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Carys is a Sound Academy graduate, producer and engineer from Bronx, New York. We had the pleasure of working with her at Quad Studios in New York. See her story below!
Carys Dixon
Quad Studios
@caryscabo, Apple Music: Algo Maior
Carys Dixon, known professionally as Carys Cabo, is a talented 23-year-old music producer and engineer from Bronx, New York. Specializing in alternative RnB, hip hop, trap, drum & bass and jungle, Carys has been pursuing her passion for music production since 2017. It started with Garageband, then Logic, and now Pro Tools. She began her musical journey by enrolling in the prestigious 1500 Sound Academy in Los Angeles. However, she felt that there was more to learn to reach the level she was aiming for. Carys then discovered Sound Academy through a social media ad, and the rest is history.
Carys admits that she was initially skeptical about joining Sound Academy due to her experiences with music scams in New York. However, from day one, his expectations were exceeded. Not only did she build lasting friendships, but she also had the unique experience of working alongside other female audio engineers that she didn't expect.
Led by her instructor Lucho, a sound engineer at Quad Studios, the courses were immersive and practical. Lucho's teaching style was visual and fast-paced, simulating real studio environments. From vocal tracking to learning studio controls, Lucho made sure that each student had the same amount of time to track and mix in the control seat. "There wasn't much that Lucho didn't show the students how to do," according to Carys. Even though 8 hours seemed long at first, for the students, time flew by quickly. Lucho helped us simulate the pressure of working with clients, teaching us how to keep sessions moving and the music flowing.
Inside a professional studio, students have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment. While Carys was initially intimidated by complex studio equipment like the Patch Bay and the 32-channel Neve Genesys card which is a $50,000 console. Carys quickly gained confidence as she watched her classmates use the equipment, which helped her learn the ins and outs of routing and tracking.
Carys mastered critical skills like tracking, routing, and voice recording, and understood the importance of maintaining a productive studio environment. “I learned how to keep the studio alive - by avoiding awkward silences, managing I/O, and keeping everyone engaged.” Carys left the program feeling more prepared than ever to tackle professional projects and meet industry expectations. "I am ready to charge higher rates, knowing that my mixes have reached a whole new level of quality."
Since completing the program, Carys has already applied her new skills to various projects. Broadcasting her production sessions and collaborating with other creatives, she now feels equipped to easily manage complex equipment and routing configurations. She is particularly proud of an ongoing project with her brother, confident that her improved skills will bring new depth to music. "I definitely feel ready to be a professional audio engineer charging at higher rates. I am always on the high end of the class because it was just great. Old customers said the mixes were good, but they were new artists who didn't know better, but now I could do a lot better. Without this program my mixes would certainly not sound like that."
To get the most out of Sound Academy, Carys advises prospective students to come with an open mind.
Let go of all of your previous knowledge and adopt the sounds, techniques, and comments of others. Collaboration is key.
If she could do her experience again, she would have networked more, especially at Quad Studios, where she saw the importance of connecting with industry professionals.
Carys' journey at the Sound Academy not only strengthened her technical skills but also empowered her as a woman in music. As she works to obtain her Pro Tools certification to become more entrenched in the industry, she is passionate about the visibility of women in the music world.
Absolutely, for anyone who is serious about building a career in music production and engineering, Sound Academy provides the skills, support, and real world experience needed to succeed. "This program has advanced me in a way that I did not expect." Through her story, Carys Cabo shows how Sound Academy shaped her musical journey, creating both professional growth and lasting relationships. She will use the skills she learned through this program to propel herself as a skilled female audio engineer, and we will support her every step of the way.
