Gabe Cowan: Producing Films, Leading Teams, and Building a DAW - Progressions: Success in the Music Industry
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Episode 61

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Published on:

2nd Mar 2022

Gabe Cowan: Producing Films, Leading Teams, and Building a DAW

This week's guest is award winning filmmaker, composer, and entrepreneur Gabe Cowan. Gabe has produced over 20 films, many of which have premiered at the major festivals. Some of his films include SXSW Audience Award winner "Cheap Thrills" as well as "Bad Milo" and "They Call Us Monsters." Before producing movies, Gabe was a multiplatinum recording artist, played in several bands and was signed to Geffen Records. His current focus is as the CEO of Audio Design Desk, where he is working to solve audio for video by creating a streamlined solution to quickly and easily match music and effects with picture in a manner that sparks creativity. We chat about making movies, democratizing cinema quality audio, the challenges of creating a DAW from scratch.

In this episode we'll dig in on...

  • How Audio Design Desk revolutionizes audio for picture
  • Creating a DAW that inspires you
  • Signing to Geffen Records in the mid 90s at age 19
  • How to pitch your ideas
  • AI as a musical assistant
  • Creating a product roadmap
  • Music as a part of a filmmakers identity
  • Major label life vs independent life
  • Encountering people that prioritize money over art
  • The allure of Hollywood
  • How scoring a Roger Corman film lead to producing movies
  • Shooting the first independent film done on a RED Camera
  • Meeting consumer expectations
  • Cue sheets
  • The musical gymnastics of the 80s and early 90s

Travis' Intro: Enjoy the Journey

Learn More About Gabe Cowan and Audio Design Desk...

Website: https://add.app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audio.design.desk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audiodesigndesk

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Credits:

Guest: Gabe Cowan

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Stephen Boyd

Theme Music: inter.ference

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About the Podcast

Progressions: Success in the Music Industry
Host Travis Ference chats with music producers, engineers, mixers, artists, musicians, and songwriters about the tips, tricks, mindsets, and ideas that helped them define their careers.
Conversations exploring creativity, productivity, and career growth in the music industry. Join in each week as Travis sits down with some of the industry’s best and brightest to discuss the mindsets and strategies that they use in their careers every day.
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About your host

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Travis Ference

Travis Ference is a Grammy nominated mixer, producer, and recording engineer based out of Los Angeles, CA. With over a decade of experience in the music business he has worked on multiple #1 albums, several top 10's, numerous RIAA platinum and gold certified records, as well as hit TV shows and blockbuster films. His work can be heard on more than 15 million albums sold and billions streams worldwide.

The inspiration for his podcast came from his journey over the last 5 years to redefine what success is for him, to take control of his time, and to ultimately live the life he wants while making the records he loves.