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Master of Possibilities Technically, Adam Ayan is a mastering engineer. But you might call him a master of possibilities. Whether he’s helping create Grammy Award-winning music, teaching USM students the basics of audio recording, or bringing together greater Portland’s vibrant music scene, Ayan is always looking ahead. What do we have? How can we help make it better? Mastering, explains Ayan, is the creative process of bringing recordings to their full sonic potential. And he’s pretty good at it. Over the last decade Ayan has worked at Gateway Mastering and DVD in Portland, mastering the work of some of the music industry’s top stars. “In pop music, it’s common to have a lot of people involved in a recording,” Ayan says. “They work on mixes at different times, with different people, and in different studios all over the world. My job is to bring it all together and make an album cohesive, instead of a grouping of sounds.” His contributions to Vince Gill’s These Days helped it win the 2008 Grammy for Best Country Album. The CD also was a nominee in the overall Album of the Year category. In 2006 Ayan won his first Grammy in the Best Historical Album category, and in 2007 he won two Latin Grammys for Best Engineered Album and Album of the Year. “I get to work with some really great musicians on some great recordings,” he says. “Being a part of that is a huge honor.” ‘A Phenomenal Resource’ for Students Ayan shares his craft with USM students as an adjunct music faculty member, teaching a Music Technology course one semester a year. In this course, he helps students develop a hands-on understanding of the process right in Corthell Concert Hall. ”Students come out of the course really interested in audio recording.” “Adam’s a phenomenal resource,” says Scott Harris, associate professor of music and director of the USM School of Music. “His course is an elective, but it’s a critical one. Students want and expect high-quality recordings of their performances, and we need students to have digital audio recording experience to do that.” Ayan’s course is just one way Gateway and owner Bob Ludwig support the School of Music. Each year, USM faculty awards two Gateway scholarships to deserving music students. And Ludwig recently donated about $40,000 in recording equipment to the School. Ayan and Ludwig are eager to lend advice when the time comes to expand the University’s music facilities. “Gateway is 1,000 percent behind us,” Harris says. “All the expertise is right there.” Building Community And, through Ayan, that expertise is making its way into area music halls, clubs, and cafes. Last fall he and other local music industry professionals established the nonprofit Portland Music Foundation. “There’s a sense of community here I haven’t seen other places,” Ayan says. “The idea was to take what was organically a great community and make it a little more official. We provide some services and help people connect more formally.” To that end, the foundation recently held workshops on media relations, booking performances, and recording. Ayan envisions a time when the University and foundation work more closely together. “Adam’s a direct connection to community,” Harris says. “One of Portland’s hallmarks is its vibrant music scene. On a fundamental level, there are gig opportunities. Students can make a little money doing what they love to do. It’s the kind of thing that keeps vibrant towns vibrant.” They are also reminders that musicians don’t need to head off to New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville to start a career. You just might find your start right here in greater Portland. “I never imagined I’d be doing what I do, or doing it here,” Ayan says. “There are a lot of different career paths in music. Given technology and just the way things are today, geography is less and less of an issue. It pays to keep your eyes open and your horizons broad.”
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