On Thursday, February 27th, SAE Institute Nashville will be hosting a lecture series led by industry expert Michael Trepagnier.
The event, open to students and the general public, is for artists, musicians, producers, engineers, or anyone looking to master Pro Tools and learn some essential techniques for elevating their recording workflow.
Michael is an accomplished audio engineer and producer based in Oklahoma City, where he designed and built the recording studio, Cardinal Song. He brings a versatile skill set to projects across genres, including high-profile collaborations and notable credits including Coldplay, Counting Crows, Hanson, and many more. In addition to his studio work, Michael is the author of The Pro Tools Bible: The Guide for the Working Musician.
Follow along to learn more about Michael and what you can expect from the Pro Tools Bible event on February 27th!
As an accomplished audio engineer & producer as well as a published author, your career spans both audio and writing—what inspired you to merge these two fields?
MT: Much of my desire to write this book—and to share my perspective as a creative—came from my seven years of teaching at ACM@UCO, a modern music production school in Oklahoma City. Teaching wasn’t something I initially planned to do, but when I moved back to Oklahoma from NYC, it provided a soft landing while I rebuilt my clientele. Over time, I grew to love the opportunity to give back to the community, and it gave me a sense of purpose beyond my “normal” job of making music with people.
The idea for the book took shape while I was teaching Avid certification courses. I noticed that students in the 101 course either weren’t fully absorbing the material or struggled to find practical value in Avid’s official texts. If you’ve ever studied those manuals, you know they can be dry and dense. As someone who has now written about software, I understand how difficult it is to make the subject engaging—key commands aren’t exactly thrilling. That said, the sheer minutiae of Avid’s texts often failed to teach students how the software actually works or, more importantly, how to make it work for them. They relied on me and the other instructors for that guidance, but when we weren’t there, their skills tended to fade. It was disheartening.
That’s why I started writing this book—to bridge the gap for students taking 101, 110, and 201 courses. I wanted to create something small enough to fit in their side pocket, something they could bring to sessions or their first jobs as a quick-reference guide to keep them working efficiently.
Why is it important to you to share your experience and expertise with other musicians, producers, and engineers?
MT: Coming from a small market city with little to no professional music scene, it was tough to find a path toward making records. I was determined, though—I got a Pro Tools rig when I was 18, but back then, access to recording software was far more restricted. You had to know a pro audio dealer or work at a voice-over studio just to get in the door. That was over 25 years ago, so forgive the lengthy explanation—but suffice to say, the world, especially software development, has changed dramatically. It’s incredible that today, a kid’s first laptop comes with GarageBand pre-installed.
Back then, I had to attend an audio school just to get my hands on pro audio gear. There was no easily accessible information, no YouTube—everything was locked behind gates in cities I didn’t live in. I wasn’t in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, or Chicago, where I could have just called up a studio and started as an intern. I had to fight for it.
When I finally got to New York, I had the incredible opportunity to work at The Looking Glass Studios. That’s where I found my people. It was a bustling creative hub—with Tony Visconti working in the B room, Philip Glass (studio co-owner) producing classical records and bands like Coldplay having sessions in the A room. It was a multicultural, collaborative space where we all shared knowledge freely. It was a place to learn. Not every studio was like that—some had bad management and mistreated assistants—but the good ones thrived because they nurtured talent.
As the music industry has changed and traditional studios have become less central, that kind of hands-on learning and mentorship has become rarer. I miss it. I crave it. I hold onto the friendships I’ve built in this industry because those conversations—sharing ideas, stories, and experiences—are invaluable.
This book is an extension of that feeling for me. In Pro Tools Bible, I talk about how the most important part of my apprenticeship wasn’t just the technical work—it was the conversations with great artists, engineers, and producers about how we make things. The tricks and techniques we pick up just by watching others work are crucial. They inspire us to experiment, to learn what does and doesn’t work for our own style. That trial-and-error process is how we all develop our craft. My hope is to extend that tradition in a way that makes sense for me, and Pro Tools Bible is my first step in helping others do just that.
Without giving too much away, what can attendees expect to learn during your sessions at the event?
MT: Pro Tools, like any tool, is a language, and I want to show students and attendees how I use that language to accomplish my goals in the studio. Practically speaking, we’ll cover the basics of editing and navigation, focusing on ways to keep the software working with us rather than against us.
The key to any software is preventing it from becoming a barrier to creativity. Pro Tools is incredibly powerful and multi-layered, but that complexity can sometimes make it difficult to see the forest for the trees. My goal is to help students develop a clearer, more intuitive approach—one that allows them to use the software efficiently and stay fully engaged in the session.
To register for the event, visit our sign-up page here and select a time and session. RSVPs are limited so don’t wait! For more information about the Nashville campus or our Audio programs, visit us online or connect via social @saeinstituteusa.
