A Two Day Workshop With the Pros August 9th & 10th, 2024

Mark Hornsby Studio Designer, Producer/Engineer, RBDG

A longtime collaborator in many Russ Berger design projects, Mark joined RBDG in 2021. As a gear executive, author and lecturer, Mark’s ear for audio excellence and decades-long work with talent helps make him a tailor-made fit for this group of architects and engineers. Mark’s past roles include serving as Vice President of Studio Operations at the world’s largest online music instrument and pro audio retailer, Sweetwater Sound, where he assembled an award-winning music production team and consulted hundreds of customers on the development of their own studios.

Mark’s credits go way beyond studio management. A gifted music producer and audio engineer with over 1000 projects under his belt, Mark has been part of some of the most compelling songs in contemporary music. From gospel music pioneer Russ Taff to acclaimed jazz virtuoso Al DiMeola, from hard rockers Anthrax to R&B icons Tower of Power, Mark made a name for himself by bridging artists’ visions with engineering know-how. His work has taken him to some of the world’s greatest musical spaces, such as Abbey Road, Sunset Sound, Criteria, Electric Lady Land, Royal Studios and (of course) many RBDG-designed venues.

When Mark is not spending time with his bulldog, Murphy, he enjoys golfing, playing music and travelling across the country in his Airstream. Fortunately, his career has afforded him the opportunity to live in places big and small, where you might see him sip an espresso (or four) and get to know local cultures and cuisine.

markhornsby.com

rbdg.com

Russ Berger Studio Designer, FASA, RBDG

As president of Russ Berger Design Group, Inc., Russ enjoys being involved in every project. His past experience in the studio as a musician, engineer, and owner gives him unusual insight as a consultant into all aspects and phases of facility design. Russ is active in several professional organizations and serves on the board of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC).

Russ has over 3,500 designs to his credit. Representative projects include National Public Radio headquarters, Whitney Houston’s personal studio, Sweetwater, NFL Films headquarters, Kirk Franklin, Belmont University, Sony Music, MasterMix, Paragon Studios, BiCoastal Music, and Lakewood Church. In recognition of his work, the industry has presented him with eight TEC Awards for technical excellence and creativity in acoustics and studio design. Russ is one of the original licensees for performing TEF measurements and is the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Heyser Award.

In addition, Russ has been invited to lecture nationwide on facilities planning, studio and small room acoustics, audio electronics, and audio monitoring. He has published numerous articles on studio acoustics and the application of computer techniques in the design of acoustic and electroacoustic systems.

When time permits, Russ is a scuba diver, reader, and chef. His favorite vacation – scuba diving with his wife Elisa and daughter Danna on a remote island and accompanied by a good book.

rbdg.com

Phillip Young Trilix Studio Head Engineer

Phil leverages a wealth of knowledge from years in the industry working with some of music’s biggest names. He kicked his career off in the LA music scene at the prestigious NightBird Recording Studios working with world-renowned acts such as Drake, Lil’ Wayne, Carrie Underwood, John Oates and Green Day.

Phil eventually came back home to lend his talents to the industry here. His efforts earned him recognition with a Dedication to Developing the Des Moines Music Industry award from the Des Moines Music Coalition. He truly enjoys refining every video and music project to create immersive audio experiences.

Phil has played in a lot of bands over the years and enjoys making music with his friends. His bands have taken the stage at 80/35, Mission Creek and many other music festivals across the state. Phil’s passion for creating synchronized visual art for live music was rewarded with a grant from the Iowa Arts Council to support his work.

When Phil has a free minute or two, he loves tracking down, modifying or rebuilding analog audio and video equipment. Whether it's building preamps or modifying vintage guitar amps, they always work their way into improving or capturing a great sound during a session.

With Phil you can expect a harmonious balance between his meticulous attention to detail and his creative passion working with analog and digital techniques to capture all the possibilities available with your sound. Look to partner with Phil on your next project.

Carl Verheyen Acclaimed musician, vocalist, songwriter, producer and educator.

In his 50-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically acclaimed musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and educator with 17 CDs and 2 live DVDs released worldwide. Carl is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 40 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows.

A member of the huge British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind the Carl Verheyen Band, he has released an impressive and eclectic discography that showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres. The CVB tours all over the world and continues to draw fans on the festival circuit as well as theaters and clubs. Carl also performs with drummer Stewart Copeland in his “Police Derranged for Orchestra” concerts with symphony orchestras all over North America.

A much sought after studio musician, Carl plays on other artists’ CDs whenever his busy schedule permits. He has recorded and played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry. His vast collection of movie soundtrack and television credits is enviable. Carl was heard by 67,000,000 people as a featured soloist at the 2009 Academy Awards. He is also heavily featured in the film documentary about the electric guitar, Turn It Up! Verheyen has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern-day guitar scene. Carl has won many polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK and received a Grammy nomination as a featured soloist.

On the educational front, Carl has produced two instructional videos called Intervallic Rock Guitar and Forward Motion as well as eight on-line master classes for Truefire. He also has a book/CD detailing his unique “intervallic” style called Improvising without Scales. Another book entitled Studio City is a compilation of all the columns Carl wrote for Guitar Magazine between 1996 and 1999, and his recently released Songbook is a detailed look into his unique and guitar-centered writing style. He has written a monthly column for Chitarre, Italy’s #1 guitar publication as well as Guitar and Bass Magazine in both Germany and France and Guitar Techniques in the UK. He wrote monthly columns four years in a row for Guitar Player Magazine and occasionally contributes to other guitar publications like Vintage Guitar and Guitar World. Carl has taught private guitar lessons to John Fogerty, members of System of a Down and Maroon 5 and conducted master classes all over the world.

Working closely with the guitar company LsL, Carl has a pair of signature electric guitars that are hand made in the USA. The CV Special and CV Studio models are patterned after Carl’s vintage Fender Stratocasters. Road worthy and affordable, they are a part of Carl’s touring and recording arsenal and sold all over the world. And pairing with DR Strings he’s developed a line of signature strings that perfectly balance the tremolo bridge of his LsL signature guitars as well as the Fender Stratocaster.

“Carl is so overwhelming to sit in a room and jam with, let alone his playing on records and stage. You get the impression there is no style or territory he is unable to explore.”
— Brad Paisley

“Carl is known as a studio guitar player but he’s much more than that. His records have the great feel of a live player. He plays with a lot of feeling.”
— John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival

carlverheyen.com

Paul Vnuk Jr. Editor of Recording Magazine

Paul Vnuk Jr. is a producer, audio engineer, sound designer and musician living in Racine, WI. He is the Editor of RECORDING Magazine and has been working with the publication for 21 years. Paul is one of the world’s foremost experts on recording/audio gear and has researched, used and reviewed more than 900 audio products. Paul also has more than two decades of experience in live sound in clubs, schools and houses of worship.

In his studio, Moss Garden Music, Paul has produced sound design projects and libraries for Sony, M-Audio, Peace+Love Productions, SoundTrack Loops and more. He has recorded and mixed albums for numerous clients across multiple genres and has released more than a dozen tribal electronic albums as a solo artist, with his band Ma Ja Le and in collaboration with other noted artists in his field since the 1990s.

Paul is a frequent guest lecturer at colleges, trade shows and seminars, sharing his knowledge of recording techniques, audio gear and careers in the audio industry. He also holds a degree in Photography from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

recordingmag.com

Mark Salamone Studio Integration Manager, Sweetwater Integration

Meet Mark Salamone, a luminary within the music industry whose journey has been defined by a relentless pursuit of sonic excellence. As the former owner of the esteemed recording haven "The Barbershop," Mark cultivated an unparalleled reputation for his sound engineering and production mastery.

With a diverse range of experiences, including leading numerous recording sessions for major record labels and owning his own record labels, Mark has made an unforgettable impact on the music scene. His keen ear and steadfast dedication to excellence have garnered him the respect and admiration of his peers and artists.

Currently serving as the Studio Integration Manager at Sweetwater, Mark continues to shape the future of audio technology and studio design. In this pivotal role, they seamlessly blend innovation with practicality, empowering musicians to harness the full potential of their creativity.

Mark is more than a technician; he is a visionary whose passion for the craft transcends mere technical proficiency. With each project, he and Sweetwater Integration strive to not only meet but exceed expectations, redefining the standards of excellence within the music industry.

sweetwater.com