Theta Sound Studio

03/07/2024

Sharing this fine piece of writing by my good friend and fellow creative, Doug Crowder, in celebration of tomorrow's activities...

19/04/2024

Bobby Owsinski's Inner Circle Podcast...

One of the best parts of our sourdough journey is the people we've met along the way. Our customers are very special to us and we endeavor to learn more about them every time they come to the bakery. Some of our customers are famous in various circles, and what a joy it is to discover that, long after we've known them as Breadness aficionados.

One such person is Producer/Engineer, Author and Coach, Bobby Owsinski...

Bobby is widely regarded as one of the best audio mixing teachers in the business. His books are found in college classrooms and at the workstations of world renowned mixers. He also is a podcaster and has produced over 500 episodes of his Inner Circle Podcast featuring icons of the industry plus timely audio technology and business segments.

So I was surprised and honored to be chosen by Bobby to be a featured guest on his podcast! But because our discussion covered my two careers: music and food, we ended up talking for about 2 hours! Bobby edited our lively discussion into 2 podcast episodes which you can access here: Inner Circle Podcast #510 https://bobbyoinnercircle.com/podcast-510-engineer-artisan-baker-randall-michael-tobin-unusual-release-formats-and-western-tuning-and-harmony/ and Inner Circle Podcast #511 https://bobbyoinnercircle.com/podcast-511-engineer-baker-randall-michael-tobin-pt2-warners-may-buy-tunecore-and-most-popular-synthesizers/ .

For those of you who have heard me tell the story of how Random Acts of Breadness came to be, I'm sure you'll find the earlier story of how I ended up starting my own recording studio quite engaging. And how the idea of making sourdough bread came into my life and what happened to make me want to start a bakery in addition to the running the studio.

Now that both episodes have been released, you won't be left hanging at the end of episode 510. Grab another cup of your favorite brew and listen to episode 511 for the thrilling conclusion!

And do check out all of Bobby's excellent podcasts. Like me, you're likely going to become a fan of his unique channel.

17/12/2023

This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the premier performances of The Snow Queen Ballet. I wrote, arranged and recorded the music and sound effects for this enchanting production which is based on the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen.

In September of 1998, Aerin Holt and Marti Marshall came over to my recording studio and asked if I wanted to compose the music for their new ballet, scheduled to premiere that December. Having never done such a project before, having no time to do it, and there being no budget with which to pay for such a task, I, of course, agreed! With fervor and excitement, I looked forward to each Sunday (twelve in all), the only day of the week I could work on this creation. I can’t thank Aerin and Marti enough for presenting me with this challenge—this ballet and the music are the fruits of our labors.

Little did we know at the time, The Snow Queen Ballet would become a wintertime classic, performing to sold out audiences for 18 seasons over the span of 21 years; the last performances done in December 2019.

The experience of bringing the traditional (and not so traditional) orchestra to life for the characters / dancers is one I will cherish forever.

Although the soundtrack album tracks are accessible on YouTube (here's the original Prologue to give you a sense of the scope of this production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pdjrPdsIxQ ), the full aesthetic of the work is best realized by having attended one of the shows over the years, or the next best thing, watching one of the commercially released DVDs of the show (which I directed and edited, the last being the 10th anniversary of the show).

If you were fortunate to have experienced The Snow Queen Ballet, please post your impressions of the show in the comments below.

As the show's narrator tells the audience at the end: "May you see the world, not through broken glass, but with a clear perspective. And may your hearts be warm, and your winters mild..."

10/03/2021

Had the pleasure to master this compilation of two live recording sessions for this real, live, organic blues band: Hound Dog Dave and the Mel-tones. These guys are the real deal. Give a listen...

Real, live, organic blues doesn't get more authentic than this. Hound Dog Dave and the Mel-tones are the real deal. Get your mojo working and step outside the madness for a little while...

22/12/2020

With a few days leading up to Christmas, I've got one holiday-themed video to share each day starting with "Rare Christmas" by Constance Hauman, recorded in New York City December 2020. I created this video for her which showcases Christmas in New York, with an aesthetic twist. The video begins with an astrological chart for today's conjunct of Saturn and Jupiter, which you should be able to see with the naked eye in the southwesterly skies tonight. Enjoy...

https://isotopiarecords.com https://constancehauman.comA Rare Christmas is a perfect ending to the Quarantine Trilogy series of Constance Hauman and Ross Pe...

24/08/2020

Theta Sound Studio celebrates 43 years of making music, voice, sound design and video magic! It was August 1977 when I officially started Theta Sound Studio in the living room of my apartment at Kingswood Village in Downey, California. I'd had a personal project studio since my Air Force days in 1973, but now it became official with my first paying client (@ $8/hour!).

In the intervening years, we've had thousands of clients and a few hundred have made our esteemed Mug Club, receiving their very own custom-engraved coffee/tea mugs which were placed on our wall rack showcasing 48 mugs at a time. Here's a list of our Theta Sound Mug Club members. Look closely... your name may be in there. And if you'd like to share a Theta Sound Studio story with us in the comments below, I'm sure we'd all love to read it!

Aerin Holt
Al Kasha
Al Moses
Alan Weidlich
Albert Johnson
Albie Berk
Alison Sudol
Alison Wissot
Amanda McBroom
Amy Buccellato
Ana Star
Anastasia
Andrik Schapers
Anna Lively
Ariella Kapelner
Arlette McCoy
Armando Torres
Art McAllister
Art Podell
Ava Dupree
Barbara Cordova
Barry Wehrli
Bettie Ross Blumer
Big Dave McConnell
Bill Levey
Bill Whiteacre
Bill Elliot
Bill Apabalasa
Bill Moon
Billy T (Tragesser)
Bob Corff
Bob Illes
Bob Schrock
Bob Ealy
Bonita Wilson
Bonnie O'Malley
Brazen
Bruce Chianese
Bruce Wilson
Caralyn Percy
Carol Worthey
Catherine Miller
Charles Fleischer
Chele Graham
Chris Drizen
Chuck Cassidy
Clare Diane
Clay
Constance Hauman
Cyndie Tobin
Dale Gonyea
Daniel McCoy
Danny Maseng
Dave Tourjé
David Wilson
David Wilcox
David Francis
Dean Fransen
Deb Bowman
Debbi Lee
Debbie Montgomery
Debra Gilly
Dick DeBenedictis
Dick Van D**e
Doctor Fun
Douglas Crowder
Dr. Bob Scheckler
Duane Thorin
Ed Riojas
Elisa Gallay
Elisabeth Waldo
Elisabeth Ekornes
Elizabeth Horwich
Eric Vetro
Eric Zimmermann
Five Wheel Drive
Fletch Murray
Fred Simon
Gigi Boratgis
Gloria Rusch
Gordon Hunt
Grace Breuer
Greg Boutte
Gunther Lahn
H.B. Barnum
Hana-Li Winters
Harriet Schock
Harvey Kubernik
Hiza Yoo
Howard Heitmeyer
Ian White
Isaac Hayes
Izzy Chait
J.D. Guinn
Jackson Millar
Jamal Haqq
Jeff Colella
Jerry Jackson
Jerry Sternbach
Jesse Willner
Jessy Terrenzi
Jim Meskimen
Jim Latham
Jim Rodrigues
Jim Frankel
Johhny Ferretti
John Ward
John Weider
John Trujillo
John Wooden
Jordan Sax
Joshua Browne
Joyce Geeting
Judy Wiever
Julie Minasian
Justine Sprague
Karla Maatouk
Katherine Hunt
Katheryne Levin
Kirsten Sanderson
Kristie Janczyk
Lamont Dozier
Lance Miller
Larry Gilly
Larry Pepe
Laura Leifield
Lauri Kibby
Lennon Leppert
Leslie Lewis
Linda Tourjé
Linda DeMarco
Linda Wehrli
Lisa Bell
Lisa Donovan Lukas
Lloyd Rucker
Lora Lopes
Lori Scalise
Maje
Majel Barrett
Margaret Martin
Margaret McDonald
Maria Kaufmann
Mark Greisen
Mark Wilson
Mark Achuff
Marty Buttwinick
Matthew Vincent
Matthew St. John
Mel Carter
Michael Le Van
Michael Boustead
Michael Scandiffio
Michele Patzakis
Michelle Purpora-Tardi
Mike "Majik" Boyd
Min Jung Park
Misha Segal
Molly Kruse
Molly Hempsted
Morgan Grace (Kibby)
Nancy Krasn (Gumbiner)
Neil Briggs
Nicc Angeles
Nick Fryman
Nikki Moses
Noelle North
Pam Matteson
Pat Adeff
Patricia Patrick
Patrick Shooting-Star
Paul Kennedy
Perry Hart
Pierce Driessen
Placido Domingo
Prince Moore
Professor Ian Hall
Ralph Grimes
Randy Barach
Randy Crenshaw
Ratziel Ba**er
Raven Kane Campbell
Ray Evans
Ray Korns
Ray Manzarek
Rebecca Leigh
Rob Trabin
Robert Zappia
Robert Carr
Robert Hernandez
Robin Williamson
Rodney Dangerfield
Ron Ross
Rowan Wolf
Sandra Wood
Sarah Zanotti
Scott Fleischman
Scott Bradberry
Sean Burke
Shanna Fisher
Sharon Farber
Shaul Havivy
Sheila Zimmermann
Shelby Daniel
Sherry Hackney
Sisu Rakin
Sophia Germano
Stephanie Kupfer
Stephanie Sabin
Stephen Sharp
Steve Schlachlin
Steve Petersen
Steven Gordon
Steven David Horwich
Susan Kohler
Susie Stroh
Suzanne Buirgy
Suzette Rochelle
Tali Tadmor
Theresa Hayes
Timo Spekkans
Todd Fifield
Tom Renaud
Tom Solari
Tom Gilles
Tom Elkin
Tom Lane
Tom Culver
Tommy Scherer
Tracy Bergin
Tracy Newman
Valerie Fahren
Viacom Productions
Victoria Peters
Wahpui Sam
Wally August
Warren Adams
Wave Poorman
Wayne Boon
William Vendice
Yuki Mori
Yve Evans
Zooey Deschanel

Thanks for making our first 43 years so special. Here's to creating more music, more words, more sounds, more video and more inspiring art!

19/06/2019

The Godfather of Soul makes an appearance on the old "Late Night with David Letterman" on July 12, 1982. This is the best musical TV performance I've ever se...

14/03/2019

28/01/2019

We're down with Hip Hop Creator by RealiTone!

13/06/2018

Wow... Theta Sound Studio's live concert series started in the summer of 2014 and since that time, has produced 23 magical evenings and 44 amazing song/composition videos which can be seen/heard on our website and as a full playlist on YouTube. I'm proud to announce the latest pair of videos (and an awesome rave from one of the guests that night) from our most recent concert: Susan Kohler and Rupert Wates. Check them out at the link below. Feel free to share this as well (this kind of music doesn't fit the Pop formula for radio airplay so sharing with friends is the best way to "radio"...) RMT

24/04/2018

At long last... brand new song videos from our Theta Sound Studio LIVE! concert series: Bill Berry (The Piano Tuner with the Lazy Eye) and Jane Bolduc (Real Live Girl)! Take a moment to recharge your day with some very cool sounds...

17/01/2018

Theta Sound Studio now offers two engaging "Experiences" as part of the new program by Airbnb: Hands-on Recording Overview and Recording Studio Magic Immersive.
You can find out all about these new experiences at
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/114135 and
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/117967

Check out the 5-star reviews from our first guests (select image to reveal full text...)

20/10/2017

18/08/2017

This week's feature story for our Theta Sound Studio 40th anniversary "Year of Stars" is about Dick Van D**e. In the early '1990s, Jim Latham was hired as our first engineer/producer other than myself. Jim was already an accomplished composer and songwriter and while at Theta he became an excellent engineer as well, manning the console (and the all-important telephone!) for several years.

One of the companies we worked with was Viacom, which employed Dick DeBenedictis as a composer for their various hit series of the day. Dick's son, Dean DeBenedictis, was also using our studio services to produce television cues and source music, and that's where Dick Van D**e enters the picture. Dick was the lead actor in a Movie of the Week called "Diagnosis: Murder" (which would soon become a hit series running from 1993 to 2001). On January 13, 1992, a Rap song was needed for that production. Dean, working with Jim, put together the music tracks and the next morning, Dick Van D**e arrived to do his vocals.

Jim, an ice hockey enthusiast who often skated in games at the Pickwick Ice Center right down the street from Theta Sound, recalls that Dick Van D**e had terrible lower back issues; Jim and Dick bonded over having to hang upside-down from their ankles in door frames to ease back pain! Jim also notes that "He was absolutely one of the sweetest people on the globe," a sentiment also shared by Cyndie and myself. Jim also recalls Dick singing "Trouble in River City" from the Music Man (“Trouble with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!”) for Cyndie when she stopped in to see how everyone was doing.

As with many of the artists to grace Theta Sound Studio over the years, Dick Van D**e became a member of our illustrious Mug Club and his custom-engraved mug resides proudly on our east wall in the Control Room.

Got a Dick Van D**e story to share? Please join the conversation below... RMT

10/08/2017

The first featured artist for our Theta Sound Studio 40th anniversary "Year of Stars" is none other than my older brother, Jay Tobin! Jay was a big help in my music development as he had years of accordion lessons under his belt and could read music, while I played piano mostly by ear and had no technique to speak of! If I couldn't figure out something I'd heard on the radio, he knew the answer right away (Jay has a great ear!). Jay was also a Madrigal in High School choir (that's the elite singers) and played keyboards and sang in a cover band while still in school. His nickname was Beethoven.

Fast forward a few years to February 1981. Jay returns to L.A. from Atlanta, GA, to play in a band called Convertible. During this time, Jay comes to my studio to record five original songs. I got to play bass and sing on these amazing songs, and listening back to them now, I'm even more impressed with how great Jay's songs truly are.

"Spaceman" is the first track I'm featuring here, but I've included mixes of all five songs on the page as I think one or more will certainly strike your fancy (Jay could write and perform in many genres). For me, Spaceman is an homage to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and Elton John's Rocket Man, with powerful lead and backing vocals taking Jay's message to the stars (and beyond).

Check out the tracks and leave a comment or two below... RMT

https://www.thetamediagroup.com/jay-tobin-theta-sound-studio/

SPACEMAN by JAY TOBIN | Theta Sound Studio Sessions https://www.thetamediagroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SPACEMAN-XMIX.mp3 Session Date: February 1981 Words & Music by Jay Tobin Arranged by Jay Tobin Recorded and Mixed by Randall Michael Tobin Jay Tobin – Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals Darry...

06/08/2017

August 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Theta Sound Studio!
The decision to officially turn pro in 1977 after three years of woodshedding in my home-brew project studios (Bitburg, Germany; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; and Downey/L.A.) really paid off. (In reality, I had previously sent out 25 résumés to established recording studios in L.A., thinking one of them would appreciate my experience and give me a shot. I got one response back and was offered a job cleaning ash trays. So much for that approach...)

So in August 1977 (which is about when this photo was taken) I founded Theta Sound Studio in my living room at Kingswood Village in Downey, California. Our slogan was: "Back to the Real Sound." We offered 4/6/8 Track Recording Services and the rates were "as low as $8 an hour." I was producing as well as engineering as that's what I've always done. Maybe that's why clients appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and have continued ever since!

During our 40th Anniversary celebration year, I'll be posting photos and stories of some of the artists who have graced us with their presence, talent and art. To feature everyone would be impossible, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the ones that will be featured.

Thanks to everyone who I've had the pleasure to co-create with thus far. The music, words, sights and sounds live on... RMT

18/06/2017

To my fellow "micro-patrons" of the New Music Renaissance...

I've just completed mixing and editing two song videos
from our March 25, 2017 studio concerts featuring
Dale LaDuke and Bill Keis.

I invite you to experience both of them (on any device)
along with an awesome review from one of our concert guests, here:

https://www.thetasound.com/theta-sound-studio-live-21-march-25-2017/

12/02/2017

Producer/engineer Randall Michael Tobin brought in LA session masters Jeff Colella (piano), Randy Landas (bass) and Rod Harbour (drums) to cut a trio rhythm track for a new musical theater work by Todd Fifield and Pat Adeff. This is our "go-to trio" for all things jazz, but these cats can play just about anything! Thanks, guys, for a great job today! RMT