Today we’d like to introduce you to Indri Schaelicke Hammock Hill Audio.
Hi Indri Schaelicke, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Story of Hammock Hill Audio is an extension of my own. I began taking piano lessons at age 5 which instilled and nurtured an innate sense of musicality in me. Eventually, I also learned percussion, tuba, and jazz trombone, which created a healthy mix of perspectives on musicianship. I learned how to express myself creatively through an instrument, and experimented with original compositions growing up.
When I was 20, I realized that I wanted to help musicians express themselves in a similar way, by working with them through the recording process. Through learning to record myself, I noticed that the technical aspects of recording are often barriers to being able to make your art sound exactly as you had heard it in your own mind. By specializing in the technical elements of how recording equipment works and is used, I found I could take the hurdles out of the equation for artists, and create a welcoming and inspiring environment for people to fully express themselves. Of course, this takes a lot of trust on the part of the recording artist. They have to believe that they can just be themselves, while I “turn the magic knobs” and ultimately, the end product will sound just as they’d envisioned it. I quickly discovered that this came easily to me, and my clients always concluded a project feeling fulfilled and proud of what we had accomplished. This is an immensely rewarding feeling which never grows old for me, and I consider it a privilege to be able to participate in the process.
After several years of recording and producing records, the story of Hammock Hill Audio Tools began. I was intrigued by what happened inside the “magic boxes” we producers use to record music. Preamps, EQs, and Compressors are vital tools in the recording studio, but how the circuits inside actually function is veiled behind a fancy looking faceplate and sturdy metal case. My dad, with a background in audio electronics, suggested that we build a Power Amplifier, which is used to play music through speakers. We built the amplifier together, and I finished it feeling greatly fulfilled by being able to put together something with my hands, which I could hear audio through. After this experience, I wanted to push the boundaries of my knowledge and suggested we build a Microphone Preamp, imagining that if building something to play other people’s music was so rewarding, building something to record music itself would be an even greater feeling. This is how our first product was born, the PreQ22.
I loved that I could design something from scratch, which empowered me to assemble a set of features which I felt the market had not yet combined together, and solved a problem other producers and recording engineers had. I began showing my creation to my peers, who observed that the feature set and tonal characteristics of the preamp were indeed unique and that I had filled a gap in the pro audio equipment world. I began selling the PreQ22, and now have a lineup of other products which fill their own niches. Being able to design things that bring something new to market and help professionals like myself better serve our clients and fulfill our own creative visions is extremely rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a small business is certainly full of challenges not found in conventional career paths. I think that the most common challenge is having to do something that requires a skill set you are not truly equipped for…yet. In the beginning, it was learning about the basics of business- how to market, build a brand image, deal with financials, etc. These are all things that require constant learning, but there is hope in knowing that each time you try, you are learning something new.
Then there is also the challenge within- believing in yourself and your idea, even when things don’t look so promising. Ultimately I have found that even when you are starting to lose hope, there is bound to be a development or situation which renews your positive outlook, and you find the energy and inspiration to press on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
On the music production side of things, I specialize in energetic, expansive and powerful music which spans many traditional rock sub-genres. I work with artists to make their original songs feel bigger and truer to themselves than we could imagine when we first start the process. I love finding new and creative way to capture sounds, whether it be placing the mics in an unconventional way, or using processing and effects to create something wild. I’ve spent many hours with my peers discussing and trading ideas about how to do just that. Whether it be in the pre-production, recording, or mixing phase, there is always a way to try something new and interesting!
On the Audio Tools side, I’m proud to bring unique and original designs to market, which combine components and features in unique ways. With each of our products, there is a “twist” to how we’ve done things. Whether it be the PreQ22, which is the only 500 series preamp to offer an on board HPF and 2 band EQ, or our L.O.G. preamp which has the highest amount of gain of any 500 series preamp, or any of our other offerings, we’re always looking to do something unique whenever we launch a new piece of gear.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Reach out to us at hammockhillstudio@gmail.com! I’m always interested in collaborating with musicians to create art they can be satisfied by and truly proud of. We’re also looking to connect with other recording equipment manufacturers in mutually beneficial partnership with Hammock Hill Audio Tools.
To check out what Hammock Hill Audio is all about, you can check out our website at hammockhillstudio.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hammockhillstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hammockhillaudio/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hammockhillaudio
Image Credits
Credit Jakob Simpson for images 2 and 3 (the ones where I am wearing a black hat and beige sweater in the studio)
