Loud and Clear Audio

Company ...

Loud and Clear's speciality is providing professional audio solutions for theatre and corporate events. We provide a complete service including production design, hire and operation of all equipment for any production.

From our warehouse in the middle of Artarmon just north of the centre of Sydney we also sell and install high quality audio equipment from a large range of suppliers.

In 2005 we were appointed the Australian distributor for Alcons Audio of The Netherlands, a new and exciting range of very high quality speakers and amplifiers.

Sound for musicals is one of the most interesting areas in audio
because of the mix of skills needed.

Live musical theatre combines the hidden complexities of radio mics, stage mics, musicians, sound effects, and performers, often in rooms not designed for live music.

History

Loud and Clear was formed in 1990 to provide better services to the theatrical societies in Sydney's North. From our first productions for Warringah Musical Society at Glen Street Theatre we began to develop a unique approach to designing quality audio on a budget, and we now work for a large number of theatrical and corporate clients from the southern highlands to the blue mountains to the central coast.

Staff

David Betterridge - Director

David has a wide range of experience in the broadcast media including master control operator at 2GB, panel operator at 2KY, network control operator for TCN Nine and Sky Channel, and over 6 years as senior broadcast technician for Nine News in Sydney, coordinating hundreds of live to air segments each year.

With a diploma in Sound Engineering, and certificates from the AFTRS in post production for film and TV, experience directing and producing musicals, and time on two society committees, David has also performed on stage and for film and television.

Kathryn Inglis - Operations Manager

Kathryn has a wide range of experience in live audio mixing ranging from Magic shows and dance concerts to Blues bands and Musicals. After obtaining a Certificate IV in Audio Engineering at SAE she spent 2 US summers at a Summer Camp dedicated to performing arts running sound in up to 4 venues at once, worked in the Audio department at Wonderland Sydney for almost 2 years and has lost count of the number of shows she has done with Loud and Clear.
Having spent many years performing on stage in musicals and choirs, in the pit and in varied bands, and with 2 years service on the committee of a musical society Kathryn has a great love and enthusiasm for all aspects of musical productions.

Tom Blunt

Tom began his theatre career in high school, working with the teachers and directors at local and state events for the creative arts, and was also involved with his local musical societies. After graduating high school he went on to study audio engineering at JMC Academy. He now works in a number theatres across Sydney.
With experience in video and audio design for a number of plays, he is prepared for any challenge be it mixing a rock concert for 12,000 people, or a corporate function for 100. Tom's dedication to Loud and Clear has seen him rise to the position of senior engineer within 3 years at only 24 years of age.

Jon Hunter

Jon joined Loud And Clear in 2002 working with Out Of The Blue & BMMS for the next 5 years. He is obsessed with sound in all its forms.
He first started messing with cassette tape recorders around the age of 7 using headphones as microphones and layering sound by recording back forth between two tapes.
Since then he has a First Class Honors Degree in Electronic Arts and will be shortly beginning his Phd.
He Runs a Recoding Studio And Record Label called Magnetic Recording Council
Plays Guitar in heaps of bands and Performs experimetal music using laptop and springs.

Simon Moy

David Fitzgerald

David’s association with theatre stretches over 25years and includes several years in regional operations from Tamworth to the Hunter, and across Sydney covering not only Audio, but Musical Direction, keys, saxophones, percussion and production.
As a theatre administrator, David has recently designed and led the company restructure for Newcastle Dramatic Art Club Incorporated, one of Australia’s oldest community theatre organisations.

Although trained as a classical pianist, David’s professional gigs include Grease and Phantom of The Opera plus regular Edinburgh Fringe Festivals to engineering La Grande Cirque’s recent OZ Tour.

Craig Herbert

David Tucker

David J was once on the receiving end of the work performed by Loud and Clear. He was often spotted treading the boards of various theatres throughout Sydney an beyond. But 10 years ago he was so impressed with what we do, he started "working" for us. A couple of years after that we even started to pay him. Since then he's still been known to do the odd role here and there. Sometimes he's even performed roles at the same time as being the mic tech.

Whilst not changing mics backstage, he can be found giving direction, choreography, vocal training, hugs etc to the cast and crew. And then there's the food... but we don't have room to elaborate on that here.

Jessica Burns

Jessica began working with Loud and Clear in 2006 as a Radio Microphone Technician and has recently graduated to the occasional position of Audio Engineer. She has worked on over 30 productions in a sound capacity but has also been involved from a production and performer point of view on many other shows.
She graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in 2008 and although she does not know what she wants to do with her degree she likes the path that sound production is taking her.

Rachel Furlong

Rachel met the loud and clear gang while working backstage with CTG in 2006.
She become an official member of the team in early 2007 and has enjoyed every minute since. With all the quick changes and hiding mic packs, working closely with the cast and crew, there is never a dull time on a musical!
During high school Rachel studied entertainment, and alongside her work with Loud and Clear her love for teaching children takes up most of her time.

Ben Taprell

Ben has been working for Loud and Clear since 2007. He graduated from The Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE with a Diploma in Screen in 2006. His greatest love though is theatre and couldn’t stay away for too long. He has worked in all aspects of theatre, both professionally and just for the fun of it.
A self confessed musical theatre junkie, there isn’t much he hasn’t listened to or seen. Ben is always ready for the next show, no matter how big or small.

Danielle Morrison

Danielle graduated in 2007 from Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga with a B.A Design for Theatre and Television. Since leaving the countryside she has worked in stage management, lighting and sound in a number of theatres across Sydney.
Her love for musical theatre first sparked during her school days working as Stage Manager and Set Designer for productions such as The Pirates of Penzance and Singing In The Rain. Skip a few years and Danielle has put down the hammer and picked up a radio mic and in 2008 she began working with Loud and Clear. When she is not floating around Sydney’s technical theatre scene she can be found travelling the world seeing as much theatre as she can, from the Moulin Rouge in Paris to Flamenco dancing in Barcelona she just can’t get enough of it!

Lizz Murfett

Starting as a dancer Liz has recently branched out into the audio world and has enjoyed working on many productions with Loud and Clear and continues teaching both dance and english when she is not backstage putting mics on people.

Erin Hambly

Erin first met the Loud and Clear team when she was on stage in Musical Society's many moons ago. After switching her love to backstage, she dabbled in lighting, stage, creative team and orchestra while completing a Bachelor of Music majoring in Entertainment Management and working in the Music Department of Professional Theatre. After a quick break in Events Management she has returned to her love of Musicals and eagerly joined the Loud and Clear crew in 2008. Coming home to the Blue Mountains and being able to combine a childhood love for Musicals and a new fascination for all things Sound will no doubt see her dancing in the wings every show.

Nikki Sundstrum

Nikki graduated in 2005 from Central Queensland University with a B.A Performing Arts. Originally an actress, Nikki relocated to Sydney in 2006 and has been busily trading under the Stage Management banner ever since.
Nikki was first discovered trying to reduce fire hazards in a show full of smokers and then re-discovered sweeping the stage at Riverside, before being offered a position with the Loud and Clear crew (she has since neither smoked nor swept).

Cameron Hissey

From a young age, Sydney born Cameron Hissey has had a keen interest in all things musical. Commencing a singing career at the age of five with the Newington College Chapel Choir, he progressed through various choral and string ensembles at the College beginning formal singing lessons at the age of eight. In 1999 he was awarded a choral/instrumental scholarship to Newington College.

Cameron first got involved with the technical side of theatre during High School, working on several shows with the ATYP including a gala party for Baz Luhrmann.
More recently, Cameron has undertaken a Bachelor of Music majoring in Audio Engineering at the Australian Institute of Music. He is focusing his talents on the technical side of theatre while still maintaining a keen interest in performance, having played the lead role in Purcell's Dido and Anaeas at the school in early 2009.

Ben 'The Hoff" Hofmeier

Ben took a highly active role in community and school creative arts productions from Year 9 onwards; he became responsible for installation and operation of live sound systems in a variety of venues. After completing his HSC in 2007, Ben began tertiary studies at SAE Byron Bay, transferring to Sydney SAE for his second year where he will complete his Bachelor in Audio Production in March 2010.
During the last 18 months he has developed new skills in studio production, acted as guitar, bass and drum tech for local acts, worked as location sound recorder on an independent film and has gained more experience in theatre sound operations. Since moving to Sydney, Ben has taken advantage of every opportunity to expand his knowledge and experience and enjoys being a member of the great crew at Loud and Clear Audio.