Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Code.
Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Chris Code, and I am a Sound Designer in Minneapolis. When I was young, I was fascinated with the way certain sounds made me feel. The crack of thunder shaking my core, and scaring me in some instances; the wall of cicadas signaling the end of summer. I always found emotion with those sounds. It prompted me to start recording them. I got a cheap stereo Sony handheld recorder and would bring that with me everywhere I went. With the found sounds I’d record, I would implement them in the music I wrote. Ripped cabbage to be used as a layer on a snare drum for instance. Those experimental days proved to me there was a way to tell stories through sound, and as a sound designer, that has become the most important aspect of my job.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think most, especially in the Midwest, can agree that working in the film industry isn’t easy. As a freelancer, there have been many bumps in the road filled with highs and lows.
Early on, the struggle of balancing life with work was real. Sacrificing time with others to focus on what I loved became the normal.
Feeling like I needed to say yes to everything to network, and make a name for myself was necessary, but also came at the cost of mental and physical fatigue.
I started on this journey as a Sound Designer because I absolutely loved it. I never considered the business side. I don’t have a background in business, so that created challenges of its’ own. Money is always a thought – you’ll have a handful of really great months, and then crickets. I think early in my career what I struggled with the most was finding the balance between loving what I do as a sound designer, and not enjoying, or at least not knowing, the business side of things. Sometimes it made me question whether I truly loved what I did or not. Things became less fun and a lot more stressful with real financial considerations at the helm.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Decoded Audio?
Decoded Audio was founded as a one-stop Post-Production Audio company. We can take any project, whether it’s a six-second commercial, or a feature-length film and provide services from voice over all the way to final mix.
As a brand, we want clients to feel their story is being supported by the best storytelling experience it can be from an aural perspective. That means being intentional with what an audience is hearing, and creating a soundtrack that enhances the narrative being told on screen. Whether that’s by sound design, foley, score, dialogue editing or ADR, no page of the script is left unturned.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The film industry has been shaky over the last handful of years. Covid took its’ tole on production, and writer’s strikes did the same a handful of years later. However, since Covid happened, there was a lot of realization that film work doesn’t all need to be done in the hubs of LA and New York. It’s given people the freedom to work remotely, and not have to live in a certain place to be considered for work. I’ve been lucky enough to work remotely on projects with wonderful teams across the globe, including Australia and the UK, so there really are no barriers with accessibility. While it’s still helpful to network and make connections in those places, it’s not the end all be all if you’re not there. I see continued growth within the Midwest film communities from a work and talent perspective, and I am hopeful that these communities will continue to grow in the next few years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.decodedaudio.com
