New member

Hey all. New member / student here. I am a freelance engineer out of Saint Paul MN and have been mixing since high school in the early to mid 1980’s with time away from the work occasionally because of two auto immune issues. I am also an analog / digital component level tech that specializes in repair and restoration of vintage synthesizers and other vintage audio gear. My goals for joining are to try to get to be as fast as possible with an analyzer so I can gather helpful info even when there really isn’t any time or opportunity to do so as I tend to have to take over multiple responsibilities outside the scope of audio during the majority of my local and regional gigs. Last tour that I mixed was in October. The experience of the condition of many clubs across the USA really lit a fire under me to invest in Smaart as it seems to me that it’s a relatively quick tool set to get into and use in a high stress environment. Also here to be a part of the community as we can all learn from each other in many ways!

Welcome David! Great to have you. Can't wait to hear more stories.
What's an example of a synthesizer that you've repaired recently?
Did you study electronics?

Just sent home another early serial number Minimoog. A few interesting ones in que right now are an OSCar, Rhodes Chroma, Korg DV 800 and the typical DX-7, Juno 106’s that I see a lot of. I was fortunate to have a close uncle that was a TV / Radio repair person back in the 1970’s and early 80’s that I started helping at an early age. Also fortunate that my High School offered electronics and had an electronics lab at the time. I’ve also had quite a few amazing mentors along the path.

Wow, cool! And how do people find out about your repair business? Is it the same way they find out that you also are a freelance mixer, by playing in bands?

Both are word of mouth. I have advertised the repair service in the past but ended up spending too much time weeding out people that want to get home electronic pianos fixed only to find out the repair work is not cost effective for them. I am selective who I will do live audio work for because of too many bad experiences with production companies and venues that are horribly run and pay low wages. The majority of my live work does indeed come from artists or promotors that need someone they can rely on and completely trust.