Background

Recording Connection mentor Gregory Hainer is an interesting case. Usually our Recording mentors work primarily in the music industry but Gregory has made a successful career for himself in music as well as film, television, and video game entertainment as a music composer, voice over specialist, Sound FX designer and mixer on numerous projects including: Plants vs. Zombies 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Guild Wars 2, Prince of Egypt, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, We Were Soldiers, Dishonored, Black Hawk Down, and many more.

Gregory does most of his work from Scorpio Sound, his boutique studio located in the Hollywood Hills. His unique skills-set, talent, and setup enables him to do work larger audio studios can’t. “From a client’s perspective, I own the studio, so there is no middle management overhead to worry about because the owner/operator is also the creative head. This means I have the freedom to choose to spend a little more time with my clients in order to get things perfect versus having to be out of a studio by a specific time.” Specialty might as well be Gregory’s middle name. “I get quite a few calls for the most unusual or difficult to design stuff that many in-house teams can’t quite seem to pull off convincingly, such as creating sounds for creatures, magic spells, sci-fi effects, light sabers and the like. But I will also get the occasional call to do the less-fun direct stuff like cleaning up poorly recorded production audio from a film, or digging out inaudible archival dialogue from excessive background noise.”

On top of working in the film, TV, and video game industries Gregory also takes on Recording Connection apprentices and teaches them about both the industry and the craft of audio engineering.

Articles

RC grad Andrew Holscher reports back on his Eddie Kramer Experience
Recording Connection mentor Gregory Hainer on Vibe and Flow

Background

Recording Connection mentor Josh Monroy is proof-positive that getting in and showing your commitment to the craft, day-in and day-out, can launch your career to unprecedented heights. With more than a decade in the music industry, Josh “Igloo” Monroy has worked with everyone from Justin Bieber to Quincy Jones, to The Notorious B.I.G. The seasoned engineer/composer/producer is also known for his longtime work with iconic artist Ludacris. An Atlanta native, Josh recently answered the call to come out to Los Angeles and is now co-owner of Studio 1 Zero. His most recent success includes the work he’s done on JoJo’s critically-acclaimed album Mad Love, which includes three tracks recorded, produced, and co-written by the multifaceted music professional.

Articles

RC mentor Josh Monroy Talks How He Got Hired by Ludacris and Doing JoJo’s “Mad Love”

Background

Asaf Fulks is a record artist, songwriter, music producer, sound engineer, videographer, graphic designer, educator, author, inventor and founder of OC Recording in 2005. He discovered his passion for music production during his college years. While studying Computer Science and Economics at Denison University in Ohio, he also spent time recording and producing in his dorm room. After graduating in 2004, he moved to his family in Hollywood and eventually relocated to Orange County to work for a book publisher. His boss recognized his passion for music and encouraged him to set up a studio in his unused office space. With minimal gear and few contacts Asaf set up shop and The OC Recording Company opened its doors in 2005. [^]

Articles

Recording Connection Grads find work at The OC Recording Company Inc!

Background

Israel Lliteras is a Los Angeles native and graduate of the LA Film School. Israel has been around the art and film industry his entire life. He began his career as an artist, successfully selling his works of art throughout the United States. With his artistic skills, he delved into the world of motion pictures. There, he found his passion for creating art on a timeless canvas such as film. Israel has worked on several projects in a variety of rolls and departments. By experiencing first hand the many key rolls that a production encompasses, Israel has a true understanding of the big picture.

Articles

Student Justin Smith is Fine with Trial by Fire
Alysse LeFevre Follows her bliss into The Lair Recording Studio

Background

Tim is one of alternative rock’s most recognized and respected names. Originally from England, then L.A., and now based in Austin, Texas Tim is a “household name” among famous musicians and record executives. His platinum credits speak for themselves: as a record producer, engineer and mixer Tim’s credits include David Bowie, Tin Machine, The Cure, Pearl Jam, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears and U2.

Background

Columbus Smith III, better known by his stage name Rahki (sometimes Rahk or Rahki Beats), is an American record producer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. He is known for his work with mentor DJ Khalil and acts such as Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Currensy, Evidence, Schoolboy Q, 50 Cent, Domo Genesis, Lecrae, Aloe Blacc, and more.

Background

Ross Hogarth is a man of many talents. He’s an award winning producer, mixer, and engineer. He’s been the main man behind the control board for such artists as The Doobie Brothers, John Mellencamp, R.E.M., Sick Puppies, and Van Halen.

Ross is one of the Learn from Legends mentors at the Recording Connection. He works with advanced or graduated students to further their abilities. He’s given numerous apprentices their first big break. He’s one of the mentors in Los Angeles that put the students first. When you’ve been around as long as Ross has you’ve seen people come and go. You’ve seen trends die and fades fade. You know that the only way to really be successful is to follow your passion and create the work that you want to create.

This is something that gets lost in the hubbub and doldrums of Los Angeles. People are always chasing the almighty dollar. But Ross knows that the real success lies in following your passion.

When one of the Recording Connection students works with Ross they’re going to be gaining a wealth of knowledge, make valuable connections within the industry, and learn the ways of a master craftsman.

Background

Noel “Detail” Fisher has been behind the scenes crafting the biggest hits for Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jennifer Lopez and more. Producing songs like the Grammy Award winning hit, “Drunk in Love” as well as, “7/11” for Beyonce’. Are just mere pieces of the eclectic producer of Detail+Music Studio whom gave us the heart felt “How to Love” by Lil Wayne, and the melodic “We Dem Boys” by Wiz Khalifa.

He connected regions through Drake’s “305 to My City”, and sent good vibes through the globe on Lil Wayne’s “No Worries”. These sonic historic landmarks established Detail as an artist who can do more than just create a hot beat. His songwriting and hookcraft abilities have helped him emerge as one of the biggest and most well-rounded talents in hip-hop today.

Detail was first known for being a co-executive on Ray J’s Raydiation, which was his first major contributions on an album. However, times have changed for the Detroit, MI native, “When you’re in Detroit there’s nothin’ to do. There’s no opportunity” Detail explains.

“All of the record labels left, and it’s just been a desert. All I could do was ,sing, play the piano and write. I came up from that era of just tapping into all genres of music. It’s not different than having a house and pulling in the person that does the air conditioner and the person that does the plumbing;’ that’s what I’m doing with my music. It’s a household and I’m connecting with the best people to make that happen.”

With production in the works for Big Sean and more, Detail is slated to not only be one of the most talked about names in music, but will be defining the sound of our modern generation.

Background

Warren Huart is a well-known songwriter, audio engineer, music producer and mixer who has produced, mixed and/or engineered on recordings for The Fray, Korn, Better than Ezra, James Blunt, Matisyahu, and Howie Day to name a few. Warren also has extensive Film and TV credits including Inglorious Basterds, Transformers 2, MTV’s The Hills, Lost, Scrubs, and Grey’s Anatomy. Warren also co-owns a recording studio in Los Angeles, CA.

Background

Niko Bolas is known as a “vibe oriented” producer/engineer in music studios and in forays with hi-tech companies. He has recorded and produced music and technology since starting at the famous Record One Studio in 1979.

In music, he’s cut with a wide spectrum…



Classic Artists – Neil Young (The Volume Dealers), Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Herb Alpert, KISS, Steve Perry…

Contemporary Artists – John Mayer, Los Lonely Boys, LeAnn Rimes, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, The Mavericks…



Emerging Artists – RACES, The Vim Dicta, Incan Abraham…

Film work spans “The Breakfast Club”, “Singles”, Scorcese’s “Lightning In A Bottle”, and Beyonce’s “Cadillac Records”.

In ’89 Niko co-founded Fakespace Music, and at computer graphics conference SIGGRAPH ’95 in Los Angeles, débuted two new patented music technologies in Virtual Reality.

In ’98 he co-founded internet radio company Sonicbox, and as President/CEO, successfully raised venture capital, and integrated Sonicbox technologies with several consumer products (Acer, Panasonic, Phillips). In 2000 the company was re-named iM Networks and in 2001 merged with Japan’s software giant Softbank.

Niko moved to Nashville in 2006, and set up a room at the amazing Blackbird Studios. He bought George Jone’s former house where he could fire up his secret passion, Bird Watching, which he did every free chance he got, along with his pet, Shovelhead.

In late 2010, Niko moved back to Los Angeles, where he promptly set up a the now infamous Surf Shack mix room in the Capitol Records tower…

Niko is also technical advisor to the Microsoft Surface (multi-touch computing) project in Los Angeles.