AUDIO ENGINEERS Sound Confessions: Audio Engineer Bob Miller By Je s s i ca Ho l thaus Badour
Another special project he did in Nashville was with Thomas Morrison (Morrison Sound Nashville), who split a two-day job for the Johnny Cash “Hurt” music video with him — “a once in a lifetime gig.” “We shot at the Cash home in Hendersonville, Tenn., on Old Hickory Lake. June walked up and introduced herself and welcomed us to their home,” Miller says. “The music performance was filmed mostly in the basement and there’s a moment in the video when Director Mark Romanek asked June to stand on the staircase behind Johnny — you see this look on her face while she’s looking at Johnny, so caring and loving. It’s an iconic moment of them together… This was a very special job I got to do because I started in Nashville.” Miller points out that he wasn’t just in the right place at the right time — he also had the right equipment. Thanks to borrowing (and then renting) the equipment from Morrison and Figlio, Jr., Miller could bring in the necessary technology to get the gig. As the work waned in Nashville in the 2000s, it was just picking up in Georgia. “In freelance work, you’re only as good as your last gig,” he explains. “Credits really aren’t as important as the last thing you did, the people you last worked with.” Miller has spent the last decade-plus working behind the scenes, even dabbling in the role of A1 for some sport-related projects. In live television production, the A1 is the primary audio engineer responsible for the live sound mix for the televised broadcast. “Doing A1 takes a special kind of brain,” he explains. “The audio engineer listens for all the calls on the field and follows the action; what the announcer is saying, adding in effects, music, making sure everyone can communicate. I have so much respect for those who do it full time.” Miller’s preferred jobs involve location audio gigs. Most recently, he is splitting his time between Georgia for film and television work, and Iowa working on a feature film and getting in some extra time with friends and family. “You can’t always love what you’re working on creatively. The times in my career that I live for are the times when I’m loving the project and people I’m working with… ‘If you’re about the love, you’re with me,’ he quotes. “I’m a huge Ringo Starr fan — not just because of the drumming, which is highly underrated — it’s his heart.”
The audio engineer listens for all the calls on the field and follows the action; what the announcer is saying, adding in effects, music, making sure everyone can communicate.
Miller working a NASCAR event
B ob Miller is originally from Iowa, but he’s lived in the South for most of his adult life. To say he was born a musician feels like an understatement because it’s legitimately true; he received a toy drum at age 2, upgraded to a real snare at age 7, followed by a complete drum kit by 11. He played the drums at school and was serious about it. He started lessons in third grade, band in fourth, followed by learning melodic percussion (including timpani, marimba and bells). In junior high, he started helping with the choir’s sound system (self-taught by other classmates), which he continued through high school. From there, he attended Iowa’s Kirkwood Community College and started recording music. “I studied the things I enjoyed that I thought would be helpful in the real world. I didn’t pursue a single degree; I played in jazz ensembles at Kirkwood, a rock band, did some background vocals, played for a church orchestra — all while studying electronics and media. It was fun,” he explains. “Music isn’t my primary business anymore, which makes it even more enjoyable when I do play.” But music has made up a huge part of Miller’s career. In the early 90s, he relocated to Music City, USA:
Eric Fiedor and The American Steel Band Left to right: Dave Jacques, Moose Harold, Eric Fiedor, Gary Goodlow & Bob Miller
Miller practicing snare drum at 7 years old.
Nashville. He dabbled with several bands, including one most of us have heard of. “I’ve always loved singing harmony while playing drums. This band had four lead vocalists who were great songwriters and players too. I thought we were going to be the next Eagles!” he laughs. “Turned out, it was more like the next Alabama… it was a band called Texassee who later changed its name to Lonestar.” After a taste of touring, he played until the band found a new drummer. Then, with a little help from his friends Brian Parker (Parker Designs) and Michael Figlio Jr. (audio and AD freelancer), Miller ended up in the right place at the right time to land his first gig: A music video with Chet Atkins and Susie Bogguss off their duet album, Simpatico . Two days later, he found himself working on a music video with Diamond Rio.
Miller works on feature films, television, behind the scenes (EPK), live sports, commercials, industrial, music videos, Internet, voice over, radio and theatre. Reach him at bob@audiobob.tv or visit www.audiobob.tv.
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