Instructor Profile: Robert Brock
Robert (second from right) and students in Studio D
Robert Brock is one of the reasons why Conservatory instructors are some of the best in the business. He's an industry pro himself with deep experience in recording, production and music. Read on for a look into the life of Robert Brock
How long have you been an instructor at the Conservatory, and what got you started in audio education?
My first day of teaching was on my 22nd birthday, June 25th 1992. That makes it about hmmm, I don’t know, I’m not very good with numbers ;-)
Aside from being an instructor, you are an accomplished keyboard player and arranger. Tell us about your musical background.
I started playing piano when I was 7, and studied (but not that seriously) for most of my youth. When I was 9 I took up violin and studied classically with quite a bit of intensity. For a while my vision was to be a classical violinist. Then I found synthesizers and Rock & Roll. By the time I was 16 I was gigging with a working top 40 band playing keyboards. It was all pretty much down hill from there.
What classes do you teach at the school?
Digital recording technologies (MIDI, digital audio, hard disk recording etc.) as well as Surround Sound
What do you find most interesting about the new recording technology that has sprung up in the last few years?
The way that technology has changed the process of making a recording. When technology gives you a 6db better signal to noise ratio, that’s cool, but it doesn’t change theway you work. Now, technology is constantly changing the way you approach a project.
What do you think are the most valuable attributes that a student can have when venturing into a career in audio?
Attitude is Everything! Be on time and be serious about your future and education.
Where do you see audio recording going in the next 5 years?
Analog tape, lots of solid state electronics, and maybe a couple of cans with some string.
What other things do you do besides teaching at the school?
I play keyboards with recording artist Esteban. In addition to all the records I've done with him in the past few years, we’ve recorded 9 CDs worth of music since January. A lot of it is sold on the Home Shopping Network plus we have a busy gigging schedule. Apart from that and teaching, I’ve been working a lot with manufacturer relations and doing a lot of beta testing for Tascam. For instance I’ve got the new DM24 digital workstation which is very hip. I'm also testing the new MXView software, which makes the MX2424 a whole new box
If you had a time machine and could bring one piece of audio gear back from 100 years in the future, what would that be?
A talent fader!