Calum Smeaton
GRANT WINNER • MUSIC
From a Closet Studio to a Career in Sound
SmeatsBeats Productions
Five years ago, Calum Smeaton launched a successful audio engineering career with help from a grant from Hunter's Fund. After applying for an initial grant to upgrade the DIY music recording studio he founded while attending the University of Virginia, Calum landed a gig producing audio tours for the Smithsonian Institute.
In 2021, he completed an internship in Architectural Acoustics at Walters-Storyk Design Group, an international construction company specializing in acoustics and media system engineering.
That internship tied directly into his latest business endeavor: acoustic room treatments for "e-studios."
After spending the last two years studying acoustics, diving into advanced mathematics, refining his designs, prototyping, and filing patents, Calum is now preparing to launch his latest venture.
"As large commercial studios shut their doors in unprecedented numbers, small, efficient, economical "e-studios" pop up in droves to replace them," Calum says. "These spaces are demanding attention, pushing for professional standards, and seeking alternatives to outdated, industrial solutions. I believe that my designs represent just this alternative."
What your support made possible:
Professional audio and production equipment that helped Calum develop his recording work and later expand into acoustics.
Because of you... Calum can keep developing the tools and experience needed to turn musical ideas into work other people can hear.