Voicing Microphones, Cryogenics, and the School of Experience | with Derek Bargaehr of Vanguard Audio Labs

Today’s guest is engineer, audio technician, and microphone designer Derek Bargaehr. Derek is the the Chief Everything Officer and co-founder of Vanguard Audio Labs. He created Vanguard to give musicians and recording engineers access to great and affordable tools and since then his mics have been added to mic lockers all over the world. We have a great chat about microphone design, understanding your tools, using polar patterns and mic placement to change frequency response, and the difference between studying the theory vs learning by doing.

In this episode we'll dig in on...

• Voicing Microphones
• Not wanting to build clone microphones
• Why vintage mics sound different
• Reading schematics
• Theory vs Execution
• Building guitar pedals
• Cryogenically freezing components
• Noise floor
• Using polar pattern and mic placement to adjust frequency response
• Building a brand based on word of mouth and guerrilla marketing
• Why you should avoid buying new tools until you learn the ones you have
• Interning and working for Avantone
• Why relationships matter in the music industry
• Voice-Overs
• Understanding electronics

Mentioned in the Interview:

• Flock Audio Patch Bay

Travis' Intro: The School of Experience

Learn More About Derek Bargaehr and Vanguard Audio Labs...

Website: https://www.vanguardaudiolabs.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanguardaudiolabs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanguardaudiolabs

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanguardaudiolabs

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Credits:

Guest: Derek Bargaehr

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Stephen Boyd

Theme Music: inter.ference