It’s our pleasure to introduce you to Steve Lagudi – a veteran live sound (Front of House) and studio/recording engineer who is a good friend of A-T. He’s graciously agreed to guest blog for us so he can share some of the tips and tricks he’s acquired over the years with you, our readers! Unlike most articles you can find on the internet that just give basic techniques and approaches, many of which can be found in textbooks, Steve will go beyond that to give you something new and different. In his upcoming posts, he will explain – in his own words – how to achieve the best sound possible using real world scenarios as examples. His first post will cover miking live drums, but before we dive in, we thought we would give you a glimpse into his work to get you acquainted! For the past 15 years, Steve has worked with countless artists such as Machine Head, Exodus, Testament, God Forbid, Shadows Fall and Ill Nino, just to name a few. When touring, he keeps himself busy with mostly hard rock and metal bands, thanks to his ability to deliver an aggressive, ‘in your face’ sound while maintaining clarity and punch. Regardless of the act, however, it is his responsibility to deliver consistent mixes night after night. When Steve is not touring the world, he can be found in the comfort of various studios, working on a slew of projects in all sorts of genres including rock, pop, country, jazz, and even folk and gospel. Steve says he is often asked, “How one guy can have such a broad music styling” when it’s typical for engineers to usually work in one or two areas. His answer is the same every time – “It’s all about understanding the genre of the music you’re working with and capturing the vision of the artist,” he says. Steve explains that along the course of his career, the music has always told him where it needs to go, from early on in the tracking process, all the way up through the mix down. “Just let the music guide you,” he advises. Look for the first installment of Steve’s series on the blog tomorrow! Check out Steve Lagdi Productions on Facebook.