General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

My YouTube Ethics Statement: Sponsorships, Reviews, and AI Tools

In this video, I'm sharing my ethics statement for this channel, covering how I balance YouTube as a hobby with my full-time job as a university educator, my policies on sponsorships and reviews, and my ethical approach to using AI tools in content creation. I break down what you need to know about my transparency commitments and the best ways to support the channel if you choose to.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

How to Build a Successful Plugin Brand: Inside the Mind of a Grammy-Nominated Audio Engineer

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Schwabe, a twice Grammy-nominated audio engineer and founder of Schwabe Digital, who shares his journey from artist to acclaimed engineer, revealing that meaningful artist relationships and collaborative energy matter far more than technical gear, while also discussing his meticulously crafted Gold Clip and Orange Clip plugins that have become industry favorites on major pop records worldwide. Ryan offers fascinating perspectives on AI in music production (cautioning about "degrading the uniqueness" of creative work), his recent venture into Dolby Atmos, and closes with invaluable advice for aspiring engineers: true success comes from obsession with your craft and building genuine relationships with collaborators at your level, rather than constantly seeking connections with those above you.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

Nomono Sound Capsule Review: Spatial Audio for Content Creators

In this review, I examine the Nomono Sound Capsule, a portable spatial audio recording solution that combines a 360-degree ambisonics microphone with wireless lavalier microphones, offering podcasters and content creators an accessible way to record immersive Dolby Atmos audio. While testing the device with my PhD student Nicolas Losada, we found it excels in ease of use and spatial positioning accuracy, despite some limitations in monitoring capability and music recording quality, making it an attractive option for creators looking to enhance their productions with spatial audio without specialized technical knowledge.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

Top 10 Binaural Panning Plugins for Immersive Headphone Mixes

In this video, I count down the 10 most interesting binaural panning plugins that will transform your headphone mixes from flat to immersive, covering options for every budget from completely free tools to professional-grade solutions. My selections create genuinely convincing 3D spatial effects over headphones using technologies like HRTF processing, psychoacoustic tricks, and motion sequencing, with each offering unique approaches to help you create more engaging and realistic audio experiences for your listeners.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

ARIA Studio: Compensating for Hearing Loss in Audio Production

In this video, I explore ARIA Studio by Altitude Audio, a revolutionary software that creates personalized audio profiles based on your hearing test results, compensating for specific hearing loss patterns to deliver a more balanced listening experience. What impressed me most was how accurately it corrects audio across both headphones and speakers, making it an invaluable tool for audio professionals with hearing loss while remaining accessible for anyone wanting to optimize their listening experience.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

From Music Industry to Game Audio: A Graduate's Journey with Wwise

In this video, I talk with Sienna, a recent music industry graduate, about her transition into game audio, covering her experiences with Wwise middleware, Audio Kinetic's Strata subscription, and her internship at Sound Lab in LA. We discuss practical advice for entering the game audio industry, from hands-on experience with essential tools to valuable resources for portfolio development and networking.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

Turn Your iPhone or iPad into a Free MIDI Controller with NovoNotes Duo

In this video, I introduce a free MIDI controller feature within NovoNotes Duo, an iOS app that turns your iPhone or iPad into a fully functional MIDI controller with expressive features like pitch bend and MPE support. I'll walk you through the complete setup process, showing you how to connect your iOS device and integrate it with your DAW, all using this completely free tool that only requires downloading the NovoNotes Duo app from the App Store.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

A Different Kind of Tier List: My 2024 Video Highlights

In this video, I reflect on my most memorable moments of 2024 by organizing 15 of my most important videos into six unique categories: Game Changers, Workflow Winners, Breaking News, Neat Ideas, Hidden Gems, and Time Sinks. From groundbreaking Dolby Atmos developments to my journey with AI content, these selections represent key milestones in both my channel's evolution and the immersive audio industry throughout the year.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

AI in Creative Writing: A Conversation with The Nerdy Novelist

In this conversation with Jason Hamilton (The Nerdy Novelist), we explore how AI is transforming creative writing, from his personal journey integrating AI into his writing process to his innovative approach to community-based business models. His thoughts provide valuable perspectives on working both smarter and harder with AI tools while maintaining authentic human connections, offering crucial insights for creators and educators navigating this technological transformation.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

Personalizing Your Listening Experience: AirPods Pro's Hearing Aid Function for Audio Work

In this video, I reveal how I use Apple AirPods Pro 2's FDA-approved hearing aid functionality to enhance my music production work, sharing my personal journey with mild hearing loss and demonstrating the setup process. While these earbuds aren't meant for professional mastering, I explain why their ability to correct individual hearing profiles makes them valuable for audio work, even for those without significant hearing loss.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

AI Can't Do the Dishes Yet: Navigating Creative Careers in the Era of Emerging AI

In this video, I address viewer comments on my previous discussions about generative AI in creative professions, exploring how the principles of critical skills, process focus, and agility apply to professional practice. I examine various impacts of AI, from challenges for voice actors to copyright issues, while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and adaptability in navigating the evolving landscape of AI in creative fields.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

AB Chorus: The Game-Changing Audio Plugin That's Not For Everyone

In this video, I dive into AB Chorus, Audio Brewers' latest immersive chorus plugin, exploring its capabilities across various audio formats and its creative potential in immersive audio production. I'll break down who this powerful but complex tool is perfect for and who might want to look elsewhere, helping you decide if it's the right investment for your audio toolkit.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

GameAudioGPT is here!

In this video, I introduce GameAudioGPT, a custom AI tool I've created to help answer your questions about my Unity and Wwise game audio tutorial series from three years ago. I demonstrate how this free tool works by testing it with real user questions, showing how it can provide quick, detailed responses on topics covered in the original series and even beyond, making it easier for you to get the help you need without me having to rewatch entire videos.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

How AI Is Changing Education: Time to Take Action

In this video, I explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and creative industries, presenting a strategic framework for educators to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape. I discuss three key principles—emphasizing critical skills, adopting process-centric pedagogy, and implementing agile institutional structures—designed to prepare students for a future where AI is an integral part of the creative process.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

Digital Media Expert Reacts: The AI Music Lawsuit That Could Change Everything

In this video, I analyze recent YouTube commentaries on the RIAA's copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music generation services, arguing that the lawsuit's true significance lies in establishing legal precedents for AI-generated content rather than signaling the end of AI in music, while also exploring the technical issues and broader implications for copyright law and the music industry.

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General Topics Michael G Wagner General Topics Michael G Wagner

10 Plugins for Remastering Udio Tracks

In this video, I explore the world of AI-generated music and demonstrate how to enhance tracks created using platforms like udio.com by applying post-processing and remastering techniques, showcasing the exciting possibilities that AI technology brings to the future of music creation.

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