Imaging Finland – Meet Heikki Wichmann RAP Awards 2nd Runner Up

Finland, the land of polar bears, wodka, ice and snow :)…and excellent radio imaging.

This year’s 24th “Radio and Production Awards” were announced at the end of march and as always a lot of talented people took the challenge and participated. I am very happy to share an interview with one of the contestants and 2nd Runner Up for Large Market Promo : Heikki Wichman from Finland. Heikki is a great guy who has been doing radio imaging for commercial radio in Finland since 1997. He has been working for many stations like U103, Sävelradio, Radio Nova, Nostalgia and NRJ. For the work below on the “Energy Extravadance Show” in 2013, he earned the 2nd runner-up in the category  “Large Market Promo” on this year’s “Radio and Production Awards” and I am thrilled he took some time to answer my questions.

I love you, radio – Brady Goodman, Iron Imager 2014 Contender

After about 20 years in radio full-time, I’ve been working as a director of video productions for a manufacturing company in Kansas City for the last few years. I have clients I do imaging for as a freelancer on a consistent basis as well as working with my “home station,” KZPT-FM 997 the Point in Kansas City, where I’m also on-air as a weekend/fill-in jock.
I’d also like to mention how much I love this “Iron Imager” contest. I’d like to thank Benztown for making it happen. I’d like to thank Dan Kelly and the other champs for being involved and bringing a large amount of credibility to this event. The trip to LA and the chance to share the stage with Dan, catch some hang time with the Benztown Team is a prize in itself! If this brings me new opportunities, that’s just icing on the cake. This experience has easily been one of the most exciting things that has happened to me in my radio career.
I love you, radio.
Love, Brady

PS: I’m on twitter, @bradygoodman, and I’m always open to new opportunities

Check out the interview with Brady:

SFX Experiences Pt. 3 or the only day you HAVE TO DRINK at work!!!

Today it’s St. Patrick’s Day and we all know that the only mission is to eliminate as much beer as possible! And as you know that we are always in search of authentic sound effects Jan, Max and Konrad had the VERY UNPLEASANT job to record real beer drinking SFX. Check their hard work at the benztown studio…

How to image Capital and Capital Xtra – Meet Ashley Bard

Lately I discovered Ashley’s work on Daryl’s blog and I knew right away this guys needs to be interviewed. Especially his work for Capital Xtra  blew me away – I love how he uses Filters, Stutters and rhythmic in general to create a new world of sound attached to the regular Capital brand, but far away enough to keep an own character. Check Ashley’s audio, hsi screen caps, read about his tips and tricks and enjoy one of the UK’s rising Imaging stars.

Great CUSTOMER SERVICE PT. 2 or why AKG is the SH**!

A short post about pleasant experiences with customer services again… This week one of our junior producers brought his AKG headphones (K271 MKII which I trust too) to the customer service, audiopro, which is close to Stuttgart. One of the capsules was broken and he had no warranty and no invoice anymore. After checking the headphones, they wrote him:

“I have tested the headphones. The repair costs amount to 85 €. I saw that the price difference to a new pair of K271 MKII is not far. Therefore, I offer you these in exchange for € 107 including transportation.”

A new pair of K271 MKII costs around 150€! They took a damaged, 6 years old product (without any proof of purchase), checked it for free and took it in exchange for a nice discount. So we learned again: treat customers fair, super serve them – it WILL GET YOU WHERE YOU WANT to go!

Imaging, Sound Design, Composing….the UK – Meet Dan Mumford, former BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra Head of Sound Design

I finally found the time to interview my friend Dan Mumford. He’s an extraordinary talented composer, imaging director and sound designer, who will share his incredible knowledge with you.

For 10 years Dan has been working for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. He started as a Programme Transfer Assistant for BBC in 2003 and two years later he managed to become the Producer of X-Trails. After scoring the position as the Station Sound Producer for 1Xtra and then Radio 1 in 2007/08, he finally made his way to Station Sound Manager of Radio 1 and 1Xtra in 2010. One of his greatest accomplishments is re-branding Radio 1’s Breakfast Show for the first time in 8 years. Nowadays he works as a freelancer and his stuff is amazing. Check out Dan Mumford!

YOUR VOTE: The DAW-Double!!!

Last week we wanted to know, what should be next on our blog and YOU voted for a special radio imaging test of Avid Pro Tools 11! On second place (pretty close) is Apples Logic Pro X…
Thanks for voting guys – we decided to check them both!!! So stay tuned and we’ll hook you up with the reviews as soon as possible! If you already have some specific questions depending the new versions of PT and Logic, feel free to post them in the comments…

YOU VOTE – WE TEST !!! Gear Porn, what is next?

Here at Benztown we always check the web and magazines for new plug-ins and amazing gear which maybe help to take our imaging and music production to the next level… or we check out classics like the U47 and hit you up with a mic comparison (Side Note Andy: great feedback on that, thanks guys!). And because there’s so much new and old stuff that’s worth to review or to test, we are having a hard time to decide on our own, what should be NEXT?!

Sidey DID it again… check some ACRAward-winning Imaging!

A few weeks since this years Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Brisbane – and there is one well known name when we take a look at the winners… My homie “Sideshow” Mike Andersen got the award for “Best Achievement in Production” again like in 2012 ! He produces for Triple M in ast year he said “In all honesty, there is nothing like a blueprint for how to win awards” but if keeps on rocking the ACRAs like this, we won’t believe anymore;) TELL US THE TRUTH!!!! Take a listen to his awarded reel and you know how he does it – by creating amazing, funny, innovative and high quality radio imaging!!!

Congrats Mike – we’re blown away again! And go for a Triple ACRA in 2014!!!

How to brand and image a morning show – Meet Steve Reynolds!

Today I am really humbled to present you a friend of mine, which I met back in 2011 on german radiodays: Steve Reynolds. Steve is THE morning show consultant and I was very impressed by the presentation he gave back in cologne, talking about how to coach an on air personality, where he finds talent and how he creates major market success stories in morning radio. His track record speaks for itself and I am more than happy to got some spare time with him to ask some questions about imaging and how he uses imaging to brand his major market morning shows.

Learn from one of the best how SOUND Design can influence a great Morning Show brand. Enter Steve: