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 shares stories about RCF’s work on the massive PA overhaul for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including designing a custom loudspeaker to meet the unique needs of the project, and then turning that loudspeaker into a widely available commercial product.

From the start of his time with RCF in sales and products support, Reed has drawn upon a history in the audio industry that includes work as an A1 audio technician, front of house engineer, and installation project manager for several A/V companies. With a primary focus on the installation and larger production company markets, he developed a range of training and instructional materials, including videos and in-person training seminars, covering topics from basic audio theory to system design. His work also extends to on-site product demonstrations and sales training seminars for some of the largest A/V retailers in the U.S.

Over several years with RCF, Reed has designed and managed more than 1,500 sound systems for a range of applications, from community theaters to Broadway productions, chapels to cathedrals, and community sporting facilities to professional stadiums and arenas.

Episode Links:
RCF USA Case Studies
RCF USA Product Catalog
“Why Churches Buy Three Sound Systems, and How You Can Buy Only One,” by Jim Brown
Episode 299 Transcript

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!

Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:

1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to [email protected] with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”

2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there