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

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