BIG thanks to our guest: Joe Anderson Check out his work on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersoundllc/Or if you'd like to hire him, just shoot his bat signal into the sky and he'll come running😆Joe Anderson (Andersound) on Live Sound: Troubleshooting, Room EQ, and Working with ArtistsOn this episode of the Critical Ears podcast, we interview Joe Anderson who runs sound at Utah Valley University’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts, and owns Andersound, about how he fell into the audio industry. Joe compares classroom theory with being “thrown into the fire,” shares hard-earned lessons like forgetting cables, and explains using packing checklists and signal-chain troubleshooting. He discusses common approaches to mixing small, mid-size, and large venues. He also touches on varied career gigs, starter gear decisions, microphone preferences, and speaker tradeoffs.04:35 School vs Real World06:47 Big Mistakes and Checklists11:29 Troubleshooting Under Pressure17:13 Making Live Shows Feel Great25:19 Mixing Small and Mid Venues32:59 Noorda Hall Acoustics36:01 Ringing Out and References39:35 Fill Speakers and Time Alignment42:47 Best Seats for Sound45:55 Amplifying Acoustic Spaces47:54 Career in Unusual Venues51:47 Scaling Sound Systems01:00:39 Starter Essentials01:08:33 Live Music vs. AI01:11:17 Fixing Unclear Vocals01:18:36 Theater Mixing vs Concerts🎥This podcast was filmed at Utah Podcast Studio, the #1 studio for podcasting in Utah! If you have a podcast or any other content you need filmed, visit utahpodcaststudio.com!

🎥This podcast was filmed at Utah Podcast Studio, the #1 studio for podcasting in Utah! If you have a podcast or any other content you need filmed, visit utahpodcaststudio.com!

Big thanks to our guest: Max Imants!

Be sure to check out his work!

Instagram: @thatonesoundperson

Facebook: Max Imants

Twitch: @ThatOneSoundPerson

In this Critical Ears Podcast episode, we talk with Max, a theater technician at an art center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which operates as both an art museum and performance space hosting free summer concerts, residencies, and youth programming. We discuss balancing side work with a steady job, when to say yes for experience versus turning down unhealthy or unethical situations, and how networking drives opportunities. Max walks through his sound design process and also gives advice for newcomers.

01:06 Art Center Tech Life

02:37 Finding the Wisconsin Gig

03:24 What an A1 Does

05:45 From Engineering to Theater

07:59 Juggling Multiple Shows

10:57 Paid Gigs and Networking

14:20 When to Say No

27:24 Sound Design Workflow

29:02 Creative Effects Examples

30:53 Theater Audio Workflow

39:21 Finding Steady Work

45:02 Advice for Newbies

48:57 Biggest Audio Mishap

Check out Debra Fotheringham's new album "Valley of Annihilation" here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5OUKZxojj4wRLg5Kwt8xiL?si=mBa_1lFGQ8yERRXuNmwdDADo YOU have an audio issue that you have run into lately? Put it in the comments and we can ask a professional!In this Critical Ears Podcast episode, we talk with Salt Lake City musician and poet Debra Fotheringham about her career path, studio recording process, and live sound strategies. Debra shares how she started, her experience recording at June Audio - a recording studio in Provo Utah, and how she approaches production and songwriting. Debra explains the value of preparation, stage practice, clear communication with engineers, and choosing what’s interesting over what’s perfect, while also addressing burnout, anxiety, and sustaining a creative life.07:17 Writing Versus Effects09:00 Logic Demo To Studio15:00 Live Sound Checklist17:35 Sound Tech Communication29:11 Hitting Creative Blocks35:16 Finding Your Music Path38:02 Burnout And Quitting46:55 Authenticity Over Perfection🎥This podcast was filmed at Utah Podcast Studio, the #1 studio for podcasting in Utah! If you have a podcast or any other content you need filmed, visit utahpodcaststudio.com!

In this episode of Critical Ears, we sit down with Thomas Rowe, live sound expert and the #1 sound engineer at Lagoon Amusement Park 🎤🎢.We dive into real-world signal flow, the worst live audio disasters he’s had to troubleshoot, and how networking played a major role in building his career. From running sound at a major amusement park to working on short films, Thomas shares practical advice for anyone serious about live sound or breaking into the audio industry.If you’re studying audio, working live gigs, or want to level up your sound knowledge — this one’s for you.🔊 Topics we cover:• Understanding signal flow in live environments• Troubleshooting high-pressure audio problems• The power of networking in the sound world• Breaking into professional live soundSubscribe for more conversations with industry professionals and behind-the-scenes audio insight.🎥This podcast was filmed at Utah Podcast Studio, the #1 studio for podcasting in Utah! If you have a podcast or any other content you need filmed, visit utahpodcaststudio.com!