WCA #513 with Joel Jaffe - Navigating 40 Years of Studio Life, Recording Legends, Perfecting Live Room Techniques, Overcoming Bay Area Challenges, and Getting Out of the Chair

Working Class Audio

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt Boudreau chats with veteran producer and engineer Joel Jaffe, founder of Studio D Recording. Joel reflects on his 40-year journey running a renowned Bay Area studio, working with legendary artists like Faith No More and Huey Lewis, and perfecting live room recording techniques. He also shares insights on overcoming the challenges of studio life, the evolving music industry, and his decision to step away from day-to-day operations, or as Matt puts it, “getting out of the chair.”

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Challenges of running a studio in the Bay Area
• Building and managing Studio D Recording
• Recording techniques for live rooms and handling isolation
• Working with iconic artists like Faith No More, Huey Lewis, and Soundgarden
• The impact of streaming and the changing music industry
• Balancing a 40-year career with family life
• Lessons learned from mentors and iconic engineers
• Advice for aspiring audio engineers and producers
• Shifting from studio ownership to freelance work

Matt’s Rant: Revisiting Putting Yourself Out There

Links and Show Notes:

• Studio D Recording
• Joel Jaffe on Wikipedia

Credits:

• Guest: Joel Jaffe
• Host: Matt Boudreau
• Engineer: Matt Boudreau
• Producer: Matt Boudreau
• Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau
• WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell