Electronics and Sound Design Part 2, The Next Step
From Copper State Marching Podcast by Martin Hebda, host - Aaron Vogel, Matt Kozacek, Dan Hoffman, co-hosts
June 2, 2026 · 48 min · Season 4 · Episode 30
About this episode
The episode delves into advanced topics in sound design and electronics for marching arts, featuring insights from industry experts.
In Part 2 of our Electronics & Sound Design series, the Copper State Marching Podcast dives deeper into the world of marching arts audio production with guests Zach Whittier and Claire Thorpe-Coody, two of Arizona’s leading voices in sound design and front ensemble electronics. From microphone placement and front ensemble amplification to narration production, synth programming, MainStage troubleshooting, and wireless microphone setups, this episode is packed with practical advice for students, educators, and designers alike. The conversation explores how both guests learned electronics “by necessity,” proving that anyone with curiosity and a willingness to experiment can grow into a successful sound designer. Listeners will hear detailed discussions on mic placement for marimbas and vibraphones, how to reduce frame noise using simple suspension systems, and why mallet bags are more important than most people realize. Zach and Claire also break down the process of creating narration tracks and sound effects for marching band shows, including sourcing sounds from sites like freesound.org , recording custom Foley-style effects, and editing audio in Logic Pro, GarageBand, and…
People in this episode
Host: Martin Hebda
Guests: Zach Whittier, Claire Thorpe-Coody
Topics covered
- sound design
- marching arts
- audio production
- electronics
- microphone placement
- synth programming
- troubleshooting
Keywords
- marching band
- audio production
- microphone placement
- synth programming
- sound effects
- Foley
- signal chains
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: freesound.org, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Audacity, MainStage, Ableton
More episodes of Copper State Marching Podcast
- Season 4 Wrap-up · June 10, 2026 · 33 min
- Electronics and Sound Design Part 1, The First Steps · May 26, 2026 · 34 min
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- Student Leadership: What you should know Part 2 · May 12, 2026 · 58 min
- Building Your Colorguard: Recruiting, Retention, and Culture · May 5, 2026 · 58 min
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