Life & Work with Wade Nichols of North Royalton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wade Nichols.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I own Starsound Studios, one of the top studios in Ohio that has the only Dolby-certified Atmos Mixing Studio. I teach audio in video tutorials on my YouTube channel, which is growing daily, and I started The Cleveland Recording Summit. The CRS is a series of masterclasses on how to record. I grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. Music has always been a part of my life. My mother, a music enthusiast, played a significant role in my musical development. She would challenge me with verbal quizzes on the instrument playing on a Herb Albert record, aiming to stump me with a sound I did not know. However, my natural talent and love for music always prevailed. This early exposure to music sparked my lifelong passion for the art.
My journey in the music industry is a testament to unwavering dedication. It all began in school and church choir during middle and high school. After picking up the guitar, I started playing in bands and learning to run sound for those gigs. My music career took off when I found myself in the right place at the right time, leading to opportunities to run live sound for national recording artists, live theater, and hundreds of live local bands in and around the Milwaukee area. During this time, I wrote three albums, and my songs were playing on local Milwaukee radio stations. I also performed these songs live on local cable shows, showcasing my talent and passion for music. Despite achieving all this without formal music training, The journey is an inspiration to all aspiring recording engineers.

Multiple Projects

In 1993, I embarked on a new venture, taking the reins of Starsound Studios in Milwaukee. This bold move showcased my entrepreneurial spirit. Upon returning to Northeast Ohio in 2001, I re-established the studio, further demonstrating ambition. Additionally, founding the arena rock tribute band Rock Rewind, a testament to creative prowess. He meticulously designed and executed the music, video, and light show for the band’s performances at Starsound Studios.
My career journey is a testament to adaptability and resilience. Despite success in the music industry, I never stop learning. In 2004, when a principal requested that I teach music in the Cleveland School District, I didn’t hesitate. I wrote a grant, and when accepted, installed a recording studio lab in the back of the school auditorium. Despite the closure of that building, my passion for education and ability to adapt led to my current role, teaching 5th-grade math and science.

Meeting His Mentors

Unique opportunities and invaluable experiences have marked Wade’s journey in the world of recording engineering. His journey began with a trip to New York, where he had the privilege of learning from the esteemed Grammy-nominated recording engineer Fab Dupont, not once but twice. A stint followed this in Boston, where he collaborated with the renowned company Izotope, the Grammy-nominated mastering engineer, and Berkley College of Music professor Johnathan Wyner. These experiences have honed his technical skills and shaped his unique approach to recording engineering.

He has also driven to Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to learn numerous times from their recording, mixing, mastering, or financial studio operations master classes from Mark Hornsby. Wade took multiple master mixing classes at Sweetwater Studios with the one and only Chris Lord-Alge. CLA has won multiple Grammys. Wade also took a master recording class with Ed Cherney provided by Sweetwater Studios. Ed has won several Grammy, TEC, and Emmy awards. The extensive list of mentors has imparted years of recording and engineering wisdom. Therefore, Wade has built up much knowledge for his clients. In other words, they benefit from the sound of their recordings. Another massive guiding force on his path was Derek Senestraro. He started as Wade’s sales engineer. Over the years, they have become good friends.

Wade’s commitment to his craft is unwavering. He is currently enrolled in the RAT Recording Arts and Technology program at Tri-C Community College, pursuing an associate’s degree in recording/engineering. Despite the running joke that he is ‘back in school to learn what he already knows and does daily at Starsound Studios,’ Wade’s dedication to continuous learning is a testament to his passion and commitment to his profession. This extensive education, combined with his practical experience, makes our team the right choice for your next recording. His commitment to continuous learning instills confidence in his expertise and the quality of his work.

Wade is not just a recording engineer but also a mentor. His extensive journey in the music industry, marked by unique opportunities and invaluable experiences, has shaped him into the professional he is today. He accepts interns from multiple schools, colleges, and universities, sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of recording engineers. Wade has had interns from prestigious institutions such as Berklee College Of Music, Ohio University, and Youngstown State University. Tiffin University has now accredited Wade, and he will mentor students for their internships to become recording engineers. He is also earning that same accreditation from Tri-C. Wade will give seminars to the students in the RAT program, inspiring the next generation of recording engineers. Since the construction of the Dolby Atmos studio, Tri-C will have him conduct masterclasses for their students and mentorship program, further solidifying his role as a mentor in the industry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning how to make records and not just record someone. This has been the biggest challenge. Artists who call me do not understand what it takes to provide what they want. It takes time, multiple revisions, and a willingness to do so. I have developed a plan to ensure I can consistently meet exacting social media standards. This stringent measure scares some musicians because they think it is not easy. It may not seem like it, but the reward at the end is always worth it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets me apart and the reason you should pick Starsound Studios as your studio of choice is my ear. I can hear something in a room, and make sure that sound is captured and comes out of the speaker in the exact way I heard it. Most recordings are done generically. Then, the sound engineer tries to get it to sound better. I do the opposite. I record sounds exactly how they end up sounding on a record. If not, I re-record it until it is that way. Then mixing is relatively easy. Michael Angelo answered the question: How did you carve David? He said: I did not carve David; he was already there. I just removed the excess. That is how I record.

I also own the only Dolby Atmos Mixing Studio in the state of Ohio. This also sets me apart from every other studio.

What were you like growing up?
I was always drawn to music and sports. My parents made me play clarinet. I hated it. I then picked up a guitar, and they hated that! I played football in High School and College. I wrestled in High School. I also participated in track and field in High School and College. I played baseball from kindergarten to age 16. I also played basketball in grade school, but did not continue it. I sang in church, swing choir, and eventually in my own rock bands. I ran front-of-house sound for those bands, other local bands, and national artists. I wrote 3 albums of my own and played them on local cable TV shows and radio. Now I own Starsound Studios. All the work put into singing, playing guitar, and running live sound is why Starsound is so successful. It is decades of work culminating in the studio sound. I am constantly striving to get better. I will never stop.

Pricing:

• Studio A – $500 a song
• Dolby Atmos Mix – $600 a song

Contact Info:

• Website: https://starsoundstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starsound_studios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starsoundstudios
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/starsoundstudios/
• Twitter: https://x.com/starsound55
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/starsoundstudiosnorthroyalton
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/starsoundstudios
• Other: starsoundstudioscleveland@gmail.com