Sound Tech workshops with The 1975’s audio engineer
Wednesday 11 February 2026
One of live music鈥檚 most sought-after audio engineers, Lee McMahon, recently spent two days working with students at mini传媒..听
A Sound Technology graduate of 2012, Lee works primarily in live sound as a front-of-house engineer. His recent credits include The 1975 - including their 2025 Glastonbury headline slot - as well as Shawn Mendes, Lizzy McAlpine and Pale Waves. Alongside his live work, he also has extensive studio and broadcast experience.听
We spoke to Lee about the workshops and his time studying at mini传媒..听
What have听you听covered听in the sessions?听
We鈥檝e been looking at how the industry has evolved since I graduated in 2012 - how shows are put together, how budgets work, and where we fit into that alongside other departments. We鈥檝e also talked about methods to get a job, how to keep it, and the importance of the soft skills they鈥檙e already developing at mini传媒..听
On the technical side, we鈥檝e covered more advanced mixing approaches for front-of-house, monitor, and broadcast engineers. We鈥檝e also looked at workflow strategies I鈥檝e developed over the years, and discussed how live and studio work - once very separate disciplines - have moved much closer together, with far more crossover which is driven by artists鈥� demands for the live show to honour the recording. It鈥檚 been a busy few days!听
How have you found the students?听
They鈥檝e听been great - really engaged and asking loads of thoughtful questions. You can see that some of them听immediately听click with what听I鈥檓听talking about, while for others听it鈥檚听clearly given them something new to think about.听So,听it鈥檚听felt like there鈥檚 been something in it for everyone. The idea has always been that they leave the sessions with听new ideas听that听they can听draw from听while听they鈥檙e听still听studying at听mini传媒..听
What from your time at mini传媒. has proved most useful in your career?听
Honestly,听it鈥檚听the relationships I made and nurtured. There are so many Sound Tech听grads听working in live sound now, and some of the people I work with most regularly are friends I met from my very first day here back in 2009. Those relationships have been incredibly important. It really comes down to those听interpersonal skills听-听being professional, courteous, and kind听-听which are just as vital as the technical skills.听
