NATHANIEL JACOBS

What inspired you to enter into the career you’re in?
Ever since I was young, I’ve had a deep passion and love for music. It has played an integral part of my life, that is why I dedicated my career to pursue my passions further. I began playing and writing music at a very young age, constantly immersing myself in great sounding records and music whenever I could.

Once I hit high school, I started to wonder how my favourite Records, Film Scores and SFX were crafted to such excellence. This initial curiosity was the springboard that kicked off my exciting journey into the world of Audio. The one thing that truly inspires me about audio and music is that the possibilities are endless and always evolving, there is always room for experimenting, expressing & learning.

What are your fondest memories of your time at SAE?
The facilities at SAE were far beyond what I ever imagined and made my experience unforgettable. I recall truly thriving during late night studios sessions where I had the freedom to record and mix at my own pace as I began to develop my craft.

The assistance of the facilities and professional gear empowered me to hone in on the skills I really aspired to perfect as well as supporting me connect with likened individuals. I also loved having the opportunity to pick the brains of my lecturers in and outside of classes, with a lifetime of knowledge and experience they always inspired me to be persistent and challenge myself to develop as an audio engineer.

Are you able to shed some light on how studying at SAE lead you to where you are now?
SAE supported me to develop a solid foundation to boost myself into the workforce. I gained irreplaceable knowledge, experience, numerous techniques and practical skills, involving both audio and the realities of the industry. I believe SAE sets their students up for success and if I had not attended, I know I would not have been able to already achieve what I have.

What are your career highlights?
Despite only graduating last year, I have had the privilege to produce, record and mix a vast variety of projects that have come at a consistent flow throughout the year. The diversity of projects has enabled me to truly grow as an engineer and the experience has been invaluable.

From podcasts, voice overs & Audiobooks to recording bands and producing pop songs for vocalists, I have loved every second of applying my skills in the studio to meet the needs of clients. I’ve loved every project that I’ve worked on due to the sheer variety of projects. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have had and look forward to what the future holds.

What projects are you working on at the moment?
I’ve been working on a few of my own projects over the last couple of weeks, which I plan to release at the end of the year. I also recently wrapped up the recording, mixing and mastering of an Audiobook which was a great experience. Most recently I have been working on Vocal Production for multiple artists.

What advice would you give to students aspiring to become successful in their field?
Keep pushing and striving for success, even when you don’t feel like it! Pursuing a goal is never easy and you have to work hard and be persistent. Networking is very important, no matter the discipline, keep collaborating with others, asking questions and be open to constructive criticism.

Keep pushing boundaries creatively, stray from the norm and experiment with your craft! don’t forget the reason behind your decision to study or pursue this career and remember to celebrate the small wins.