

Working Class Audio
Working Class Audio
The Working Class Audio Podcast pulls back the curtain on the professional recording world. Host and audio engineer Matt Boudreau talks with guests from music, film, games, restoration, and beyond—diving into their real-world journeys. No fluff, just honest conversations about the wins, losses, money, collaboration, and survival strategies that define a career in audio. It's recording life from a working class perspective.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 8, 2021 • 48min
WCA #360 with Bryan Matheson - Keeping a Studio In Business, Always Learning, Good Landlords, and RTFM!
Today, my guest is studio owner, engineer, composer, and vocalist Bryan Matheson who owns and runs Skyline Studios in Oakland, California. In this episode, we discuss:
Teac 2340
PCM Beta
Leos Pro Audio
Skyline Studios
Converting A Warehouse
Chips Davis
Ad Work
Keeping Outside Noise Out
Client Growth
Keeping a Studio In Business
Always Learning
RTFM
Covid Survival
UVC Lights
Good Landlords
Live Streaming
Sustaining Waves
Work/Life Balance
Matt's Rant: Use It or Lose it!Links and Show Notes
Skyline Studios Site
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Bryan Matheson
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith

Nov 1, 2021 • 1h
WCA #359 with Will Yip - Feeding Off Stress, Setting Goals, Power of Routine, Investment in Songs, and Hard Working Parents
Today, my guest is Grammy-nominated record producer, audio engineer, songwriter, and musician Will Yip who has worked with Lauryn Hill, Panic! at the Disco, Blacklisted, and many others. In this episode, we discuss:
Hard Working Parents
Strict Upbringing
Drums
Feeding off Stress
Falling in Love with Recording
Free Demos
Setting Goals
Mom's Basement Studio
Buying into a Studio
Investment in Songs
Starting a Record Label
Management
Power of Routine
Taking Care of Your Body
Matt's Rant: ComplacencyLinks and Show Notes
Wills' Site
Will on Instagram
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Will Yip
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith

Oct 25, 2021 • 1h 13min
WCA #358 with Robert Carranza - East LA, Lessons from Musicians, Gear vs. Good Songs, Listening, and Family
My guest today is 4x Grammy Awarded Mixer, Engineer, Producer Robert Carranza. Robert has worked with Ozomatli, Marilyn Manson, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos, and many others.In this episode, we discuss:
East LA
Black Sabbath
Music Today
First 4 Track
Bruce Swedien
Floating Assistant
Studio Managers
Pagers
Paul Rothchild
Getting Fired
Lessons from Musicians
Asking Questions
Listening
Emotion
Money Management
Gear vs. Good Songs
The Beatles
Mentors
Ego
Family
Matt's Rant: CommunicationLinks and Show Notes
Robert in Instagram
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Robert Carranza
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith

Oct 18, 2021 • 1h 7min
WCA #357 with Michael James - Small Town Strategies, Dolby Atmos, Alternator Records, Shelter In Place, and a Room of 100 People
Today, my guest is producer, mix engineer, and artist Michael James. Michael has worked with Hole, L7, Robben Ford, A.J. Croce, and many others. This is Michael's second appearance on the show. In this episode, we discuss:
Reflecting on Petaluma vs. Los Angeles
Balance
Pandemic Related Changes
Fiber Internet
Rogue Amoeba
Zoom
Dolby Atmos
Alternator Records
Shelter In Place
Alternative Audio Business
Tire Balancing
Having Open Plans
Small Town Strategies
Room of 100 People
Matt's Rant: Dolby Atmos UpdateLinks and Show Notes
Michael's Site
Michaels Label
Michael's New Record
WCA #125 w/ Michael James
WCA #211 w/ Jamison Durr
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Michael James
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith

Oct 11, 2021 • 52min
WCA #356 with Todd Hutchisen - Blinders on Head Down, Serving the Scene, Anti-Trend, Triple Sessions, and Family Balance
Today, my guest is musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Todd Hutchisen, co-owner of Acadia Recording Company located in Portland, Maine. In this episode, we discuss:
Taking Ownership of Acadia
Studio Names
Tripple Sessions
Rudy Van Gelder
Don Zientara
Anti-Trend
Gear Restraint
Buying and Building Once
Analogies
Studio Ownership
Blinders on Head Down
Family Balance
Financial Philosophy
Serving The Scene
Safe Covid Sessions
Matt's Rant: Knowing when to say Yes or No to GigsLinks and Show Notes
acadiarecording.com
Todd on Linkedin
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Todd Hutchisen
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab

Oct 4, 2021 • 50min
WCA #355 with Jason Phelps - Lobster, Landlords, Studio Partnerships, Portland, Maine, and Bluegrass
Today, my guest is producer, engineer, and musician Jason Phelps, co-owner of Acadia Recording Company located in Portland, Maine. In this episode, we discuss:
Portland, Maine
Lobster
Acadia Recording CO.
Gateway Mastering
Landlords
Mini Splits
Studio Business
Shared Workflows
Studio Partnerships
Grants and Loans
Handling Studio Money
Trust
Making People Comfortable
8 Tracks
Back Ordered Guitars
Bluegrass
Networking
Teaching
Having A Plan
Matt's Rant: Having Coffee with New FriendsLinks and Show Notes
acadiarecording.com
jasonphelpsmusic.com
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Jason Phelps
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab

Sep 27, 2021 • 1h 12min
WCA #354 with Tom Gordon - Granny's House, Weed Offerings, 80 Hour Weeks, Sammy Davis Jr., and Advice from Shelly Yakus
My guest today is Producer, Engineer, and Educator Tom Gordon. Tom has worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Dr. Dre, The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, Willie Nelson, Whitesnake, and Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden, to name a few. In this episode, we discuss:
Growing up In Reno
Theater Parents
Sammy Davis Jr.
Reel to Reel Discoveries
Endless Love
Granny's House
USC
Discovering Recording
Advice from Shelly Yakus
Milli Vanilli
Spec Deals
Music Bias
Weed Offerings
Working with Famous People
Whitesnake
Imirage Studios
Teaching
80 Hour Weeks
Lessons for Students
Matt's Rant: Inspiration from Other ThingsLinks and Show Notes
Tom's Site
Tom at UNR
Mike Blodgett WCA #348
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Tom Gordon
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab

Sep 20, 2021 • 1h
WCA #353 with Matt Qualls - Van Burnout, Doctors Office Recording, Working with Limitations, Sound Baths, and Memphis
My guest today is recording, mixing, and mastering engineer Matt Qualls who is based in Memphis, Tennessee. In this episode, we discuss:
Growing Up In Memphis
Early Recording
Van Burnout
Doctors Office Recording
Ardent Studios
Working with Limitations
Neve VR-60 and Toothpicks
Studio Maintenance
The Bay Area
Albuquerque
Feeling Retired
Gear Talk
Sound Bath
Moving Back to Memphis
Young Avenue Sound
Nashville vs. Memphis
Invasion
Sacrifices
Matt's Rant: Over CommittingLinks and Show Notes
Matt Qualls on Instagram
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Matt Qualls
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab

Sep 13, 2021 • 1h 6min
WCA #352 with Sean O'Keefe - Quitting School, Wednesday Warriors, Hacking the Intern Process, Managers, Royalties, and Soft Cities
My guest today is Grammy Nominated Mixer, Producer, Sean O'Keefe who has worked with Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, and The Plain White T's, among many others. In this episode, we discuss:
Chicago
4 Track Recording
Academic Father
Quitting School
Living in an Office
Wednesday Warriors
Lessons Learned from Gravity Studios
Hacking the Intern Process
Smart Studios
Fall Out Boy
Evanston
Soft City
Managers
Royalties
Economic Lessons
Gear Doesn't Matter
Matt's Rant: Random ThoughtsLinks and Show Notes
Sean's Site
Sean on Instagram
Doug McBride
Justin Perkins
Ken Sluiter
Brad Wood
Butch Vig
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Sean O'Keefe
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab

Sep 6, 2021 • 1h 4min
WCA #351 with Travis Ference - Talent Shows, Capital Studios, Waiting for the Phone to Ring, and Doing Awful Things to Audio
My guest today is Grammy Nominated Mixer, Producer, and Recording Engineer Travis Ference. Travis has worked with Imagine Dragons, John Mayer, Ariana Grande, and Bush, to name a few. In this episode, we discuss:
North Carolina
Blooming Late
Selling his only Zeppelin CD!
Talent Shows
Sports
Berklee College of Music
Boston
LA
Capital Studios
Waiting for the Phone to Ring
Life As a Studio Runner
Disney Pop
Doing Awful Things to Audio
Independence
Personality Types in Audio
Matt's Rant: Staying OrganizedLinks and Show Notes
Travis's Site
ProGressions Podcast
Travis on Instagram
WCA on Instagram
Connect with Matt on Linkedin
Current sponsors & promos
Credits
Guest: Travis Ference
Host: Matt Boudreau
Engineer: Matt Boudreau
Producer: Matt Boudreau
Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
Announcer: Chuck Smith
Additional Music: The License Lab