Diamond Shoals Productions | Jesse Dukes

May 23rd

9:00-4pm PDT
(with breaks)

$385

Audio storytellers often call “good tape” the essential building block of a great story. But it’s elusive and inneffible. Technical know-how is important, but the art of recording emotional and memorable expressions goes behond the technical. Some people seem to have a natural knack for capturing it the moment they take a microphone into the field.

Jesse Dukes is not one of those people.

Having produced audio stories for over 21 years, Jesse found that “good tape” never came naturally. Instead, he made a dedicated study of the craft, drilling down on what specific elements constitute “good tape” and what reporting techniques and tactics make it more likely.  

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The Workshop Experience

This workshop is designed for beginners and intermediate journalists, producers, podcasters, and other creatives who want to move past OK interview audio and start capturing “great” audio. We are partnering with Ingredient Studios, so we’ll have a comfortable and inspiring space to learn and grow.

• Morning: Reverse Engineering. We’ll spend two hours indoors listening to iconic examples of “good tape.” We will deconstruct exactly how the reporter elicited those moments and practice “noticing” good tape in real-time, and practice with our peers.
• Midday: Into the Field. We’ll head into a public setting to interview strangers, put our skills into practice, and aim to capture enough raw material to tell a compelling short story.
• Afternoon: The Edit Room. With peer support and professional guidance, we will identify our best tape, play highlights for the group, and map out the structure of an audio story.

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Optional Extension: The Sunday Session

$175

Half-Day Mixing Workshop For those who want to turn their raw tape into a finished product, join us for an optional half-day session. We will dive into the technical side of assembly, pacing, and basic sound design to finalize your story. You’ll have a chance to mix with mentors nearby to assist.

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Requirements & Gear

• Experience: Ideally, you’ve recorded an interview before. If not, you should be an enthusiastic first-timer willing to jump into the deep end.
• Equipment: You will need a dedicated audio recorder and microphone. (Smartphones with high-quality external mics are acceptable but not recommended).
• For the Mixing Workshop: You must bring a laptop with Reaper installed. (You can download the trial version if you’re not sure you want to buy Reaper)
• Need Gear? If you’re short on equipment, please reach out early; we have a limited number of rental options available. (write jpdukes@gmail.com with questions)