Hi, I’m Scott ……..
Should I make this boring? I think not.
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Over 30 years in audio systems, acoustics, and product development I’ve helped shape technologies that have sold hundreds of thousands of devices. From designing high-performance products to customer training and support my work bridges technical precision with creative purpose.
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I bring humor to everything I do. I love my doggos. I wrench on and restore classic vehicles. By “restore” I mean endless puttering on them. My lord it is a time investment not to mention it tests your sanity. I am an obsessive music listener. (see links below) I hate doing dishes. Oh, I like desserts too, especially homemade ones. Did I mention my dogs are awesome? Thought so. Strong espresso, like the kind that shows up on a drug test strong.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Integral in the creation of products that collectively had sales of more than $12 bn USD
- Research into objective metrics that relate to perceived sound quality
- Championed and developed blinded subjective sound quality evaluations across teams
- Interfaced with outside vendors and existing suppliers, leveraging their experience to shorten development times
- Advanced CTQ/KPI metrics to increase customer satisfaction and exceed expectations
- Provided training and support for complex products worldwide
- Cross-team leadership and reviews reducing silos and expanding collaboration
- Engineered all 300+ loudspeakers used in the Athens Olympic Stadium delivering high SPL and unmatched clarity
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Currently I run my consulting company Articulate Systems which allows me to provide high impact contributions to a variety of projects and companies. My goal is achieving the utmost in performance tailored to each unique application. I dislike unnecessary complication and poorly thought out compromises. Every project has a compromise – let’s make them the right ones.
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Some of my past roles in the industry include:
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Acoustic Systems Engineer – AUDIX Microphones
- Developed the OMX-E, OMX-M, OMX-T, PDX520 and D6X microphones
- Designed a novel mechanical suspension reducing handling noise by 9 to 11 dB
- Assisted development of new products across mechanical and electrical teams
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Audio & Acoustic Engineer – META Reality Labs Research
- Research into cutting edge and emerging transducers & technologies
- Complex electro-acoustic test and measurement using multiple platforms
- Lead performance reviews to determine device applicability for researchers
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Design Verification Engineer II – Microsoft Corporation
- Researched subjective sound quality metrics and methodologies to determine appropriate design criteria
- Brought B87 Labs online, validated and maintained acoustical performance & asset management
- Verification of all audio systems and subsystems across hardware devices
- Established the Worlds Quietest Room LINK
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Electro-Acoustic Engineer – Microsoft Corporation
- Performed multi-domain test and measurement of hardware and transducers
- Created novel and new methodologies for various user scenarios
- Leveraged lab assets and anechoic chambers allowing multiple teams to be productive
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Applications Engineer & New Product Development – RANE Corporation
- Training and Customer Support for both hardware and software based products
- Created new product definitions and followed through to production release
- Supported sales staff both pre and post-sale assuring the customer received the correct products
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Lead Engineer, NPD and Applications Engineer – McCauley Sound Inc.
- Develop new product lines yielding the highest grossing and best selling products in company history
- Created new product definitions and followed through to production release
- Supported sales staff both pre and post-sale, integrated speakers into EASE GLL models.
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Co Owner & Engineer – Cydonia Media Studios
Multi room recording studio with both analog & digital formats with multiple control rooms and large tracking spaces.
Hosted sessions with P!nk and Snoop Dogg among others
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CURRENT EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
2 x B&K Type 4517 DeltaTron Accelerometers
1 x GRAS 43AC-S High Frequency Ear Simulator
2 x GRAS 46BF-1 Lemo Free Field Microphones
4 x GRAS 46BE CCP Free Field Microphones
1 x GRAS 46BL CCP Pressure Field Microphone (Max 170 dBSPL and 100 kHz)
2 x Earthworks M50 Free Field Microphones
1 x GRAS 12AQ 2 ch CCP/LEMO Power Module with signal conditioning
1 x GRAS 12AX 4 ch CCP Power Module
1 x B&K Type 1704 CCP Power Module
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GRAS 42AG Calibrator
GRAS 42AA Pistonphone
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MOTU UltraLite USB Audio Interface
Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 USB Audio Interface
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SoundCheck V23 Software
SpectraPLUS Software
SMAART Suite V9
REW
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If you made it this far – YAY! Is it obvious I don’t do web design professionally?
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Some GREAT music for you to listen to, I SERIOUSLY dig all of these musicians. A lot of this is performed LIVE which makes the feeling so much more…. well… ALIVE.
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Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest “Chimera”
Cory Wong (From Vulfpeck) “Lunchtime”
Mark Bittler – “You Make It Hard”. – Mark is my dearest friend a true brother from another mother.
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01/02/2026 – Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2026 – We are looking forward to many more exciting projects this year.
12/21/2025 – The Tools of Your Work
This week I had a conversation that stuck with me. Someone asked about hearing protection for their son—a fledgling guitar player.
If you know me, you know I’ve been a strong advocate for hearing protection since my early 20s. Back then I was working loud concerts many nights a week. I still remember the first time I experienced listening fatigue so severe I couldn’t make out changes in my mix. Something had to change if I was going to be effective at my job.
Enter cheap foam earplugs. I wore them every show—take them out, check the mix for a few songs, put them back in again. The result? My hearing acuity improved, I was less fatigued, and I was mentally sharper for the next gig. My mixes sounded better, SPLs came down, and I could focus more deeply on the craft. Win/win.
In audio, our ears are the most valuable tool in our arsenal. Period. We spend thousands on microphones, processors, and loudspeakers, carefully protecting them in racks and cases. Why? Because they’re the tools of our trade. Yet we often forget that our hearing deserves the same philosophy of care.
I recommended custom‑molded earplugs—Sensaphonics or Westone, both reputable companies. At $250–300, they’re a no‑brainer investment. Still, the son balked at the price, despite thousands already spent on guitar amps.
As professionals, we buy great gear because our reputations depend on reliability and certainty in our data. For example, I own 13 measurement microphones—GRAS, B&K, Earthworks M50s—protected in Pelican cases. They’re calibrated, reliable, and safeguarded because they generate the data I depend on. I would never toss them on the ground or leave them exposed to damage.
Now imagine leaving your most valuable equipment out in the rain. You wouldn’t. It’s irresponsible. Treat your hearing the same way. Unlike gear, it cannot be replaced. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Hearing loss doesn’t just rob you of music and clear communication—it creates social isolation and steals time with loved ones.
Even with proper protection, hearing acuity diminishes naturally as we age. Let’s not accelerate that decline.
Protect your ears. They are the most irreplaceable tool you own.
11/21/2025 – Remember Your Accomplishments
The job search can feel like a slog. Rejections pile up, self-worth takes a hit, and we find ourselves endlessly reworking resumes, profiles, and second-guessing past achievements. I know this feeling well—I’ve been living it for months.
But recently, I had to pause and look back at what I’ve actually accomplished over the last 20+ years. And honestly? I’ve done some good work. Many of the projects I was part of felt “normal” at the time—just part of the job. Yet in hindsight, they were extraordinary opportunities:
🎸 Toured with Stevie Ray Vaughan
🔊 Engineered all 300+ loudspeakers for the 2004 Olympic Stadium sound system
🌍 Lectured worldwide on speaker performance and directivity
🎶 Co-owned a multi-room recording facility hosting sessions with P!nk & Snoop Dogg
📖 Published author in Pro Audio Reference
💻 One of the first 24 members of the Microsoft Surface team
💰 Contributed to products with combined sales exceeding $12B
And it’s not just me. A colleague once told me he hadn’t worked on anything “cool.” After digging deeper, I learned he was a mechanical engineer designing the latest NFL helmets—personally fitting them for players like Russell Wilson. That’s not just cool; it’s impactful. His work reduced injuries and advanced player safety.
Here’s the truth: even if your accomplishments aren’t “high profile,” they are still remarkable. You’ve done things few others have, and those experiences deserve to be part of your self-worth—especially during the demoralizing grind of job searching.
If you’re in my network, I know you’ve had exceptional experiences. Take time to celebrate them. Be honest about what you’ve achieved. Own it.
You’ve got this.
10/11/2025 – Tools Are Only as Good as Your Mastery of Them
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a lot of conversations about audio measurement systems. Everyone seems to have the “perfect” setup. My response? Nonsense.
I’ve worked with AP, APx, SIM, SMAART, EASERA, SoundCheck, TEF20, REW, SysID, HEAD Acoustics, Clio, LEAP & LMS, FirDesigner, SPICE —and more I’ve forgotten just in the measurement category plus far more in CAE/CAD. Each has its strengths and limitations. Some are highly specialized, others more flexible. But none are perfect.
What matters most is knowing two things:
1️⃣ Know your system inside and out. Understand its strengths, its quirks, and how to extract reliable, actionable data. A shiny new analyzer is useless without deep familiarity.
2️⃣ Understand why your results look the way they do. This means knowing every parameter: windowing, weighting, FFT size vs. temporal resolution, and the environment in which you’re testing. Without that context, your results are suspect—possibly even misleading.
This principle applies beyond audio. We all use tools—some general (like MS Office), some highly specialized. Programmers use tools that boggle my mind. Project managers juggle platforms and workflows. But poor data or misused tools can cost millions in lost time and resources. I’ve seen it happen.
So here’s my question to you:
🔍 Have you ever been asked to use a tool you weren’t familiar with? Was it forced on you? Did you advocate for a tool you knew better? Or did you dive in and learn the new one—adding another skill to your toolbox?
I’d love to hear how you navigated that moment. Because in the end, it’s not just about the tool—it’s about how well you wield it.
11/12/2025 – Why engineers need to learn interpersonal skills and awareness.
Design is never a solo act. I build teams that thrive on clarity, mutual respect, and shared purpose. I foster collaboration by listening deeply, mentoring generously, and elevating those around me.
🔧 One of my favorite examples: I once worked with a new mechanical engineer to design a complex fixture for an anechoic chamber. My requirements were simple—setup and tear down in under an hour, using only off-the-shelf parts. I’d seen too many fixtures become obsolete when custom parts and undocumented CAD files vanished with their creators.
In our first review, he presented a clever design—but it relied heavily on custom-machined components. I reiterated my concerns and asked for revisions. The next version had fewer custom parts, but still too many. That’s when I paused to consider why he was designing this way.
He was doing what mechanical engineers do best: solving problems with creativity and precision. I realized the path forward wasn’t about pushing harder—it was about aligning our goals and respecting his craft. I explained the long-term risks of custom parts and the need for future-proofing.
He listened, and by the next week, as a solution to my design brief he delivered a full documentation package: all stock parts (80/20 for the curious among you) all CAD files, exact materials used, even the G-code used by the machine shop. Everything stored in a permanent location for future access. The fear of loosing time reverse engineering parts was removed.
He got to engineer brilliant solutions and feel valued. I got a fixture that worked and would stand the test of time. We all won.
We were only able to have a great outcome for all involved as I looked at what motivated him to be valued and successful in this task. I learned from my past interactions with my managers, because lordy knows I never dug my heels in…. 😉 Learning not just the technical side of our jobs is just but one part of doing well in our chosen profession. We work with humans, lets all recognize that and see it as an opportunity rather than a liability.
10/10/2025 – Product development is full of traps—and one of the sneakiest is over complication.
As engineers, we’re wired to solve problems. But that same instinct can lead us to build things that are technically impressive… yet miss the mark for the end user.
I’ve learned to keep the user front and center—drawing from my own experience as a user, years in customer and technical support, and a few design books that left a lasting impression:
📘 The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman.
Ever struggled with a door that doesn’t make it clear whether to push, pull, or slide? That’s a “Norman Door”—a perfect example of how poor design confuses even the simplest interactions.
📘 The Inmates Are Running the Asylum by Alan Cooper
This one tackles “feature bloat”—the tendency to cram in functionality until a product tries to do everything and ends up doing nothing well. I’ve seen it in phones, software, and yes… even loudspeakers.
🎤 Case in point: I once designed a stage monitor with tight directivity and strong immunity to floor bounce—tailored for real-world stage use. Then came the requests: pole mounts, rigging points, wider dispersion… all features that would compromise its core purpose. I held the line. The product shipped as intended—and it was well received and sold successfully.
💡 Lesson: Good design isn’t about how much you can add. It’s about knowing what to leave out.
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