Robert Nation

Robert Nation is a Canadian audio engineer and producer as well as co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios in London, Ontario.

Early life

Robert was born and raised on the West Island of Montreal where he attended Dorval High School. Robert's father, Ernie Nation, was the Head of Finance for RCA Records. In 1972, Ernie was transferred to Toronto, Ontario, when RCA's record division was relocated.

While in his teens, Robert started mixing live sound for local bands in Toronto and landed himself a gig at the offices of RCA Records. After taking a couple of small recording courses, Robert wanted to further his education in recording engineering and music production and moved to London, Ontario where he completed a 3-year diploma in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College. This is where he met his colleague, and eventual co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios, Joe Vaughan.

Career

In his last year of college, Robert made the decision to open a recording studio in London, Ontario where the new music scene was vibrant and blossoming. Electronic Media Arts Corporation was first located in downtown London at 343 Richmond Street on the 3rd Floor of a large building, which also housed CKSL Radio. During the first 10 years of operation, Robert refined his record engineering and production talents, and helped EMAC Recording Studios become a destination for local and out of town bands. At the same time, EMAC also began producing commercials for radio and sound for television which allowed Robert to gain experience as a broadcast commercial producer.^[1]

In the wake of these improvements, EMAC Studios expanded to a new location in 1990. They purchased a Salvation Army Church at 432 Rectory Street and converted the building into a state of the art recording facility.^[1]

In 1995, Robert expanded his repertoire to include production sound, audio post-production, and location audio recording for television and film. He has traveled to many parts of the world including: Southeast Asia, France, and throughout the Caribbean to record audio onsite for Taste of life: A Gourmet Food Travel Show (Food Network) and High Point: Casinos of the World starring Kenny Rogers. Robert also worked as part of the Canadian Crew for Michael Moore’s Academy Award nominated movie Sicko.

In 2008, Robert worked as an audio post-production engineer recording dialogue for Christopher Plummer’s character in Pixar's Academy Award winning movie Up. Most recently, Robert mixed stereo and surround tracks for Cirque du Soleil's production of Corteo.

Robert is now an audio engineering professor at Fanshawe College in the Music Industry Arts program^[2] and continues to operate EMAC Studios. He is also the chair for the Producer of the Year selection committee for Canada’s Juno Awards and a member of the Audio Engineering Society.

Selected works

Kittie – Spit & Oracle
Nicole Scott – Self Titled
Glenn Bennett – I Like My Music With A Beat
BURNusBOTH – Stray Bullets
The Corndogs – Love is All
'63 Monroe – Stinkin' Out The Joint
Luddites – 86-91
John James – Still The Beat Goes On
Mettle - Mettle
James Clark Institute - The Colour of Happy
The Bookends - A Celtic Celebration
Sheep Look Up - Sheep Look Up
Cirque du Soleil - Corteo

TV & Film

Pixar's Up
Michael Moore’s Sicko
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning
High Point: Casinos of the World
Taste of Life: A Gourmet Food Travel Show

References

^ ^a ^b "Profession Sound Magazine: EMAC Studios Spotlight". Professional Sound Magazine. October 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
^ "Fanshawe College: Music Industry Arts". Fanshawe College. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-17.

External links

EMAC Recording Studios

[emacstudios1-1] "Profession Sound Magazine: EMAC Studios Spotlight". Professional Sound Magazine. October 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-17.

[2] "Fanshawe College: Music Industry Arts". Fanshawe College. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-17.

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