Thinking Out Loud w/Friends

Thank you for listening to Show 331:  Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  

On this episode of Thinking Out Loud with Friends, the panel dives into a mix of audio industry updates and technical discussions. We kick off with a call to action for viewers to vote for Curt Hare and Point Source Audio for the regional Hometown Hero Award. The conversation shifts into high gear as Curt shares details about his newly acquired Gamble console, which he's modifying with a quad panner to rebuild the Dark Star Orchestra's sound system. We also touch on gear news, including the Digico 638 Quantum console release, and break down the mechanics of using balanced power systems at major events like the Oscars and Grammys.

Beyond the tech talk, the group shares personal stories, from Gregory’s memories of driving Aerosmith’s equipment across Australia in 1977 to nostalgic experiences owning vintage Volkswagen Beetles. Jan discusses his upcoming broadcast from Osaka, Japan, and the panel explores how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are changing the game for real-time travel translation and navigation. We wrap up with an update on our YouTube channel’s growth, a dive into online privacy using the Cloaked app, and an announcement for our upcoming Medicare open enrollment panel with Brian J. McEvilly, RHU of McEvilly Benefits.

Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way.

📅 When: Wednesday September 23rd at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://janlandy.com/register

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

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Episode 330 of "Thinking Out Loud with Friends" was packed with great stories, starting with some wild behind-the-scenes entertainment industry tales. Christopher shared his experiences rising through the William Morris Agency, while Jan recounted the dramatic fallout of coordinating a charity event with Lee Iacocca and Joan Rivers. The panel also geeked out over the insane $9.5 million auction price of Jerry Garcia's "Tiger" guitar and debated the rising costs of technology, including using Mac Minis as home servers.

Beyond the industry talk, the crew swapped travel and tech tips, from using ChatGPT to plan Hawaiian volcano tours to Jan's upcoming October adventure through Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto. We also covered everything from the new iPhone 18 Pro Max to the actual math behind "dog years" and food preferences across the globe. It was another classic round of unfiltered conversations, laughs, and catching up on life.

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  

Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way.

📅 When: Wednesday September 23rd at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://janlandy.com/register

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Show 329:  Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life on "Thinking Out Loud with Friends". The meeting was a laid-back catch-up among audio pros, blending personal updates with broader news. 

The crew touched on everything from the Federal Reserve and cloud storage to weather updates, Jan's retirement in Thailand, and his upcoming trip to Japan. They also welcomed back Ed, introduced Greg Kirkland, and shared some laughs over everyday life anecdotes and health tips.

On the industry front, the group dove deep into audio tech, comparing mixing consoles like the M32, Wing, and upcoming Midas models. 

A major highlight was breaking down the impressive L-Acoustics sound system used at a recent Bruno Mars concert. The chat wrapped up with a look at the changing audio retail landscape and how traditional brick-and-mortar stores like Guitar Center are adapting to new distribution models.

Keywords: audio professionals, Midas consoles, L-Acoustics, Bruno Mars concert, music retail, Guitar Center, mixing consoles, digital audio, live sound, retirement, Japan trip, interest rates, cloud storage, Zoom meeting, industry trends

Show 328: Join Mark Meding, Managing Director, North America, CODA Audio USA, for our "Straight From the Source" segment on Show 328 of Thinking Out Loud with Friends — he'll be taking your questions on the Space by CODA and the full CODA product line.

September 9th at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

📅 When: Wednesday August 19th at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Welcome to episode 327 of Thinking Out Loud with Friends! In this session, the panel dives deep into practical pro audio and live production topics, breaking down preferred microphone cables—including industry favorites from Belden and Mogami—along with essential cable management and field testing workflows. We also compare notes on in-ear monitors and custom ear molds across brands like JH Audio, Future Sonics, and Sensaphonics, while debating sample rates and personal equipment choices for studio and stage environments.

Beyond the tech talk, the crew catches up on current events, personal health updates, and what it takes to maintain an active lifestyle over decades in the business. Jan also shares details on his upcoming book project covering classic behind-the-scenes stories now that long-standing NDAs have cleared. 

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

📅 When: Wednesday August 19th at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

Join the conversation live every week by heading over to JanLandy.com/register!

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

This week on Thinking Out Loud with Friends meeting was an informal discussion among audio professionals covering a wide range of topics. Jan, Fred, Chris, Wayne, Ken, and others talked about their current setups, including Mac vs PC, camera and lighting issues, and various audio interfaces and plugins like Waves, Cedar, and D-Feedback. They discussed the pros and cons of different audio consoles, with Ken Porter sharing his experience with DiGiCo, SSL, Yamaha, and other brands, and mentioning the demand for certain models. The group also shared personal updates, travel plans, and stories about industry figures like Dolly Parton, Larry Italia, and Tim Curry. They touched on recent news events, including natural disasters and an airport accident. The conversation was casual, with frequent digressions into personal anecdotes and technical details.

The group discussed various audio processing solutions, with Ken mentioning a new Cedar plugin called Voxis for AI voice suppression at $269, which he found effective. Wayne considered purchasing a Mac Mini for Waves Control and discussed running it with SuperRack Performer in USB configurations alongside an analog setup. The discussion included concerns about signal chain complexity, with Ken admitting his setup had become overly complicated and emphasizing the importance of testing bypass functionality when adding new plugins. Jan asked about potential issues with overcomplicating signal chains, to which Wayne responded that corporate work often requires multiple outputs with minimal plugins on each insert, typically just compressors like SSL waves.

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

📅 When: Wednesday August 19th at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Show 325: Join our live stream of Thinking Out Loud With Friends Of SoundBroker Zoomcast. 

The meeting was an informal conversation among Jan, Wayne, Bruce, David, Gregory, and others discussing various topics including Wayne's recent jury duty experience serving on a case involving child exploitation charges. Wayne shared details about serving for three weeks on a jury that convicted a defendant on 17 out of 19 counts, explaining the selection process, deliberation procedures, and the disturbing nature of the evidence presented. The group also discussed technology products like Cloak for privacy protection, spam call issues, and various email filtering services. Jan mentioned his ongoing training of new staff to take over SoundBroker, and the conversation concluded with discussions about courtroom procedures compared to TV portrayals and various entertainment industry experiences.

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life.  Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

📅 When: Wednesday August 19th at 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Show 324: Join our live stream with Tom Der, Director of Market Development for Allen & Heath USA (American Music and Sound) this week's Special guest in our continuing "Straight from the Source" segment of Thinking Out Loud With Friends Of SoundBroker Zoomcast. 

The discussion focused on Tom's career journey from his start in recording engineering to his current role at Allen & Heath, highlighting the company's recent product successes such as the Avantis and SQ+ consoles.

The panel discussed the popularity of Allen & Heath consoles, particularly in the house of worship and touring markets, and Tom emphasized the company's strong R&D focus and commitment to training. 

Other topics included the integration of high-quality effects like the ARIA reverb package, the company's distribution model, and the potential future integration of AI technologies. The conversation also touched on Allen & Heath's broader product line, including in-ear monitoring systems and digital matrix processors.

Tom brings 35 years of industry experience across TV broadcast, recording, film dubbing, and live sound reinforcement—including 27 years at Harman Professional working with Soundcraft, Studer, and Amek. 

📅 When: Wednesday August 12th at 4:45 PM PT
📍 Where: Zoom Streaming live on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to share this with your friends and see you on the show, – Jan

To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life. 

Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

JOIN US LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY:
- 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Episode 323 of "Thinking Out Loud with Friends" centered heavily on the evolution and practical execution of remote mixing in live audio. The panel shared historical and modern experiences mixing performances from non-traditional spots like projection booths, trailers, and cars using iPads, Dante systems, and wireless tech. They debated whether remote mixing will become standard across various venue types, highlighting key challenges like logistics, equipment protection, and the critical role audience feedback plays in tuning a mix.

The conversation also covered digital console preferences and the learning curve required when adapting to new workflows under time constraints. A major highlight was Kurt's demo of his restored DCX60, a rare analog console with digital control originally built for Saturday Night Live and Carnegie Hall. Finally, the group discussed touchscreens in live gear and previewed upcoming show guests, including Allen & Heath's Tom Durr and Mike Meding.
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To participate on the panel and to ask your questions and tell your tales: Please register at:https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

Join Jan Landy and his knowledgeable, affable panel of friends and colleagues for a no-filter discussion on life. 

Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

JOIN US LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY:
- 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.

Show 322: Join this live stream of our Straight From The Source segment, welcoming a Q&A with Chris Stephens who will be presenting Stagetec AXIO - A Routing and I/O Hub for Pro Audio.

This episode of Thinking Out Loud with Friends featured front-of-house engineer Chris Stephens presenting Stagetec’s innovative audio routing technology. The spotlight was on the new Axio product line and its TrueMatch mic converter technology, which performs direct A-to-D conversion at mic level without traditional analog preamps. This system delivers an impressive 164 decibels of dynamic range and ultra-low latency of just 13 samples, offering exceptional sound quality and signal purity for live sound environments.

Available in 8, 16, and 32-channel configurations, the Axio devices feature web-based GUI control, proprietary fiber optic audio transport, and the ability to route signals to multiple consoles simultaneously with independent gain control. The discussion highlighted Stagetec’s console-agnostic approach, seamless integration options, and outstanding reliability in live production. Industry veteran Doug Armstrong and other participants shared positive feedback on how these systems perform on the road, making Stagetec a game-changer for modern audio distribution.
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Join Jan Landy live on the panel! Register to participate and get your voice heard: https://newsletter.janlandy.com/

Our ZoomCast isn’t just a fountain of industry knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to laugh. Think of it as therapy, but with more jokes and fewer couches. Stay updated on life and world events, share your thoughts, and enjoy multiple good chuckles along the way. -

JOIN US LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY: 4:45 PM Pacific (UTC-7) / 7:45 PM Eastern

How to Assist:
Offer your support by giving us a Like, opinions in the comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube and remember to share the show with your industry friends.
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