Rising Stars: Doug Friedman

Audio Pro International’s commitment to showcasing the brightest young talent operating in the industry continues this week with the latest instalment of our Rising Stars section.

This week we speak to audio engineer Doug Friedman…

Where did you study?
I am in the last couple weeks of my Masters programme at New York University. I will be graduating with a Masters in Music Business, with a concentration in Music Technology. I received my BA in Theatre Arts at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Which band/project are you currently working on?
I recently finished designing and implementing a mobile application that allows users to download audio copies of live concerts. Patrons receive a wristband at a live show, download my free app, scan the QR code on their wristband, and a link to a copy of the live audio from the show they are witnessing will be in their inbox the next morning! The company is called BarCode NYC, and full information can be found at www.barcodenyc.com. I am currently utilising this project as the source material for my graduate thesis, and it is therefore currently a non-profit service.

Where are you based/working at the moment?
I am based in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, near famous venues like The Mercury Lounge and The Bowery Electric. I have lived in New York City for the past two years and I may be looking to relocate to Washington DC this fall.

Which audio console are you currently using, and how many channels?
I currently do not have the space or money for a full console, so I am working solely off my mbox. However, most of my production deals with vocals and synthesisers, so I use a lot of complex software and associated plug-ins. These include anything from ProTools 10 to Ableton to fMod, and even the Unreal Development Engine.

What decision process was the choice behind this console?
I have a very small space to work so I needed to conserve as much room as possible for my keyboard, pre-amps, microphones, cables, speakers, and of course my computer. I am working off of a 3.4 GHz 27-inch iMac with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. It weighs about 35 pounds and occupies the majority of the space on my desk, so I guess one could argue that my iMac is my console.

Do you use any outboard effect/EQ, and if so, what are they used on and why?
I don’t have any physical outboard gear, again due to price and space constraints. I do utilise the Waves plug-ins quite heavily, and I can’t stress how helpful simple programmes like Peak and Maxim have been to help keep my mixes from clipping.

What is your console of choice?
It may sound cliche, but I’m obsessed with the Digidesign C24. I learned ProTools exclusively on that console and the layout is completely intuitive. If I had to pick a soundboard for best audio quality, however, I’d definitely go with the Sony MCI 500. It’s an older analogue board that truly epitomises the idea of sound ‘warmth’, maintaining just the right amount of buzz to give the audio a raw quality inimitable by digital boards like the C24.

If you could tour with any band/artist, who would it be?
I would love to tour with Naturally 7 and Michael Buble. I am a huge a cappella junkie, having performed professionally, and Naturally 7 is the most cutting-edge touring group out there today. Michael Buble is the reincarnation of Sinatra, and I’d be honored to work with a male vocalist of his calibre. The male voice is a truly transformative instrument, and the combination of these two artists certainly represents a powerhouse collaboration of the genre.

To get involved in our Rising Stars column, whether you are an engineer who is new to the industry and would like to be featured, or an experienced engineer who would like to nominate a particular student/apprentice, please contact Audio Pro International editor Daniel Gumble on daniel.gumble@intentmedia.co.uk or 01992 535646.

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