Audeze talks with Juno Award winner Phil Anderson

November 05, 2024

Phil Anderson wearing Audeze LCD-5 headphones

Audeze Artist Profile

Phil Anderson

Phil Anderson has been a touring artist for 6 consecutive years, a radio producer for a major chain, owner of a Recording Arts College for 25 years, and is a Juno award winning Producer and Mixer.
 

In His Own Words

 

"The LCD-5s have improved the speed of my work flow... An excellent set of monitors and a well treated room will cost you at least 30k. Buying headphones that give you that kind of performance is incredible value!"

- Phil Anderson
Audeze LCD-5 headphones on a amplifier

Can you pick any highlights from your work that you're especially proud of?

Winning a Juno award for the album Falling in Africa in 2022.

How would you define your main role on most of your projects these days?

The bulk of my work is mixing. I do take on a few production projects that I feel will actually follow the process of making a great recording.

What was some favorite music growing up and how has that evolved?

I started playing piano when I was 6. Then I was asked by the dean of woodwinds at Berklee to attend their school when I was 16. I had just started playing bass in a rock band at that time, and never looked back. Big band music has always been a huge part of my life. As a Canadian bassist Rush was the automatic default! I will listen to Lyle Lovett 1 day and then Robbie Robertson or Allison Kraus and Robert Plant and then Rush Power Windows.

Can you name any factors that influenced the course of your musical life?

Working with Nick Blagona and Rich Chycki at Metalworks in Ontario was a huge part of my development. I've been able to work with Brad Pitt for a full week doing narration for a TV Series. You soon understand why he is successful. Working with Kenny Aranoff was amazing! Studying and or working with Andy Wallace, Chris Lord-Alge, Michael Brauer and Jack Joseph Puig cannot be understated.

Can you describe a moment of frustration from your past work, and how you may have overcome it?

Control Room acoustics are always a challenge. We've all worked at great places which have had the correct builders and budget to support that effort. The problem is we all try to do with something less: IE buying materials from your favorite music store and a software program to test the room. I can say confidently that gets you halfway there in most cases. I've purchased other decent headphones however there is a sonic stamp that you will ultimately be fighting. I borrowed a friends LCD-4s and that was the real answer for my situation...

What is your current favorite instrument, effect, or piece of gear?

My SSL AWS Console into a Chandler Curve Bender is where everything starts. I have a Retro Instruments 76 and an original Purple on my vocals. Distressors on the BGS. An LA 2 and an 1176 on the bass, a RED 3 on my drum buss and a stereo Manley Pultec going into a stereo A Design Comp is on the Kick and snare. I do prefer NUENDO as my DAW. The Plug In Alliance stuff is always great. Radix and Lindell are killers too.

Do you have any words of wisdom for people who might aspire toward a similar path?

You need to be a fan of your own work.

How long have you been working with headphones, and how do you use them in your workflow?

I've always checked my mixes with headphones for the bad stuff. Now they are a major part of getting sounds.

How have your Audeze headphones affected your work? Can you tell us what you've been working on with them recently?

The LCD-5s have improved the speed of my work flow. I’ve used them on dramatically different projects so far! African Contemporary, Rock and Country!

An excellent set of monitors and a well treated room will cost you at least 30k. Buying headphones that give you that kind of performance is incredible value!

Artists may receive discounted Audeze product in exchange for interviews and opinions. Audeze does not solicit specific outcomes as part of any artist agreement.