Sound Designer Interview

Interview with Mr.Bob Pepek

1.When people ask you what you “do”, how do you answer?

I do audio post production for Film / TV / Web

2.With your own experience how to define sound designer?

Sound Design is the creation, manipulation, syncing and mixing of sound effects, ambiance, music and dialogue for a film, animation, etc... 

3.Has there been a shift or change in your life or work that has led to what you’re making now? Why did you want to be a sound designer?

I started my career doing dialogue editing for a Saturday morning cartoon called Astroblast. On occasion when the current sound design would take a day off or go on vacation, I would sit in do sound design in his place. It was there I learned how fun and ever-changing the position could be.

4.What are your biggest challenges during your career and how do you deal with them? 

The biggest hurdles I have to deal with is poor production audio. When I receive audio files from a location audio engineer that were poorly recorded I either need to try my best to clean up the bad audio file, or I need to inquire with the director / producer whether or not a pick-up is a possibility.

5. What software and instrument do you use? 

I mostly use a DAW (digital audio workstation) called Pro Tools to edit / mix my sessions.

6.What are you currently reading, listening to or looking at to fuel your work?

I'm currently listening to a lot of animated Web / TV series including the new Dreamworks Voltron series on Netflix, even classics like Looney Tunes. Classic cartoons had some of the best use of foley / sfx the world will ever hear!

7. What are the top 3 websites you visit regularly and why?

www.waves.com (great audio plugins, they always have incredible sales!!) www.youtube.com (YouTube can be a great tool for instruction, entertainment, education, etc...

www.linkedin.com (LinkedIn has been an invaluable communication and networking tool to help industry professionals and beginners alike. 

8. What do you often do in your free time?
In my free time I play guitar and sing (www.bobpepek.com), sorry for the shameless plug haha.

9.What advice would you give to a college student interested in sound designer?

The biggest piece of advice I can give a college student would be to attend and pursue internships. The contacts you will make and knowledge you'll acquire will be invaluable. 

10.Are you involved in any upcoming animation? Unfortunately the better half of the animations I'm working on I can't discuss for confidentiality reasons. The remainder of the upcoming animations that I'm working with are simply explainer videos and other educational animations for advertising agencies.

Here is a link to my sound designer interview presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12P4nZ2olomwoyhnyVna6zfHsO8cnGeURgXF7c5xirvA/edit#slide=id.p