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, to discuss his journey in the music industry and the philosophy behind his highly successful audio plugins. Ryan shares fascinating insights about what truly makes a Grammy-worthy production, emphasizing that meaningful artist relationships and collaborative energy are far more important than technical gear or plugins. As a former colleague at Drexel University, Ryan helped build our music industry program from just 10 students to over 350 today, and his perspective on the human element of music production is something every aspiring producer needs to hear.

We also explore Ryan's thoughtful approach to plugin development with Gold Clip and Orange Clip, his cautious yet curious view on AI in music production (where he warns about "degrading the uniqueness" of creative work), and his recent venture into Dolby Atmos and immersive audio. Ryan closes with invaluable advice for young engineers and producers: true success comes from obsession with your craft and building genuine relationships with collaborators at your own level, rather than constantly seeking connections with those above you. This conversation offers rare insights from someone who has mastered both the technical and relational aspects of audio production at the highest level.