KIWI YU-HSIEN WEI

Yu-Hsien Wei, a multi-talented Audio Engineer, who doesn’t only have specialty in the field of Music, but also specializes in Electronic Engineer. Yu-Hsien is a rare musician whose field in Music includes not production of music albums, but also live sound mix, productions of films, production of gaming music and other musical products. The genres of music he specializes in are Pop, Folk, Rock, Jazz, R&B, Hip Pop and Electronic Music.

 

Yu-Hsien liked music since he was young. When he was a child, he studied traditional music such as Chinese Flute, and continued until high school. Later, he had a chance to be introduced to Pop and Rock. In college, while he was focused on his Electronic Engineering studies, he discovered a minor called Digital Music. From there, Yu-Hsien started his path on Music Engineering.

While a student of Music Engineering, Yu-Hsien interned in ARCHI Studio. During that time, he has learnt a lot of microphone setups and recording styles. From that particular experience, Yu-Hsien started his hands-on learning of the differences of sounds that are affected by different types of microphones and the different setups of them. Recording is not just a thing he learnt in textbooks any more. All these are just recorded digitally and mixed with computer.

 

At that time, musicians and organizations Yu-Hsien worked with include:

Taipei Municipal Datung Senior High School Alumni Orchestra ; Annie Lin：Rhythm of the Wind Direction live recording and live sound. Yu-Hsien was also the assistance of Annie Lin. He was on the production team of albums, “From  the corner” and “Encounter of frequency”; both were nominated for  Golden Melody Awards . Yu-Hsien was the production assistance and music assistance. During the production process, he has assisted Lin with composing and arranging by Cubase, then export to the studio for over dubbing. He learned so many things from composing, arranging, recording, mixing to mastering.

After the production of these two albums, he decided he wanted to study more abroad, so he went to the Audio Engineering Program and Post-Production Program in Musicians Institute. During the nine months he was there, he has learnt to record and mix with SSL Console, NEVE Console, and Digidesign I-CON; he also learnt to connect all kinds of outboard gear with patch bay. He also learnt to use software for Mastering; and learnt how to record ADR(Auto Dialogs Replace) and Foley, how to do Editing and Mixing dialogs, how to do music conforming and how to do Sound Effect &Background. During this time, Yu-Hsien has learnt to use PRO TOOLS and Logic and also has received certificates in AVID - PT101(8.0)  PT110(8.0)  PT201(8.0)  PT210M(8.0)  PT210P(8.0) and certificate of Logic 9 Level one.

 

During his time in Musicians Institute, besides learning recording and mixing, Yu-Hsien also have obtained a lot of knowledge on repairing and maintenance of equipments. One of the core classes Yu-Hsien took is called Electronic, and one elective called Electronic workshop, which teaches students directly how to repair microphones, cables, Headphone Box, and how to maintain Console (Clear Faders , Change light-ball, Change channel strip module).

Besides the classes, he has also apprenticed under, Greg Granieri, a repair and maintenance specialist in MI. Yu-Hsien and Greg have troubleshot machines, debugging following the console manual. During this time, the machines he has gotten a chance to repair are: Neve and SSL channel strip, Bryston power amp, Rode NTK power supply and also he cleared some outboard gear’s knob.

After Musician Institute, Yu-Hsien felt he’d benefit from more education in this field. So he went to IAR(Institute of Audio Research). His studies were excellent. While he was in school, he internedat a Jazz venue called Shapeshifter Lab and there he got a chance to utilize the new knowledge he learnt at school daily. Only after a few months of internship, he has officially become Chief Engineer. After many times of trials and errors, the sound in that space became very different and unique.

 

Yu-Hsien has worked with at Shapeshifter Lab include: Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Oliver Lake, Matthew Garrison, Gene Lake, Mino Cinelu, Reggie Young, Jordan Perlson, Joe Lovano, Becca Stevens, Aaron Parks, Jim Black, Clarence Penn, Shai Maestro, Marko Djordjevic, Ingrid Jensen, Nate Wood, Kneebody, Billy Martin, Ben Monder, Kenny Werner, Jean-Michel Pilc, Victor Wooten, Greg Osby, Victor Belly, Adam Rudolph, Martin Dosh, Rudy Royston, Steve Coleman, Gregoire Maret, Loe Genvese and many more great musicians.