How have developments in music technology influenced producer Mark Trombino and his working methods
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There may not seem to be anything at all in common between Blink 182's breakthrough album 'Dude Ranch' and Jimmy Eat World's recent platinum album 'Bleed American', but there is one thing, in fact one person, that connects these two and many other albums. You may never have heard the name before, but chances are you have heard his work at some point, or he has worked with artists you are familiar with.
Mark Trombino first got into band recording using two four tracks to record the band he was in at the time, Night Soil Man. When he was at school at UCSD he had access to a 16-track music studio that was never really designed for live recording but by bringing in his own mics, cables, headphones and other essentials he found he was able to create an efficient studio setup. Despite the basic studio facilities, there was no-one teaching how it should all be done, so Trombino is self taught from reading, and watching other engineers. An impressive factor, considering the reputation he has since gone on to build.
The first major band that Trombino recorded was emo-rockers Drive Like Jehu. As Trombino puts it though, his first experience of working in what he refers to as a 'real' studio happened by accident:
"I got to do the Heavy Vegetable record at a 'real' studio by accident. I went to just sit in and help with drum sounds, but eventually the engineer thought htat the band would feel more comfortable with me behind the console than himself, so I took over."
These days, Mark Trombino is working for Big Fish Studios, Encinitas, California...