Signal To Noise Podcast

Episode 322 shares a look at the history and evolution of sound design for theatre, from Broadway to Cirque du Soleil, from the folks at the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast. This early episode features two of the biggest names in Broadway sound, Abe “The Godfather of Sound Design” Jacobs, whose career ranged from mixing the Mamas and the Papas and Jimi Hendrix to designing such iconic Broadway shows as Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Evita, A Chorus Line, and so many more, joined by Jonathan Deans, designer of countless Cirque du Soleil Vegas spectaculars including Mystere, Love, Ka, and many others, as w...

In Episode 321, Sean and Andy wrap up a last handful (for now!) of listener questions, touching on routines for decompressing after a show and re-entering “civilian” life, balancing long work days and/or travel with coming home, talk a little bit about day rates, and then dig into one of Sean’s long-standing business book recommendations, Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality, and how both business owners and freelancers can take the lessons from that book to heart in the live audio and event world to build better relationships with clients and customers!

Episode Links:
Unreason...

In Episode 320, Sean and Andy talk with Sage Tichenor, best known as front of house engineer for violinist and songwriter Lindsey Stirling, for a wide-ranging chat about all things live audio. Sage talks about migrating and selecting a console platform for her shows, what it’s like mixing a NAMM showcase for a manufacturer, working with a wide range of artists from bluegrass to pop-classical/EDM crossover, and more. Plus plugins, snare sounds that don’t suck, and more…nothing’s off the table!

Sage is a freelance touring FOH engineer and classically trained flautist. In December 2018, she grad...

The hosts sync up again with Tal Kocen and Dave Friesema of Dark Matter Audio Labs in Episode 319 to see what they’ve been up to as they start off their second year as Dark Matter with a bang — albeit a safe and quiet one, thanks to their new hearing protection offerings. Hearing protection and safety is a subject we come back to semi-regularly on Signal to Noise because it’s so important, so we’re excited to see another great option, and hear about what makes these different.

The gang didn’t stop at earplugs, though–they also le...

In Episode 318, audio engineering veterans Robert Scovill and Geoff McKinnon of EAW join the hosts to . discuss the evolution of adaptive sound systems, the unique aspects of EAW loudspeakers like Anya, and the real-world applications of adaptive technology in live sound. The conversation also touches on the challenges and misconceptions surrounding adaptive audio and the importance of technology training and education in the industry.

McKinnon is the senior director of engineering at EAW. With 10 patents spanning acoustics and system design, he has been a primary driver behind the company’s ADAPTive line and the new NTX and NT...

In Episode 317, Sean and Andy go back to the mailbox for more listener questions, picking up where they left off in Episode 309. This time, the focus is on the business side of freelancing — rates, non-competes/NDAs, W2 vs 1099 work, unions, taxes… Plus some thoughts on choosing which compromises to make when time is short on a load-in, and much more! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
Episode 309 – Listener Q&A, Part 1
Episode 317 Transcript

NOTE: Mike Green, the artist who performs “Break Free” that opens...

In Episode 316, it’s time for a post-NAMM recap of all the cool people, places, and things Sean and Andy got to catch up with and check out at the 2026 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center. Loudspeakers big and small, useful gadgets, new mixers, earplugs, new IEM models… there was something for everybody this year, and we’re here to tell you all about it! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
TT+ AUDIO GTX 7C
Dark Matter Audio Labs DMA7 BA 7
Violet Audio...

In Episode 315, Sean and Andy get the lowdown on a relatively new live audio tool that took both NAMM and the online live audio community by storm over the last year as they talk with Devin Sheets, founder and owner of Alpha Labs, to learn all about De-Feedback. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

A much-talked-about plugin in live audio of 2025, there are lots of myths and misunderstandings, rave reviews and reticence about this new tool for fighting feedback, handling overly reverberant rooms, and dealing with noise in live reinforcement...

In Episode 314, Jessica Isenhour, AKA the one and only “AV Barbie,” joins the show to talk all things event production, social media networking in the event industry, helping younger technicians grow in the industry, and more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Jessica is a freelance audio visual technician for corporate and live events and mentor to the next generation of AV leaders. As co-owner of the Growth and Development Network, she’s passionate about entrepreneurial initiatives, including mentorship gatherings, resume review sessions, and one-on-one meetings that help empower young techni...

It’s NAMM Show season, with Sean and Andy kicking it off with a bang in Episode 313 by getting the scoop on everything NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) from CEO and president John Mlynczak. He provides a crash course on NAMM, what he’s looking forward to at the show in Anaheim this year, the NAMM Foundation educational program, and more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Prior to NAMM, John served as president of Music Education & Technology at Hal Leonard, where he oversaw worldwide education market strategy. He also...

Sean and Andy start off 2026 with a bang, as live sound “renaissance man” Danny Abelson joins the show to discuss a wide range of bold positions, from how to prepare for a career in live audio to whether or not the quality of sound at shows today has kept up with the quality of the gear available to us to use at them. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

With a 50-plus-year career that started as a teenager working in New York City in the middle of “anything and everything” in the l...

New York-based mixer and sound designer Jason Crystal joins the show in Episode 311 for a tour through his wide-ranging career, spanning from Broadway — where his resume includes working as the associate sound designer and audio supervisor for every production of Hamilton around the world, as well as sound designing the Broadway and touring productions of Suffs — to mixing front of house for major broadcast events such as the Tony Awards and the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Whet...

In Episode 310, the hosts welcome guest Tyler “Ty the Sound Guy” Davis, an experienced audio engineer with two decades in the industry. Born and raised in LA, Tyler started his audio journey two decades ago playing in bands, doing sound at DIY shows, recording bands in his garage, and mostly failing miserably at all the above! Through sheer unwillingness to accept that he wasn’t very good, he honed his skillset to come to the place where, 20 years later, he’s failing much less miserably! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

After...

In Episode 309, the hosts turn over the reigns for a round of listener questions. They reached out to the Signal to Noise Community on Facebook and Discord to invite listeners to submit questions that they’re afraid to ask, or were afraid to ask when they were starting out in their career, and this week the hosts set out to answer the first handful of them. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

No topic was off-limits, from technical to interpersonal… Questions include strategies for overcoming introversion to excel in networking and...

This week, the hosts turn over the feed to feature a new episode from our sister podcast, Live Sound Bootcamp, to welcome them back after a very long hiatus! In this episode, Ryan John and guest host Aram Piligian answer a question about how best to go about capturing and mixing orchestral instruments in classical environments, and also in the context of adding strings to pop and rock acts. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

There’s some incredible advice and experience to be found in this episode, and we do...

Dave Hatmaker joins Sean and Andy in Episode 307 for a wide-ranging conversation about working in theme parks, helping test and develop new audio products, and some hard-hitting practical tips and tricks for mixing corporate events.

Dave has mixed astronauts to vice presidents, and almost everything in between. He’s also been a sound designer for the Walt Disney Company, helping to create many memorable in-park entertainment shows, spectaculars and guest experiences, including Beauty and the Beast (before going to Broadway), Spirit of Pocahontas, and Hunchback of Notre Dame: Festival of Fools.

In addition, he’s work...

In Episode 306: it’s time for something a bit different, as Andy introduces Sean and the listeners to another of his favorite sound-related podcasts, Twenty Thousand Hertz, produced by the sound design team at Defacto Sound. Twenty Thousand Hertz is focused on all things related to sound, from the sound design and scores of TV shows like Bluey to the sound design of all the alerts and notifications on an iPhone to dives into Broadway and arena touring, and so much more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

In this ep...

In Episode 305, Andy and Sean present an end of summer wrap-up, touching on a wide variety of subjects as concert season for a lot of small to mid-size sound companies wind down and corporate season picks up! Andy shares some big news on his new “day gig,” having left the freelance life to work full time doing tech support for a major manufacturer, and he also talks about visiting with Tal from Dark Matter and hearing their DMA-8 in-ear monitors for the first time. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Mean...

Daniel and Andreas Sennheiser, the third-generation CEOs of Sennheiser Electronics, join the show in Episode 304 to celebrate and look back on Sennheiser’s 80th anniversary.

In a wide-ranging conversation, they talk about the history of Sennheiser, and how it’s remained a family-run company through all of its 80-year history, the hits (and even a couple misses!) of those first eight decades, and what to look forward to in the next few years.

They share how the company got started, discuss their work on the cutting edge of wireless technology with the new Spectera wireless syst...

In Episode 303, Sean and Andy are joined by Robert Kuijpers, coming to us straight from the Netherlands to share stories and tips from his extensive experience in the “guerrilla audio” world of fast-moving music festivals.

Robert has been immersed in the live music industry since age 10, starting playing guitar and working in a guitar local shop where he developed a passion for electronics and signal flow. Over the years, he played in various bands while honing his technical skills to make himself sound better, which led naturally into live sound work.

A chance encounter with the...

In Episode 302, Andy and Sean welcome back Sam Kusnetz from Figure 53 to discuss new features in QLab 5.5 software for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues, particularly the introduction of object-based audio. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

The conversation covers the evolution of audio mixing in live events, the importance of user feedback, and the philosophy behind Figure 53’s approach to software updates. They also talk about the upcoming QCLass workshop in Baltimore this September that will provide an opportunity for users to enhance their sk...

Gabe Correa, audio and network project manager at Clair Global, joins the show in Episode 301 to talk about special events on a gigantic scale. Gabe is a Brazilian-born audio and fiber project manager who’s led major live and broadcast productions in 30-plus countries across six continents, such as handling technical operations for the FIFA Club World Cup, Formula 1 and Formula-E, YouTube Brandcast, Capitol Concerts in D.C., Fortnite Times Square, and international tours with Andrea Bocelli. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Gabe’s resume also includes three Olympic Game...

In Episode 300, the hosts take listeners on a trip over to the Signal to Noise Discord Server and dig into a grab bag of tips and tricks from the “Info and Wisdom Nuggets” thread. It’s a lighting round of great advice for anybody in the live audio field, from mixing to troubleshooting to career advice — there’s something useful for everybody! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

There’s way more in the thread than could possibly fit in one episode, so if you’re not already on the server, come j...

In Episode 299, the hosts are joined by Jim Reed, RCF USA’s Manager of Installed Sound and System Design, for a wide-ranging conversation that includes pivoting from a career as a musician and front-of-house engineer to a job on the manufacturer side in live venue installations, as well as sharing advice for production folks who get asked to help consult on installations, and those who might be looking to make a shift away from freelance/touring work as life and priorities change. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Jim also sh...

It’s time for an InfoComm debrief, as returning guest Elliott Carroll joins Andy and Sean to compare notes on what he and Andy saw during their recent trip to Orlando for this year’s InfoComm trade show. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

As Andy puts it, it was the year of big wireless in small packages — so much of the show was about putting eyes and ears on the latest offerings from Shure, Sennheiser, and Sound Devices, but there was also a lot to check out in terms of spa...

In Episode 297, it’s all about safe listening levels, hearing protection and more, as Sean and Andy talk to three of the folks behind the Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance Initiative (HELA) about all things loud (but not too loud)! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Returning guest Laura Sinnott, AuD is joined by Jon Burton and Jos Mulder to explain where HELA came from, its purpose, and much more. From World Health Organization standards for live event audio to which generic fit earplugs to recommend to friends, there’s a ton...

In episode 296, Sean and Andy are joined by Garrett Doran, Sean’s director of operations at Audio Engineers Northwest, to get more perspective on how to get hired as a freelancer in the live audio industry. Garrett shares what he looks for in a resume and/or interview, how to impress a sound company you’re new to, and – just as importantly – what sorts of things are immediate red flags for a company like theirs!

They also dig into strategies for keeping the small to medium size festival gigs that are the summer bread-and-butter for many audio provider...

Listener favorite Ryan John returns to the show in Episode 295 to catch up with Andy and Sean about a wide range of subjects, from the recent season of network TV “upfronts” and “For Your Consideration” presentations he worked to presenting at the L-Acoustics 2025 Keynote in his role as the company’s director of product management for software. There’s even a deep dive into espresso machines and the wonders of super light roasted coffee! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
L-Acoustics Keynote 2025 | Roundhouse London
Episode 289...

Picking up where they left off in Episode 293, the hosts continue the conversation Brian Maddox about building a successful freelance career in live events. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Brian brings the unique perspective of not only being one of the most in-demand freelance mixers in the corporate event market, but having built a new freelance career after pivoting from a staff job at three different times in his life.

Episode Links:
STN Episode 151 With Brian Maddox (Next Generation Audio Professionals)
STN Episode 243...

Friend of the podcast and returning guest Brian Maddox joins Sean and Andy in Episode 293 to dig into the nuts and bolts of how to build a successful freelance career in live events. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Brian brings the unique perspective of not only being one of the most in-demand freelance mixers in the corporate event market, but having built a new career after pivoting from a staff job at three different times in his life. This conversation got so in depth with great advice from Brian...

In Episode 292, the hosts turn to a question from the Signal to Noise Discord community and take a trip to Signal to Noise University, where professor Sean treats Andy and the listeners to Marketing 101 with a look at how to make yourself indispensable to clients. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Whether you’re a small to medium-sized sound provider looking for new business, a freelancer seeking for work from one of those providers, or you’re doing (or trying to do) weddings, corporate events, and concerts — or a mix of all...

In the second part of Andy’s conversation with Cody Heimann of Sound Devices (part one is here), the duo rolls up their sleeves and goes deep on the company’s Astral wireless platform that offers 32 channels in a single rack-unit, Optocore integration, and a handheld transmitter that can take almost any capsule on the market without any additional adapters, there’s a lot to discuss. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
Episode 290 — Cody Heimann On Large-Scale RF Deployment
Sound Devices Astral Wireless & A20-HH Intr...

Episode 290 goes all in on wireless as Andy is joined by Cody Heimann, RF applications engineer at Sound Devices as well as a veteran RF coordinator for large-scale events. In the first of two episodes, he talks about how his career grew and led to finding a niche as an RF coordinator for events and clients such as Coachella, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and some of the largest corporate events and conventions in the world. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Cody shares ti...

“Spatial” and “immersive” audio are buzzwords that we seem unable to escape in today’s world of live sound, but what do they actually mean and how do we use them — if we even should at all? Theatre sound designer Nat Houle joins the show in Episode 289 to provide a “manufacturer-agnostic” take on the topic, benefits and limitations, and much more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Houle, a 2025 USITT Rising Star winner for sound design, works as a designer and associate across the U.S. Last year, she launched a website, NMH S...

This week, Andy takes us behind the scenes for a look at how an episode of Signal to Noise is produced and edited. He walks through the recording, processing, and editing chain, sharing tips and tricks on how to efficiently produce an unscripted conversational podcast, as well as some plugins and tips that are equally applicable to live mixes to broadcast or streaming.

Links:
iZotope RX 11
SoundRadix POWAIR
REAPER
Episode 288 Transcript

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for...

Veteran mix engineer Wayne Pauley returns the show in Episode 287 to talk with the hosts about his experience mixing RCF’s Ultimate Jam Night showcase at NAMM, and doing it in the inimitable “Wayne Pauley style” — in other words, as analog as possible! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Wayne also talks about touring with an RCF TT+ Audio PA as well as his love for ATI Paragon II consoles, sharing the story of his one-of-a-kind custom half-desk Paragon made by FOH engineer and analog console whisperer Chris Mitchell. In addition...

In Episode 286, Sean and Andy continue their look at stepping up from smaller shows with a dive into larger intercom platforms and a look at life past four-channel analog systems. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Drawing from his work programming intercom systems for large scale corporate and broadcast events, including network upfronts, professional wrestling matches, and the recent SNL50 Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall, Andy shares a brand-agnostic look at some tips and tricks for making the most of the options digital intercom systems offer — how a ne...

In Episode 285, the hosts are joined by Tal Kocen and Dave Friesema, founders of brand-new in-ear monitor maker Dark Matter Audio Labs. Sean and Andy were impressed with their IEMs when the company launched at NAMM a couple weeks ago, and knew they had to have the duo on to tell their story. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Tal and Dave detail their history in the live audio and IEM manufacturing worlds, and the journey that led to them branching off on their own to start Dark Matter Audio...

Picking up where they left off in Episode 282, Sean and Andy dig deeper into the “hows and whys” of wireless system frequency coordination, addressing issues such as whether it’s ever OK to just scan on the receiver, an overview of the differences between the Shure Wireless Workbench and SoundBase Coord platforms, the reasons why it’s always a good idea to do your own frequency scan with an analyzer, which inexpensive analyzers you can trust (and which you can’t — and why!), and more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Be sure to...

Fresh back from the 2025 North American Music Merchants (NAMM) Show in Anaheim, CA, Andy and Sean compare notes on all the cool new audio things they saw there, including loudspeakers, in-ear monitors, plugins, consoles, and everything in between. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Be sure to register for Live Sound Nashville on March 11, where you can check out the annual Live Sound International Loudspeaker Demo, hear talks by Jim Yakabuski, Sawyer Dickenson, Wayne Pauley, and much more! Use code “SAVE10” at https://livesound.regfox.com/live-sound-nashville to take $10 off the...