Graham Cochrane is a freelance recording and mix engineer living in Tampa, Florida and founder of TheRecordingRevolution.com. As a lifelong singer/songwriter and musician, his passion for recording and mixing has grown from the bedroom studio, to university (where he studied audio production), to multi-million dollar studios, to fortune 500 software companies, and all the while freelancing for artists and bands worldwide.
If you can give one piece of advice for upcoming engineers what would it be?
As it relates to getting good at your craft? I would say just do as much work as you possibly can. Be someone who finishes projects, not tries to perfect them. Perfect is the enemy of finishing, and finishing is where the learning is. Anyone with a musical ear can get good at this art form – it just takes time.
As it relates to working in this industry? I would say the secret is to be a servant. Try and serve as many people as you possible can. Serve your clients (even free ones). Serve your other staff in the studio. Serve the labels. Serve anyone you work with. And by serve, I mean add value to their lives. Make things all about them and what you can do for them. Don’t focus on what THEY can do for YOU.
You’ll be amazed how much people seem to want to work with and refer others to people who are value adders, not takers.
What would you say is the one thing that has motivated you to keep going in your career?
The amount of people that continue to email me to say my content has helped them in a major way. Without that, I start to wonder if I’m even having an impact in this space.
Amps or sims?
Amps – unless it’s an Eleven Rack 🙂
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?
At one point I realized I needed to stop comparing myself (and my career path, my work, my skills, etc) to other people. It was never productive or encouraging. Instead I try and focus on the way I “see” the audio world and add as much value as I can in my own way.
What are your top five go to gear choices?
- Avid Pro Tools
- Waves SSL Bundle
- Slate Virtual Buss Compressors
- Slate Virtual Console
- Izotope Ozone
If you could change anything about the world what would it be?
Oh man. Big question. If I had the power I would eliminate all disease, crime, and poverty. In all seriousness.
I live in a privileged country where I never worry about running out of food, water, or shelter. I’ve been blessed education, health, and relative safety my whole life. Just because of where I was born. And yet, none of us had any control over our place (or time) of birth.
We support a lot of organizations that are battling poverty around the world, as well as giving generously to those in need right here in my own city. Every little bit helps, of course, but there’s so much more to do.
What record still mystifies you and why?
If I had to chose an all time favorite record, one that still to this day draws me in and blows my mind it would be Soundgarden’s Superunknown. From the songwriting, to the performances, to the recording/mixing, even to the song order and album flow I am totally immersed in a sea of sound for the entire length of the album. It’s a defining record in my life (was back then and still is today).
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Listen to episode 18 of the URM Podcast with Graham Cochrane HERE
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Comments 2
This was a fantastic little Q&A
Graham!
I’m an old (62) old school singer songwriter guy…Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jackson Browne, John Prine. I’ve been writing songs since day one (about 12 years old) and have tried for decades to figure out how to record my own stuff. Just for me, no aspirations of grandeur lol. I’ve done reel to reel, cassette (had an old yama 2 track cassette recorder Reflective tape on the back side of the cassette and *BAM* 2 tracks. It was horrible!! I never knew anything about how to record right and guessed my way around everything. A number of years ago I found Audacity and started trying to figure out how to use it, I hobbled along and had fun searching out audacity tutorials etc but my recordings were…bad. So last year I bought an Audiobox USB which came with Studio One, got several mics etc and continued along guessing my way through things that mystified me. But enjoyed it a tone and used it as a great writing tool. I tried several on-line instructions and the youtube land of videos but nobody ever explained things in way I “got”. I’m retired, disabled and on a woefully limited budget so I’m not somebody who throws gear at the problem…the audiobox was a luxury! lol I stumbled onto your site, I think it was through favebook maybe? I watched a bunch of your free videos, downloaded every info sheet you offer and I have to say, your style of instruction is, by far, the best out there for me. I’m still dazzled I finally know what EQ really is and how to use it and compression and…100 other things. I “attended” your webinar tonight and it was awesome as well. Sorry to say I’ll probably never really be able to make any big purchases from you due to circumstances, I’m one of the freeloaders lol. But I want you to know you have really really opened up recording for me in a massive way. Just your simple free system of recording sheet alone gave me a clear, doable game plan. I’ll never make money at it, only friends will ever hear my stuff (outside of acoustic gigs I pick up) but you’ve made a big impact and given me a vehicle to enjoy. This is just a thank you to you, you do a fantastic job!
Davis