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Working Class Audio

The Working Class Audio Podcast pulls back the curtain on the professional recording world. Host and audio engineer Matt Boudreau talks with guests from music, film, games, restoration, and beyond—diving into their real-world journeys. No fluff, just honest conversations about the wins, losses, money, collaboration, and survival strategies that define a career in audio. It's recording life from a working class perspective.

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back engineer/producer electrician, Mike Blodgett to discuss electricity and pro audio!

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Isolated Grounds

 Isolation Transformers

 Ground Rods

 Power Conditioners

 Apartment Power

 Home Studio Power

 Electrical Safety

Links and Show Notes:

 Mike on WCA #348

Matt's Rant: How You Listen

Credits:

 
Guest: Mike Blodgett

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #566 with Mike Blodgett – Isolated Ground, Ground Rods, Isolation Transformers, Power Conditioners, and Electrical Safety

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back engineer/producer and 3D audio geek, Hans-Martin Buff to discuss mixing Peter Gabriel's I/O as well as his own project Tearjerkers. 

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Tearjerkers

 Peter Gabriel

 Real Word Studios

 Binaural Mixing

 ATMOS

 Format Haters

Links and Show Notes:

 Pure Audio Streaming:

 Immersive Audio Album:

 Link tree Album:

 Youtube Siren Video:

 Audiomovers Apple: 

 Illusonics 

 Neumann Rime

 Virtuoso: 

 Waves NX: 

Matt's Rant: Focused Discussion

Credits:

 
Guest: Hans-Martin Buff

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #565 with Hans-Martin Buff – Tearjerkers, Peter Gabriel, Real World, Binaural, and ATMOS

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes Engineer, Producer, Mixer Steve Dierkens. In this conversation, Steve shares his journey from as a succesful enginer working in film in California to a professional audio engineer and producer living in Canada. He discusses his early influences, the transition to a professional career, and the lifestyle changes that came with moving to Canada. Steve reflects on the challenges of building a studio, the importance of family, and the reevaluation of his career goals. He emphasizes the need for joy in music production and offers insights into financial perspectives in the audio profession. The conversation also touches on remote collaborations, social media challenges, and the definition of success and happiness in the industry.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Career path shift

 Family-driven choices

 Moved to Canada

 Studio-building challenges

 Joy in work

 Financial balance

 Valued client relationships

 Global collaborations

 Social media pressure

 Redefining success

Links and Show Notes:

 Steve and Chris Selim's Podcast

Matt's Rant: More on Streaming vs Physical Media

Credits:

 
Guest: Steve Dierkens

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #564 with Steve Dierkens – Career Path Shift, Joy in Work, Financial Balance, Global Collaborations, and Redefining Success

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes Grammy winning Mixer, Producer, & Mastering Engineer Jon Rezin who has worked with Natalia Jimenez, One Direction, Andy Grammer, BoA, and Santana.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Working Remotely in Ohio

 Mixing

 Saving Time

 Skills

 Network

 Building Relationships

 The Masked Singer

 American Idol

Links and Show Notes:

 Jon's Site

 Jon on Instagram

Matt's Rant: Streaming vs Physical Media

Credits:

 
Guest: Jon Rezin

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #563 with Jon Rezin– Working Remotely in Ohio, Mixing, Saving Time, Skills and Network

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back Recording and Mixing Engineer Steve Genewick. Steve gives us the full behind the scenes look into the making of the new Spinal Tap record “The End Continues”. From the initial phone call to the release of the record and movie we get into the details.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Initial Phone Call

 Where to Record

 Setup

 Mics, Preamps, etc..

 Mixing

 Mixing in ATMOS

 WIG Day!

 In The Box

 Cracking Up

Links and Show Notes:

 The time code software

 Download the Input List!

 Steve’s site

 Link to the record on Apple Music

 WCA #070 with Al Schmitt & Steve Genewick

 WCA #324 with Steve Genewick

 WCA Live from NAMM 2024

Matt’s Rant: Perfection

Credits:

 
Guest: Steve Genewick

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #562 – STEVE GENEWICK talks SPINAL TAP

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes Jordan Lonn, Head Audio Engineer at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, California. The venue hosts a wide range of performances, including musical acts such as Joss Stone, Joan Osborne, and the Count Basie Orchestra, as well as musical theater and stand-up comedy.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Guitar Center

 Dropping Out Of College

 Paying Dues

 Sustained Energy

 Failing Kidney's

 Health Epiphany

 Home Town Gig

 FOH

 Gallo Center

Links and Show Notes:

 Gallo Center for The Arts

Matt's Rant: Acting Territorial

Credits:

 
Guest: Jordan Lonn

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #561 with Jordan Lonn – FOH, Paying Dues, Failing Kidney's, Home Town Gig, and Sustained Energy

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back Grammy Nominated producer, engineer, and mixer Travis Ference as well as multi-instrumentalist, sound designer and audio engineer Kerry Rose to talk all about backing up and archiving audio. 

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 3-2-1 System

 Best Practices & Considerations

 Insurance & Liability

 Personal Experiences 

 Travis's Altadena Fire Experience

 Kerry's Nevada City Fire Scare

 Scorched Earth

 Remote/Cloud Storage

 Challenges with Cloud

 Offsite NAS

 Methodology Over Tools

Links and Show Notes:

 Watch Duty App 

 GMRS Radios

 Documentary on Paradise

 Backblaze

 Sync.com

 Neofinder

 Synology NAS

 OWC

 Travis online

Matt's Rant: The Many Hats We Wear

Credits:

 
Guest: Travis Ference and Kerry Rose

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #560 The Backup Episode – 3-2-1 System, Nevada City Fire Scare, Altadena Fire Experience, and Best Practices & Considerations

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes engineer and producer Moses Schneider. The Berliner is responsible for some of the most successful records of recent years. The Beatsteaks achieved their breakthrough in the German charts under his direction. His other productions include Tocotronic, Fehlfarben, Dendemann, Kreator and others. In 2008, Schneider was nominated for the German music award Echo for his work on "Kapitulation" by Tocotronic and "Limbo Messiah" by the Beatsteaks. In 2018 and 2022 he was nominated for the German music Award "Preis für Popkultur" as "favorite Producer". 

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Hansa Studios

 The Pixies

 Gil Norton

 Gordon Raphael

 New York

 Berlin

 Disco Powder

 Gentrification

 Obscuring Audio

Links and Show Notes:

 Moses on Instagram

 Moses website

Matt's Rant: Walking.....yes walking

Credits:

 
Guest: Moses Schneider

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #559 with Moses Schneider – Hansa Studios, Disco Powder, Obscuring Audio, The Wall, and No Sandwich Recording

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes back Ady Parzentny. Adrian Parzentny is a German‒Polish music producer, audio engineer, and creative adventurer. With over 13 years of travel and music production experience, Adrian has recorded traditional musicians across Morocco, the Sahara Desert, and beyond — often in remote villages, mountain ranges, and DIY setups built inside vans and hotel rooms.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 Barcelona move

 Audio Nomad book

 Studio connections

 Modeling

 Freelance audio

 Travel recording

 Gear philosophy

 Artist support

 Music mediums

 Authentic living

 Intuition guides

Links and Show Notes:

 Get the book! 

 Listen to Ady on WCA #468

Matt's Rant: More Discipline

Credits:

 
Guest: Ady Parzentny

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #558 with Ady Parzentny – Barcelona, Artist Support, Studio Connections, and the Audio Nomad Book

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes producer, engineer, and musician Assaad Lakkis, the creative force behind Bull Funk Zoo and owner of Bull Funk Studios in Dubai. Assad’s career blends boundary-pushing rock, funk, and experimental sounds with his work producing and recording artists from around the world, making him a central figure in the Middle Eastern music scene.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

 The Bullfunk Identity

 Time in the US

 Bullfunk Studios

 Learning and Mentorship

 First Studio Challenges

 Job Market in Dubai

 Current Home Studio

 Financial Realities

 Client Acquisition 

 Diversified Income

 Continuous Learning

 Perseverance

 Mental Health

Matt's Rant: Self-employed discipline

Links and Show Notes:

 Bull Funk Zoo: https://www.bullfunkzoo.com/

 Bull Funk Studios: https://bullfunkstudios.com/

 Bull Fuunk Zoo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BullFunkZoo/videos

Credits:

 
Guest: Assaad Lakkis

 
Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau

 
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

 
The Voice: Chuck Smith

WCA #557 with Assaad Lakkis– Bullfunk Studios, Financial Realities, Continuous Learning, Perseverance, and Mental Health

My guest today is Mastering Engineer Ben Pike, who runs an analog-based mastering and record cutting studio in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Ben specializes in vinyl mastering and custom lathe cut records, working primarily with independent artists. He has collaborated with artists and groups such as ATA Records, Yaatri, The London Ambient Orchestra, Smith & The Honey Badgers, and King Zepha.
In this episode, we discuss:

Leeds, West Yorkshire Roots

Discovering Recording Technology

DIY Recording Beginnings

Home Studio Evolution

Transition to Mastering

Vinyl Mastering Journey

Analog Studio Setup

Custom Lathe Cut Records

Challenges of Chronic Illness

Building a Mastering Studio

Navigating the Music Industry

Supporting Independent Artists

Small Batch Vinyl Production

Innovative Vinyl Techniques

Mastering and Cutting Synergy

Restoring Vintage Gear

Matt's Rant: The Art of Being Concise
Links and Show Notes

Ben Pike's Studio: Rare Tone Mastering

Jeff Powell Companion Episode

Credits

Guest: Ben Pike

Host: Matt Boudreau

Engineer: Matt Boudreau

Producer: Matt Boudreau

Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau

WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell

Announcer: Chuck Smith

WCA #505 with Ben Pike – Vinyl Mastering, Lathe Cut Records, Analog Studio Setup, and Navigating Chronic Illness

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