AIR will host a live webinar featuring a panel of industry sound designers, mix engineers, and composers who will provide feedback on audio work and discuss the craft of post-production in podcasting and radio on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
The event, moderated by sound designer and mix engineer Erica Huang, will bring together three panelists to discuss the many components that make radio and podcasts listening experiences, including sound design, archival tape, cleanup, music and mixing techniques. According to the event description, the panel will focus on “all things off the page” and examine how sonic elements work together to tell stories in audio production.
Huang is a sound designer, mix engineer, and composer who has contributed to shows for The Atlantic, Vox, WNYC, Prologue Projects, Pushkin, Campside Media, PRX, iHeart, Constellations, Spoke Media, Audible, CNN, and LWC Studios. She sound designed the Peabody-nominated show “70 Million.” According to her biography, Huang has prioritized mentorship in the audio industry and seeks to bridge gaps between experienced mixers and those starting out.
Panelists include Rick Kwan, an audio engineer based outside Seattle who has recorded, edited and mixed projects for NBC, Vox, Semafor, ABC, The Intercept, Gimlet, WNYC and WQXR, as well as music projects for artists including My Morning Jacket and Bruce Springsteen. Michelle Macklem is a sound designer and mix engineer for podcasts, radio, film and multimedia who has worked with Audible, Wondery, TED, CBC, iHeart and Radiotopia. She won an Ambie Award in 2025 for Best Sound Design and Production for the ESPN podcast “Girl V. Horse.” Jim Briggs III is a senior sound designer, engineer, and composer for Reveal and PRX whose work has been recognized with Peabody, George Polk, duPont-Columbia, IRE, Gerald Loeb, and Third Coast awards, as well as a News and Documentary Emmy and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Sound.
Attendees will learn what to listen for in a mix, how to solve problems creatively, and when to use different sonic elements to tell stories. The webinar is designed primarily for sound designers and engineers, but is also intended for producers, production managers, and anyone interested in learning about post-production processes.
The event will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. GMT). The webinar is free for AIR members who RSVP via Zoom. Non-members must purchase a ticket for $50 to access the RSVP button. The live webinar will be recorded and made available to AIR members and ticket holders after the recording.
Those interested in having their work discussed during the feedback and listening session can submit their work for consideration. If selected, the panel will discuss the piece, provide feedback, and open the floor to audience questions and discussion.
SoundPath, which is hosting the event, is a project of AIR, a nonprofit organization focused on audio training and professional development.
