The OC Recording Company Archives - The OC Recording Company Blog

It Started in a Closet: What Nobody Tells You About Building a Studio Career

Asaf Fulks — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:26:08 +0000

I started in a closet. Literally. My dorm room at Denison University had a small walk-in closet, and I hung blankets on the walls, set up a cheap microphone, installed a demo copy of Fruity Loops, and started recording. I had no training, no gear budget, and no idea what I was doing. But I had a sound in my head and an obsession with figuring out how to get it out of the speakers.

After graduation I moved to California with nothing but a dream that sounded ridiculous to everyone but me. My employer offered me an unused office, and in 2005 The OC Recording Company opened its doors — minimal gear, few contacts, and an engineer who was still learning on the job. My first client was a rapper from Boston who had just moved to Orange County. Together we produced records featuring AZ and Royce da 5’9″, he landed a deal, and word started to spread. Within two years I was booked weeks out, reinvesting every dollar back into the studio.

Every studio you have ever admired started as an empty room with one person who refused to quit.

The People in the Room

A recording session is a collaboration between four core roles, and understanding how they interact will define your career more than any piece of gear.

The Artist needs an environment that brings out their best performance. I have seen a vocalist with no formal training walk into the booth and deliver a take so raw that every person in the control room stopped talking. I have also seen classically trained singers freeze up because the headphone mix was wrong. Your job as an engineer is to create the conditions for greatness — the right monitoring level, zero latency, a comfortable room temperature, and honest feedback when a take is not working.

One tip that took me years to learn: if a singer is pitchy, do not reach for Auto-Tune first. Adjust the headphone volume. If they sing flat, reduce the volume and cut bass frequencies in their mix. If they sing sharp, increase the volume and add more low end. The headphone mix is one of the most powerful performance tools you have, and most engineers ignore it.

The Producer hears the finished record before it exists. The first time a producer told me to scrap an entire day’s work and start the beat over from scratch, I thought he was out of his mind. By the end of the session, the new version was ten times better. A great producer evaluates six things in every take: songwriting, emotion, energy, enunciation, rhythm, and pitch. If you are both the engineer and the producer — which is increasingly common — you need to wear both hats without letting one dominate the other.

The Engineer is the technical backbone. I once watched an experienced engineer fix a mix that three other people had given up on. He did not add a single plugin. He adjusted the gain staging, fixed a phase issue on the bass, and high-passed three tracks that were cluttering the low end. Fifteen minutes. That is the difference between knowing the tools and understanding what they do.

The Songwriter is often the quietest person in the industry and frequently the wealthiest. Some of the biggest names in music are writers you have never heard of. Their words and melodies drive every radio station, streaming playlist, and sync placement. If you contribute to a song’s composition, get a split sheet signed before the session ends. Not after. Not when it blows up. Before anyone leaves the studio. I cannot stress this enough.

How Money Actually Works

This is the part they do not teach in most audio programs. There are two copyrights in every song: the composition (PA) and the sound recording (SR). They generate different revenue streams, they are owned by different people, and confusing them will cost you money.

The composition generates mechanical royalties (paid when the song is reproduced), performance royalties (paid when it is broadcast or performed live), synchronization royalties (paid when it is used in film, TV, or ads), and digital royalties from streaming platforms. These are typically split between the songwriter and the publisher.

The sound recording generates sales revenue and is usually owned by whoever financed the recording — often a label, but increasingly the artist themselves. Producer royalties typically range from 1–5% of the retail or wholesale price.

The engineer is usually paid per project or per hour as work for hire and does not receive royalties. This is safer but less lucrative. Hopefully, one day the engineer royalty will be as common as the artist and producer royalty.

The single most important financial decision you will make in your career is whether to retain your publishing. A major publishing company can offer a tempting advance, but signing over your PA copyright means giving up a perpetual revenue stream for a one-time payment. Think very carefully before doing this.

The Traits That Matter

The traits that separate successful audio professionals from everyone else are not technical — they are personal. Show up early. Finish on time. Keep your word. Protect your client’s confidentiality. Be upfront about costs. Never release work you are not proud of. And above all, maintain your integrity — your reputation is the most valuable thing you own in this business.

Talent gets you in the door. Character keeps you in the room.

This post is adapted from Chapter 1 of In the Studio: Audio Engineering & Music Production Techniques — a 468-page textbook covering the complete recording, mixing, mastering, and business workflow. Coming soon from The Forum Press.

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Asaf Fulks Graduates Law School with Honors

Asaf Fulks — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:11:21 +0000

From Asaf: Graduated Taft Law School with honors Magna Cum Laude, but the grind don’t stop! Time to prepare for the February California Bar. See y’all on the other side! Happy Holidays and to a prosperous 2022…let’s go! Shout out to my photographer and study buddy Miss Kira Shimoni Fulks

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Asaf Fulks ft. Whosoever South – Follow, Follow

Asaf Fulks — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 04:51:34 +0000

Inspirational Country, Pop, Hip Hop crossover song about perseverance and sticking together.

CREDITS:
Lyrics: Asaf Fulks, Rowdy Eunice
Music Production: Asaf Fulks
Mixing/Mastering: Asaf Fulks and Yakira Shimoni Fulks

AUDIO EQUIPMENT
DAW: Pro Tools Ultimate HDX
Mic: Neumann U87, Shure SM7b
Pre: Neve 1073, Avalon 737
Hardware Comp/EQ: Tube Tech CL1B, Great River EQ-2NV, Purple MC77
Converters: Lynx Aurora (n) 16 HD, Lynx Aurora 16 HD
Mix Buss: Manley Variable Mu, API 2500, Avalon 2055
Summing: SSL Sigma, Aurora GTQ2, Aurora GTC2, Zulu
Production: Output Arcade, Spectrasonics Omnisphere
Plugins: FabFilter, Waves Mercury, DMG, Brainworx

THE OC RECORDING COMPANY
ASCAP: Sound Vine Publishing
Web: https://ocrecording.com
Beatz: https://hiphopbeatz.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/ocrecording
IG: http://www.instagram.com/ocrecording
TW: http://www.twitter.com/ocrecording

ASAF FULKS
@asaffulks
Web: https://asafproductions.com
Apple: https://apple.co/31UdZgp
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bFC1jO

WHOSOEVEVR SOUTH
@whosoeversouth
Web: whosoeversouth.com
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CNljLZ
Apple: https://apple.co/3i96b3L

YAKIRA SHIMONI FULKS ART
@kirafulks
Web: https://kirafulks.com
Art: https://kirasart.com

LYRICS

(Hook)
Follow, Follow here we are
Tomorrow, morrow ain’t so far
We been grindin, grindin down this road
Now we behind it, hind it just a lil left to go
Now I know it’s a matter of time
Til we make it to the river we can chill ‘n unwind
Take it fast take it slow in a four wheel drive
I’m feelin alive, feelin alive, feelin alive
As long as you by by side
You know I’m ready to ride

(V1)
They don’t understand tho, what we do
Lit it up like a candle, a breakthrough
On a bike with no handles, we still flew
Carrying the mantle, like Hebrews
When this life’s full adrenaline, you’re my medicine
Always get the best of em, when the pressure’s in
Excellence, something like Mike in his prime
Stickin together we shine
Now it’s game time, that’s my frame of mind
Hit the lane, get to the line n drop dimes,
Ain’t no stop signs or deadlines
You my bloodlines on the front lines
Even though we had it tough
If we add it up, we’d surely have enough
Too soon to pack it up, we bout to rack it up
So come on and just….

(V2)
Long as you beside me we gone push through
We keep ridin ain’t nothin we can’t do
Tomorrow ain’t far and mercy’s brand new
You got me and you know I got you
Follow dreams and follow hope
Follow love in your heart and you’ll never be broke
Pray for those across the globe
Shine a light of peace through the darkest smoke
We gone keep movin til we make it home
Long as I’m with you (yea) I know it won’t be long
Listen as we follow steady as we go
We’ll be there tomorrow to watch the river flow
Gone watch it flow

followfollow #asaffulks #whosoeversouth #ocrecording #countryhiphop

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Asaf Fulks & Yakira Shimoni Fulks new single WHYS is now playing!

Asaf Fulks — Mon, 06 May 2019 22:55:02 +0000

Asaf Fulks & Yakira Shimoni Fulks – WHYS

WHYS is a hard hitting hip hop, spoken word, classical music crossover. Asaf Fulks and Yakira Shimoni Fulks deliver a powerful blend of symphonic orchestration, heartfelt melodies, riveting rhythms and thought provoking lyrics. Vocals, lyrics, music, production, performance, audio engineering, art, videography: Asaf Fulks & Yakira Shimoni Fulks

——————————–

The shooting at Chabad in Poway resonated deep inside me. Only four years ago, I was tied-up at gunpoint by three armed thugs when they robbed my studio. After staring down the barrel of a gun, knife to my throat, wondering if it will be my last moment—I am grateful to still be alive. However, horrific attacks like these rob us of our innocence and sense of security. This past Sabbath service at Chabad, these feelings struck home again. Instead of the typical cheerful sounds of children playing hoops outside, we were all inside guarded by heavily armed security. It was eerie. Just a few days before, we remembered the Holocaust and suddenly this was not just a chapter in history—it was a reality. Right here, in beautiful sunny southern California, in the Land of the Free, Jews were forced to be locked down in their house of worship. And I wondered Why?

The day after the robbery, I came back determined to rebuild my studio and not allow the incident to define my life—and I made it even better. This is the legacy of the Jewish people. Despite countless atrocities, we never gave up, and went on to rebuild our homeland into a beautiful thriving country. Still I wonder why—why are rockets falling? Why all the killings? Why are churches burning? Why are leaders not taking action? Why does the world not open its eyes? So many whys…

There are no easy answers, but I still have faith that if we each take responsibility for our actions the pieces will fall into peace. “They shall turn their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they know war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4).

-Asaf

Go IN THE STUDIO with Asaf Fulks & Yakira Shimoni Fulks at The OC Recording Company in Orange County, California. Take a behind the scenes look at the Pro Tools session for their new single WHYS. Asaf breaks down his production, mixing and mastering techniques involved in producing the song.

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Asaf Fulks – WTF IS A FRIEND? ft. Yakira Shimoni Fulks is now playing!

Asaf Fulks — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 20:19:13 +0000

WTF is a Friend is an artistic fusion of middle eastern Kurdish music, poetry, spoken word, Yakira Shimoni Fulks Art and Asaf Productions signature sound. This is the first release off Asaf’s new album OC Mix Buss.

W.T.F. Is a Friend?
UPC: 193428925397
ITUNES: http://apple.co/2uJuTkn
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2Uo054Z
SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2Vf9Yih

SUBSCRIBE to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/ocrecording

Follow us at:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ocrecording
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ocrecording
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/ocrecording
SOUNDCLOUD: https://www.soundcloud.com/ocrecording

Follow: Asaf @asaffulks | Yakira @kirafulks
https://www.facebook.com/asafdavidfulks/
https://www.facebook.com/yakirashimonifulksart

THE OC RECORDING COMPANY
Orange County, California, USA
ASCAP | Sound Vine Publishing
https://ocrecording.com
https://kirasart.com
https://hiphopbeatz.com

Lyrics

Who by choice let go and lost me
his heart he closed to cries and pleas
not again will ever find me
your selfishness is a disease.

Who I am
will never die
and to all that’s gone
I say ‘Goodbye’:

To those who tossed me
and then discarded–
to those who took
and then departed–
whomsoever did not love
and all of those who killed my doves.

Whosoever set out to hurt me
his heart he closed to turn mean
need not come to ever see me
your gratitude you smeared too lean.
*
©Yakira Shimoni Fulks
September 2, 2018 | OC, California

WTF is a friend?
If he’s not real just pretend
WTF is a friend?
If he don;t fight til the end
WTF is a friend?
If he’ don’t give a f#ck aboutcha ends
WTF is a friend?
When it happens over ‘n over again

#asaffulks #yakirashimonifulks #wtfisafriend #ocrecording #middleeasternmusic #spokenword #kurdishmusic #poetry #art

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It’s getting really REEL at OC Recording Studios in Orange County, California!

Asaf Fulks — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 23:48:24 +0000

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It’s getting really REEL at The OC Recording Company Wheels been turnin Many key come-ups No other analog-ous to this Tu-be continued…

Wassup y’all! Been a busy but beautiful beginning to 2019. Doing well in my second year of law school and staying steady with Torah study. Made major upgrades at The OC Recording Company and produced fresh sounds with amazing new artists. Excited for what’s to come. Baruch Hashem!

#kirasart #sound #business #musicindustry #ocrecording #recordingstudio #musicianslife #studiolife

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A new look and fresh sound for 2019! All wired up and ready to continue crankin’ out classics. Thank you @kirafulks for the beautiful artwork and @esteo.carlo @guitarcenter for the toys. It’s goin’ down for REEL at OC Recording. Tu-be or not tu-be, that is the question. Let’s get it!

#ocrecording #asaffulks #kirasart#recordingstudio #studiolife #recording#mixing #mastering #audioengineering

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Working on Vertex Media’s new documentary VISITING at OC Recording!

Asaf Fulks — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 17:19:28 +0000

What is art? What does it mean to be an artist? Asaf David Fulks discusses this and more in Vertex Media new documentary film VISITING! An honor to get down with this dynamic duo on their latest project. We also recorded narration voice overs and our student @sgg1993 got behind the lens playing drums. Good times! Be on the lkout

#ocrecording #asaffulks #vertexmedia #visiting #redcamera #kirasart #art

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Asaf David Fulks solo album OC BANDWAGON is now playing!

Asaf Fulks — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:00:04 +0000

Asaf David Fulks new solo album OC BANDWAGON is now playing! In case you missed his debut solo album OC EXPRESS, there’s still time to jump on the BANDWAGON!

Whether or not you are DRIFTIN AWAY this timeless adventure is guaranteed to have you EARTHBOUND. We will be exploring SOULIT sound waves where LOVE HAS TAKEN OVER. Through the CLOUDFALL know that I AM DOWN to see this through. Keep your eyes off the REAR VIEW and enjoy the ride! To purchase this once in a lifetime adventure, please visit itunes, spotify and all major digital distributors. We are now departing, so jump aboard or face the C0NSEQUENCES of waiting for my next album. -Asaf

#OCBANDWAGON is a unique contemporary mix of pop, r&b, electronic, and alternative music. It features heartfelt lyrics, catchy melodies, innovative production and my signature quality sound. It includes 8 songs which I wrote, performed, produced, engineered and created graphics/music videos for each song over the past two years at The OC Recording Company in Orange County, California. Special thanks to my Mom Yakira Shimoni Fulks for her help throughout every phase of this masterpiece https://kirasart.com/ Contributions by my IN THE STUDIO students Josh Robin, Ali Bundakji and Lucas Garcia.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oc-bandwagon/1437212910

Purchase the physical CD at: https://kirasart.com/product/oc-bandwagon/

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Asaf David Fulks new music video REAR VIEW ft. Yakira Shimoni Fulks | The OC Recording Company

Asaf Fulks — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 23:10:44 +0000

REAR VIEW
Asaf David Fulks ft. Yakira Shimoni Fulks

Rear View is the last release of Asaf Fulks OC Bandwagon album. Asaf and Yakira deliver a spiritual message with powerful sounds and imagery in this timeless pop, r&b, electronic music crossover.

September marks The OC Recording Company‘s 13th anniversary! Wow, what a journey it’s been. The one person who has been here through it all is my SouLit Momma Kira Shimoni Fulks! It’s an honor to share this journey with her and collaborate together on my album. Thirteen in Hebrew equals love and without her love none of this would have been possible. This song is dedicated to my late uncle Ehud Shimoni, who loved the City of Angels and will forever be the King of Hollywood.

The signs are changing all around! This is the last release on my OC Bandwagon album — coming soon! Law school starts in October, the studio is poppin’ and now I’ll be promoting my Mom’s Yakira Shimoni Fulks Art kirasart.com. I’m very excited to be a member of Chabad of West Orange County and to dive deeper into Torah studies with Rabbi Yisroel Zavdi. My music lives on at ocrecording.com, hiphopbeatz.com and asafproductions.com. Thank you all for your support. Enjoy REAR VIEW – trust I’ll be here to see this through. Keep your eyes off the rear view! A sweet and good new year to all!

לאהוד בּאהבה

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Asaf Productions new website — https://asafproductions.com

Asaf Fulks — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 19:30:28 +0000

Asafproductions.com is back! Check out our redesigned website by Asaf Fulks. Stay tuned in for the latest from Asaf Productions!

Asaf Productions – The Sounds of Asaf David Fulks

Asaf David Fulks is a world renowned recording artist, singer, songwriter, music producer, composer, audio engineer, videographer, graphic designer, website designer, inventor, author, and educator. Asaf founded of The OC Recording Company in 2005 — a record label, music publisher, recording studio and accredited audio school in Orange County, California.

Asaf released three ground breaking production compilation albums between 2008-2012 entitled Asaf Productions Vol 1-3. Asaf has gone onto release two solo albums between 2016-2018, OC Express and OC Bandwagon. He wrote, composed, produced, performed, engineered and created videos for each song on these albums. Asaf’s music is available on itunes, spotify and YouTube!

Asaf is the founder and executive producer of https://hiphopbeatz.com. His vast instrumental music collection can be licensed exclusively through this website.

To hire him to produce /engineer your project or to learn the craft of audio engineering and music production please visit https://ocrecording.com

Thank you and enjoy our website!

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