Whether you're an audiophile with a vendetta, or just someone who can't stand the sound of someone chewing, this episode is for you.

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EP11

Every creative field has its outsider art — work that exists completely outside the mainstream and is all the more fascinating for it. Tom Clack's "Biggest Bowel Movement Bar None" is Parp Donk's exhibit A. Jim, John, and Amanda discuss what makes it repulsive, brilliant, and genuinely worth your time.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Compression is one of the most misunderstood, but powerful tools in audio. Few people understand compression better than Dave Derr, creator of the legendary Distressor.

In part two of our conversation with the Empirical Labs founder, the Parpers dig into compression and saturation. Listen to our chat with Dave to find out what makes the Distressor one of the most widely used pieces of gear in audio. Essential listening for anyone serious about audio post-production, music production, or mixing.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

EQ is one of the most powerful tools in audio post-production and few people are better qualified to discuss it than Dave Derr, founder of Empirical Labs and one of the most respected figures in professional audio gear design. 

The Parpers sit down with Dave for a deep dive into how EQ works, how to use it musically and surgically, and what separates instinctive listening from technical understanding. Whether you're mixing podcasts, music, or audio for film, this conversation will change how you hear.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Some of the most powerful sounds in film and media weren't created in a studio — they were captured in the wild. The Parpers discuss the gear, the techniques, and the mindset behind great field recording, and including microphone selection for location recording, handling noise, and how raw environmental sound becomes usable audio in post-production. If you've ever believed that the best sounds are found rather than made, this episode will confirm everything you suspected.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Foley is the craft of creating everyday sounds in a studio — footsteps, clothing rustle, the clink of a glass — and it's one of the most performance-driven crafts in all of audio post-production. Jim, John, and Amanda explore the Foley process through a collection of sound that has to be heard to be believed. If you've ever wondered how film and television sound designers make invented sounds feel completely real, this episode is your answer.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Whether it's a physical box on your desk or a software solution living inside your DAW, the audio interface is the critical link between your microphone and everything that happens next.

Jim and John break down everything a home studio engineer needs to know: bit depth, sample rate, latency, preamp quality, and how to choose the right interface for your budget and workflow. Brands and models discussed include options across every price range, from beginner home recording setups to professional audio production environments.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Not all microphones are created equal — and choosing the wrong one can sink an otherwise great recording, but a great mic in a bad room sounds worse than a cheap mic in a treated one. 

Jim Stauffer and John put a range of mics to the test: condenser mics, dynamic mics, and ribbon mics. Whether you're setting up a home recording studio for the first time or refining an existing setup, this episode covers mic selection, microphone placement, acoustic treatment, and the essential do's and don'ts of voice recording at home.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Voiceover is often the first element laid down in any sound design project — and the one that sets the tone for everything else. Jim and John draw on decades of experience in professional voice recording to discuss what makes great VO talent, how to direct voice actors,  the lessons learned, and the people who left a mark.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

What exactly is sound design, and how did it become its own discipline? Jim and John trace its origins and break down how it shapes everything from blockbuster films, video games to indie podcasts — including this one. (Should we also say musical scores?) Whether you're a curious newcomer or a working audio professional, this episode breaks down how sound design shapes every piece of media you consume. 

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin

Jim Stauffer and John Terelle pull back the curtain on how they built careers in one of entertainment's most invisible professions. From the early days of sound recording to the modern era of digital audio production — this is where it all begins. If you've ever wondered how people build careers in sound design, audio post-production, and podcast production, this is where the Parp Donk story begins.

Parpers: Jim Stauffer, John Terelle, Amanda Nazario, Karen Martin, and Pippin