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Issue #122
by L. Swift and Jeff McQ
Recording Connection mentor Big Bub
Nicole Thorp and mentor Pierre A. Ferguson at the console
For being a novice, Nicole says her mentor is wasting no time in helping her get the hands-on experience she needs. “We’re working on a Harrison 10 Series 10B recording console,” she says. “He’s actually had me pull up mixes and mix on the console, which is great…I’ve never recorded before, so to really get to use the console and to put into action things that I’ve been learning about has been really, really exciting for me. And I also came and assisted on a number of sessions, setting up for bands, or vocalists, or guitar, and that’s been really exciting, too.”
As she approaches the end of her apprenticeship, Nicole is now taking advantage of the Recording Connection’s “Stay Connected” program to begin branding herself and preparing for her future career. While she’s got long-term goals, Nicole is remarkably level-headed and methodical in her approach, taking things a step at a time.
“I know the program is coming to an end, but I think it’s really just the beginning for me,” she says, “because I really feel like after this I could really go on and actually start conducting sessions on my own…At some point, I want to start my own studio, but I understand you have to take each step as it comes. I see myself working as an engineer and then working up to that point where I can actually open my own studio, start my own production company.”
At the same time, Nicole believes in keeping her options open. “I think it’s important, as a career, to never put yourself in a box,” she says. “Never just limit yourself to one thing. And that’s the one thing about audio that I really love is it’s everywhere, it’s so versatile. I’d love to get into recording TV, movies, radio, live sound. I really want to explore all of those things at some point and learn new skills along the way.”
Perhaps most remarkable about Nicole’s story is how quickly the hands-on training has progressed her toward her career. “The thing that I love about the Recording Connection is I came into this program with very little knowledge,” she says. “[What] I had known previously before the program, I had just read in books…and watched YouTube tutorials. But what this program has really done for me is dive into the fundamentals of engineering and got me to a point where I can actually use the concepts and the materials that I’ve learned about.”
Her advice to other Recording Connection students? “Commit,” she says. “Do the work. If you don’t put in the work, there’s no point…You got to have drive and a lot of focus and dedication to what you’re doing. And I really believe that with those qualities, anyone who’s wanting to do this can succeed.”
Recording Connection student Bud Brinson is diving into the Ableton course with mentor Leland Kracher at January Sound (Dallas, TX). “Let me first start off by saying this is a really cool opportunity to be able to apply what I’m learning in my online class to a studio setting. The first meeting with Leland was good, pretty straight forward…The second meeting with Leland was great because we got into the studio and patched into the board. I made a little loop for homework that took 5-10 minutes to make with a few MIDI tracks and Leland showed me some cool tricks and ideas in arrangement and session view… I’m already looking forward to next week!”
Film Connection apprentice Ryan Drake (Dayton, OH) is asking all the right questions as he gears up for yet another self-produced project. “I am debating whether I want to make it a series or make it a feature. If I go with a feature, it will be the second movie that I will have written and will be another great piece to work on. However if I try to make it a small series, it would be my first attempt of telling a story through multiple episodes…I guess the main theme I want to write is a question I have always asked myself, “How do people perceive the world?”…Now that I have my own little set up of a DSLR camera, cage, a tripod and Adobe Premiere, I think I can do this project fully on my own and be proud of my work again.”
Recording Connection mentor Ira Parker
Control Room A in Maximus Music
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