Please fill out the following information, and RRFC Admissions will contact you to discuss our program offerings:
Issue #34 – Mentor News
by L. Swift and Jeff McQ
Mike Johnson, founder and chief engineer of Clear Track Studios in Clearwater, Florida, has been one of our top Recording Connection mentors for the past several years, having helped lots of audio students forge their own music industry careers. He recently touched base with us to talk about what’s been going with his apprentices at Clear Track.
RRF: What are your star students up to? What is their studio time like? Have you hired any of them?
Mike Johnson: We have a student, Seth Hamilton, who is actually in a session with one of our engineers as we speak, setting up a drum tracking session. Seth is a very positive young guy who works very well with others. I’d like to see him do well in his future. Another student, Charity Bradley, has booked and run sessions for her own artist. She, again, is a good student who I think will pursue music to some degree.
RRF: What’s going on at the studio? Any new additions, new equipment, etc.? What sorts of projects or collaborations are in the works?
Mike: Our Studio B has been majorly upgraded this summer. It used to be a minimally equipped production room, now it has Avid ICON console, SSL Sigma Summing, SSL Bus Compressor, PCM AB2s main monitors, and more… In Studio A, honestly, my favorite upgrade this year has been the “Dramastic Obsidian.” It’s the most sonically noticeable improvement that no other bus compressor I’ve ever used can beat.
There are so many projects we work on in our studio that I honestly can’t keep up with what or who it is we’re working with. I know we have recent radio singles on the Billboard charts at the moment, artists we’ve produced who are signing deals, TV, commercials, etc…
RRF: Describe your personal one-on-one approach to education. How do you keep the students engaged?
Mike: I find it’s best that I have the students do “exactly what we do.” For instance, I have them set up an entire drum mic/recording setup in our Studio A live room. I have them do recall on the SSL, and zero out the console afterwards. These are the types of hands-on activities that keep them interested and actually prepare them for the real world.
Learn more about our cutting-edge curriculum that places you in real studios here.
or call (800) 755-7597
RRFC is education upgraded for the 21st century.
Get the latest career advice, insider production tips, and more!
Please fill out the following information, and RRFC Admissions will contact you to discuss our program offerings:
Stay in the Loop: Subscribe for RRFC news & updates!
© 2025 Recording Radio Film Connection & CASA Schools. All Rights Reserved.