Rich Williams
Head Engineer

The soul of Paradise Recording is none other than Rich Williams. His experience in music is extensive. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the

University of California, Santa Cruz. He then furthered his education, graduating from the California Recording Institute.

While at UCSC, his depth was in DSP based hardware design, digital and analog electronics design, music synthesizer software design, and audio signal processing. He also studied music theory and composition.

While at CRI, he studied the recording arts in a fully operational million-dollar studio, the Music Annex. Equipment included a Neve console and Studer 24 track analog multitrack decks. Studies included running a recording session, Pro Tools, alignment of multitrack, and all relevant subjects of modern recording, mixdown, and mastering, both analog and digital.

More than a decade of professional recording experience under his belt has helped him fine tune all these skills, as well as develop new ones. In addition to running a full service analog and digital recording studio, Rich contracts out with one of the leaders in professional audio gear, Universal Audio. For them he has designed the TEC award nominated 2192 A/D D/A converter, among other high-end pro audio gear. This gives him the distinct advantage of knowing both how pro audio gear works for a recording session, but also the intricate, technical side as well.

As well as being a recording engineer, Rich is also an accomplished musician. He is the lead singer of the psychadelic, funk-rock band Burlacticus Undertow, who have garnered rave reviews in the Bay Area. He is an extremely clever lyricist and plays a major role as an arranger. Being a musician gives Rich the unique ability to truly understand the intricacies of every project that comes through Paradise Recording’s door.

Rich’s love of music encompasses a vast range of genres and styles. He is known to play funk, jazz, rock, and hip hop all in one day. He truly appreciates the beauty in all good music, making him the ideal engineer.

Rich is also a practicing reverend of the Universal Life Church. He has officiated over three wedding ceremonies, as well as performing many hot tub baptismals.