Conversations with Jacob Ross

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Ross.

Hi Jacob, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in the lunar year of the metal pig in Dallas, Texas to a preacher’s daughter and a police officer. I have two brothers, a sister, and a long-lost stepbrother. During high school, I toured the Bible Belt with a Baptist Youth Ensemble, and that’s when I first realized how much I love traveling and performing music… however, I soon learned how much more I loved honky tonks, dive bars, and roadhouses more than churches. In 1992, after a year spent in college and a year plus of rambling, I moved to Chicago, Illinois, dreaming of music. I immediately began teaching myself recording and mixing techniques mostly through volunteering my time for friends’ bands. By the summer of 1995, I had learned enough to acquire an engineer position at Experimental Sound Studio. In addition to engineering at ESS and other Chicago studios, I was the ESS studio manager from 2000-2007. My tenure at ESS led to many varied collaborations in music, archiving, education, and eventually live sound as well as sound design for film, video, theater, radio, and more.

After 22 years of invigorating audio work in the Windy City, I moved to the hallowed high desert of New Mexico in August of 2014. Soon thereafter I married the beautiful and brilliant Erin Debenport, started my first garden, and opened my own mixing studio.
In the fall of 2016 we moved our homestead to Los Angeles where Erin works as a professor of linguistic anthropology at UCLA, and I reopened Beltline Sound in the old studio district of South Hollywood. Then in 2021 we moved to Glassell Park, where I converted a room into my mixing and sound design studio. My band, CRUMPLER, also practices here at the Beltline Sound homestead.

Other than freelance music and engineering – I mostly focus on my passions for traveling, bird watching, gardening, hiking, camping, photography, BBQ, bicycles, pie, and most importantly, my loved ones.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest part was extracting myself from an abusive family, and the bigoted community I was born into. Once me & my siblings got out and found our respective kindred spirits, the loving friendships we built provided a resilient support network. Not only do my friends & chosen family provide meaning and purpose, but they also sustain me threw any & all the challenges and obstacles that are inevitable in life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a musician and audio engineer. On the music side… I play guitar and sing, and I’m known for writing long, moody, brooding rock songs as well as ambient soundtrack music. On the audio engineer side… I’ve done all kinds of various audio work, but I have two main branches of specialization.
One is mixing bands, both in the studio and at live shows. And as far as live sound, my specialty is small venues and what is referred to in the industry as “van tours”, as opposed to “bus & trailer” touring or even bigger “bus & semi” touring. In addition to working for indie bands, I have a regular gig at Permanent Records Roadhouse and occasionally help out at Scribble on York.
My other main branch is mixing & sound design for film & video. I work in a variety of formats, and most video work is digital these days, but… I’m one of the few engineers in the world that still knows how to mix and master audio for 16mm film which runs off a mono optical track.
I’m most proud of my people skills, and I believe the thing that sets me apart from other engineers is my ability to put people at ease and help artists feel calm in stressful situations. I strive to make every artist I work with feel safe, respected, listened to, and trusted.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a high-energy, freaky contrarian that loved entertaining my siblings, exploring tangled creeks & overgrown ruins, and daydreaming to the music of the songbirds & cicadas. Come to think of it… not much has changed.

Contact Info:

• Website: jacobfloydross.com
• Instagram: @beltlinesound
• Other: https://crumpler1.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
The black and white photos are all by Jim Newberry. The band photo with the Saguaros is by Rebecca Safford. The Paradise Club photo is by Erin Debenport. And the album cover photo is by yours truly, Jacob F. Ross.