Matt celebrates episode 600 of Working Class Audio with a guest who's been there since the beginning — mixer and producer Andrew Scheps, who first appeared back on episodes 009 300 & 477. Andrew joins from his home in rural England to talk about winning MPG Atmos Mixer of the Year for his work on Low Roar, how he approaches Dolby Atmos delivery and client approval, why he switched from Sony headphones to the Audeze LCD-MX4, and what he's learned about training your brain to externalize binaural audio. The conversation also covers writing his own plugins with Claude and the JUCE framework, why he quit drinking four years ago and found rock climbing instead, breaking his foot, the realities of working with a manager, what "retirement" even means when no one tells you you're done, and why — 600 episodes in — Working Class Audio still matters in a way that's different from everything else.In This Episode, We Discuss:600 Episodes In — Andrew's Long History with the ShowWinning MPG Atmos Mixer of the Year for the Low Roar CatalogThe MPG vs. a US Equivalent: Advocacy, VAT, and Saving StudiosBeing an American Honored Inside a UK OrganizationWhy the Low Roar "House in the Woods" Atmos Mix May Be His Best WorkThe Pressure of Paid Work vs. Unpaid Passion ProjectsStill Battling Imposter Syndrome After Decades at the TopWhy He Hates Sending Mixes OutAtmos Delivery Workflow: Binaural, MP4, ADM, and the Two-Page PDFTraining Your Brain to Externalize Binaural AudioWhy He Starts Atmos Mixes in Headphones, Not SpeakersSwitching from Sony Headphones to the Audeze LCD-MX4Steven Wilson and Staying True to the Music in AtmosDiscovering Rock Climbing as Moving MeditationBreaking His Foot — and Five Weeks on the SidelinesAlex Honnold, Free Solo, and the Idea of Minimizing RiskQuitting Drinking Four Years Ago and Stepping Away from Pub CultureIs There a Calculation Behind a Career? Building Extra Income StreamsThe Retirement Question: "They'll Just Stop Hiring Us"Writing Plugins with Claude and the JUCE FrameworkWhy You Need an Idea — Not Just AI — to Build a PluginAI as a "Knowledgeable but Completely Blinkered Friend"AAX, PACE Code Signing, and the Nightmare of Plugin UIBoard Games, Astronomy, and Life in Rural EnglandWhy He Can't Imagine Living in LA AnymoreWorking with Manager Frank McDonough — and What a Manager Actually DoesThe Reality of Getting Paid by Major Labels (180-Day Cycles)Matt's RANT!: 600 Episodes!Links and Show Notes:Andrew Scheps Low Roar WCA interview with manager Frank McDonoughJUCE frameworkAudio Developer ConferenceAudeze LCD-MX4Free Solo (Alex Honnold)Bounce Factory Credits:Guest: Andrew SchepsHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

Matt welcomes producer, engineer, and mixer Alex Newport for his first appearance on Working Class Audio. Alex grew up in the UK Midlands with few music resources, and found his way into production after his band got signed to a UK label with an upstream deal to Columbia, and ended up recording at Sawmills, a legendary residential studio on a tidal island at the tip of Cornwall. Working there with producer Colin Richardson changed everything. From there Alex spent decades moving between LA, San Francisco, and New York — engineering at Tiny Telephone, producing records for At the Drive-In, City and Colour, and many more — before eventually building his own residential studio in Joshua Tree, designed from the ground up to let bands show up and make records without distraction. The conversation covers production philosophy, surviving as a freelancer across three decades, why he intentionally avoids getting pigeonholed, and what really matters when designing a studio space.In This Episode, We Discuss:Growing Up in the UK Midlands With Few Music ResourcesThe Band That Got Signed: Upstream Deal to Columbia RecordsRecording at Sawmills — The Tidal Island Studio in CornwallColin Richardson as a Life-Changing ProducerThe Difference Between a Producer Who Listens and One Who Doesn'tWhy Alex Was Initially Resistant to Having a ProducerWhat Colin Taught Him That He Still Uses Today — and What He HatedThe Shift From Being a Musician to Wanting to Be in the StudioMoving to the US: From Arizona to LA to San Francisco to New YorkFirst Impressions of LA — Where's the City Centre?The Culture Shock of Going From the UK to CaliforniaWhy Alex Prefers San Francisco Over LATiny Telephone and John Vanderslice — Engineering as EducationLearning to Mic Instruments He'd Never Encountered BeforeThe Moment Budgets Started Collapsing Around 2004Building a Studio in LA, Then New York, Then Realising It Was MadnessNew York vs LA: Brutally Honest vs Relaxed and OpenSurviving as a Freelance Producer: The Feast or Famine RealityWhy He Intentionally Avoids Getting Pigeonholed as a ProducerMoving to Joshua Tree and Building a Residential Studio From ScratchDesigning the Studio From a Musician's Perspective, Not an Engineer'sThe Vintage Trailer as Accommodation: Glamping, Not a Holiday InnHigh Ceilings That Cost an Extra $35,000Good Coffee Is More Important Than the Gear in the RackThe Sawmills Influence on the Joshua Tree Studio ConceptPhilip Broussard, Daniel Lanois, and the Kingsway/Teatro PhilosophyWhat Alex Brings to the Table as a Producer: Objectivity and People SkillsThe Sliding Scale Rate Philosophy: Money Follows Good WorkOn Relationships, Touring, and Finding a Partner Who Gets ItDual UK/US Citizenship and Thoughts on Moving Back to EnglandMatt's RANT!: AI and Its Uses Links and Show Notes:Alex Newport Tiny Creatures StudioWCA with John Greenham WCA with Philip Broussard Credits:Guest: Alex NewportHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this return visit to Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back Dante Fumo — freelance sound designer, writer, and the creator behind Harmonic Content, a screen-printed audio zine now in its seventh issue. Dante talks about building a sustainable freelance life that spans independent film post-production, writing for Vintage King and Pro Sound Effects, and self-publishing a physical zine inspired by the Tape Op compilations he read as a college writing tutor. The conversation covers the realities of DIY publishing — screen printing, saddle-stitching zines at home, and the economics of Patreon — alongside the craft of mixing short films in Dolby Atmos, delivery specs for the festival circuit, building a sound library, and why low cost of living might be the most underrated career decision a freelancer can make.In This Episode, We Discuss:The Origin of Harmonic Content ZineHow Tape Op Inspired the Whole ThingThe Economics of Self-Publishing a Physical ZineScreen Printing and DIY Production WorkflowWhy Ink Cartridges Are a Scam (and What Dante Uses Instead)Building a Sustainable Patreon as a Small Independent CreatorBalancing Freelance Writing, Sound Design, and PublishingWriting for Vintage King and Pro Sound EffectsHow Dante Gets Independent Film Clients — All Word of MouthThe Life Cycle of an Indie Short Film: Festivals to YouTubeMixing Everything in Atmos Even for Non-Atmos DeliverablesNetflix Home Entertainment Spec as a Loudness BaselineLoudness for Short Films vs. Feature Films vs. MusicCalibrating Your Monitors With Pink NoiseOverhead Fold-Down Settings When Bouncing Atmos to StereoSound Design vs. Mixing: What Dante Loves MostField Recording for Ambiences vs. Buying LibrariesSoundCue — A Free Sound Effects Organizing Tool from Pro Sound EffectsGDC Free Sound Library and Other Ways to Build a Collection for FreeGeorge Vlad and Watson Wu — Field Recording HeroesTonebenders Podcast as the WCA of Post-Production SoundWhy Dante Stepped Back From Recording Everything HimselfThe Case for Not Having All Your Eggs in One BasketADHD and Freelancing: Finding Work You Can Actually Stay Engaged WithLow Cost of Living as a Freelance StrategyAES Nashville and the Press Pass QuestionWhat the Next Five Years Look LikeMatt's RANT!: SchoolDiscount Codes:WCA25OFF — 25% off a zine at harmoniccontentzine.comLinks and Show Notes:Harmonic Content ZineDante Fumo — Supernatural Sound DesignHarmonic Content on PatreonWCA #346 with Dante FumoWCA #596 with Will KennedyTape Op MagazineTonebenders PodcastPro Sound Effects / SoundCueCredits:Guest: Dante FumoHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes a panel of four guests united by a common cause: Tinnitus Quest, a patient-driven nonprofit pushing to fund and accelerate tinnitus research. Tchad Blake — 7-time Grammy Award-winning producer, mixer, and engineer with credits including Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, and Pearl Jam — opens up about living with tinnitus since age eight or nine, the result of childhood exposure to rifle fire, and how he has mixed some of the most acclaimed records of the past four decades with significant hearing loss in one ear. Neuroscientist and consultant neurologist Dr. Will Sedley of Newcastle University breaks down what the brain is actually doing when tinnitus occurs, from central gain theory to predictive coding, gating mechanisms, and why the brain's compensation strategies can misfire. Hazel Goedhart, co-founder and Executive Board Member at Tinnitus Quest, shares her own tinnitus journey and how it led her to leave a career in financial services and fundraise her own salary to work for the cause full-time. And Jack Rubinacci, musician, songwriter, and Head of PR at Tinnitus Quest, explains how the organization is working to change the narrative around tinnitus the same way the mental health conversation shifted over the past generation — because that narrative shift is what unlocks funding, and funding is what drives research.In This Episode, We Discuss:What Tinnitus Quest Is and Why It Was FoundedThe Scale of the Problem: 750 Million People, Almost No Research FundingTchad's Tinnitus Since Age Eight or Nine: Childhood Rifle FireMixing Iconic Records With Significant Hearing LossTinnitus as a Potential Creative SuperpowerHow the Brain Compensates for Hearing Loss and Generates Phantom SoundCentral Gain Theory and Neural Noise AmplificationSynchrony: How Neurons Fire Together and Make Tinnitus LouderGating Mechanisms and Why Some People's Brains Filter Tinnitus OutThe Predictive Coding Model: Why Tinnitus Embeds Itself in the BrainHair Cell Damage vs. Synaptopathy: Two Different Types of Noise TraumaRecruitment: A Frequency-Specific Amplification PhenomenonWhy Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Don't Always CorrelateWhy Some People With Hearing Loss Never Get TinnitusSudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Medical EmergencyTinnitus Spikes: What Causes Them and What the Evidence Says About SteroidsTinnitus as a Canary in the Coal Mine for Stress and OverexposureFleeting Tinnitus: The Brief Episodes Most People ExperienceLow-Frequency Tinnitus and "The Hum"Musical Tinnitus and Musical HallucinationsWho to See: ENT vs. Audiologist vs. NeurologistCBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness for TinnitusTchad's Personal Coping Strategies, Including Exposure Therapy and Harmonizing With the RingingThe Role of Psilocybin and Psychedelics in Potential Tinnitus TreatmentNeural Plasticity, Synaptogenesis, and Why Psychedelics May HelpStem Cell and Cochlear Regeneration ResearchIs Tinnitus a Modern Problem? Pre- vs. Post-Industrial Noise ExposureThe Stigma Around Tinnitus in the Music IndustryHow Bella Bathurst Connected Jack and TchadTQ's First Oxford Research Grant: Transcranial Ultrasound StimulationWhy Patient-Driven Funding Moves Faster Than Institutional FundingThe Catch-22 of "Learn to Live With It" and How It Suppresses ResearchMatt's RANT!: Hearing ProtectionLinks and Show Notes:Tinnitus QuestWCA #334 with Jack RubinacciWCA #200 with Tchad BlakeBella Bathurst – Sound: Stories of Hearing Lost and Found Newcastle University – Translational and Clinical Research InstituteCredits:Guests: Tchad Blake, Dr. Will Sedley, Jack Rubinacci, Hazel GoedhartHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back producer, mixer, and engineer Will Kennedy. Will shares an update on his journey since his last appearance, focusing on his partnership with Matt Wallace and their deep dive into immersive and Dolby Atmos mixing from their Los Angeles studio. They discuss the strategic decision to sell off their traditional recording gear, the evolution of the immersive audio market, and the amusing discovery of a hidden Starbucks inside a Jaguar dealership. The conversation also explores the unique, ongoing challenges of adapting rock and roll production techniques for the Atmos format.In This Episode, We Discuss:Biking With Brad WoodHuman Powered VehiclesPartnership With Matt WallaceDolby Atmos Mixing FocusLos Angeles Studio LocationHorseless Carriage DinerJaguar Dealership StarbucksSelling Traditional Recording GearKeeping Essential Overdub SetupOffloading Full Band TrackingEarly Adopter Atmos StrategyBecoming Premium Immersive MixersDolby Atmos Market CorrectionNavigating Cheap Atmos MixesAtmos In Modern CarsMixing Rock In SurroundStereo Versus Immersive TechniquesDeveloping New Tracking MethodsMatt's RANT!: Think BiggerLinks and Show Notes:WCA #388 with Will KennedyMatt Wallace on WCABrad Wood on WCACredits:Guest: Will KennedyHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck SmithVideo Interview

In this episode, Matt welcomes mastering engineer Steve Kitch. Steve shares his journey from early music programming on home keyboards and classical piano training to building a worldwide mastering practice from his studio in Devon, UK. They discuss the transition from transferring DAT tapes to CDs, being an early adopter of online file delivery, and the evolution of a professional audio career through self-taught exploration and technical curiosity.In This Episode, We Discuss:Full Time MasteringDevon Studio LocationClassical Piano TrainingEarly Keyboard SequencersHiFi Technical UpbringingSound On SoundSelf Taught EducationDAT Tape TransfersOnline Mastering PioneerGoogle AdWords StrategiesSupermarket Shift WorkWebsite Design SoftwareGlobal Client ReachDigital Audio EvolutionMatt's RANT!: The Small ThingsLinks and Show Notes:Steve Kitch’s Site: AudiomasterRelated Episode: WCA #593 with Katie Marie RichardsCredits:Guest: Steve KitchHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode, Matt welcomes mastering engineer and artist Amar Lal of Oakland’s Macro Sound. Amar shares his journey from the New York DIY scene and touring with Big Ups to a corporate role at Sennheiser and his eventual return to independent studio ownership. They discuss the benefits of an all-digital mastering workflow, the "Active Listening Club" philosophy, and how Amar maintains career longevity through work-life balance and photography.In This Episode, We Discuss:Mastering Engineer RolesOakland Studio LocationShared Building BenefitsEarly Childhood CanadaChildhood Piano LessonsExperimental Music SceneCircuit Bending GearHigh School RecordingNew York EducationTouring Big UpsFacing Career BurnoutCorporate Sennheiser ExperienceLaunching Macro SoundHome Studio LogisticsOakland Artistic CommunityAll Digital MasteringActive Listening ClubBalancing Personal LifePassion For PhotographyArtistic Practice PhilosophyMastering Room AcousticsLocal Community TiesRemote Working ModelsStudio Business LogisticsAuditory Sensitivity IssuesLinks and Show Notes:Amar Lal’s Site: Macro SoundBand Reference: Big UpsSennheiserActive Listening ClubMatt's RANT: Doing Try OutsCredits:Guest: Amar LalHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Katie Marie for a deep dive into her 30-year career journey, moving from a rural UK trailer to world-class studios. They discuss the transition from solo artistry to a supportive production role, the philosophy of professional growth, and maintaining a healthy mindset around the business of music.In This Episode, We Discuss:Producer And Multi-instrumentalist BackgroundLeaving School At FifteenSelf-taught Musical FoundationsEarly Four-track Recording ExperimentsTransitioning From Solo ArtistManaging Performance AnxietyRelocating From Devon To AustinMentorship At Blue Rock StudioSharing Process Via Live StreamsTransitioning To North CarolinaMorning And Afternoon Life StagesGrowing Wider Rather Than TallerCollaborating With Christie LenéeOvercoming A Poverty MindsetCharging Based On ValueSelling The Human ExperiencePrioritizing Songs Over GearAdapting To New EnvironmentsLinks and Show Notes:Katie Marie’s SiteBlue Rock StudioBook Reference: You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroMatt's Rant: What IS possibleCredits:Guest: Katie Marie RichardsHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back producer, engineer, mixer Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Steve Morse, Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin) to talk about being a pro audio nomad, falling trees, and and anchor points.In This Episode, We Discuss:World TravelFalling TreesLanguageBeing a Respectful HumanAnchor POintsDebtLinks and Show Notes:Ronan's SiteMatt's Rant: Passion for AudioCredits:Guest: Ronan Chris MurphyHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes mixing and mastering engineer Tyrone "Cross Bone T" Harris who shares his journey from a young music enthusiast in London to a professional mixing and mastering engineer.In This Episode, We Discuss:Musical Roots and Early InfluencesThe Journey into Music ProductionCuriosity and Learning in MusicEarly Experiences with TechnologyFirst Steps in Radio and EducationNavigating Challenges in Music EducationTransitioning to Professional EnvironmentsLive Sound Experiences and GrowthThe Art of Live Sound EngineeringNavigating the Music Industry as a Young ProfessionalHealth Challenges and Career AdaptationTransitioning to Home Studio WorkBuilding a Client Base in a Niche MarketPhilosophy on Life and Overcoming ObstaclesThe Importance of Small Wins and MotivationLinks and Show Notes:CBT's SiteMatt's Rant: Sonic CitizensCredits:Guest: Tyrone "Cross Bone T" HarrisHost/Engineer/Producer: Matt BoudreauWCA Theme Music: Cliff TruesdellThe Voice: Chuck Smith