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Podcasts – Making Waves

Spring is almost here! With the Earth gradually awakening, I can feel my own mind coming out of its hibernation. I find myself reading more articles, keeping up with current events, and listening to new podcasts.

Speaking of podcasts, the podcast industry has been receiving attention for some time now. I recently had the pleasure of talking with Fela Davis about podcast audio and what it means for the audio industry. Fela has nearly twenty years of experience in the audio engineering industry. Her list of credentials is very impressive. She also produces and hosts a podcast called The Art of Music Tech Podcast with her business partner Denis Orynbekov.

I became aware of the increasing interest in podcast audio after attending the 2019 Audio Engineering Society’s national convention in New York City. I had listened to a few lectures where Fela and a panel of other professionals talked about their experiences. I had many questions and fortunately, Fela was able to answer all of them.

In the past few years, producing a podcast has become increasingly more affordable. Fela mentioned that most students have the bare minimum needed to put together a podcast. Some kind of DAW to record onto, an interface, and a microphone. Even with the accessibility, how does someone make this kind of work profitable? Fela explained that not only does she work on her own podcast, but many others too. Through 23dB Productions audio services, Fela is able to work with clients who need audio and video services. We both agreed, most people have something they want to say and there will at least be one person willing to listen to it. These can be large-scale companies or organizations or smaller groups or single individuals.

Being mobile and having your own equipment is important, but with the surge of companies, organizations, and individuals looking to use this form of media, being open to its opportunities is key. As a woman in the audio industry, what really intrigued me was, it’s kind of brand new. Fela and I both laughed, but it’s true. This is a part of the industry where women and minorities have the opportunity to flourish. There are no jerks named bob hiring their best friend over you. The pressure to prove yourself is significantly lessened.

In the beginning, most individuals will be playing the role of producer, host, engineer, and editor. Drew Stockero, a student at Michigan Technological University, does just that with his podcast If It Matters Podcast. Stockero said the podcast is about, “ordinary people having ordinary conversations about the things they find extraordinary.” He takes the time to curate each episode and interviewee, he is the producer and hosts every episode, all while recording, mixing, and mastering. After chatting for a bit about his workflow, he did admit that fulfilling every role for the podcast is a lot of work. Typically, indie podcasts are much smaller and only run by one or two people. But, as Fela stated, the option to use remote engineers is there once you start gaining clients or attention.

Radio was brought up in both of my interviews. Stockero mentioned podcasts being an extension of talk radio. Growing up, my father would listen to a lot of NPR on long family road trips. With the shift from cable television to streaming services, it is no surprise we are seeing a move from radio to podcasts. It was also mentioned that podcasting is making more money than radio broadcasts. It is undeniable that there has been a boom in revenue for the podcast industry, but all of this did surprise me. I was starting to have more questions than I started with, and definitely more interest.

I received many great words of wisdom when I asked for advice regarding this topic and its industry. You will want to immerse yourself in the business, or your local chamber of commerce. Networking is always important, but also being someone that has a positive personality and is easy to communicate with is just as important. From an artistic standpoint, being passionate about the topics you are addressing through your podcast is essential. It helps keep the information fresh, the motivation constant, and ultimately something others will want to listen to.

This form of entertainment intrigues me. It is a service where, we as engineers, can have a voice or help others have a voice and be heard. I do agree, I think it is a place that women can flourish in the industry. Not only is there a supply of work where women and minorities can be at the top, but we can also have a voice. Having the ability to not only strengthen myself, but the ones around me is an opportunity that I value. More of these conversations, podcasts, and articles need to exist for our current community and the future community. It is conversations and the spread of information such as this, that makes me feel awake and ready to take on the industry.

I hope you all have a wonderful spring and do not forget to check out the wonderful people that I got to chat with for this article. Fela Davis can be found on LinkedIn and her website felaaudio.com. The Art of Music Tech Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, IHeart Radio, and Youtube. Drew Stockero’s podcast If It Matters is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google, iHeart Radio, listennotes, and player.fm.

The Power of Podcasting Roadie Free Radio, and panelists Fela Davis (The Art Of Music Tech Podcast), Lij Shaw (Recording Studio Rockstars), Chris Graham (The Six Figure Home Studio Podcast) and Matt Boudreau (Working Class Audio).

Women in Audio Podcasts

SoundGirls Mentoring Session at AES – Oct. 20th

SoundGirls.Org Presents Mentoring Session at AES

Sponsored by DiGiCo

Join us for a Mentoring Session with Women Leaders in Professional Audio

Please join us at the AES Diversity and Inclusion Social 6:00 pm, followed at 7 pm for SoundGirls Mentoring Session in studio 4.

You must be a member of SoundGirls.Org. (membership is free and open to all genders and non-binary people. You can sign up on our website). You must register for this event as space is limited.

Register Here

This event is a casual mentoring session (not a panel) and you will be able to get advice and answers to your questions from industry leaders.

Industry Leaders Include (more tba)

Fela Davis is a graduate of Full Sail University and has over 15 years of experience in audio engineering. Her experience includes working for industry powerhouses Clair Broadcast and House of Blues.  She’s front of house for Christian McBride and co-owner of 23dB Productions.

 


 

Gil Eva Craig is an Audio Engineer and Sound Designer from New Zealand, primarily working in live sound. She is part of Western Audio Engineering, a live sound company based in Wellington New Zealand. Gil started as a studio engineer and sound designer for theatre. She has recorded and mixed numerous albums, three of these winning Tui (NZ Music) awards. Gil has also received several Chapman Tripp theatre award nominations, winning best sound design in 2010.


 

Caroline Sanchez is a freelance musician, audio technician, and technology specialist who regularly works for ABC, NBC, MTV, and Music Mix Mobile on production, music, and remote audio crews. Her experience includes working a number of positions in the broadcast field, ranging between stage A2, recording op, monitor mix, and RF tech on productions such as Good Morning America, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Caroline is a local to the New York area and holds a Bachelor of Music in Sound Engineering Arts from William Paterson University.


Karen Anderson Chief Operating Officer and Den Mother at Rational Acoustics. Karen Anderson is one of the founding partners of Rational Acoustics, the developers of the Smaart Acoustic Test & Measurement software platform.  Prior to founding Rational Acoustics in 2008, Karen held a variety of sales & marketing positions within the professional audio industry including Marketing Manager at Meyer Sound and Director of Marketing for Eastern Acoustics Works (EAW) and Loud Technologies.

During her tenure in the professional audio industry, Karen has done pretty much everything from answering phones and coiling cable to managing multi-million dollar advertising budgets and running worldwide training programs.  She’s also managed to learn a fair bit about sound systems in the process. Karen holds a BFA in Theatrical Costume & Makeup design from U.C. Berkeley, which was hopeless for getting a job, but makes her a lot of fun to have around at Halloween.


Michelle Desachy is a music producer, recording and mixing engineer and musician based in Mexico City. She works as an independent contractor at different record studios in Mexico and USA. Her Academic Training includes” Music composition, audio engineering and production” at Fermatta Music Academy (Mexico City). Management and business affairs” by Harvard University. Music Cognition” and “Music Business” by Berklee College of Music.


 

Karrie Keyes – Monitor Engineer for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder Executive Director of SoundGirls.Org. Karrie has spent the last 25 plus years as the monitor engineer for Pearl Jam. Karrie started out doing sound for punk bands in Los Angeles in 1986 under the tutelage of Dave Rat of Rat Sound, where she spent twenty years helping to establish the company. She was able to gain an immense amount of hands-on experience and technical knowledge at Rat, which eventually led to her becoming the monitor engineer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1990-2000. She first met and started working with Pearl Jam who opened for RHCP on their 1991-1992 Blood Sugar Sex Magic Tour. She has worked with Sonic Youth, Fugazi, and Neil Young.


Mike Bangs is a veteran in the touring world with an all-encompassing sound engineering and production management experience from many national and international tours, such as Katy Perry, Eric Clapton, and Aerosmith. Mike is now in charge of growing the Allen & Heath business in the touring market and supporting high-profile events, artists, engineers and sound companies as the new Live Sound/Touring expert.


A Special thanks to DiGiCo for sponsoring our AES Mentoring Session

SoundGirls.Org – NAMM – She Rocks Awards

By: Karrie Keyes
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The last week has been a whirlwind of activity for SoundGirls.Org. We welcomed several members from around the globe to Anaheim and NAMM last week. It was so fantastic to meet members in person and I know everyone had a great time meeting up and hanging out with each other.

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23 db Productions Demos the Rev33

image2[1]By Fela Davis

When 23db Productions was contacted by Rev33 to try out their product, I couldn’t comprehend what this little device would do! I was told that it relieved ear fatigue. Basically, helping our client’s ears and our ears so we were game to try it out! (more…)

Meet 23db Productions

By Karrie Keyes

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23db Productions started in 2014 by Fela Davis and Denis Orynbekov. The partnership was sparked when Denis purchased recording equipment and asked if Fela would be interested in recording with him. (more…)

The Road to 23db Productions – Fela Davis

 

11864830_1025765017455651_8199922057651526845_oFela Davis graduated from Full Sail University in 2002 and works as a live sound and recording engineer. Last year she started 23db Productions with Denis Orynbekov. (more…)

23db Presents: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

Meet 23 db Productions – Fela Davis and Denis Orynbekov use their extensive knowledge of both live and studio audio production to provide a one-stop shop for great live, studio or social media content. They will be sharing with us some of their recent projects.


23db Presents: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

Ottmar Liebert is a five-time Grammy Award nominee and has received 38 Gold and Platinum records.

Here’s a behind the curtain video recording of Ottmar’s 2015 east coast tour with Luna Negra at Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida. Ottmar Liebert(Guitar), Jon Gagan(Bass) and Chris Steele(Percussion).

This is song was recorded, mixed and mastered by 23db Productions. KLOTZ AIS High End cables, Earthworks(Guitar), Lewitt LCT 450(Cajon), Lewitt LCT and Lewitt 340(Bass).

Mix Tip:

We do a lot of multitrack recording but this clip was recorded via a stereo recording. We later mixed and mastered the song and added it to cell phone video. Microphone all instruments close to get as much separation as possible in your mix. With separation all recordings can sound good!


Fela Davis is the general manager at 23db Productions based out of New York City. She’s a graduate of Full Sail University and has over a decade of experience in audio engineering. Her past experiences includes working for industry power houses Clair Wireless and House of Blues. When she’s not editing, recording or mixing live shows for 23db Productions, she’s front of house engineer for the 4-time Grammy award winning jazz artist Christian McBride and Grammy nominated Ottmar Liebert.

Denis Orynbekov is chief engineer at 23db Productions, record producer and multi instrumentalist. He is also a member of NYC based band The Clox. Denis has recorded, mixed and mastered tracks that have been licensed by MTV reality show “Real World Explosion”, PBS “Roadtrip Nation”, Oxygen Channel “Best In Ink” and Hulu “Deadbeat” and can be heard on many radio stations around the globe.

23db Productions Presents: Christian McBride Big Band – In the Wee Hours

Meet 23 db Productions – Fela Davis and Denis Orynbekov use their extensive knowledge of both live and studio audio production to provide a one-stop shop for great live, studio or social media content. They will be sharing with us some of their recent projects.

 

 

The Christian McBride Big Band at Toronto Jazz Festival performing “In the Wee Hours” featuring a solo from tenor saxophonist Loren Schoenberg. All audio was recorded, mixed and mastered by SoundGirls.org members  23db Productions.

 

Mix Tip:
23 db Productions relied on the Lewitt LCT 240 condenser diaphragm microphone and GK bass amp direct out on Christian’s bass for the lush tone during the bow section. We’re very fortunate the Christian doesn’t use use stage monitors so no feedback problems coming from monitor world. Condenser mics can be used live if the conditions are right!
 

Fela Davis is the general manager at 23db Productions based out of New York City. She’s a graduate of Full Sail University and has over a decade of experience in audio engineering. Her past experiences includes working for industry power houses Clair Wireless and House of Blues. When she’s not editing, recording or mixing live shows for 23db Productions, she’s front of house engineer for the 4-time Grammy award winning jazz artist Christian McBride and Grammy nominated Ottmar Liebert.

 

Denis is chief engineer at 23db Productions, record producer and multi instrumentalist. He is also a member of NYC based band The Clox. Denis has recorded, mixed and mastered tracks that have been licensed by MTV reality show “Real World Explosion”, PBS “Roadtrip Nation”, Oxygen Channel “Best In Ink” and Hulu “Deadbeat” and can be heard on many radio stations around the globe.

 

Intern at 23db Productions

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23db Productions is a professional audio engineering and production company located in NYC, featuring experienced engineers and the best of analog and digital tools. High end mixing and mastering services online.

23db Productions Internships

We are a Union City/Jersey City based audio production company looking for an audio intern/assistant for our studio. The intern(s) will train with experienced engineers who mix award winning artists. 23db is a small company but quickly growing so you will get hands on training.

What we’re looking for in our interns:

Please send resumes for internship to info@23dbproductions.com

 

 

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