Today we’d like to introduce you to G.W. Childs IV.
G.W., let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
A native of Fort Worth, I started out playing in local Goth and Punk bands, up until I went in to the U.S. Army as a photographer and audio/video editor. While on tour in Hawaii, I got signed to German Industrial label COP International, and was released from the military for an opportunity of a lifetime. After leaving the military, I began working for LucasArts in the Bay Area, to produce many Star Wars video games as both a sound designer and a hardware engineer. After leaving LucasArts, I went freelance, eventually moving back to Texas, to be close to my family again. After moving back, it had always been a dream to work with and for Eagle Audio. I jumped in, while also working as a freelance voice editor on major titles like “Star Wars: The Old Republic”. And, Telltale Games, “Wolf Among Us”. And, also working on major music applications like Reason, from Propellerheads Software.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s always tricky when you’re working in a local studio. Maintaining your place in the local community and in the music scene, simultaneously, requires a certain amount of grace and dedication. We’re lucky in that we have a name that’s been around Fort Worth and Dallas for a long time. But, just like any studio, we have to stay pretty active in terms of maintaining the relationships with the musicians we’ve been servicing for years, as well as in our efforts to reach out and be a part of new music scenes and sounds that are occurring locally, and abroad.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Eagle Audio Recording – what should we know?
Eagle Audio Recording is one of the oldest recording studios in Fort Worth, featuring a beautiful main room, vocal booth, control room, and drum booth designed by studio design legend, Russ Berger. In addition to having one of the best sounding rooms in town, and having an amazing Yamaha grand piano, Eagle Audio Recording also provides live sound for local events like the Magnolia Arts Goggle and even mixing, mastering and production for all the bands who are a part of the annual Ft Worth Weekly Awards. In addition to what we do within our local community, we’ve done international live broadcasts in conjunction with Ask.Audio, and we’ve hosted and engineered for celebrities like Donald Fagan (Steely Dan) and T. Bone Burnett.
I am one of the in-house producers/engineers, and I specialize in recording, mixing, editing music projects that come in, and even producing music videos, from time to time. I’m probably most proud of the fact that we can record a good ol’ fashioned analog 24-track session in a room that really gives you the experience of recording in a real recording studio. Or, do an entirely digital recording within a legendary atmosphere and get sound that is really incredible. There are also legends in the business like Jerry Hudson and Jeff Ward that work here that I’ve been able to learn a lot from in both the technical and business arenas.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Again, Jeff Ward and Jerry Hudson are the two guys that got me in the door, up here. And, helped me get up to speed in the control room and with longtime customers who’ve been working with them for years. Jerry ran Pantego sound back in the day, and has more albums under his belt that I can count on all my digits. He’s also a major force in the Fort Worth local music scene, having engineered sound for many bands both local and in on tour. I don’t know where I’d be in life without him! Jeff Ward, also having a colossal list of credits, has really taken me under his wing in both business and in operation of the studio, as well. He’s an engineer who has more years of experience than I have years of life. And, knows every facet of the control room. I’m always running in to questions and he always has the answers and the patience.
With the two of those guys around, I don’t feel like there’s a lot we can’t handle.
Contact Info:
- Address: 911 S Main,
Fort Worth, TX 76104 - Website: www.eagleaudio.com
- Phone: 817-877-4338
- Email: gw@eagleaudiorecording.com
- Facebook: gwchilds
- Twitter: gwchilds
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