Jack Barrington’s passion for mixing audio began at a young age, driven by a fascination with how sound shapes experiences. He recently achieved his dream of opening his own mixing business, producing music for local and touring bands.
At just 15 years old, he started experimenting with audio production on GarageBand, spending hours perfecting every bit of sound. This early hobby sparked a deep interest in audio production, pushing Jack to explore the technical side of mixing and editing.
During high school, Jack’s skills progressed significantly. While attending Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, he was given the opportunity to create the official news intro song for the school’s daily newscast.
Now in his senior year of college at the University of Nevada, Jack has turned his passion into a budding business. As a local audio engineer and owner of a company called Mixed By Jack, he specializes in recording both live and studio sounds for Reno's emerging local band scene.
In above photo, Jack listens intently as he fine-tunes the backing tracks for local band FKA Fingers, recorded live during their Halloween show on October 28th at Midnight Coffee Roasting. Since he’s mastering the recording for a CD release, streaming loudness normalization isn’t a concern. This gives him the freedom to push the loudness beyond Spotify’s standard -14 LUFS, achieving a richer and more impactful sound.
Dedicated to supporting new and upcoming talent, Jack works closely with artists to capture their unique sound, blending technical precision with creative artistry.
Lately he’s been experimenting with his brand-new Fairchild Compressor plug-in. This powerful tool reduces the dynamic range by compressing loud signals and enhancing quieter ones, resulting in a more balanced, warm, and polished final mix.
His SSL console helps him combine multiple audio signals into a cohesive stereo or surround mix. Each channel strip allows precise control over volume, panning, EQ, dynamics, and routing.
For now, Jack keeps his operations grounded, editing tracks in his cramped bedroom in a shared apartment located in East Reno, carefully storing all his equipment in a modest closet setup. His journey from experimenting on GarageBand to producing live recordings for local bands reflects his determination, resourcefulness, and commitment to honing his craft.
Reporting and photos by Lauren Juillerat