David Earl

Director Of Production Services / Composer

David Earl has a classical background on both brass instruments and piano, and got heavily into jazz, funk, fusion, and pop when he entered his twenties. He has established himself as a serious electronic musician, and is a founding member of rtfm records, an independent electronic music label.

In 1996, David wrote and produced dance music, taught private lessons on MIDI sequencing and digital audio, and started flirting with the idea of writing music for commercials. By 2001, David had managed a professional music studio, twiddled knobs for Mickey Hart, Co-Produced the former Tower of Power singer Lenny Williams, and wrote music for countless commercials under the supervision of Andy Newell at Ripesound.

David is now in the process of writing music for his own album, as well as writing for film. David just finished the score for "Minute Matrimony", the latest short film from Yoav Potash, and the film won the SF International Golden Gate Award. The only thing David enjoys as much as writing music is teaching.

Steve Heithecker

Art Director / Producer

Steve is an accomplished composer, producer and keyboardist who has composed and produced music for live theater as well as film and video productions. He was the co-founder of Digital Art & Music: a recording studio specializing in hip-hop/rap and alternative rock music.

Steve is also an accomplished graphic designer and technical consultant. When it comes to music and art this renaissance man does it all. Above all else his skills as a keyboardist, synthesist, & midi manipulator set him apart. Steve quickly became one of the most loved and sought after instructors at The California Recording Institute where he taught numerous classes before it was forced to close its doors.

Steffen Franz

Producer

President and Founder of Positive Sound Massive Recordings and Independent Distribution Collective and now Label Manager for Epiphyte Records. Stand Out Selector, aka Steffen Franz is well known as a dancehall innovator. As a DJ/Producer/Remixer and the owner of PSM Recordings, he has brought his conscious reggae vibes to people from New York to Hawaii (and San Francisco in between). Since forming PSM, Steffen worked as reggae buyer for Rough Trade Records in San Francisco, and as Reggae Editor for American Music Press. From 1994 to 1998, Steffen was the Production Manager of the Paradise Lounge /Transmission Theater in San Francisco. In the summer of 1998, he began tour managing Mix Master Mike, traveling the globe on Mike's solo tours as well as with the Beastie Boys. Steffen has also tour managed Linton “Kwesi” Johnson and Lee “Scratch” Perry across the USA.

In the Late 1990s, SOS DJ’d hundreds of shows throughout California, Nevada, Washington, New York and even Australia & New Zealand, where he played opening and break sets for the Beastie Boys "Hello Nasty" World tour. SOS has remixed tracks for artists such as: Barrington Levy "Work" (MCA), Capleton "Wings of the Morning" (DefJam/RAL), Beenie Man "Tear off Mi Garment" (Island JA) and Version “Gardens of Utopia” 12”; as well as produced tracks for artists such as Nicodemus, Shinehead, Ras Michael, Barrington Levy, Rocker-T,
Jamalski, Wookie J., Karney, DJ Collage, and San Francisco’s New Dealers. In the past few years, SOS has been running Positive Sound Management which currently represents Rocker-T, Poetz4Peace, Haji Mike, Cas Lucas, Ian Collins, and Karney. SOS also plays bass in the rock band Not For Not, raps in Karney and is a member of "biL" a dancehall, surf, hip hop, band.

Other recent developments include launching Independent Distribution Collective in 2004, which grew from 9 labels to over 200 products in 3 years, and now includes digital distribution and film and DVD distribution. Recent studio works include production of over a dozen albums including: Nuffsed "Ignite the Fuse", Rastrillos "Se Acabo El Reve", Haji Mike "The Storyman", Jahson Ites "Forward Outta Babylon", and new releases from Bhi Bhiman and Lou Dog Trio.

Steffen now brings his experience and knowledge as an instructor for the music business classes at Pyramind and to launching and managing Epiphyte Records whose offices will now co-exist with the new home for Independent Distribution Collective at 880 Folsom St.

Hideki Yamashita

Assistant Technical Director & IT

Hideki Yamashita Assistant Technical Director & IT Electronic Music wiz/hip-hop producer for The Whereabouts and YBS. Deks came to Pyramind for the education and atmosphere to satisfy the curiosity he found in making music with computers. Fortunately, the melding of his passion for technology and music has brought him to an industry which he thrives in. Hideki graduated from Pyramind student to Pyramind IT & Administrative Assistant. Deks is working hard to maintain the technical infrastructure at 880 Folsom St. and the rigorous scheduling and technical requirements of a multi-room studio and education complex

Michael Roache

Studio Manager/ Engineer

After spending a number of years in New York and other cities working as an actor, Michael decided it was time for a change. He had always been peripherally involved in music and before leaving the theater, he spent his last few shows not only acting, but also doing music and sound design. Michael has arranged and produced for a few local groups and is continuing to build his resume in that field. Michael has logged countless hours in Pyraminds' main studio mixing both personal projects and school assignments. In addition, he is now engineering some of the sessions which come through the studio, which has become something of a second home. In fact, these days, Michael likes to think of Pro Tools as a sidekick of sorts. After completing an internship with Creative Services Director, David Earl, Michael was promptly given the opportunity to move to his current position as studio manager and assistant facility manager at Pyramind.

Bryan Dale

Engineer

Originally from Philadelphia, Bryan Dale has been playing guitar since the age of 13 and was teaching private lessons by the age of 17. While obtaining his bachelor's degree in Advertising & Public Relations at Pennsylvania State University, Bryan played in local bands, organized open mics, and continued his independent study of acoustic and electric guitar and electric bass. Bryan got his first professional studio experience working outside of Pittsburgh in a local independent studio. Shortly thereafter, he sold his car to invest in his first home studio and subsequently recorded six solo records before enrolling in Pyramind's EMP program in 2005.

After graduating from Pyramind in October of the same year, Bryan worked briefly for Cutting Edge Audio Group in San Francisco before being hired by Pyramind as Admissions Liaison/Assistant to Matt Donner. Since then, Bryan has gone on to teach Music Theory 101 and ProTools 101 at Pyramind. Bryan continues to record local acts, write and record solo material, and pursue local contract work while continuing to build upon the education he received at Pyramind.

Jason Martinez

Engineer

Jason has been recording music since he was 14 yeas old. By 17 he was the head engineer at Serafine studios. Working for oscar winning sound designer Frank Serafine (Tron, Hunt for Red October) He was dropped into the deep end of audio post production and swam successfully into sound designing many projects including a feature film, "Pot Luck," a Disney 5.1 Theme park trailer, and a 7.1 motion ride for Anheuser-Busch, all before graduating high school. Not yet ready to move into a career in audio post, Jason retuned to finish school and to pursuit music. Between 2000 and 2003 Jason really began to hone his skills by recording over 20 albums of various Ventura County bands, including his own, all on a Digi001 in his bedroom. By late 2003 it was time to move on, so, he hopped up north to San Francisco and decided to attend Pyramind. He quickly realized his skills put him at a level closer to that of his teachers then fellow students. As a testament to that Jason is now teaching MP&E 101, trying to spread the knowledge of how to maximize a home studio. Now teamed up with former teacher David Earl, Jason continues to produce music recording better and better acts, as well as writing lots of new music.

Ashley Lewis

Engineer

Ashley came to Pyramind in 2005 after many years of love and interest in music
and in the Industry that creates and produces it.  After finishing her Electronic Music Producer courses, discovering she had a strong fascination with the recording and mixing part of audio engineering, she landed an internship at the well known Studio D Recording, in Sausalito, CA.  Only 3 months after beginning the internship, she was offered a full time position as Assistant Engineer to the head engineer and co-owner, Joel Jaffee. 
       
    Ashley spent the next year in Sausalito getting very vital experience in  recording, mixing, and mastering, using a wide variety of microphones and techniques to create the best music possible.  She was privileged to have the opportunity to work with such musical heavyweights as Ray Manzarek, Roy Rogers, Maria Muldaur, Carlos Santana, David Freiburg, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. 

     After a year at Studio D, Ashley has now made Pyramind her audio engineering home, serving as the In-House Recordist for Voice Over work (such as corporate training modules and commercials), and musical recording projects as well. 

Ben Bernstein

Engineer

Bay Area musician and singer-songwriter Ben Bernstein’s life-long musical
journey continues on its dynamic course with his latest effort and his
first solo CD “Petting Zoo. ” The critically lauded release reflects Ben’s
knowledge of multiple genres and production skills, while putting a new
voice on the long-time sideman’s creative expression.

Ben has been busy in the studio producing and mixing two
projects. The first is the first full length release by San Francisco
Singer/Songwriter Deborah Crooks. Ben has been working with Deborah for
the past year on this CD that features many of the Bay Areas top musicians
including Art Khu on Keys, Dave Tweedie on Drums, and of course, Ben
Bernstein on Bass. The second project Ben has been hard at work on is
mixing the debut release for Bucky Dub. Ben and Bucky have employed a
multitude of Analog tricks and techniques to give this CD a truly old
school vibe.