Meet Brian Goddard of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Goddard.

Hi Brian , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
“It’s great to reconnect! When we last spoke back in 2020 about the recording studio, I was deeply focused on building my foundation in the audio world. But my story actually goes back a bit further—I’ve been immersed in this industry for a long time, starting all the way back with an internship at NFL Films in 2008. That experience really sparked my dedication to professional audio.

Since our 2020 interview, I’ve spent the last few years aggressively leveling up my career and expanding my business. A major highlight during this time was teaching at the 1500 Sound Academy. Having the opportunity to educate and mentor the next generation of audio professionals really reinforced my own technical and creative approach to production and mixing.

Today, I run my own business, BG THE ENGINEER L.L.C., and I’ve been taking on a lot of freelance mixing projects across R&B, pop, and hip-hop. I’ve also really leaned into the future of sound by specializing in immersive audio and Dolby Atmos. That focus recently led to some incredible opportunities, including working on Atmos mixes for artists like Busta Rhymes and Myke Towers. It’s been a great journey from those early days to now running my own business and working on major spatial audio projects.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road; there are always peaks and valleys in the music industry. One of the more unexpected hurdles recently was the closure of 1500 Sound Academy. I was deeply invested in my role as a teacher there, so when the doors closed, I had to figure out how to adapt.

Instead of stepping away from education, I shifted into more of a mentorship role. Finding new ways to guide the next generation of audio professionals while simultaneously scaling my own business, BG THE ENGINEER L.L.C., has been a demanding but rewarding juggle.

Building an independent business comes with its own classic struggles—building a reliable pipeline and mastering rapid technological shifts like immersive audio and Dolby Atmos. But looking back, navigating the academy’s closure and the hurdles of entrepreneurship really tested my resilience. Adapting to those exact challenges is what positioned me to handle the major Atmos projects I’m working on today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At my core, I am an audio and mixing engineer. My day-to-day involves freelance mixing across a variety of genres, heavily leaning into R&B, hip-hop, pop, and Latin music.

In terms of specialization, my biggest focus right now is immersive audio and Dolby Atmos. I’m known for taking records and expanding them into spatial environments, bringing a completely new dimension to how listeners experience a track. That technical focus is also what I am most proud of—specifically, having the opportunity to work on the Dolby Atmos mixes for major artists like Busta Rhymes and Myke Towers. Seeing those projects come to life in a spatial format has been a massive milestone in my career.

But if you ask what truly sets me apart from other engineers, I believe it is the fact that I am also an educator and a mentor. A lot of engineers know their way around Pro Tools and a mixing desk, but because of my background teaching at 1500 Sound Academy and my ongoing mentorship work, I approach audio differently. I know how to communicate complex sonic ideas clearly. I don’t just sit in a dark room and press buttons; I know how to translate an artist’s vision, solve problems collaboratively, and elevate the people working around me.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People usually know me for being locked into a studio, sitting in a chair for hours on end, meticulously tweaking Dolby Atmos mixes. Because my work is so deeply technical and largely sedentary, it usually surprises people to learn how heavily invested I am in boxing fitness and yoga.

When I need to step away from the monitors, I completely switch gears. Boxing gives me a high-energy release and requires intense, split-second focus, while yoga—especially getting out and doing community classes here in LA—helps me stay grounded, stretch out, and decompress.

It might seem like a total 180 from the dark studio life, but honestly, it’s what keeps me sharp. The physical stamina and mental clarity I get from hitting the bags or flowing on the mat are exactly what allow me to sit back down in the engineer’s chair and tackle a complex mix with fresh ears.

Pricing:

• https://engineears.com/bgtheengineer

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bgtheengineer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgtheengineer/
• Other: https://engineears.com/bgtheengineer

Image Credits
Jordy Sorto