Brian Macaluso

Audio engineer and technical director with robust and diverse experience, including a parallel career in IT infrastructure leadership. Proficiency with a variety of recording and mixing technologies, as well as staff training and development. Well versed in using sound design and music to elevate a story. Demonstrated success in leading production teams toward high audio quality standards. A visionary who can transform abstract ideas into a clearly defined roadmap. 

Clandestine Productions
Director, Audio Engineering                                     1990 – Present 

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Manage operations, strategy, and client service for a private production studio offering onsite or remote recording, tracking, overdubbing and mixing, mastering, pre-production consulting, video production and audio post-production. 

Lead creative development of sound and style through research; oversee recording sessions and provide tape editing, mixing, mastering, scoring, original sound design, and publishing.

Engineer and/or produce sessions for music artists including The Wygals, Mark Donato, Yardsale, Elizabeth Clark, Wygalator, Seth Davis, The Fasads, and more.

Supported production for The Longreads Podcast which features interviews, essays, reporting, and discussions about politics and policy, business, pop culture, etc. 

Consult on studio facilities, design and deliver home studio setups for remote hosts and producers.

Electric Lady Studios (link)

A premiere, world class recording studio in NYC.

Technical Director                             1997 – 1999 

Technical & Operational Leadership

Oversaw technical operations of the studio, including leading a team of six technicians and ten in-house engineers, overseeing studio maintenance, and operating complex recording systems.

Managed and coordinated session setups, interfaced with engineers and producers, and developed and maintained standard operating procedures.

Collaborated with media production and technology peers to develop, refine, and document best practices, including artist-facing etiquette. 

Coordinated studio management, session planning and scheduling, system testing, talent interface, live radio broadcast production, negotiations, and direction of special projects. 

Coordinated and executed a multi-million-dollar renovation of flagship studio (Jimi Hendrix’s main studio), replacing Focusrite console with a new SSL, performing structural upgrades, installing new wiring, testing, and commissioning.

People Leadership

Led a team of contractors, acoustic engineers, electricians, and staff to complete the renovation project within one week; artists to utilize the space include: Carlos Santana, The Roots, D’Angelo, Steely Dan, Dave Matthews, Radiohead, Common, Beth Orton.

Directly managed a staff of six engineers; designed and implemented audio systems and provided audio production trainings and individual professional mentoring.

Managed hiring and training of audio engineers and subcontractors; co-managed internship program.

JSM Music (link)

Clio Award winning Jingle and Advertising Recording studio in NYC with 10 rooms.

Technical Director                             1995 – 1997 

Managed all technical aspects of a busy advertising studio; accountable for ensuring proper and successful operation of all systems, troubleshooting, repair, and process improvement related to studio quality and efficiency; managed and scheduled staff; engaged in mentorship and management of audio engineers.

Dreamhire Pro Audio  

Multi-million-dollar audio rental and services, supporting the continental US.  

Technical Director                             1992 – 1997

Primary technical lead overseeing day-to-day operations; managed three technicians and collaborated with the Sales Director to understand client needs and build custom equipment.

Designed packages for record companies, TV studios, recording studios, and direct-to-artist; served as on-site consulting engineer for complex packages, ensuring operational success.

Extensive experience working directly with artists and producers; organized and conducted offline tape transfers and archiving.   

Served as a consulting engineer on numerous special projects, including: 

Live from Lincoln Center – Mostly Mozart

Consulting engineer for live satellite broadcast of Mostly Mozart Festival from Lincoln Center, as distributed nationally on PBS, NPR and elsewhere.

Universal Studios in Orlando Florida 

Oversaw the pre-launch delivery, installation, and technical operation of on-site sound design and mixing for audio in the Park’s first major attraction – the Hanna Barbera Flintstones exhibit. Collaborated as part of a team of four with a $100K budget.

20th Anniversary of Sesame Street

Served as lead consulting engineer for an expanded communications system for the commemorative event, viewed by millions of people. Oversaw setup testing, and on-site monitoring for a 30-staff, Clear-Com Encore, full-duplex production communication system, wired throughout the set from the main production studio. 

SKILLS & CORE COMPETENCIES

Audio Engineering, Production, Leadership, Training, Narrative Storytelling, Audio Stories, Score and Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering, Control Rooms, Digital and Analog Consoles, Media, Detail-Oriented, Teamwork and Collaboration, Client Management

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

ProTools, Logic, Studio One, Universal and Waves plug-ins, Analog and Digital Recording and Mixing consoles, Signal Flow, Audio Production Workflows, Audio Industry Standards (dB levels and loudness)