Meet Ricky Wascher | Recording and Mix Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ricky Wascher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ricky, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t ever think about going into the audio production business. I had a very modest home studio set up for many years and enjoyed putting my own demos together. In the early 90s, I recorded an album in a professional studio with my band, and it was released in 1994. In 2013, my former bandmates and I decided to do a 20 year anniversary re-release of the album. I got hold of the tapes, which the studio owner had converted to electronic audio files, and I began the journey of remixing the record. And this was all it took. From that point on, I was absolutely addicted to mixing! This is what changed my entire perception about the production side of music, and I knew this is what I wanted to do. Consequently, I began collecting more and more gear, and I finally launched my studio to the public in 2016.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I own and operate Cimamusic Mix & Mastering, a local, home-based audio production business. My services include audio recording, mixing, mastering, editing, arrangement and production for artists of all genres. My business model places a lot of emphasis on helping artists and bands achieve a recording that is both high-quality and affordable. Many of us do not have the resources for a quality recording. I want to help musicians by any means possible, because I remember being in that position early on when I was playing in bands!  

Getting the ball rolling was very difficult at first. I am not a native Tucsonan, so I really had to work hard at establishing myself as a credible recording engineer. Plus, Tucson is already full of amazing and well-established local studios and engineers! This definitely was not an easy or quick task to accomplish; but over time, I was able to establish relationships through publicity and word-of-mouth. I feel my biggest accomplishment, or what I call my “make-it-big-moment,” was being called to mix songs from artists I have grown up listening to and admiring. I recently mixed music for Las Vegas-based Renaissance Rock Orchestra, which consists of musicians including Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ted Nugent), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Whitesnake, Kate Bush), Lynn Sorensen (Bad Company) and Gregg Fox (Heart, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Bad Company, Miley Cyrus). Every bit of stress, anxiety and self-doubt that ever crossed my mind throughout my journey was instantaneously replaced with a sense of validation and pride, as well as relief that I didn’t give up (which I wanted to do so many times)! And this has opened up even more doors for me. 

One of my biggest barriers is the myth that home recordings do not compete with “brick-and-mortar” recording facilities, and this is absolutely false. For obvious reasons, recording at home can have its inherent challenges, but years of experience have taught me to overcome these challenges by using every space in my home to my advantage to capture the best recordings possible. My mix room is fully treated, however, because I need to mix in an environment that is as “uncolored” as possible. And for those naysayers who doubt the capacity to acquire a great recording at home, all I have to say is: tell that to the Foo Fighters, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, Beck, Billie Eilish and many other artists that have produced amazing recordings in “bedroom” studios.  

I feel some of my biggest assets are my professionalism, my product (which speaks for itself) and the fact that my studio is in my home! Many clients have actually commented that recording here brings a sense of comfort and ease, where a professional recording facility can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating. So, I feel the fact that I am home-based actually serves as an advantage in many ways!  

What I would like the world to know is that my path was long and very, very difficult. And as cliché as this is, my biggest lesson was to never give up on my dreams. I set aside a 25-year career in public health to do this fulltime, to do something I am truly passionate about! I turn 51 this summer, and feel like I am still not at the peak of my music career. It is never too late to reinvent yourself or to do what you have always dreamed of doing. Cimamusic represents strength, resilience, and most of all, humility. And I want to share as much of my experience with my clients and help them to achieve THEIR dream of making great music!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely start with shows here in Tucson! Also, we are completely surrounded by parks, museums, historical sites and other areas that are so unique to our beautiful city. Hikes in Mount Lemmon, excursions to historical sites and trips to local (and family-owned) eateries would also be at the top of the list. I am not a huge fan of “franchise dining,” although I do have my guilty pleasures. There is so much local food, and I feel this really sets us apart from the rest. And of course, if my friend was a studio junkie like me, I would take them to visit local studios, starting with my favorite, Jim Brady Studios, where I cut my first professional record!  

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are two people that have absolutely fortified me as a musician and recording and mix engineer. I had an amazing mentor in high school by the name of James “Sonny” Peters. He took me under his wing, and I learned SO MUCH from this man! But he taught me the most important lesson, something that transcends music and so many other things, which is discipline! And I really believe that what he taught me really set me up to be successful later in life as an adult. Another shout-out goes to Jim Brady, the owner of Jim Brady Studios. He produced the record that I did back in the early 90s. He wasn’t only our producer, but he was a teacher and also a mentor. Every recording session was a new lesson in the world of music production, performance, songwriting and arrangement. I feel that without knowing it at the time (and with no ambition to be a “studio guy”), Jim prepared me to be a recording engineer and to provide support to my clients, especially those who request that I produce their song or album. Recording with Jim wasn’t just a recording session, it was Audio Production University!!! Sonny and Jim have had an everlasting impact on my life. 

Website: www.cimamusicstudio.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cimamusicstudio

Linkedin: www.facebook.com/cimamusicstudio