One of the coolest moments these past two weeks was sitting at the fireplace where Nirvana once took their photo while recording In Utero. It’s surreal to think I’m interning in the same place where that album came together. As someone who grew up listening to those songs, it feels unreal to walk through the same rooms and now be part of the daily work that happens here.
Working on 48-channel API Discrete consoleI’ve been spending more time on Pachyderm’s 48-channel API Discrete console, and while it looked overwhelming at first, I’m starting to find my way around it. The patch bay, signal flow, gain staging; things that felt intimidating in week one are now becoming more familiar. I’m learning how to think in terms of routing, how every piece of gear talks to each other, and how to stay calm when something doesn’t work the first time. It’s a huge board, but once you break it down, it starts to feel more like a tool than a monster.
Mic placement continues to be a big part of what I do here, especially with amps. Even moving a mic half an inch can completely change the character of the sound. I’ve been experimenting with combinations like blending a dynamic with a ribbon to get both bite and warmth and listening critically to how those small adjustments translate in the control room. It’s the kind of detail work that doesn’t always get noticed unless it’s wrong, but it makes all the difference.
Looking back, this internship has shown me what it really means to be part of a professional studio, not just the technical work, but also the patience, focus, and consistency it takes to support artists and keep the creative process moving. It’s given me a clearer sense of how I want to approach my future work, including developing audio plugins for my Capstone Project, and I’m grateful to have learned in such a historic space. I’m excited to carry these lessons forward as both a musician and an engineer, and share my experience to the Cornell community.