Audeze catches up with DJ and sound designer Max Trip

Massimiliano Mascioli Trippa (Max Trip) is a DJ and sound designer. Roman by birth, in 1998 he embarked on the path as a DJ, always passionate about music and technology. In 2000 he began to collaborate as a technician in private radios. Soon he found himself in charge of directing during the day, which sees alternating cabaret programs, political, cultural, sporting and investigative studies. A few years later the radio became a radio / television station present in the SKY bouquet. The passion for this work over the years has led Trip to the creation of radio formats at my studio and various audio / video productions. To date, director, sound designer, audio video producer and always passionate about music, vinyl and technology lover.

"Wearing the LCD-2 Classic has totally changed my way of working, as soon as I wear them I find myself projected into a new, detailed and enveloping soundscape."  - Max Trip

Here's our chat with Max:

Can you choose the highlights of your work that you are particularly proud of?

Working on the soundtrack of an animation for an aerospace company was a nice, satisfying experience. My first 7.1 surround sound.

How would you define your main role in most of the projects you work on these days?

Sound Designer, specialized in finding the right sounds, live recording, sound effects, content creation, specialized in radio and television.

How did you start making music? What kind of music did you listen to while growing up and how did it go on?

My first CD was given to me by my mother on the day of the Epiphany, I was small and instead of choosing the classic sweets, I asked her to buy me "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" by Iron Maiden, my parents have always indulged my musical requests, I grew up between metal and electronic music, I became a DJ at the age of 18. Today I am a collector of music, CDs and especially vinyls. Over the years I have approached several instruments, guitar, bass and percussion, my favorites. While I was studying engineering at university I started working in the professional field with audio and video, to date I have been working in this sector for more than twenty years.

Can you name any factors that influenced the course of your musical life? Heroes, role models, moments, interactions, etc?

Surely the care in the research of synthesized sounds and the catchy melodies of "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk have attracted my attention, I consider them the true pioneers of electronic music, the same sounds that then made me fall in love with the moog.

Can you briefly describe a frustrating moment from your past job and what you may have done to overcome the obstacles? Would you approach differently now?

Whenever I encounter an obstacle on my way, I just have to wear my headphones and isolate myself from the world, a long walk in the open air, this manages to regenerate my synapses and overcome my creative block. The last album that helped me is "Fossora" by Björk.

Is there any equipment you turn to most when working on a project? What are some of your favorite tools / instruments recently?

The equipment that is fundamental in my work and I use on a daily basis are the headphones ... for me headphones are like the stethoscope for the doctor. They help me to listen carefully and accurately to all the sounds I work with, the details, the color, the depth, all characteristics that I can deepen thanks to them. When I am in the studio, monitors that can best reproduce what I want people to hear and experience come to my rescue.

Do you have any words of wisdom for people who might aspire to a similar career path?

Study! I do not intend to study only on books, study your instruments, your sounds, always be in search of something new, do not follow the flow but look for your own path, only in this way will you be able to come up with something original and yours. To quote a phrase of a famous person, if you want obvious but absolutely true, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish".

How long have you been working with headphones and how do you typically use them in your workflow?

I started using headphones seriously in 1998, my very first headphones were AKGs, now I have a home invaded by headphones and in ear monitors, one for every occasion, mastering, mixing, and recording. I also find them the most suitable instrument for enjoying great music.

Do you have any other comments or stories you want to share?

In one of my wife's last ultrasound scans before my son was born, I convinced the doctor to have me record a part from the sound of the baby's heartbeat ... professional deformation. A wonderful memory.

How have your Audeze headphones affected your work? 

Wearing the LCD-2 Classic has totally changed my way of working, as soon as I wear them I find myself projected into a new, detailed and enveloping soundscape. Audeze headphones are precise and very comfortable for long mixing sessions. Now all the nuances that I want to give to my sounds stand out much more in my ear, all without tiring my listening. Great for working in Dolby Atmos, the depth of sound and detail these headphones have allows you to accurately mix each sound and place it exactly where you want.

Can you tell us what you've been working on with them recently?

I currently use them daily for mixing and mastering from analog to digital some Italian music records as well as using them to produce sound effects for my studio.

In recent months I have taken part in a MasterClass in audio forensics, for a few months I have been working on audio files in my studio where every single detail is fundamental, the transparency and the details that I can capture with my Audeze are fantastic, a unique clarity. A new area for me, but I must say that even in forensic audio the Audezes are a fundamental tool that can help listen to even the most complicated files thanks to the high definition they offer.