Thanks for chatting with us! Can you tell us who you are and what you do?

Hey, I’m Mike! A sound designer and composer from Los Angeles working in TV, film, and commercials. I also produce music for my band Magic Bronson.

What drew you to scoring and production?

I’ve been recording since age one in my dad’s project studio at my parents house. I spent my high school years playing drums and recording bands. I got into production sound on set for TV and film in 2010. Around 2016-2021 I worked for the same crew as a sound utility and boom operator on the sets of The Good Place, Veep, Mr. Mayor and Sunnyside. When the pandemic hit, I got into scoring on the Dr. Death podcast season 3 and was totally hooked—I could make music all day instead of being on set all day! I then found work through a friend doing post sound for commercials, podcasts, films and TV. So it’s basically been one sound related job after another. I've been working full time doing post sound and scoring since then. 

Can you tell us about your workflow?

When taking a modular approach (which I do as much as possible) I run sounds from Pro Tools through my modular rig, always using Desmodus Versio at the end of the chain. 

I have the most fun running sound effects, foley, background ambiences, or dialogue through the modular.

I sample via OP-1 Field and build custom libraries in Pro Tools for each project. For Magic Bronson and other music projects, my go to chain is Vermona Melodicer → Rings → Magneto → Data Bender → Ikarie → Desmodus Versio. Ill often record this to tape loops onto my portastudio 414mk2. 

How does using modular impact your scoring approach?

I embrace the chaos—hit record and capture hours of spontaneous, wild material that I can mine later. I typically do this at night, when I get the creative itch the most.

Do you have a desert island piece of gear?

OP-1 Field. I’m on my third one—it’s connected to my Eurorack via Expert Sleepers FH-2 to clock everything.

Where are you finding inspiration these days?

The modular itself—I'm constantly being wowed by the amount of sounds a few modules can make. I also really enjoy sampling into op1 and then sending that into the Monome Norns…just one rabbit hole after another. I really enjoy recording sound effects and the world around me. Those recordings always find their way into anything I do. 

Where can readers find your work?

Visit mnsounds.com, stream Magic Bronson on all platforms, and follow @mnicast and @magicbronson.