October 2008 Dallas Class

Every now and again I get the pleasure of teaching a group of Pro Tools students that just seem to be a cut above the norm.

My October 2008 class in Dallas was just such a group. Maybe it was their yearn to learn or the speed in which they grasped all the engineering and editing concepts I kept throwing at them or perhaps it was something a little less tangible that just happened to make proud I donned my teaching robes that day. Whatever it was it did help to reinforce an idea that I harbor and always try to instill in my students.

I built my first recording studio in 1978 and have been recording and mixing ever since. I have found that it is all still a constant learning process to be a better producer and a better engineer and I have realized that the day you stop “learning” is the day you should stop “doing” and pass the torch to the next generation of “learners”. One might think I would have all this engineering stuff figured out by now but invariably it seems that something I learned this month makes me want to remix the project I mixed last month and that’s been going on for 30 years. As for me I am not quite ready to pass the torch yet, even though I am finding there will probably be plenty of eager and qualified hands to take it, but for the moment I will keep on learning and doing and I suggest you do the same.