Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
@coolcataudio.bsky.social
Sound + music for media. Sound edit/ design, audio restoration, VO, custom music, ADR + final mix for arts and commerce. Mix engineering + mastering for music artists. Posts by (bald) studio head Mike Hallenbeck. coolcataudio.com
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2025 IN REVIEW — COOL CAT AUDIO
Thanks to all the collaborators in so many media who allowed Cool Cat Audio to serve them this year! 2025 saw noble deeds in sound design, voiceover engineering, custom music composition, and mixing f...
www.coolcataudio.com
Thanks to all the collaborators in so many media who allowed us to serve them this year! 2025 saw noble deeds in sound + music for film + corporate communications; mixing + mastering for music artists; and an expansion into the education space with a Sound Design for Film course. Read on for more!
Today I got on a Google meet with someone, and we were having audio problems (I couldn't hear her), and the solution was for her to move her laptop to another room. Pretty sure she was using WiFi. This makes no sense to me as an audio fix. Anyone know what I'm missing?
February 18, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Today I got on a Google meet with someone, and we were having audio problems (I couldn't hear her), and the solution was for her to move her laptop to another room. Pretty sure she was using WiFi. This makes no sense to me as an audio fix. Anyone know what I'm missing?
Super psyched that the UK’s Wire magazine, a preeminent publication in the realm of experimental sonics, recently reviewed John Kannenberg’s “A Brief History of Sound Recording”-- presented by Dr. Kannenberg’s Museum of Portable Sound, and in which I played a teeny role... <more>
February 11, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Super psyched that the UK’s Wire magazine, a preeminent publication in the realm of experimental sonics, recently reviewed John Kannenberg’s “A Brief History of Sound Recording”-- presented by Dr. Kannenberg’s Museum of Portable Sound, and in which I played a teeny role... <more>
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
Dan Gaarder, the AM Rocker himself, stopped by my studio Cool Cat Audio at 10 am last week to lay down some 12-string acoustic guitar on the country Christmas song I wrote for 10 Items or Fewer. If we’re lucky, he’ll be singing lead on it as well!
February 4, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Dan Gaarder, the AM Rocker himself, stopped by my studio Cool Cat Audio at 10 am last week to lay down some 12-string acoustic guitar on the country Christmas song I wrote for 10 Items or Fewer. If we’re lucky, he’ll be singing lead on it as well!
Is there something about being a K-pop demon hunter that's superior to being, say, just a regular demon hunter? The K-pop ones do seem to be more in demand, I have to say.
February 3, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Is there something about being a K-pop demon hunter that's superior to being, say, just a regular demon hunter? The K-pop ones do seem to be more in demand, I have to say.
It’s been a pleasure to master this release by Tomahawk, WI-based Jaron Childs. Hear it here: jaronchilds.bandcamp.com/track/i-saw-...
I Saw Jack in the Pulpit, by Jaron Childs
track by Jaron Childs
jaronchilds.bandcamp.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
It’s been a pleasure to master this release by Tomahawk, WI-based Jaron Childs. Hear it here: jaronchilds.bandcamp.com/track/i-saw-...
Grateful that a musical composition of mine recently received a placement on CBS Sports’ World Series of Poker. It’s my hope that the cue accompanied at least one touchdown made by the players. Let’s go Lynx!
January 27, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Grateful that a musical composition of mine recently received a placement on CBS Sports’ World Series of Poker. It’s my hope that the cue accompanied at least one touchdown made by the players. Let’s go Lynx!
Some more festival screenings of “The Pic”, a comedy short written, directed by, and starring Frances Chewning and featuring #sounddesign and mix by yours truly at Cool Cat Audio.
January 20, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Some more festival screenings of “The Pic”, a comedy short written, directed by, and starring Frances Chewning and featuring #sounddesign and mix by yours truly at Cool Cat Audio.
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
Some images from recent tracking on Rhiannon’s next Mama Faerie project, which she photographed from inside the booth at Cool Cat Audio. <more>
January 7, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Some images from recent tracking on Rhiannon’s next Mama Faerie project, which she photographed from inside the booth at Cool Cat Audio. <more>
The Hellavision Television Web 5000.0 intro, directed by Sishir Bommakanti and featuring sound design and original music by yours truly, continues its theatrical rampage this week at Cellular Cinema, Thursday Jan 8th, 7 pm at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. <more>
January 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The Hellavision Television Web 5000.0 intro, directed by Sishir Bommakanti and featuring sound design and original music by yours truly, continues its theatrical rampage this week at Cellular Cinema, Thursday Jan 8th, 7 pm at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. <more>
Such odd synchronicity that the button beeps on my microwave (electronically generated) are exactly one octave above the (mechanical) drone of the machine as it... microwaves. That couldn't be on purpose, could it? I doubt it.
January 4, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Such odd synchronicity that the button beeps on my microwave (electronically generated) are exactly one octave above the (mechanical) drone of the machine as it... microwaves. That couldn't be on purpose, could it? I doubt it.
Looking through some recent meeting notes, and finding that I wrote down the phrase "Difference between" with nothing following it. Thumbs up.
January 2, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Looking through some recent meeting notes, and finding that I wrote down the phrase "Difference between" with nothing following it. Thumbs up.
For a brief shining moment, the spam stopped last night. I will not forget.
January 1, 2026 at 4:25 PM
For a brief shining moment, the spam stopped last night. I will not forget.
Congratulations to those who (like me) persevered and triumphed in #Whamageddon. And to those who fell: you fought nobly, and your struggle will be remembered.
December 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Congratulations to those who (like me) persevered and triumphed in #Whamageddon. And to those who fell: you fought nobly, and your struggle will be remembered.
With all this AI, you'd think stuff would get proofread every once in a while.
December 22, 2025 at 6:49 PM
With all this AI, you'd think stuff would get proofread every once in a while.
I’m honored to have contributed a small portion to “A Brief History of Sound Recording” by Dr. John Kannenberg, now available for your reading pleasure from the Museum of Portable Sound Press. I wrote a brief entry about microphone classification for inclusion within its pages. <more>
A Brief History of Sound Recording–The Book!
To mark our museum’s 10th anniversary in November 2025, we’ve re-installed a brand new version of our gallery dedicated to the history of sound recording–and published a new guide book …
museumofportablesound.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I’m honored to have contributed a small portion to “A Brief History of Sound Recording” by Dr. John Kannenberg, now available for your reading pleasure from the Museum of Portable Sound Press. I wrote a brief entry about microphone classification for inclusion within its pages. <more>
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
RIP Max. Grateful for his work.
Max Eider of Jazz Butcher Conspiracy, RIP
Max put the "jazz" in the Jazz Butcher.
www.brooklynvegan.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
RIP Max. Grateful for his work.
Thanks to all the collaborators in so many media who allowed us to serve them this year! 2025 saw noble deeds in sound + music for film + corporate communications; mixing + mastering for music artists; and an expansion into the education space with a Sound Design for Film course. Read on for more!
2025 IN REVIEW — COOL CAT AUDIO
Thanks to all the collaborators in so many media who allowed Cool Cat Audio to serve them this year! 2025 saw noble deeds in sound design, voiceover engineering, custom music composition, and mixing f...
www.coolcataudio.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Thanks to all the collaborators in so many media who allowed us to serve them this year! 2025 saw noble deeds in sound + music for film + corporate communications; mixing + mastering for music artists; and an expansion into the education space with a Sound Design for Film course. Read on for more!
Whamageddon 2025 is upon us! Do you have what it takes?
The objective is to go as long as possible without hearing WHAM's Christmas classic; "Last Christmas". The game starts on December 1st, and finishes at the end of December 24th. [more]
The objective is to go as long as possible without hearing WHAM's Christmas classic; "Last Christmas". The game starts on December 1st, and finishes at the end of December 24th. [more]
December 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Whamageddon 2025 is upon us! Do you have what it takes?
The objective is to go as long as possible without hearing WHAM's Christmas classic; "Last Christmas". The game starts on December 1st, and finishes at the end of December 24th. [more]
The objective is to go as long as possible without hearing WHAM's Christmas classic; "Last Christmas". The game starts on December 1st, and finishes at the end of December 24th. [more]
The Hellavision Web 5000.0 intro-- featuring original music and sound design by yours truly-- continues its rampage of theatrical presentations tonight, appearing at Scream It Offscreen in Minneapolis. <more>
December 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Hellavision Web 5000.0 intro-- featuring original music and sound design by yours truly-- continues its rampage of theatrical presentations tonight, appearing at Scream It Offscreen in Minneapolis. <more>
Hellavision’s Web 5000.0 intro, featuring original music and sound design by yours truly, screens tonight at Minnesota Electronic Theater!
Thursday December 4th
Doors @ 5pm
Show @ 6pm
Entry is Free. No ticket required.
<more>
Thursday December 4th
Doors @ 5pm
Show @ 6pm
Entry is Free. No ticket required.
<more>
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Hellavision’s Web 5000.0 intro, featuring original music and sound design by yours truly, screens tonight at Minnesota Electronic Theater!
Thursday December 4th
Doors @ 5pm
Show @ 6pm
Entry is Free. No ticket required.
<more>
Thursday December 4th
Doors @ 5pm
Show @ 6pm
Entry is Free. No ticket required.
<more>
Congratulations to Comrade Comrade on the release of “Sadly Temporary”, a debut collection I’ve had the honor of producing, mixing and mastering at Cool Cat Audio! I’ll drop the Bandcamp page in the comments. <more>
December 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Congratulations to Comrade Comrade on the release of “Sadly Temporary”, a debut collection I’ve had the honor of producing, mixing and mastering at Cool Cat Audio! I’ll drop the Bandcamp page in the comments. <more>
Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are going to make a movie together? That, I daresay, is a movie I'd be inclined to watch.
December 2, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are going to make a movie together? That, I daresay, is a movie I'd be inclined to watch.
Another Sound Design for Film class in the books. Thanks to Film North for having us!
In Sound Design for Film, I ask students to explore such questions as: What roles(s) does sound play in film? How does sound facilitate storytelling, ... <more>
In Sound Design for Film, I ask students to explore such questions as: What roles(s) does sound play in film? How does sound facilitate storytelling, ... <more>
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Another Sound Design for Film class in the books. Thanks to Film North for having us!
In Sound Design for Film, I ask students to explore such questions as: What roles(s) does sound play in film? How does sound facilitate storytelling, ... <more>
In Sound Design for Film, I ask students to explore such questions as: What roles(s) does sound play in film? How does sound facilitate storytelling, ... <more>
I’m honored to have contributed a section on microphone classification for “A Brief History of Sound Recording” by John Kannenberg, published by @portablesound.bsky.social. Available for purchase soon! Stay tuned. (Photo by Dr. Kannenberg)
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I’m honored to have contributed a section on microphone classification for “A Brief History of Sound Recording” by John Kannenberg, published by @portablesound.bsky.social. Available for purchase soon! Stay tuned. (Photo by Dr. Kannenberg)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LPo...
Somehow I've made it this far without knowing that there was an animated Beatles cartoon series produced while the group was still together. I was looking through a book about music in animation, and during a passage on the "Yellow Submarine" movie...
Somehow I've made it this far without knowing that there was an animated Beatles cartoon series produced while the group was still together. I was looking through a book about music in animation, and during a passage on the "Yellow Submarine" movie...
The Beatles Cartoon - Episode 39 - Full Episode From 16mm Film Print (With Commercials & Bumpers)
YouTube video by The Beatles Videos
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LPo...
Somehow I've made it this far without knowing that there was an animated Beatles cartoon series produced while the group was still together. I was looking through a book about music in animation, and during a passage on the "Yellow Submarine" movie...
Somehow I've made it this far without knowing that there was an animated Beatles cartoon series produced while the group was still together. I was looking through a book about music in animation, and during a passage on the "Yellow Submarine" movie...