DVLP Academy Presents: Recording Horns with The Zephyr Brass Collective

About this event

Join Joe Smith and The Zephyr Brass Collective at DVLP Academy for a special live Masterclass focused on professionally recording horns.

Joe Smith will bring The Zephyr Brass Collective into DVLP for a real recording session alongside DVLP founder Drew Dugan. Together, Joe and Drew will walk through the process of capturing a professional brass ensemble, from how the musicians approach the session to how the engineering and production decisions are made on the other side of the glass.

You’ll get to hear directly from Joe Smith about performing and recording horns, working as an ensemble, preparing for sessions, getting the right performances, and what musicians need from an engineer to do their best work.

Drew will break down the engineering side, including mic selection and placement, gain staging, signal flow, phase, room considerations, Pro Tools workflow, and capturing the energy and dynamics of a live horn section.

This is not just a lecture. Joe Smith and The Zephyr Brass Collective will be recording live, giving attendees the opportunity to watch the entire process unfold and ask questions along the way.

Attend In Person or Virtually

This Masterclass will be available both in person at DVLP Academy in Denver and virtually via live stream, so you can join us from anywhere.

In-person attendance gives you the full experience inside the studio with Joe, the Collective, and Drew. Virtual attendees will be able to watch the session live and follow the Masterclass remotely.

What You’ll Learn

• Joe Smith’s approach to performing and recording horns
• How The Zephyr Brass Collective prepares and works together in the studio
• Professional horn mic selection and placement
• Recording multiple brass instruments simultaneously
• Gain staging, signal flow, phase, and room considerations
• Getting great performances from a live ensemble
• Pro Tools and professional session workflow
• Communication between musicians, producer, and engineer
• Live Q&A with Joe Smith, The Zephyr Brass Collective, and Drew Dugan

Monday, October 12, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM MDT
In Person: DVLP Academy, Denver, CO
Virtual: Live Online

Whether you're a producer, engineer, musician, or artist, this is a chance to see how a professional horn session actually comes together from both sides of the glass.