Nashville-based freelance recording engineer and drummer. She has been freelancing in Nashville both as an engineer and drummer.

Silence as Sound

The Power of Silence in Music Creation - In a world occupied by sound, it can often be challenging to find a moment of silence in everyday life. In the realm of sound design, however, silence can be a very powerful tool.

Jen Athan is a composer and producer based in Glasgow. Her work spans many different styles and genres and typically features her love of sampling and experimenting with new sounds. She has written music for theatre shows and short films and enjoys creating music to accompany a narrative.

Where are You Going?

When you stop thinking of yourself as an employee and start framing yourself as an independent contractor, you realise that you are free to do what you want. There’s no point in complaining about your boss keeping you in a bad work situation because your boss is you

Beth O’Leary is a freelance live sound engineer and tech-based in Sheffield, England.

Hello, I’m Susan. Educator. Microbudget Film Producer. Ginger.

Susan Williams is an educator in Winter Park, FL for a creativity and technology-focused university. Previously she was a local theatre technician and independent micro-budget film producer. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with a minor in Cinema Studies from the University of Central Florida. Susan has spent her career working for various theatres around the country, including the Orlando Repertory Theatre, The Garden Theatre, and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Sexism in the Alternative Music Scene

Female musicians aren’t treated as equal to their male counterparts, girls at shows, whether they be fans or people working in the industry, are still dealing with harassment, and no viable solutions have been offered to counter this rampant problem. But, by educating each other on sexism in the scene, we can work towards eradicating this issue.

My Love of Guitar Part Two

My guitar time was being replaced by audio time. I was buying books, downloading programs, going to classes, and spending hours upon hours learning the ins and outs of digital audio technology. I was starting to create sounds I had never heard before, using them to create soundscapes I’d never interacted with before, and writing lyrics and melodies I’d never think up before.

Elena Carroll is a songwriter, producer, and performer who has been making original music for 15 years. .

Use the SoundGirls Directory to find and support studios, live event companies, music stores, and travel agencies owned by women.

A resource for people interested in social equity in audio. We’ve put together a list of concrete actions you might take. These recommendations are for people working in education, industry, audio production and other related fields.

The EQL Directory is an international data base to help you find, hire, and network with thousands Professional Women and Non-Binary People working in all Aspects of Audio.

Career Paths in Film and TV – Highlights

Report Sexual Harassment or Assualt - JDoe App

Sexual misconduct remains a difficult crisis for women and men. Fear, social blaming, and isolation continue to be key factors that cause victims to remain silent. JDoe is an encrypted and anonymous reporting platform. By linking victims of mutual offenders with lawyers. JDoe is designed with survivors and witnesses in mind. A detailed index of sexual misconduct laws by state is built directly into the app to help guide users through the reporting process. Quickly browse for nearby resources and the latest policies concerning sexual misconduct.