Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
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coolcataudio.bsky.social
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 composers, songwriters, and more. Posts by (bald) studio head Mike Hallenbeck. coolcataudio.com
What are your favorite podcasts about #film and #filmmaking?
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Once again, Cool Cat Audio finds itself exploring the sonic world of popcorn– this time for a documentary. Here’s the recent setup for a Foley session, to capture the elusive presence of popcorn flakes striking each other lightly as they fly around. (more)
October 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Back in the studio at Cool Cat Audio, tracking some sounds for Rhinannon’s next Mama Faerie project. Photo by the artist. <more>
October 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Thanks to Hellavision Television for an enjoyable viewing of “Web 5000.0” at The Main Cinema in Minneapolis last night. This anthology of #animation about the future of the Internet is hilarious, innovative, insightful, bewildering, terrifying, and plenty more besides.
October 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Tonight in Minneapolis! Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” arrives in Minneapolis at The Main Cinema on Wed October 15th at 7pm. Enjoy the final moments of the internet through the lens of over 80 artists in this 90 minute maximalist anthology directed by Sishir Bommakanti. <more>
October 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
New dates unlocked for Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” tour! The animation anthology screens in Minneapolis on Wednesday October 15th, 7 pm at The Main Cinema-- ticket link in comments... <more>
October 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Do I know anyone in Santa Cruz? I doubt it. But if I’m mistaken, be advised that Natalie Peracchio’s new short film “The Story of the Cricket Queen”, featuring original music, sound design and mix by yours truly, screens this coming Thursday and Friday... <more>
October 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
Accordion overdubs at Cool Cat Audio on the upcoming 10 Items or Fewer album with the maestro himself, Jon Duncan!

Two things I noticed after this session:

1. Making good music happen with good people has a way of lifting one’s spirits, a boon in times like these. <more>
October 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I recently collaborated with animator Sishir Bommakanti and voice artist Sudarsna Mukund on the intro to Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000”, an ongoing community animation project that explores “the Maximal Speculative Future of The Internet”. <more>
September 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
Vocal recording for the new 10 Items or Fewer album continues at @coolcataudio.bsky.social! Harmony singer Rhiannon Fiskradatz took these shots in the booth the other day.
September 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Celebrating the conclusion of another Sound Design for Film class at Film North. As an educator, I like to proceed from the principle that we learn not by absorbing new information, but... <more>
September 18, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
i don't know what the source of this video is but I love it
September 10, 2025 at 1:35 AM
What if it was really Dave Alvin and the Chipmunks?
September 9, 2025 at 4:00 AM
If you find yourself watching the Disney+ documentary “Meet the Pickles”, about the making of the animated series “Win or Lose”, 12 minutes in or so (during the video game montage) you’ll hear some music by yours truly!
September 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If you’re at the MN State Fair this year, you may hear the sound design of Cool Cat Audio when you peruse this DNR installation on fire safety. I engineered voiceover, edited interview audio, implemented sound effects... <more>
August 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Some BTS footage in the studio of voiceover recording for an upcoming #animation project by Sishir Bommakanti. On the mic is performer Sudarsna Mukund. Also visible: my bald head.
August 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I’m pleased to announce that John Akre’s animated short “Let’s Count To Six, Shall We?”, featuring an original score and mix by yours truly over at Cool Cat Audio, is now available online for public viewing! Link in comments.
August 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Congrats to Frances Chewning, whose short comedy “The Pic” (written and directed by, and starring, her!) will premiere at HollyShorts in Los Angeles this August. Featuring audio post production by Cool Cat Audio, the film will screen on Sunday, August 10th at 2:30 PM in the "rom-com" block. <more>
July 30, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Working on a new client project. My mission: engineer and produce a sea chanty track to spec. It’s been a long time, but this is in fact my return to the sea chanty genre as opposed to, shall we say, my maiden voyage. <more>
July 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Cool Cat Audio recently executed voiceover engineering for a marketing video by WPS Health Solutions. It’s currently viewable at wpshealthsolutions.com. Thanks to creative director Kris Dunlap for this opportunity!

#marketingvideo #brandingvideo #marketing #branding #voiceoverengineering
July 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Hmmmm... I daresay I shall peruse this with great interest.
Walter Murch Film Editing News!

His new book Suddenly Something Clicked will be published in the UK on May 8th and in the US on July 15th.

Here's the front and back cover!

With some epic endorsements...
June 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
There's an unassuming, partially boarded up business on University Ave in St Paul called Nanosystems. Not gonna look it up, so my speculation can proceed unimpeded.
June 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
June 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM