It is with great pleasure that I recommend and express my full support for The New Sac Academy. Founder Robert Honablue is now sharing his years of professional experience in the field of audio engineering, beat-making, songwriting, and music video production with select students. I look forward to working again with the talented team at The New Sac Academy.

Within my first five years as a professional bassist, I landed the gig with 10x Grammy Winner, Vocalist, & Guitarist, George Benson. I was fortunate enough to be on a number of those hits. About 30 years into my tenure with Mr. Benson, I decided to take a course on recording to see what sound was all about. After taking Robert’s course, I can now professionally hear and know what I’m doing. Robert takes you through the scientific history and art of sound and also shows you how to “see” the colors of what you’re hearing. This course should be a requirement of any musician or vocalist thinking of going professional.

My course entailed recording, mixing and stage preparation which included microphone placement for drums, piano, vocals and other instruments. The experience and knowledge that I gained from this course enabled me to have the quality of sound in my church setting. For the last two years I have had the opportunity to work with AJ Sound Company. The knowledge that I gained through stage preparation, qualified me to share uniquely the miking of the drum kit and many other difficult assignments. Robert Honablue is an excellent teacher and engineer. I will encourage anyone to attend this school. He is a great master of this art and I am grateful and thankful for my growth and success. This is where you separate the professionals from the amateurs.

Studying under Robert Honablue was my first introduction to what a potential career behind the music scene looks like. Before attending his school, my understanding of engineering was limited yo what I saw on television. Robert’s hands=on teaching style helped me learn the fundamentals of engineering: form understanding how to mic instruments in a live recording, to identifying the proper instrument placement during mixing. We did all of this using analog, reel to reel tape! I can confidently say that my time as a student of Robert’s changed my appreciation for engineering as a profession.

During my time, studying under Robert, I learned how to be comfortable and productive in the studio environment. Crucially, I also learned hot o hear a mix. You have to learn how to listen before you can learn to mix. Robert’s approach to teaching engineering starts with listening. My ears opened up to the different mixing techniques like compression and gate, but most importantly level and panning. Robert’s perspective as a person who learned in the analogue world is invaluable. He would often say ‘Listen with your ears, not your eyes.’ and my personal favorite, ‘if you can’t hear it, it’s not there.’

Training in Sac Academy was an invaluable experience. Robert Honablue’s expertise has made me a capable and successful audio engineer. Through him I had the opportunity to build an excellent working relationship with George Benson and other music industry legends.