The future of the music industry was right here, folks! Some of the coolest and most talented high schoolers from across the…

Meet Candace Stewart, Studio Manager of EastWest Studios and Paula Salvatore, VP of Client Relations and Studio Marketing…

These are some of the mics used every day at Blackbird Studio that are our engineers' favorites and go-to choices for recording drums.

We recently added two Allen & Heath SQ7 digital consoles, a Midas M32 console, and more to our ever-growing arsenal.

As one of the most influential and respected live-sound guys in the business, Dave Natale's long-time career spans every…

At The Blackbird Academy, students are prepared to do the real work. Meaning, you get your hands dirty from day one, learn…

Vance Powell is an audio legend, six-time Grammy winner, and friend of The Blackbird Academy who stopped by to visit our…

New music and more engineered, recorded, produced, and/or mixed by students and graduates of The Blackbird Academy in Nashville, TN. This week: Madison Nolan & Jason Maxwell.

They came from both coasts and everywhere in between to learn how to record a song. Six music-loving teens joined us August…

This week: THE SWEAR, The Clinic and the Sane.

Forget the canoeing and the campfires – THEY WANT TO ROCK! And, rock these campers did with some of Nashville's premier…

New music and more engineered, recorded, produced, and/or mixed by students and graduates of The Blackbird Academy in…

If The Blackbird Academy had existed when I was growing up, it would’ve saved me ten years of struggling to learn what I needed to know.

Here are the ancillary pieces of gear that could make or break a recording session …

The Blackbird Academy is so honored to be named in College Magazine‘s 2016 Top 10 Schools for Music Recording Technology &…

Along with receiving an exceptional audio education, The Blackbird Academy students are offered the opportunity to partake…

The ongoing relationship between Ultimate Ears and The Blackbird Academy was established to provide students with high-quality, branded IEMs to use during their time at the school and after graduation when they start their careers. The Blackbird Academy is proud to have its graduates on tour with the top names in audio, including Sturgill Simpson, Florida Georgia Line, The Rolling Stones, and Martina McBride.

When it comes to successful and great-sounding live mixes, it is important to remember that the name of the game is “sound…

Capturing a great acoustic guitar recording all starts with the source. Even the greatest mic and signal chain will not fix…

As you might imagine, there are various approaches, as there are different individual instruments, players, and genres. As…

With this in mind, I challenge budding mix engineers to find a use for reverb that may be out of the ordinary. Don’t just…

Have you ever wondered how a day runs at a major recording studio? For all the high-end clients at Blackbird Studio, it all starts before the band arrives – even days before. The engineering team brainstorms with the production team to decide on the room setup, microphone and preamp selections, outboard gear choices, and specific workflows for the upcoming sessions.

Working in audio isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you should be intimidated by it. Sure, it takes hard work, consistency,…

There isn’t any one way to get studio work, but there are typical paths and ways to maximize your chances. Finding studio…

Bass guitar recording is an important skill. The bass provides the harmonic foundation for the music and helps form the…

Recording drums can be a challenge. To get top results, pay attention to the three elements that will render a great sounding outcome – a talented drummer, a properly maintained and tuned drum kit, and the microphones you choose to capture the kit.

The studio recording process has so many delicate and nuanced interactions, and as in the rest of life, behavior and…

Audio engineering schools aren’t a mixed bag. It’s about one craft and one craft only, and that’s something not to take…

I believe that some people are born to great things, and that greatness is defined by a feeling you have in your heart when…

Music is a powerful form of communication, and we generally tune into and relate most deeply to the most human instrument –…

Michael Freeman was part of the first-ever The Blackbird Academy studio engineering class. We tracked him down to chat about his experience at The Blackbird Academy, working with the incredible Spike Stent (Madonna, U2, Muse, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, and many more), meeting Yelawolf, studio engineering advice he has for aspiring engineers, and more!

Plugins are essential tools used in modern-day audio production. Unlike their hardware counterparts, plugins can be used on…

It goes without saying, a clear, intelligible vocal is paramount to a great mix. Nothing will kill the audience’s enjoyment…

One key to quick and effective recording is the use of Pro Tools playlists. Playlists allow us to save and switch between…

Since we first published this story, we have added a few more snares, like 59. “We have 160 snares,” says John McBride.…

Kevin has been a musician, recording engineer, and educator for over 30 years. He has engineered and been on the production teams for the top names in secular and Christian music...

Mark Rubel is the Director of Education, an instructor, and an integral component of the BBA team. Mark has recorded and…

Here’s the truth. Getting a job in live sound isn’t easy — but it is far from out of reach. Our team has been working in the…

Kyle Welch is one of our Live Sound Instructors at The Blackbird Academy. He has worked in the entertainment industry as a…

The Live Sound Engineering students went behind the scenes on July 10, 2015, viewing the load-in and setup for Luke Bryan’s…

In only its second year of competition, The Blackbird Academy was awarded the top prize at the Nashville Audio Engineering Society (AES) annual “Spring Mixer” held April 23, 2015.

This two-day, intensive seminar will be taught by The Blackbird Academy Instructor / Mix Technical Editor Kevin Becka and…

The most powerful and effective way to learn is first hand from a mentor working in the industry. The Blackbird Academy’s…

The Blackbird Academy is now approved through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and accepting applications…

The Blackbird Academy has the unique opportunity to invite an impressive roster of guest mentors from the live sound…

The Blackbird Academy Live Sound Engineering students weren’t “outsiders” on Saturday. They started at 7 a.m. to observe load in, set up and sound check for Eric Church’s record-setting “The Outsiders” show at Bridgestone arena.

Clip FX processing has no latency and may be used in a session with live players. However, keep in mind that Clip FX can…

FOH engineer Wayne Pauley invited the Blackbird Academy Live Sound Engineering students to a Lee Brice show at the…

As part of their commitment to music and the development of new artists, The Blackbird Academy, Blackbird Studio, 12th &…

Reserve a seat in the next High School Summer Recording Camp, August 5-7, 2020, by calling 615-385-2423 or click for the…

John McBride received two Pensado Awards at a ceremony held in Los Angeles on June 28, 2104 – one for “Live/FOH” engineering and a “Dave Pensado Educator Award.”

As every good assistant engineer knows, hitting Command+S is invaluable during a session. When I was assisting in the…

Every day at The Blackbird Academy, I teach students on gear that spans from 1930 to the present. For example, this week we…

Our first Live Sound Engineering class has had an amazing and very busy month! They’ve had guest speakers Randy Rhodus (FOH…

There is something transcendent about being in the room with an excellent person, getting to observe their real-time…

The Blackbird Academy’s Studio Engineering and Live Sound Engineering programs are taught at the famous Blackbird Studio in Nashville, TN and at our new Live Sound Engineering facility designed in collaboration with Clair Global, the premier global sound reinforcement provider.

With top instructors and guest mentors, they experience and practice the concepts first-hand with professional rooms and…

The Blackbird Academy was proud to have legendary producer Nick Raskulinecz mentor the Studio Engineering students this past…

The new Studio I at The Blackbird Academy is a hybrid desktop recording, mixing, and mastering environment featuring Pro…

What is an equalizer’s purpose? It’s meant to change timbre- tone quality. What else can we do in creating, capturing,…

The new Studio I at The Blackbird Academy is a hybrid desktop recording, mixing, and mastering environment featuring Pro Tools HDX and 32 channels of analog summing from Dangerous Music.

When putting my IEM system together, I had several considerations that would need to be met. The IEM package needed to be…

Eight years ago, I stepped into what was the start of my audio career. I was beginning my internship at Blackbird Studio.…

An Emergency Medical Technician would always carry a set of first aid tools, so should audio engineers carry a crash kit, at…

Week 1 at The Blackbird Academy included lots of experiential learning and networking with the top names in the industry. Students recorded, overdubbed, and mixed on tracks recorded in the classroom and had a Q&A with recording artists Tim McGraw and Martina McBride.

In our curriculum at The Blackbird Academy, we put the student’s experience high on our list of priorities. Not only will we…

Engineer Robert Bull is one of the many guest lecturers in The Blackbird Academy’s live sound program. He has worked in the…

This first audio tip may seem obvious, but it took me decades to figure out. When recording background vocals, have the…

When making career decisions, an insider’s view can be essential when you’re looking for direction on where to go, what you need to know, and where you can find challenging and rewarding work. Audio pro Allen Ditto has some essential info on this topic.

Kristian Bush is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer who co-founded the band Sugarland in 2002. He recently…

Live Sound engineer Tom Abraham has worked with Alice in Chains, Keith Urban, Shakira, and more. In this video, Tom shares…

In my live sound classes at The Blackbird Academy, students will have their hands on all kinds of gear, from large touring…

I can see either of these consoles handling the most demanding theatrical productions to gigging bands and houses of…

At The Blackbird Academy, we will be learning large to small footprint digital and analog consoles. Our classroom will be across the street from the Clair Global complex.

When you are around the best in the business, you absorb all kinds of information. Whether it’s technical or social cues,…