George Lauder Bursary - Week 5

We are now passing the official halfway mark of my trip to NYC!

I’m really beginning to settle into life and routine here. I’m definitely starting to become more familiar with my surroundings, the subway routes, and how to get from point A to B. This week was a little busier with my workload, but I still managed to get out and do some fun activities!

Monday 7th July

New week, same routine! I’m definitely still adjusting to the consistent 9 a.m. starts, as back home I’m used to a varying, sometimes unpredictable schedule. This is a bit out of the ordinary for me—but I think a good thing to acclimatise to!

Today, our focus was on gates and expanders.

(For context: a gate lets sound through only when it’s above a certain volume, helping to cut out background noise. An expander does something similar, but more gradually—it makes quiet sounds quieter and loud sounds louder, increasing the contrast between them. Both help clean up audio and make it more focused.)

The first of our quizzes was released, and we were reminded about the upcoming project deadline on Wednesday evening. Our group decided to book the studio for tomorrow after class to bash out the recordings and analysis sections of the project (more on that tomorrow!).

After class, I returned to the accommodation and called my dad for a catch-up, as it had been a while. Then I nipped out to the shops for some supplies and got to work finalising my next mix for Mix Intensive class tomorrow. A couple of hours later, I wrapped up the mix and sent it over to Jason.

In the evening, I went back to the promenade to relax and continue writing this blog on my phone. I watched the foggy evening unfold over Manhattan—it was incredibly peaceful and calming.

Before we move on to Tuesday, I had some amazing news to share (which many of you probably already saw on my Instagram!)

Back in November 2024, I worked with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s audio team on the soundtrack for the film Heads of State, starring John Cena and Idris Elba. Due to signing an NDA, I couldn’t talk about it until its release—but it finally came out on Amazon Prime!

I was fortunate enough to be credited for my work, and I made my IMDb debut! I won’t go into too much detail here (I’m saving that for its own post), but it was such a relief to finally share the news with everyone after nearly eight months. If you’re looking for a fun action-comedy to watch—look no further!

Tuesday 8th July

Another packed day!

First up was ETR II, where we focused on stereo microphone techniques.(For context: stereo microphone techniques involve placing two microphones to capture sound with a sense of space and direction—like how our ears naturally hear. These setups help recordings feel more natural, wider, and three-dimensional.)

We used the Steinway piano to demonstrate and compare the differences between various mic techniques.

Afterwards, our group headed to the dining hall for lunch and a quick chat before returning to Clive for Mix Intensive.

Example of my notes!

We began at 12 p.m., with today’s focus on mixing drums and bass. Each class, we’re encouraged to keep a journal of notes (see Figure 1) including tips, questions, and methodology. We started with a mix analysis, listening to a few songs and evaluating how they were mixed.

When we moved onto drums, I noted several things that differed from my usual workflow and made sure to ask Jason why he approached things the way he did. The same went for bass guitar. What was great is that even when his methods were different, Jason explained how he achieved the results and backed up why something sounded good in the context of the mix—even if it didn’t on its own.

I made sure to absorb as much as possible and started adapting some of his techniques into my own mixing process.

Later, we played our own song mixes for Jason. I was second to present and received strong initial feedback. He pointed out a few areas that could be refined for better cohesion in the mix.

After class, I asked Jason for further feedback on the client songs I’ve been working on. I played both for him and encouraged him to be critical so I could improve them for release. He praised both tracks and gave some constructive feedback to tighten them up.

Eager to implement his suggestions, I spent extra time in the classroom working on adjustments, then returned to the accommodation to continue mixing. I also started writing the project report before heading to bed.

Wednesday 9th July

Today in ETR II, we recorded a horns trio—trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.

We had a great discussion with each player about their instruments and specific techniques for recording them. We then set up our microphones and started recording. Time was short, so we quickly wrapped and packed up.

After class and lunch, I continued work on my write-up for the first ETR II project. I was on a tight schedule as I had a meet-up planned with someone I hadn’t seen in a long time—Macauly, my old college classmate and friend.

He was part of our group during the second year of our HND and a great friend. We hadn’t caught up in a while due to busy schedules, but he was visiting NYC with some friends and we arranged to meet.

After dropping off my bag, we met up and headed straight to 7th Street Burger, which I had recommended earlier. We caught up on college, university, life in Glasgow, and what it’s like living in New York.

We then visited Columbus Park before I took them to Brooklyn Heights Promenade to show off one of the best views of Downtown Manhattan. After chatting for a while, they had to leave to meet the rest of their group, so I walked with them to the ferry terminal and said goodbye.

Afterward, I explored Brooklyn Bridge Park, which I had missed on my previous trip to DUMBO. It’s smaller than some of the other parks, but still offers stunning views of Manhattan. Back at the accommodation, I finalised my write-up and prepared my next mix for Mix Intensive.

Thursday 10th July

Today in ETR II, we covered an especially interesting field—delays!

We explored different types of delays including flangers, phasers, and choruses.(For context: phasers, flangers, and choruses are effects that alter sound by mixing it with a shifted version of itself. A phaser creates a swirling effect, a flanger produces a sweeping “jet” sound, and a chorus makes one sound feel like many by slightly varying pitch and timing.)

Michael (our instructor) also demonstrated how engineers used tape machines to create delay effects, using the studio’s in-house tape machine.

As usual, Jackson, JV, and I grabbed lunch at the dining hall, then headed back to Clive for Mix Intensive. Today’s focus was on mixing percussion and melodic elements, which I found incredibly engaging.

It was great to watch Jason work through each part of a song with ease. I paid close attention to his techniques and made notes to apply them in my own work.

At the end of class, we listened to everyone’s mixes. Jason immediately noticed that I had applied his previous feedback. He pointed out a few more small areas—like specific vocal phrases and guitar sections—but overall said the progress was “night and day,” which was fantastic to hear!

After class, I spent around 45 minutes in the edit suite starting on those changes. On the way back, I called my aunt—who was with my grandparents—and had a lovely chat with them. That call was definitely the highlight of my day.

Friday 11th July

If you read last week’s post, you may remember I exchanged contact info with Alex from my Music Licensing class.

They messaged me recently asking if I’d like to grab coffee and chat about music, production, my journey so far, and advice for getting into the industry. We met at Poetica Coffee in the East Village.

I accidentally got myself lost going in the wrong direction (classic), but eventually found my way there. It was around 34°C, so I immediately grabbed a cold drink. We chatted for a few hours before they had to leave, but we agreed to meet up again soon.

Afterwards, I grabbed some food and decided to explore more of Central Park, starting at 86th Street and heading north along the west side of the reservoir. I found the North Meadow, full of baseball and softball pitches and buzzing with games.

I explored further north but eventually decided to head home as time was getting on.

Saturday 12th July

I was up early to meet JV. After getting ready, I took the R subway to Union Square. We wandered around the area and briefly chilled in Washington Square Park, where a small jazz trio was playing. JV had an event later in Brooklyn, so we parted ways and I headed back to the accommodation.

Later, I decided to explore a new area and took the subway to Grand Army Plaza, just north of Prospect Park. Back home, I’m used to having nature at my doorstep, so being in NYC has been an adjustment. That’s why I’ve been making the most of any chance to visit parks and reconnect with green space.

I spent a lot of time exploring the park, partially getting lost in the process! The park was packed with families and friends gathering to cook, enjoy the sun, and socialise—it was a beautiful sight.

I was really struck by the scale of social groups—something you don’t see as often in the UK. There’s definitely a different vibe here when it comes to gathering in public spaces.

Eventually, I found my way to Fort Hamilton Parkway, hopped on the F train, and treated myself to another round of Shake Shack. I returned to the accommodation, worked on the blog, and got ready to be up early tomorrow.

Sunday 13th July

Today was fairly relaxed, but I had to wake up early for a group call with my client regarding the projects I’ve been working on during my time here.

We covered a few key points and got a better idea of what the next month will look like. I’m really excited to share more soon!

After the call, I got ready and did more work on my blog and client mixes. I cleaned both up over a couple of hours before deciding I needed to get out for some air.

I didn’t go anywhere too special—just explored a bit more of Downtown Brooklyn. I even found a few spots I’d missed before. Once back, I did some final prep and got ready for what looks to be a busy week ahead!