Seven Stages Coast to Coast: How to Keep Growing in Audio Post

Consistency is never boring — just ask Outloud Audio. 

Actually, this bi-coastal audio post production company finds the pursuit of consistency downright exhilarating. For Principal and Chief Audio Engineer Mark Kondracki, it’s been key to expanding from a midtown NYC startup to a slew of stages spread across Los Angeles and Manhattan.

“Our focus on animation, live-action and publishing has grown from our disciplined and comprehensive approach to dialogue-based recording techniques, editorial and delivery,” Kondracki says. “Our seven stages spanning New York City and Los Angeles have been built, designed, tested and outfitted to perform and deliver the best sounding dialogue for these industries.”

Those lofty standards were borne out of a strict business plan launched in 2004, which saw steady NYC demand followed by Outloud’s first major expansion: The company began providing services in Los Angeles in 2011, then opened their own facility in October of 2013.  “Both facilities feature senior staff engineers, trained by the chief engineer, working daily in the industries we serve,” notes Kondracki. “Our fastidiously clean facilities, secure file encryption, commitment to fast delivery, and a dedicated front-of-house team welcoming clients and turning out signature cappuccinos and caramels are all identical at both locations.  

“We have spent the last 15 years duplicating and codifying the consistency of the Outloud Audio experience and quality for both locations.  The biggest difference is the number of stages — two in New York City and five in Los Angeles — and, of course, the VIP parking lot in Los Angeles. New Yorkers tend to drive to the studio less frequently!”

The latest for Outloud Audio is a major move in NYC, with a shift into new Fran Manzella-designed facilities within the famed Film Center Building. “We saw the opportunity to build the best facility we could imagine, based on our previous 15 years of experience serving our collective clients and their industries,” Kondracki explains of the move. “Fran Manzella was the only choice for us. His perspective, understanding, commitment and comprehensive design services over-delivered our vision and helped us create a new facility that demonstrates our cumulative knowledge in a space that allows us to deliver the best audio in lock step with the current industry budgetary needs. Our clients, talent, and staff have been extremely positive about the new space.”

Building up a business in the finicky world of audio post is never easy, but for Kondracki the blood, sweat and tears of going bigger has proved worth it. “I had always dreamed of a West Coast expansion, but I could not fully appreciate how it would deliver so many wonderful opportunities to work on diverse projects,” he says. “Currently with 17 full-time employees, Outloud Audio has evolved into an even stronger, more capable, and versatile audio post production company than it was at the beginning.  

“The biggest challenge is what every studio in the world faces every day – you are only as good as your last session,” he continues. “To that end we work day and night to ensure we can meet and exceed our client’s expectations on every booking.  From our mic locker to our custom audio software, hardware, and techniques that help creatives dial in their production needs quickly and efficiently, to our focus on delivery, security and quality, we know we cannot take our eye off the ball.”  

A tireless multitalent, Kondracki’s ability to grow Outloud Audio is as much about good old fashioned grit it as shrewd strategizing. “One of my favorite sayings about opportunity is: ‘Most people don’t recognize opportunity, because it arrives wearing overalls and looks like work.’ To that end, we have seized as many opportunities, no matter how challenging, that have been presented.  

“I’ve come to appreciate that the nature of our work and the magic of our industry is that every experience is a lesson learned and a connection made with people who love audio as much as we do. Since our start in 2004, every single project has been of immense value.”

Arcadia Control NYC: “Our New York City flagship control room providing comfortable seating for production team members; tracking and 5.1 mixing, capabilities including remote 5.1 monitoring; video playback; ADR; dialogue; VO; and singer recording with views north of New York City and a dramatic 6’ glass view of talent. ProTools HDX, Icon control surface, Tonelux Sidecar, multiple fiber internet lines, and a full mic locker of LDC, Shotgun, and Lav choices. Source-Connect, ISDN, Session Link Pro, Zoom, Phone Patch capable.”

Arcadia Live NYC: “Our largest NYC stage/live room featuring space for up to 6 actors, video playback, views of the control room and the city and an absolutely perfect sound stage for matching dialogue and providing VO for the mix.”

Heaventree LA: “A 5.1 mix and monitor tracking control room with a 24-channel ICON, a Tonelux sidecar of mic pres and a Neve 1084 into a modified TubeTech CL1b for our song tracking sessions. Ample space for up to eight production members and a producer’s desk positioned in front of talent with the engineer off to the side. Fiber connectivity, Source-Connect, ISDN, Session Link Pro, Zoom, Phone Patch capable.”

Heaventree Live Room LA: “Our three-person capable live room with dedicated control room for tracking with video playback, loudspeaker, streamers, beeps, and our Latchlake mic stands and custom mahogany podiums for scripts.”

Eldorado Control LA: “Our stadium-style seating control room in LA with space for 10 production members, 5.1 mix and monitor capability, 24 channel ICON with ProTools HDX, Tonelux Sidecar, director position, and motorized Da-lite screen and projector. Fiber connectivity, Source-Connect, ISDN, Session Link Pro, Zoom, phone patch capable.”

Eldorado Live LA: “Our six-person capable live room for tracking with video playback, loudspeaker, streamers, beeps, and our Latchlake mic stands and custom mahogany podiums for scripts.”

Wonderland LA: “One of our two large group stages in Los Angeles for principal and group ADR. High 13’ ceilings, video playback, loudspeaker, streamers, beeps, and a custom infra-red wireless headphone system. Comfortably accommodates groups of up to 10 people. ProTools HDX, Icon control surface, Tonelux Sidecar, fiber internet lines, and a full mic locker of LDC, Shotgun, and Lav choices. Source-Connect, ISDN, Session Link Pro, Zoom, Phone Patch capable.”

Roke Island Control NYC: “Our single operator stereo stage for dialogue recording from our dedicated two-person Roke Island live room. Icon control surface, Avid HD ProTools rig, Tonelux sidecar, fiber connectivity, Genelec monitoring, and comprehensive connectivity.”

Outshine: “While we focus on audio, we are also always looking for ways to be partners with our local and world community. At Outloud Audio we donate time to the local Downtown Women’s Shelter of Los Angeles, donate to our local dog rescues and invest in minimizing our environmental footprint. We feature five-stage filtered, reverse-osmosis drinking water on all our stages in Los Angeles, reducing our plastic bottle waste by 60%. In 2015, we installed solar panels at our Los Angeles facility, which offset 96% of our power needs for AC, computers, lights and phone chargers – making Outloud Audio almost electrically carbon neutral. Many of the staff have also moved near to the studio and either walk or bike to work. We are committed to the idea that just because you can’t do everything, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something. In that spirit we think about the ways we can make a positive impact beyond our contributions to our client’s projects.”

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