Experience "the Difficult Listening Channel" podcast where the sounds in my head become the sounds in yours.

Michael Oster

Engineer / Artist / Producer
Owner, F7 Sound and Vision

December 1967 - Mike started recording at a young age.

Here is a partial list of production companies, ad agencies, TV networks, corporate projects, recording artists, and others that I've worked with since 1992.

Michael Oster, in the news:


Full Sail's website says "Michael Oster's Stormy Sounds Go Blockbuster". Read it here.

Fox 13 TV news - I was featured in "Charley's World" 7/7/2006. The story was online here.

Tampa Tribune 7/8/2006 "Artist Makes Hollywood Ears Perk Up". Read it here.


4/28/05 the St. Pete Times published a story on Podcasting in the Business section. I was interviewed (thanks to reporter Jay Cridlin) and am included in the story! You can read it here.


Grab the April 10, 2003 Tampa Tribune and look in the Northeast section. Front page at the bottom left. "Sound Effects With A Twist....". Special thanks to Mike Dunn from the Trib for a great story and just in case you don't get the Trib, you can read it here.


I was quoted in the St. Pete Times in an article on "Showbiz University" also known as Full Sail Real World Education (where I graduated from years ago). You can read the article by going here. I appear about 1/2 way into the story. Also, see below for a link to a story that featured me in a seprate edition of the Times.


The St. Petersburg Times ran a story on F7 Sound and Vision! It was Friday, May 17, 2002 in the North of Tampa section. If you don't get the Times, you can read the story online . Special thanks to St. Pete Times staff writer John Balz for a great article!

More Michael Oster useless details:

Education:

B.A. in Criminology from the University of South Florida (1991)

Specialized Associates Degree in Recording Engineering from Full Sail University (1992)


Other highlights:

Michael founded F7 Sound and Vision in 1993. He has been working on music-related, spoken word, sound design, remote recording, product development, video, television, digital abuse, and web design projects for over 14 years. His experience with non-linear audio systems (Pro Tools) began in early 1993 (Pro Tools version 1.15 on a Mac IIci), and he has logged more hours on various incarnations of Pro Tools systems than he can keep track of. Legend has it that he can make a Pro Tools system jump through burning hoops while standing on his head.

Born: December 1967 in Tampa Florida.

Occupation: I'm retired, but I still do stuff. Retired people have to keep busy.

What he would do if suddenly he was teleported back in time 20 years: Start a noise band.

Seen hanging out at: Waiting in line at the New Tampa Post Office - where everybody knows my name and they're always glad.... Also seen in my studio (of course, my "supreme intergalactic headquarters"). When I get cabin fever, I go to shopping malls and local restaurants.

1st synthesizer owned: Roland SH-101; later traded for an Ibanez bass; later traded for a .... I want my Roland back!

Claim to fame: My father looks like General Grant as pictured on the US $50 bill. Also, I was struck by lightning - Sept. 7th 2001 (scared the hell out of me - tasted funny too). Incident is not related to the fact that my father looks like General Grant (at least I don't think so).

First experimental recording project: Early 1980's; took 2 cassette decks and a passive Radio Shack mixer and recorded several guitar tracks "sound on sound" - the ultimate in Lo-Fi.

Thing I liked most about the '80s: Being ignorant and not even knowing it...ahh the bliss!

Thing I like best about owning a recording studio: The slick gear with funky flashing lights.

Thing I dislike most about owning a recording studio: Paying for all that slick gear with the funky flashing lights.

Essential life lessons: Don't eat lead-based paint chips; Don't believe them when they say "I've got lots more business coming your way, just cut me a break this one time"; Trust your instincts; Check your credit card statement; Always look both ways; Your wife is always right; If they think you're crazy, you've got the advantage.

Hobbies: Other than music related... Martial Arts (currently a 2nd degree black belt martial arts instructor - my wife and I train at John Prevatt Karate Studios in Lutz, Florida) - fun for the entire family and it's the ULTIMATE workout! Nothing like a little Tae Kwon Do to shed those extra pounds. Bonus, it's cheaper to break boards than it is to break professional recording equipment.

Analog vs. Digital: All I care about is the final sound. What it's recorded to doesn't matter to me.

My favorite gear, aka Weapons of Choice: Pro Tools - I can do just about everything with it. Can't live without it. Apogee converters - makes digital sound good - REAL good, no excuses. Akai MPC-1000. Sound Devices 702 portable digital recorder. Reaktor, circuit bent Casio CZ-101.

Tips for running a successful business: Persistence, patience, plan for success, execution, learn from your mistakes, don't stop.

Message to those who think that this is a "glam" industry: It's not. There's nothing "glam" about cleaning a tape machine or wrapping cables.

What's New? site last tweaked: 9/1/2010