Audio Engineering Basics - Compressors!

Behind every great musician, there is an invisible army of people there to help make them successful. From producers and managers, down to a basic stagehand, musicians need big teams of all kinds of people to bring their music to the world. As an audio engineer, it is my job to help bring their sound to the rest of the world. Sometimes that is in the studio making a new record, sometimes it's providing the sound for a live audience at a concert. These different skills and traits open up an exciting world of job opportunities for those who want to be in the music industry but maybe aren't interested in being in the spotlight.

This, dear reader, is why I am on Outschool!

My name is Drake Watkins, and for the past 5 years, I have been pursuing my career as a Professional Audio Engineer. I am here on Outschool to share my passion for audio and sound with middle and high school students who are curious about a career in the music industry, and to open their eyes to the exciting world of professional audio! 

I will be teaching classes on many different topics related to professional audio and sound. My emphasis is in live sound and event productions, but I also teach classes on the basics of audio, working in a recording studio, the physics of sound, and sound for film.

My professional background includes:
- Bachelors Degree in Music with an emphasis in Recording Arts from the University of Colorado at Denver
- Certificate of Completion with full honors from the Warren Technology School for their rigorous course on Digital Audio Production.
- I also hold two professional certificates: Audinate (Dante Level 2) and DiGiCo (SD Series Masterclass). 
- My emphasis in the pro audio world is in live sound and event productions. 
- I have worked at almost every major theater and venue for live music in the Denver area, including the world-famous Red Rocks. 
- I tour around the country for the Grammy-nominated New York hip-hop trio De La Soul as a monitor engineer.
- I have worked on several albums as a recording, mixing, and mastering engineer.
- I also have some experience working in post-production for films.

For me, the beauty of professional audio is the blend of science and art. On one hand, you have the science which dictates how things function and operate, and how you approach those rules. On the other, you have the art, which is bringing the subjective "special sauce" to the equation that creates huge opportunities for creativity. The blend between the two is an exciting creative outlet that also serves as a hard skill that can be used in the workforce. My teaching philosophy will emphasize these two aspects to make for an engaging and interesting learning experience.

Thank you for your interest in taking my classes, and I hope you enjoy learning about the world of professional audio!