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Five Reasons to Join TSDCA

A bunch of us SoundGirls bloggers who work in theatre are also members of the TSDCA, which stands for Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. I’ve personally been involved in TSDCA since around 2017 and became a more active member once I began freelancing in NYC. During the pandemic, the friends I had made through TSDCA provided a great source of Zoom camaraderie and company, and through TSDCA, I’ve gotten to work with them on some really exciting projects that help to further awareness and advocacy for those working in theatrical sound. So for this month’s blog, let’s dive into what the TSDCA is, what it does, and why you should join!

Let’s start with the basics: What is TSDCA? From the mission statement: “The Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) is a professional membership organization of sound designers and composers for the performing arts working in the United States. Through advocacy, ongoing education, mentorship, and outreach, we seek to advance our community and promote sound design and composition as vital artistic components of the collaborative art of live theatre.”

The TSDCA began in part as a reaction to the news in 2014 that the Tony Awards for best sound design of a play and best sound design of a musical were being eliminated. One of the reasons that the Tony Awards committee cited for the elimination of the awards was that many Tony voters were abstaining from voting in these categories because they didn’t feel they understood the role of sound design in production enough to judge it objectively. Another was that many of them considered sound design to be more of a technical trade than an artistic contribution, and therefore less worthy of the same creative recognition that is awarded to scenic, costume, and lighting designers (side note: there is still no Tony Award for video/projection design). These two discoveries made it clear that we, the theatrical sound community, were going to have to do some major educating and advocating if we wanted to be seen as equal peers to our visual designer counterparts and earn back the recognition of that equality through having a Tony Award category that recognized our work. And so the TSDCA was born!

 

One of many petitions that circulated back in 2014 to support reinstating the Tony Awards for sound design.

 

TSDCA’s current membership consists of folks from all around the country (including some from around the world) who work in many different facets of theatrical sound design, not just those who consider themselves sound designers. For example, I joined TSDCA as an Affiliated member because as a theatrical mixer, I feel the work I do is closely aligned with that of my design colleagues, and that it’s important for me to join with them to help better the industry we all work in. Affiliate membership is for those who work in conjunction with sound designers, such as mixers, sound supervisors, and production audio heads. Think of it as the “friend of the family” membership tier 🙂 In addition to Affiliated members, there are Professional members (those working as sound designers professionally), Early Career Members (out of school/training and in one’s first 3 years of professional sound design work), Emeritus members (folks retired from the field), and Supporting members (those who want to be involved but aren’t yet working in theatrical sound, such as students).

TSDCA is an all-volunteer organization, i.e. no member is paid to do anything administrative, such as serving on the board or chairing a committee. Membership fees are affordable and scaled by membership tier in order to be equitable. Plus, financial assistance paying dues is always available to those for whom it presents a barrier. We want you to be able to participate without breaking your bank!

And SoundGirls Members receive a 50% discount on membership using the code Soundgirls

So, what are some of the perks of being a TSDCA member? Here’s my personal Top 5.

NETWORKING

It’s been said before, and I will say it again: this business is 99% about who you know, and who knows you. If you’re an aspiring designer, mixer, production audio, or anything else related to theatre sound, joining TSDCA is a fabulous way to meet people and learn about possible work opportunities! True story: I can trace every single job I got in my first year freelancing in NYC to connections I made through TSDCA. It really does work like that!

On the formal networking side, TSDCA has lots of resources as well. All TSDCA members are listed in the member directory, which is available to the public. You can add as much or as little detail as you want to your public profile, such as contact info, where you are based, what you do in sound, and more. Whenever someone asks TSDCA co-chair Lindsay Jones for a hiring recommendation, he sends them straight to the member directory, so you DEFINITELY want to be on there! There is also a job board that is available to members only, and lots of great opportunities get posted there every week.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

TSDCA hosts various learning events all year round, both in-person and in the past year, virtually. We have an annual meeting in early summer that is packed with sessions on everything from working in content creation software like Krotos, to learning how to read through the fine print of a contract. These webinars are frequently available to the public (particularly the ones during our annual meeting) but some of them are members only. And if you can’t make it to a live session, almost all the videos are later posted on the TSDCA website. TSDCA members also often get discounts on software, sample libraries, and training courses from our corporate sponsors, which include great brands that you’ve definitely heard of like Meyer Sound, Rational Acoustics, and Shure, to name a few.

Additionally, early in the pandemic, some TSDCA members started the Facebook group “Student Sound Designer Connection,” where folks in school/training (or of school-age) can connect with each other and professionals. This allowed a lot of folks who were learning from home in 2020 to not stagnate their education and made even more resources available to learners who might not have a lot of opportunities to learn about sound design or take sound design courses at their school/program. The group is open (pending moderator approval) to anyone who is a sound student (you do not have to be formally enrolled in a sound design or even theatre major) or wants to support sound students.

 

You can join Student Sound Designer Connection without being a member of TSDCA!

 

CREATIVE OUTLETS OUTSIDE OF WORK.

Especially during the pandemic, TSDCA put together chances for a lot of us to stretch our creative muscles, which was really important during the work drought of 2020. During our first virtual annual meeting last June, we hosted a creative challenge where interested members worked solo or in teams to put together an aural response to imagery picked out by the steering committee. This led to possibly more intra-TSDCA collaboration than any of us had ever done before, since it meant folks on opposite coasts, or in different stages of their careers could work together on something stimulating and fun! For my part, I took it as an excuse to get back into playing my long-neglected trumpet and recorded for two original compositions that came about as part of this creative challenge. Since then, we have also hosted a creative challenge for the Student Sound Designer Connection group, plus we reprised it as part of the 2021 Annual Meeting, which was also virtual.

Even outside of these one-week projects, there are plenty of chances to participate artistically in TSDCA. Member Michael Roth hosted a series of composer salons over the course of the last 18 months on Zoom, which led to members getting to bring in pieces they were working on to be assessed by the group or to talk to professional composers whom Michael was able to secure as special Zoom guests. For those who are not as interested in composing, you can work on the TSDCA podcast, which is an in-house operation spearheaded by member Josh Samuels. If you’re into graphic design or writing, you can help out with the website or newsletter. Like creating video content? You can submit ideas for Instagram posts, or do a one-day member takeover of the page (fun fact, the Instagram is managed by none other than yours truly! Give us a follow at @tsdca_official).

Here’s a screen-grab from a composer salon where we put on a virtual performance of “In C” by Terry Riley! You can watch the whole thing here: https://youtu.be/vw0sIONmsBo . And yes, while I’m not visible in the video, that is indeed me on trumpet ☺

 

MAKE THE INDUSTRY BETTER

TSDCA was founded because we, the sound design community, discovered there was a need to advocate more strongly for ourselves. That mission remains core to what we do, and lots of great projects have been born from our desire to show the world what theatrical sound designers do and why it matters. Some highlights of past and current advocacy projects include:

The 2019 winners of the Pat MacKay scholarship. Look out for the 2022 application to go live next spring!

IT’S JUST A GREAT HANG!

Did I mention yet that we’re also just a super fun group of people? I’ve made many close friends through the weekly TSDCA zoom hangouts, some of whom I have never met in real life due to not living/working in the same regions. We have holiday parties, informal gatherings, a chess club, and sometimes even game nights. It can be hard to maintain social connections in this industry, with the crazy hours and non-standard schedules. And of course, it’s good to have friends outside of your work community as well. But speaking for myself, the fact that I could hop on zoom once a week and escape my apartment to be with friends (if only metaphorically) and talk about the industry we all missed dearly made a big difference in helping me get through the first phase of the pandemic. We’re always chatting on our members-only Facebook and Slack groups, and we love when newly minted members join us for events that are not about learning, but just plain FUN.

If I’ve made my case well, and you have decided that joining TSDCA is right for you, head on over to TSDCA.org to learn more or apply! And use the code “Soundgirls” to receive 50% of your initial membership fee.

11 gigs in 10 days

After the first one I felt so tired I almost cried of exhaustion. By the sixth I cried from a nervous breakdown, the 10th I danced and 11th I was DONE!

The sixth one was special and not at my regular venue. This special one-off gig was at a hotel I had never been to before. From the moment I got the job, my anxiety increased by the day. If you don’t already know, the feeling of excitement and anxiety are closely related. A racing heart, that lump in your stomach that makes you wanna hurl and the shakes are common symptoms of these extreme feelings. Except for my anxiety also makes me feel terrified and paralyzed. It’s the fight or flight response of our brain and mine says “RUN”.

You’d think that after so many years of being an engineer that I’d be cool as a cucumber. But this was the most stressful job I have ever done in my life! Questions from the touring engineer were fired at me: “Do you have a rug for the drums? Why aren’t the monitors working? Have you got more stands?” I felt useless and clueless since I didn’t know the answers! I was not in control and all of my human needs took the back seat. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast that morning and I was so dehydrated no saliva was left in my mouth. Yet, I am a problem solver and ran at 190% so the event was still a success. Yes, it ran a little late, maybe 10 min, and the touring engineer that came with the band, a nine-piece by the way, smiled for the first time. It’s terribly difficult to be the “in-house” engineer when you’ve never worked there before!

The DJs were on, the band played and I finally found some water. After we’ve packed up the PA and all of the gear and put it back into storage, I said my goodbyes and took the train home. About half an hour later, when the adrenaline left my body, I started to uncontrollably cry. I was exhausted and all of the pent-up anxiety, stress, and all of that cortisol that had kept me going, now let me feel what I really felt like. My finacé took my puppy Elvis and met me on the short walk from the station and I sobbed the whole way. Away from people and with someone I trust, I allowed myself to have a delayed anxiety attack. Because finally, I was with him and didn’t need to hide my mental health disorder. I can’t help to think I wouldn’t get hired or treated the same way if I told my clients and employers about my mental health…

Our way forward to a humane and fair understanding of our mental health is tricky, but I am hopeful. For now, I talk to my therapist, cuddle my fluffy pup, and cry in my fiancé’s arms. At home, I can be true to who I am and rest, because that’s exactly what I need now.

Remember to not neglect yourself when working.

Accepting Applications for SoundGirls Bloggers 2022

 

Blog for SoundGirls

Are you passionate about the industry, do you want to share your experience and knowledge with the SoundGirls Community?  Then you may want to become a blogger for SoundGirls in 2021.  Our bloggers volunteer for a year of blogging (can be extended into 2022) and choose how often to submit blogs (once a month, every two months, or four blogs for the 2022 year)

If you are interested, please apply here

Things we are looking for in our bloggers

Although we are mainly looking for people who can write well, are organized, and are passionate.  All areas of audio & music are welcome to apply. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Industry Knowledge

Not only is understanding the industry from a concept/fundamental standpoint important, but having real-life experiences is essential for any great blogger.  Having real-life experience allows you to share those experiences, learn from those experiences, build relationships, and learn things that are not taught from reading a book.

Passionate

Great bloggers must be passionate about what they are writing about.  We believe if you are writing about things you are not interested or knowledgeable in, it will show in your writing and to your readers.  People who are passionate about a topic or industry find it much easier to write about things that others with similar interests would enjoy.  Long-term, you have to LOVE what you do.

Writing Background/Experience

Of course, if you have a writing background or you have acquired good writing skills through years of experience, it will help keep your blogs to be engaging and more enjoyable.  Using proper grammar, descriptive verbiage, and compelling headlines can keep readers engaged in your content longer.  We think overall if you are naturally a good writer, it will allow you to create high-quality content much easier and more efficiently.

Organized

A great blogger should be very well organized.  It will be important to plan and manage your writing schedules.  Like running your own business or planning your week for your full-time job, blogging should be no different.  Brainstorming blog ideas and creating a writing schedule all need to be organized to maximize your work schedule.

If you fly by the seat of your pants (as many people do) and are disorganized, it will most likely lead to inefficiencies in your blogging.  You can also find yourself so consumed with daily tasks, that your content quality suffers because you are just trying to rush through the writing process to get something out.

Strong Work Ethic

Having a strong work ethic turns good bloggers into great bloggers.  Someone that is able to stick to a schedule, exceed personal goals and expectations, and push themselves, will stand out from the crowd.  Many bloggers are writing for their own blog so it is not exactly a situation where they are getting paid for each post they write.  So it takes a person with a strong work ethic to see the long-term benefits and keep pushing themselves to consistently produce great content.

Network/Industry Reach

A blogger that has a large network and is known in the industry will make it much easier to promote their content.  As we all know, even if you write great content, you still need to promote it.  If you have built personal relationships with industry veterans, it can help earn credibility personally and for your blog.  If you can shoot a few messages and e-mails to key people in the industry who you know will promote your content to their networks, that can be extremely powerful.  Essentially you are leveraging your network and industry reach to promote content, gain feedback, and even help contribute to your blog.

SEO Knowledge

Having basic SEO knowledge is a plus for any blogger.  Bloggers who understand the benefits of good keyword research, how to promote content, and maximizing the potential of each post, will gain a larger readership in a shorter amount of time.

Goes Against the Grain

To be a great blogger, you need to sometimes go against what everyone else is doing and do something that is away from “the norm”.  Coming up with unique ways to stand out from the crowd is a way that great bloggers get found.  It could be a post, design-related, new way of promotion, unique content delivery, or something that has never been done before in the industry.

Social Media

Generally, bloggers spend a good amount of time on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.  Being active on various social networks and engaging with people on a regular basis will help bloggers get noticed.  If you are consistently promoting other users’ content, those users will begin to notice and return the favor.  If you read other industry blogs and leave thoughtful comments or even personally contact the blog owner, this is all-important for building your network and getting noticed.

A plus for a great blogger would be being a power user on social bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit.  If you have the ability to promote content and others in the community, notice and promote it as well.

Enjoys Sharing and Helping

Great bloggers genuinely enjoy helping others.  Many bloggers blog because they want to showcase their knowledge in the industry.  Of course, that is part of why people blog, but it should not be the only reason.  Gaining satisfaction out of helping others in your industry is a trait that all great bloggers have.  Taking the time to personally reach out to someone asking a question or for thanking someone who leaves an intelligent comment on your blog is going above and beyond.  It shows that you do care about what others are saying.

How to Make a Good First Impression in Live Events

 

Working for new companies and clients can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re new to live events in general. Every workplace is different, but there are plenty of things you can do to make a positive and lasting first impression, and land that all-important second gig.

Before you get there

Before you even meet your new client in person, you’re already making an impression on them. If you’re sending out your resume/CV, make sure it’s the best it can be  (Career Development: Resources for Resumes and Social Media) and take the time to craft a professional cover letter. It is an employer’s market out there: audio companies and venues are very busy, and if your email doesn’t catch their attention they won’t even bother reading your resume. It’s common for people to perform internet searches of potential hires, so make sure you are happy with what they’ll find (Networking on Social Media).

For all text communication, bear in mind that it’s human nature to interpret it more negatively than you intended (Flaming emails: Why email causes misunderstanding, rage and frustration (and what to do about it). You don’t have to sound like a robot, but try to be clear and positive, and avoid all but the most obvious jokes. Don’t use sarcasm unless you already know the person well, it is far too easily misinterpreted.

Have a folder on your phone or in the cloud with all your important documents, like photo ID, passport, and insurance policies. That way they’re all ready to go when you’re asked for them, and you can send them in seconds rather than making your client wait until you get back from your current gig to catch up on admin on your computer. You get to look efficient and professional, and you don’t have to remember to do it later.

On the job

Entire books could be written about how to act on gigs. As Heather Augustine says: “Most of the tour [or any gig] advice boils down to don’t be an idiot and don’t be an asshole.” (Tips for Touring). As a rule of thumb, just follow the more experienced people’s lead, unless they’re being negative and rude. As the newbie, you should be more enthusiastic and polite than the more established techs, and err on the side of caution until you get a feel for the work environment. There are certain things you shouldn’t do until you’ve “paid your dues”, e.g. making personal comments about colleagues that you don’t know well enough, but you should get the general vibe pretty quickly.

Be nice: This is just general advice for life, but particularly apt in a new job. Be nice to everyone, not just the people you think are important. It is simply the right thing to do, but if you need more convincing, there are plenty of workplaces where the people in the shop/warehouse or stagehands have long and close relationships with management, and their feedback on you is just as valued as your crew boss’s. Don’t get caught up thinking some people are more important than others. Plus, most people are happy to fill gaps in your knowledge, but no one has the time to rehabilitate a crappy attitude.

Similarly, don’t fall into tribal warfare with other departments. We’re all on the same team, fighting over resources or space will just piss people off. If you screw someone else over on the load in you’ll just have to rearrange what you did, later in the day when everything is plugged in so it’s a much bigger pain in the behind. Take the initiative and approach other departments at the start of the day to discuss what works best for all of you.

Keep it clean: Keep your work neat and easy to follow. Label everything so anyone can understand it. Don’t think “Oh, but I know what that means.” You might not be around when that area needs to be troubleshot, and your colleagues will appreciate clarity while they’re under pressure. Even if you’re fixing it yourself, labeling reduces confusion and silly mistakes in the heat of the moment. Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave scraps of tape and uncoiled cables all over the place for someone else to pick up after you. You’re a grown-up!

Keep busy: A new job can be overwhelming, and you can feel like a deer in headlights, not knowing what to do. If you’re stuck, just keep asking your colleagues what you can do for them. If they’re busy, you should be too. Even if they say there’s nothing you can do, offer to get them a drink or tidy up. Unless you’re in a union, you chose a career that doesn’t include a lunch hour. Eat your meals when you have time, don’t just drop everything when the food arrives. If you do take a break, make sure it’s at an appropriate point, let people know where you’re going, and be contactable at all times.

Do the crappy jobs: You’re new. It doesn’t matter what roles you’ve done before. The crappy jobs in our industry aren’t even that crappy. Just do them, and be cheery about it. That will earn you mega brownie points.

Put the phone down, pick a cable up: There is an ongoing debate around how useful social media self-promotion is in our field. Regardless of whether an arty shot of the load in dock and a dozen hashtags will land you more future clients, taking photos while you’re supposed to be working risks losing you your current one. Only post on social media when you’re on a break, or after the gig altogether. Ask before posting anything that wouldn’t have been visible to the audience. Our work is often subject to non-disclosure agreements, which might have been buried in your contract’s small print or even signed on your behalf without your knowledge. It’s taken as read that as a professional you won’t share inappropriately on social media. Don’t take photos or videos of celebrities backstage without their express permission. Ever. Only ask if someone more experienced asks first. We work with famous people all the time; be cool about it.

Be honest: It can be tough to walk the line between underselling yourself and bullshitting. You want to have the chutzpah to get the job, but don’t lie, and once you’re there be honest about your abilities. If you can’t do something, say so and ask for help with it. Don’t ask someone to do it for you, even if they could do it themselves. Show willingness and learn from your colleagues who are taking the time to teach you.

When talking shop, don’t be tempted to exaggerate. This is a close-knit community and people are nosey. If you say you were on a certain tour or worked for a particular company, people will ask their friends from there what they thought of you. If they find out you were overstating your role or straight-up lying, it will not go down well. You should be proud of the things you have done anyway! If you did the hospitality tent at a festival for a small audio company, that’s great! Massaging the truth until you worked “with” the major company who supplied the main stage and it turns out they’ve never heard of you? Embarrassing at best.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions: I would much rather someone ask what could be seen as a stupid question five times then get it right than just guessing and get it wrong. We deal with big, heavy, expensive things and electricity; always ask if you’re unsure. You might encounter people who openly mock you for not knowing something, but that’s on them. We all have different backgrounds and there’s a lot to learn in our job. You can’t know everything, and the only way to learn is to ask. Don’t let mean people shame you out of a good habit.

It’s also good to ask questions about things you don’t understand, to show how enthusiastic you are. If you finish your tasks then just sit on your phone when you could be learning something, that will be noticed. Don’t hassle people when they’re busy, but healthy curiosity is appreciated, and an ego boost for the person you’re asking to enlighten you.

Bring a bag of tricks: You don’t have to bring a massive workbox full of fancy tools on your first gig (indeed, you probably shouldn’t. They take up a lot of space), but having a few choice adapters and gadgets in your bag as soon as you can afford them will earn you a reputation for being helpful and prepared. There is plenty of inspiration in Elisabeth Weidner’s post: What’s in Your Go Bag. I would recommend starting with a multimeter (good for testing power distros and continuity in cables), a phantom power checker, lots of Sharpies, and ⅛” to ¼” headphone adapters. I’m pretty sure when Luke said “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back,” in the Bible (Luke 6:30), he was talking about headphone adapters. You can get a pack of adequate quality ones for about $/£1 each; just gift them to people when they ask to borrow them. The same goes for Sharpies. You’re never going to see them again anyway, you might as well be a magnanimous baller about it instead of wasting your time trying to chase them down again.

Don’t take it personally: The fast-paced, high-stakes nature of our job means that tensions can run high and people can be blunt or downright rude in the heat of the moment. Like working in a restaurant kitchen, people might yell and swear but it’s just part of the job. If it happens, don’t take it personally. You aren’t the first to be shouted at and you won’t be the last. Sustained abuse or bullying is different of course, but the occasional outburst is to be expected. Just do what needs doing quickly and if it was really hurtful, discuss it at a calmer moment later.

Don’t stress: You should always try your best, but don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake. It isn’t about how you messed up, it’s how you deal with it. Learn what you can from it and move on. If you let it get to you, you’ll end up focusing on it and making more mistakes because you’re distracted. If you’re open and upfront about it and apologise, that will be remembered for much longer than whatever it was that went wrong.

Everyone was new once. As long as you have a helpful, enthusiastic attitude everything else is secondary. If you put the effort in and make your colleagues’ lives easier, you should be welcome back in any workplace again and again.

North Seattle College Certificate Program for Audio Engineering

Gear Fanatix in partnership with Womxn & Audio has officially developed a Certificate program for audio engineering led by an all-womxn faculty at North Seattle College. Both in-person and online courses for this one-year program are available; you can also choose to take individual courses throughout the year. 4 quarters with courses in mixing, recording, production, and post. We will especially emphasize the history of women in audio and music during the program. Hands-on experience will be available at Earwig Studio in Seattle, a wonderful acoustic space with analog and digital recording equipment. We will have scholarships available to underserved students and are in the process of creating two study abroad summer programs in Ecuador and Norway!

Instructors and guest lecturers include Vera Project’s Engineer Lilian Blair, Resonant Mastering’s mastering engineer Rachel Field, Mix Like a Girl founder Maria Caridad Espinosa,

Women in Audio author and audio engineer extraordinaire Leslie Gaston-Bird, Ableton instructor and beatmaker Kate Falconer, producer and engineer Jen Gilleran, Allen & Heath’s Install Empress Samantha Potter, Foley master Celeste Selis, Women’s Studies professor Angela Dane, and more! We have partnered with Presonus, Universal Audio, Eventide, Chameleon, iZotope, Earthworks, and more to provide students with the best in audio.

This Fall, Critical Listening & Introduction to Audio Basics will be the two courses available leading to the official program launch in Winter, 2022! More information can be found at:

https://continuingeducation.northseattle.edu/

Six Things to Consider When Choosing The Right Producer

 

You finally have a handful of songs you feel pretty good about. You’ve analyzed them, performed them, played them for your friends and for your mom and got some feedback, made some tweaks, and feel ready to go to the next step.

Find a Producer

It is much easier to say than to actually do. First of all, there are sooooo many different types of producers. Not all of them do the same things or have the same skill sets. If you are surprised by that, check out this blog I wrote a while back explaining the five different categories of producers.

So, how do you even start looking for the person that you will entrust your musical vision and hard-earned money with to translate your non-technical gibberish into exactly what you want to hear when you play your song back from your car stereo?

The person or people who produce your music might just be the most important person or people on your team.

So why are you choosing your producer based on their price?

Because money is tight and you only have so much to spend on your music, right?

Believe me, I know this truth allllll too well. And while it is true you need to hire a producer you can actually afford (or will work within your budget), here are six other factors that you should also consider.

First: are they operating a professional business? Do they have a website with samples and testimonials? Does the copy on the site seem to be written by a 10-year-old or can you tell some effort went into their presentation? How about their socials? Are they professional when interacting with their followers? Are their posts appropriate for the music business? Read their testimonials, observe the way they communicate with others, notice how far back their testimonials go if you can.

Second: How does their work compare with commercial releases? It’s easy to listen to a friends recording that they did at home with “different ears” than how we listen to the next Arianna Grande hit. Would you say the quality is comparable? Or does it sound a bit more…” homemade”?

Third: Do you like their sound? Do they have samples of work they have done that fits your wheelhouse or genre? Have they said they can do your genre but don’t have any samples to show you?

Fourth: Is there chemistry between you in the first phone conversation? This relationship is like a dating relationship. You will need to “like” one another. You must be able to communicate. There must be trust and respectful honesty. Do they listen or speak over the top of you? Are they only interested in telling you how awesome they are or how many amazing credits they have or are they interested in how they can help you? Do they seem like someone you can trust? Yes, be judgemental!!! Just like you would want to do at least some screening before you hop into someone’s car, right? Trust your gut.

Fifth: What is their policy? Make sure you have everything agreed upon in writing (a legal agreement is best but at the very least, save emails and messages). Do they do “work for hire” agreements with no points? Do they want co-writing credit? What is included in their price (recording, mixing, production, mastering, musicians, etc.?) Do they limit how many revisions you can make? (This is a tricky one because many will argue why this has to be their policy to keep projects cost-effective and to meet deadlines. It is a valid issue. But from my experience, I want my artists to be 100% happy with their music and if that means I need to start over or make 50 revisions to the mix, then that is what I will do. That being said, if we start going down the road of revision after revision then there is obviously an issue with either communication OR lack of focus or both. I’ll stop the production and insist on a conversation before we move forward. Go back to #4)

Sixth: What expectations do you have of your producer and do they know what those expectations are? As there are many different types of producers, some are very interested in helping you develop your artistry all around, including your songwriting, your vocal approach, your branding, etc. Others are not, but only want to create your music and think that you have all of that already figured out. Some have an interest in helping you promote your music or find sync placements. Usually, they will only be interested in the back end if they are sharing some of the ownership of the song and will benefit from its back-end success. There isn’t a “right or a wrong” way but you need to know what to expect so that you aren’t disappointed.

Remember that your producer or producers might be the most important people on your team so do some research, have a lot of conversations, and don’t rush the process. Keep on going, friends!!

 

Meet MDIIO (Music Data Intelligence In/Out)

Meet MDIIO

MDIIO provides a competitive advantage for artists to thrive in today’s music industry. Store everything associated with your songs, including your tracks, metadata, collaborators, lyrics, playlists, pitches, network, splits, and even licenses. Then let HyprAUDIO get your music to the masses, while you create magic in the studio.

SoundGirls Members receive a year-free subscription email us to start your free subscription. (soundgirls@soundgirls.org)

Join MDIIO and Justin Gray on September 7 at 1 PM PDT for a webinar on Music Publishing and Royalties

Register and Post Questions Here

Introduction to MDIIO

MDIIO is the easier way for the songwriter community to collaborate, network, pitch, and monetize music,” The user can embed each registered song with as many as 90 points of metadata, such as lyrics, collaborators’ contact info, performing rights organizations, master owners, beats per minute, musicians, and so on, thereby improving accuracy – and payment.

Founded by Songwriter, Record Producer, Music Executive, and Tech Entrepreneur Justin Gray, MDIIO offers numerous opportunities. A user can post a project to MDIIO’s community, privately or publicly, and can customize it.  For example, he or she can look for instrumental music for a documentary; search for four- or five-star rated songwriters and ask them to submit songs; post the payment amount, and even license music directly from within the application. “We do all of the transactions within it, so for the user who’s licensing the song to you, they don’t have to pay a lawyer, and you don’t have to pay agency fees on top of that,” says Gray.

“Our number-one goal with MDIIO is to help everybody in music build viable opportunities and networks to help really propel their careers forward.” – Songistry’s Justin Gray

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve written 10 songs, or 1,000, or none,” says Gray. “It works on so many levels. We try as much as we can to link any of those songs that you’ve written to potential opportunities that may be out there. Maybe there’s an opportunity to place a song on a TV show, or to place a song with an artist. Maybe you’re living in rural Saskatchewan, and you create music, but there’s somebody who writes Spanish lyrics in Majorca. We’re really trying to encourage collaboration on a global level and connect the dots.

 

 

Changing Work Culture and Setting Boundaries

 

“I had also sacrificed my own sense of self in service of this dream, and when I finally got there, I felt like there wasn’t a “me” left to enjoy it.  Worse, I know that by pushing myself in that way to “earn my place” I was contributing to a culture that would demand that from the next person coming up.” – Anna Ehl

 

I wanted to start this article with a direct quote from one of my professors. My hope is that this presents a new or renewed perspective on this important topic.

As a student and working professional, I have learned the importance of setting boundaries with my work. Like many of you, I love what I do and I enjoy working in the audio industry. However, there are some parts of it that we might want to avoid.

Start by analyzing yourself and your limits

This can be something as simple as your availability or even how much work you can physically perform before you need a day off. This industry can be incredibly physically demanding. During the summer I am working a lot. Nobody is doing my laundry for me, even though I really wish someone would.  I know I will need at least one day off after the busy weekend. This can be very demanding for someone who is not used to the labors of live sound and festival gigging. Some people may need two or three days off due to their personal schedules, and that is totally fine.

It is also important to have open conversations about your work environment with other employees. The professor I mentioned before suggested this to me. By talking about things like pay rates, how many hours you are working, and contracts, helps create a kind of team solidarity. This can help you in negotiating better working conditions for not only you but the whole team. You cannot be punished for having these thoughts and conversations.

“I think the answer to changing this culture is to cultivate a sense of teamwork and collaboration instead of competition. Ours is an industry that demands we build our networks, and when we look at our fellow technicians and engineers as part of our team and important building blocks in our network, we can start to build a sense of mutual obligation, trust, and collaboration that will facilitate a better working environment for all. Competition serves the folks who seek to overwork employees to bolster their own profits at the expense of our personal lives. By changing the culture from competition to collaboration, we open ourselves and our teams up to building a life with better balance.”

I could not have surmised this idea any better and it is certainly going to be a thought in my mind for the length of my career. Something that was also brought up in this conversation was that this same network can also supply you with information about possible employers and clients. You should focus your time and energy on employers who respect you as a human and not just based on your talents and services. A client who respects you on and off the clock will be much easier to work with compared to someone who doesn’t. This kind of information can help you avoid the repercussions faced when working with people who do not value you and your boundaries.

Conflict resolution skills

Can be a form of boundary setting. It isn’t talked about as much but can be excellent for when you are dealing with someone difficult. Personally, I like to use the form ‘I feel Language’ for communication. What this refers to are statements that start with I or directly address your understanding of a situation. For example, I could say, “I feel like there has been a lack of communication as of late, and it is making my job harder to do.” In an ‘I’ statement, you are not pointing the blame at anyone and are taking a neutral stance on the issue. Whereas, “You haven’t been emailing me back and now I am behind on work,” is an ineffective way of communicating for conflict resolution.

If done correctly, both parties can state how they are feeling and how the conflict is causing them to suffer. Both parties can reach validation at the very least. Something to note here is that both parties need to be actively listening to each other. This will not happen every time. Sometimes you will have an unhappy client or unruly stagehand and you will have to accept this. I, however, feel that taking the steps to state how you are feeling and approaching the situation with a form of conflict resolution is better than doing nothing at all. Accepting this kind of situation for what it is and refusing to fret over something that cannot be changed is also an important step in setting boundaries for yourself.

Be honest with yourself

You will need to ask yourself these kinds of questions throughout your life and career because things change. You might want to start a family or a health issue might arise. It is absolutely fine to say no to a job or career opportunity. I have found that if I decline an offer, but supply the offeror with other contacts that may be a better fit, I am met with a better response. This approach tends to leave me on better terms with the offeror and the door open for future employment. If you don’t have someone else you can suggest, you can also state you will send anyone you meet their way. This is a nice gesture and shows you appreciate their time and offer.

There are a few smaller techniques that you can apply to your work life to help balance it with your daily life. Though they seem small in application, they can warrant a great outcome. You should set firm times for when you are unavailable. Personally, I have my devices on DO NOT DISTURB from 10 pm to 8 am. This really helps cut down distractions like notifications and allows more time to unwind. One may argue about the need to be available at all hours in case of an emergency and you are needed. However, phone calls can still go through with DO NOT DISTURB activated and I tend to live by the rule of ‘they will call me if it is important. This mentality is a clear way of setting a boundary between your personal time and your work time.

Some of us may also need to set designated times to answer emails. If you receive a lot of emails from clients or inquiries, this process may take you more time. Finding a good time during the typical 9 to 5 business hours to read and respond to emails is a good practice to have. This doesn’t mean it has to be the same time every day. It just needs to be done each day. I also tend to live by the rule of responding to emails within 24, sometimes 48 hours if the working relationship has been established.

However, there is a caveat to this. It is so easy to have access to work emails 24/7. If this becomes or already is a problem for you, revoking or limiting access to work emails and work-related communication applications may be a must for you. Setting DO NOT DISTURB to your phone is already a clear way of creating this boundary, but you can also not allow your work email on your personal devices. Some working professionals only have access to their work emails on their work devices due to the struggles of ‘checking their work email while being at home.’ It is a problem in almost every line of work. This information may be obvious to some, but my hope is that it helps some of you with your struggles.

So at this point in the article, you have heard me mention several ways to create these boundaries and build healthy habits. The reason why it is important for some professionals to have these lines in the sand varies. However, they do boil down to one overarching motive: This work is not worth sacrificing your health for.  For some people, this is a difficult concept to grasp, but it should be applied to everyone in our industry. Yes, we are passionate about what we do, but if a particular gig or client is pushing you to your limits, you should consider setting boundaries or stepping away from that job. Placing yourself above everything else may seem like a selfish act, but you cannot work the job if you don’t take your limits and health into consideration first. By placing your well-being ahead of everything else, you will have a better understanding of when you should walk away from something or someone.

Women who started in this industry many years before me had to work at least twice as hard as their male counterparts. This toxic mentality has continued into our lifestyles now, yet I think we all want the same thing. We make these sacrifices now so that it is better for future generations of women and minorities in our industry. We want our industry’s culture to change so that technicians and engineers can thrive, yet these toxic traits leak in. By having these conversations and taking action to combat issues, we can stop the continuation of an out-of-date work culture.

I would like to give a very special thank you to Anna Ehl for her thoughts on this subject. Her opinion has always been something that I have valued immensely. I would also like to thank Lindsey Johns, Kayla Lee, Keith Norton, and David Peterson for their thoughts and contributions to this article and conversation.

 

Online Events and Training

Find All Upcoming SoundGirls Events Here

AES – The Equity Learning SeriesAES is committed to addressing the issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in order to support the interests and pursuits of audio engineers of all identities.

The Equity Learning Series provides AES members with the chance to learn about important issues facing underrepresented communities, especially in the world of audio engineering, in an inclusive, group setting. AES is committed to addressing these issues in order to support the interests and pursuits of audio engineers of all identities. Facilitating learning, open discussion and understanding of the issues through this series is one way we seek to do this work.

In the first session, AES presents Leslie Gaston-Bird, audio engineer and author of Women in Audio, along with three of the women featured in her book: Leslie Ann Jones, Abhita Austin, and Erin Barra. In a conversation moderated by Liz Teutsch, we will use Gaston-Bird’s book as a jumping-off point as we investigate some of the hidden history she reveals as well as some of the challenges and success of women in audio throughout the years.

AES members receive a 30% Discount on Women in Audio through AES’s agreement with Focal Press/Routledge.

Nonmembers can receive a 20% discount at womeninaudio.com using the discount code FLY21 (which will give the user 20% off of any title on Routledge.com until 12/31/2021). Register Here

Mix Sound For Film & TV

September 25 and October 1, 2021, Hybrid Event In-Person and Online

September 25 in-person event at Sony Studios

October 1 Online-

Omni Sound Project – Signal Gain Conference

November 6th

Omni Sound Project invites you to join us for Signal Gain, our annual virtual conference, presented in partnership with Rupert Neve Designs, Spitfire Audio, BABY Audio, and DistroKid.

As a participant, you’ll enjoy a full day of discovery within a welcoming, encouraging community. Signal Gain is a celebration of the year we’ve had together, accomplishing our shared goal of welcoming marginalized genders into the world of audio. Whether you’re newly curious about audio engineering or a seasoned professional, this conference will provide an opportunity to enrich your skills and knowledge base in a nurturing online atmosphere.

Signal Gain will be held online on Saturday, November 6th from noon to 5 pm CST and will consist of three live sessions and pre-recorded “speed” sessions between the live sessions.

This year, we will also be hosting Free Week prior to the Signal Gain conference, presented in partnership with Reverb, Source Elements, and Spitfire Audio LABS.

The Event Safety Alliance Summit

A hybrid in-person and virtual three-day event that will take place December 1-3, 2021 on the campus of Rock Lititz in Lititz, PA, sponsored by Take1 Insurance and Intact Specialty Insurance. (Go here for more information and to register.)

Allen & Heath Launches Mini Masterclass Series

Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. PST

Make sure to check out the free ‘Mini Masterclass’ sessions offered by Allen & Heath.  Two tracks are currently running. Feel free to pick and choose any or all of the sessions that grab your interest. Installation Inspiration features veteran engineer and design consultant Samantha Potter. Monitor Mix Mastery is presented by the go-to monitor engineer and production manager Mike Bangs. See you in class! https://americanmusicandsound.com/allen-heath-mini-masterclasses

Insights in Sound

Fridays

Join host Daniel Liston Keller for a series of in-depth and irreverent conversations with people behind the scenes, behind the technology, and behind the music. From musicians and producers to touring pros, sound designers, inventors, and more. Previous episodes, including Pablo Wheeler, Jeri Palumbo, Harmoni Kelley, and Michael Beinhorn here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLELP8j3P2xz8tzRSqycOMtxrUWMvNzvvA

Nobody Likes Networking

For anyone who is looking for new work during these challenging times, Mike Dias — the Executive Director of IEMITO, the In-Ear Monitor Trade Organization — has a new monthly column in Pro Sound News focusing on networking skills. Now more than ever we need to be able to lean on second and third-tier relationships for opportunities. And if that sentence makes you uncomfortable — you’re not alone. No one likes making small talk and asking for favors. No one is a natural born networker. But it is a skill that anyone can learn. If you want more concrete steps than what’s available in the Pro Sound News article, Mike has published many of his past networking talks and notes from his upcoming book at his Nobody Likes Networking site for free.

DiGiCo

Exclusive online DiGiCo Workshops: YOU choose the subject! We are running several online Clinic Workshops where you get to decide what we talk about! Each session is a private one-on-one workshop with a member of the DiGiCo team. So, book now and tell us what you want to know!

Book here: http://bit.ly/digicoclinics

Mixing Music Live

Concert Sound Engineer and SoundGirls Co-Founder Michelle Sabolchick-Pettinato shares her knowledge and experience from 30 years in the industry. Offering two online courses: Mixing Music Live and intro to live sound and mixing and LISTEN! a guide to EQ and Critical Listening. A discount is available to members of SoundGirls. Both courses include great info and lessons via her blog and newsletter. https://www.mixingmusiclive.com

HARMAN Live Workshop Series

HARMAN is thrilled to invite leading Front of House Engineers, Lighting Designers, Technicians and other knowledge experts in the industry to share workshops of their secret methods, tips and tricks.

https://pro.harman.com/lp/learning-sessions

SSL Live Sound Training Program

For the ultimate immersive learning experience, SSL offers its Live Certified training — a six-hour intensive online video course led by Live Product Specialist and live sound veteran Fernando Guzeman. Currently, SSL is offering certified training courses in both English and Spanish during June.

https://www.solidstatelogic.com/ssllivetraining

The Production Academy

Hosts weekly webinars The Pandemic Sessions.

https://www.theproductionacademy.com/pandemic-sessions

Post-New York Alliance – Post Break

You can watch past episodes here A weekly series produced by the PNYA Education Committee explores post-production in New York State. Each week, a different topic will be discussed with a variety of professionals. https://www.postnewyork.org/blogpost/1859636/Post-Break

Color of Music Collective

Hosts free virtual panels on a weekly basis that amplify People of Color and LGBTQ voices in the music industry. You can sign up for their newsletter to see when the next panel is.: https://www.colorofmusiccollective.com

Omni Sound Project

Dedicated to being the most accessible point of entry to the music and audio industries. We strive to provide affordable opportunities for learning to under-represented communities as well as spotlight the talents of female and non-gender-conforming audio professionals. All genders are invited to attend our online educational events. Find all events and to register at https://www.omnisoundproject.com/

Part of the Main

Has launched a series of affordable theatre training workshops from QLab and Lighting Programming into Theatre Marketing and PR. They are offering 20 funded bursary spaces to Black artists. Learn more bit.ly/partofthegrid

Intro to SoundGrid Studio: Online Webinars

Join us for personal small-group webinars about the new Waves SoundGrid Studio for real-time audio processing in the studio. Get a personal overview of how SoundGrid Studio can benefit you for:

These are limited-availability sessions with Waves Studio Specialist Ryan Monette, who will provide answers to any questions you might have.

https://www.waves.com/events/soundgrid-studio-online-2020?utm_source

Andrew Scheps Talks To Awesome People

There are a lot of awesome people in the world, and they all have amazing stories to tell. Getting them to tell their stories on camera is not only fun and educational for all of us, but it helps document some of the absolutely incredible things that have happened in the brief history of recorded music. Join Andrew and his guests for a deep dive into what makes them, and the people around them, tick..

Every Monday 2:30 PM EST, 6:30 PM GMT.

https://www.puremix.net/live/andrew-talks-to-awesome-people.html

I’m with The Crew

A very personal look at human nature and the adaptability required to get through this unprecedented time. Shining a light on the importance of understanding and managing the holistic-self in order to find the strength to take action.

Hosted by Misty Roberts & Jim Digby, Produced by Shelby Carol Cude, guided by mental health professionals Taryn Longo and Dave Sherman with weekly special guests, this live-webinar provides an opportunity to gain greater insight and control over how we respond to these times and manifest the resilience to survive and start again when that time comes.

The webinar takes place at 11:00 a.m. PDT every Friday.

https://showmakersymposium.com/im-with-the-crew

Robert Scovill – The Lab

An online, interactive session focused on pro audio called “The Lab”. This 90-minute session is a completely open forum with much of the topic matter being driven by attendees. Robert has a complete console, recorders and small networked PA system set up in an attempt to address and investigate most challenges. Admittedly the focus is geared more toward console, processing and mixing out of practicality as much as anything. Attendees are encouraged to share their screen and their challenges regardless of console type.

First three Mondays of every month. 1:30 p.m.

It is first come first served with a room limit of 300.

Sign up at https://www.robertscovill.com/ under News and Events.

Pooch & Rabold on YouTube

Pooch and Rabold have over 50 years of experience between them as Front of House live sound engineers.   They work for artists like Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Linkin Park, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Widespread Panic, and many others.  They have traveled the earth looking for the best steakhouses in all but a handful of countries.   Rabold and Pooch share all of their knowledge in this very informal series of videos where you get to be a “fly on the wall,” while two of the most respected live sound engineers talk freely about audio.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjx5xSFzwXd43XL4cZDeCag

Robert Scovill – The Back Lounge

An online social group called “The Back Lounge”. Here industry people of all types; production people, i.e. road managers, production managers, backline, audio and lighting pros, company owners and personnel, HOW staff etc. all gather to discuss the state and future of the industry and share guidance and resources on financial assistance strategies and any other topic that suits the discussion.

First three Fridays of every month. 4:20 p.m. PDT

This is first come first served with a room limit of 300.

https://www.robertscovill.com/

Sennheiser Academy Online Webinars

Sennheiser is pleased to announce a series of webinars for our customers and partners. Join us online in the coming weeks to learn about a wide range of topics, from RF and microphone basics to roundtable discussions with sound engineers, as well as a chance to put your questions to our application engineering team.

https://en-us.sennheiser.com/webinars

Updates & Resources

For COVID-19 updates and resources, check out the NAMM. In addition, NAMM is offering a variety of webinars and sessions to help understand alternatives and tips to coping with this new dynamic.

https://www.namm.org/covid-19

Club Cubase

Join Club Cubase Google livestreams every Tuesday and Friday, as Greg Ondo answers all of your questions.

https://www.facebook.com/47279836044/posts/10157291784976045/?d=n

Show Makers Symposium

The Show Makers Symposium is a place for us to gather, learn and give back. During these uncertain times, we will shine as much light as possible toward the end of the tunnel and provide as many resources as available for growth and mental resilience.

https://showmakersymposium.com/#missionstatement

Event Safety Alliance

The Event Safety Alliance® (ESA) is dedicated to promoting “life safety first” throughout all phases of event production and execution. We strive to eliminate the knowledge barrier that often contributes to unsafe conditions and behaviors through the promotion and teaching of good practices and the development of training and planning resources.

https://www.eventsafetyalliance.org/

Learn with Dave Rat

Learn new tips for pro audio engineers and sound techs on Dave Rat’s YouTube Channel. Dave mixed FOH sound for Red Hot Chili Peppers for 27 years, Rage Against the Machine, Blink 182, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, and more. When he was 18 years old, he co-founded Rat Sound Systems which is the primary sound vendor for Coachella and provides world-class audio sound systems for numerous touring artists including Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Pixies, Alt J.. In addition to being president of Rat Sound, Dave has designed speaker systems including the EAW MicroWedge series and Rat SuperSub. The SoundTools.com division of Rat Sound is actively manufacturing and distributing his product designs.

https://www.youtube.com/user/www73171/featured

Wireless Side Chats

Lectrosonics has produced the new video series Wireless Side Chats, hosted by VP of Sales and Marketing Karl Winkler. Episode 1 explores the history of early wireless, episode 2 shows how to solve the seven most common wireless mic problems, episode 3 is an in-depth clinic about Lectrosonic wireless designer software, and episode 4 further explores best practices when using wireless.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwnOnolFSN5K2-2QZOwzVq-0ZFYgoPXDH

eMotion LV1 WEBINARS

Join Waves on our special eMotion LV1 Online Webinars series with one of Waves’ top live sound specialists as your guide. The seminars will be conducted as intimate sessions for small groups, involving an overview of eMotion LV1 mixer with a chance for you to ask questions after being given an overview of the layout and main functions and advantages of this product. Check the website for upcoming dates.

https://www.waves.com/events/lv1-online-webinars

Richard Furch – #mixtipwednesday

Now in the third year,  #mixtipwednesday aims to offer quick tips to get you out of the creative ruts and keep you inspired making records and improving your craft. Also, an Instagram Live event, every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. PDT, mixer Richard Furch (@richardfurchmix) answers your questions and engages the listeners with insights into the craft and business of record mixing.

QSC@Home

QSC@Home is a comprehensive online launch point dedicated to users’ success across a vast range of solutions and applications. Through its “Connect, Learn and Experience” architecture, QSC@Home visitors are treated to unique collection of online training, tutorials, certification, webinars, entertainment and live online support from company experts, all of which is constantly curated and updated. QSC@Home is a valuable tool for everyone from systems contractors, integrators, A/V IT technicians, A/V consultants, musicians, artists, djs, live sound engineers, recording pros, HOW musical directors, cinema technicians, cinema dealers and end-users at all levels of expertise

https://www.qsc.com/qsc-at-home/

Conversations with Sound Artists

The Dolby Institute and the SoundWorks Collection Podcast, now in its 6th season, is putting the spotlight on episodic content, featuring in-depth conversations with the sound artists behind some of the best broadcast and streaming shows. Join the talented artists behind the shows The Mandalorian, Westworld, Mindhunter, Ozark, Locke & Key, and Unorthodox for in-depth discussions about the creative sound choices for these shows.

Learn more:  https://dolbylabs.co/33NNrgw

Wrong End of the Snake

Tuesdays at 2:00 PM EST

Front of House Live Sound Engineer Ken “Pooch” Van Druten, and Monitor Live Sound Engineer Kevin “Tater” McCarthy, team up to host a webinar exploring the sometimes irrational, always spirited relationships between the music industry tribe. Join us each week as Pooch and Tater reflect on decades of highs and lows, professional tips and tricks, and a special industry guest.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R2_ZRFobS3Og41Ax9JeQqQ?

ADAM Academy

An informative video series on the company’s YouTube channel which provides all viewers from entry-level audio students to skilled working professionals with valuable information, tips and tools that they can use to get the best performance from their loudspeaker monitor systems. Recent video topics include: How to Calibrate a Subwoofer; Studio Monitor Placement; Proper Monitor Maintenance & Cleaning; Mixing Rap and Hip Hop Master Class by Brooklyn-based hip hop producer and engineer Paul Womack; Audio Post; How to Mix Acoustic Sessions; How to Mix Live Sessions for Video featuring engineer Eric Bastinelli;  How to Tune Drums; How to Mic Drums; Drum Editing in Pro Tools; Tips for Becoming a Successful Freelance Musician presented by Grammy-nominated bassist Jonathan Maron.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGSZx_3dmWXqXo1-k5GqJtEmU9Uy4Sfye

New Lurssen Mastering YouTube Channel

On this channel with weekly updates, Lurssen Mastering engineers, Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen get you closer to their audio engineering world and share useful tips and insights into the art of mastering.

Lurssen Mastering is a world-renowned multi-Grammy award-winning mastering studio. They have mastered many gold and platinum records and have received several industry awards. In addition to the Grammys earned and proudly displayed by Lurssen Mastering, numerous songs worked on by the team have been nominated for Oscars over the years and several have won this prestigious award.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuSlopV23zOqLzuKpeLKSIQ

 

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