Principal Lecturer at the Rochester Institute of Technology/School of Film & Animation
Dave Sluberski
Audio & Video Production
Location audio for Film, Music, etc.
I record location audio depending on the scope of the production
Post-production for Film, Animations & Music, including Foley & ADR recording
I mix & produce audio for a variety of formats including 5.1 Surround Sound for film and broadcast
Video production with pre- or post-produced sound
I record HD video for any performance with a single camera with multiple tracks of audio for live or post-produced packages
My specialty is audio recording/post production. A musician & filmmaker with 40+ years of broadcast experience, including PBS/NPR, I can create content to promote and/or produce your ideas with many forms of media.
The story of West Rush Media, LLC
Personal Profile
Dave Sluberski is a Principal Lecturer at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Film & Animation, specializing in sound design and audio technology. He was a consultant on the design team for MAGIC Spell Studios for all state-of-the-art sound design. He was Senior Audio Technologist at WXXI/NPR-PBS affiliate for 25 years. Through his company, West Rush Media LLC, he produces, designs and mixes audio for many broadcast media and digital distribution networks, including independent feature films/documentaries. WRM clients include the 2023 PGA Tournament, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, WXXI, the University of Rochester and the CBC, as well as indie filmmakers. His many awards include the coveted George Foster Peabody Award (1994), as well as numerous Telly, Gabriel and NYS Emmy awards. Dave considers himself a recreational welder; he and his wife, Dr. Sandra Boysen Sluberski, enjoy their classic cars and reside in Rush, NY.
Skills & Experience
Dave Sluberski
69 Rush West Rush Road Rush, NY 14543
(585) 880-4349 Cell dave@davesluberski.com dsspph@rit.edu
Web sites: davesluberski.com rit.edu/artdesign/directory/dsspph-dave-sluberski
IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0806279/
Education:
1981: State University of New York at Fredonia: Bachelor of Arts in Audio for Mass Media
1987 – 1988: National Public Radio: Classical and Jazz recording workshops
2003: National Public Radio: Externship Program with NPR Satellite Distribution Services
Professional Memberships:
AES (Audio Engineering Society) since 2017
SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers) since 2016
Ally Member of WAM (Women’s Audio Mission) since 2019
Current Position:
Principal Lecturer, RIT School of Film & Animation
Teach both Basic and Advanced Audio for Film, Mixing and Sound Design, Independent student projects, and Research and Thesis courses; provided verification/observation of Dolby certification for MAGIC Spell Studios’ Wegmans Dolby Atmos Theatre in 2019; served as co-team leader for the LSI (Light Sound Interactive) Conference’s Music & Audio track, Rochester in June 2019. Responsible for inviting and securing Leslie Ann Jones (currently Director of Studio Recording at Skywalker Ranch, CA); supervised installation of equipment in MAGIC Spell Studios’ Sound Mix Theatre and Dolby certification process, July 2019; member of Producers’ Round Table since 2017 (a professional group of lawyers/filmmakers meeting quarterly to represent RIT and liaison with the Rochester film community.
Previous Positions:
Visiting Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, RIT School of Film & Animation 2009-2022
Adjunct Professor, RIT School of Film & Animation, 1998-2009
Adjunct Professor, 2005, State University of New York at Brockport, NY
Taught Advanced Radio Production course
Audio Media Advisor, 2000 – Present, Monroe Community College, Brighton, N.Y.
Senior Audio Technologist, 1984 – 2009, WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, Rochester, N.Y.
Responsible for all audio production for local and national distribution; supervised staff and advise producers in pre-/post-production planning; responsible for remote audio-truck, including in-house/client productions (designed/built audio production vehicle - 1999); advised/implemented all audio for $12 million digital conversion to HDTV/digital radio. Engineered more than 2,000 remote recordings/live broadcasts (radio & TV); Location recording engineer for TV/radio productions
Awards:
1994 George Foster Peabody Award: “Fascinatin’ Rhythm”
1996 / 1999 / 2000 / 2003 Gabriel Award: “The Abbey of the Genesee”; “The Voice in the Wilderness”; “Warrior in
Two Worlds”; “Concert Companion”
1998 NYS Emmy Award: “Flight to Freedom”, hosted by actress Cicely Tyson
1999 Gold Cindy Award: “Living on Earth”, distributed by NPR
2000 Parent Choice Award, Cine Golden Eagle, Telly,
EEN Documentary Award: “Warrior in Two Worlds”
2006-2009 Telly Awards: “Second Opinion” - (1 Silver & 4 Bronze); “Onstage” - (1 Bronze)
RIT 175 (Rochester Institute of Technology) Documentary (Silver)
2007 New York Festivals Award: Best Music Special Finalist Certificate: Backstage Pass with Rochester Philharmonic
Marimba Section
2007 Broadcast Engineering award to WXXI
Excellence Award finalist -- “Digital Studios Facilities”
2009 The Communicator Award: “Second Opinion” -- Two Gold Awards
2010 New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA): “New York Wine & Table” -- Best Locally Produced TV Show
2014 Telly Award: “The Intrepid: Discovering Lincoln’s Balloon Corps” – Bronze Award
2014 New York State Emmy Award nomination: “A Walk through History in Mount Hope Cemetery”
2022: NYS Emmy Award for Women and the Vote, produced by Low to the Ground Productions and Epic10 Films;
distributed by PBS
Productions:
Second Opinion -- Medical series 225+ PBS stations
Onstage -- NYS Music series aired on WXXI TV-Radio and on PBS nationally.
Rochester International Jazz Festival series -- 175+ PBS stations
Backstage Pass — Monthly one-hour Live Musical performances on Classical 91.5
New York Wine & Table -- 13-part half-hour program featuring NYS Wine trails distributed on NYS PBS stations.
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Series on FM 91.5. -- 14 two-hour concerts produced for local broadcast.
Fascinatin’ Rhythm -- Weekly one-hour show on American Popular music broadcast locally and nationally on
NPR stations. Peabody Award winner in 1994.
With Heart and Voice -- Weekly one-hour show of choral and organ music broadcast locally and nationally on
NPR stations.
City Sounds – 1989 to 1998; live recording of 500 one-hour shows of local and international blues and jazz artists,
presented on WXXI radio. Over 100 of those recordings were featured nationally on National Public Radio.
Independent Activities:
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1997: Live recording engineer for Train to Nowhere, featuring British blues/rock band Savoy Brown and released on CD in the U.K. in 2010.
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2013: Served on External Review Team for assessment of Finger Lakes Community College music/recording arts programs.
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2013/2014: President of the Rochester Audio/Visual Association (RAVA); re-elected as President in 2014.
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2015-present: Active member, with my wife, of the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, NY.
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2017: Served on External Review Team for assessment of Monroe Community College music and recording arts programs.
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2017-2019: Chair of the Rochester Association of Film Arts & Sciences (RAFAS), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
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2017: Presented master class to Tonmeister audio students at SUNY-Fredonia, as distinguished guest alumni.
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2018: Color photography and essays published in the Town of Rush Bicentennial Commemorative book, issued through the Rush Town Historian’s office.
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2018-present: Currently serving as Programming Chair for the Rush Historical Society.
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2018-present: Co-President of the Rush Historical Society
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2021: Technical Advisor for the Town of Rush for audio/video upgrades for all town board meetings.
Created West Rush Media, LLC; 2008-present
This is my professional business specializing in Audio for Film, Broadcast and Web.
WRM projects & productions include:
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Analog tape restoration for WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
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2009: Audio recording for Alembic Productions: Pegasus Early Music/Downtown Arts Link
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2009: Post-produced soundtrack for Mara Ahmed’s documentary film, The Muslims I Know, featured at Rochester (NY) 2009 High Falls Film Festival, and presented on WXXI Public Television. This film also been screened internationally
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2009: Analog tape restoration for WXXI of shows originally recorded/engineered by myself when employed by WXXI
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2010: Audio re-recording transfer for Second Story Man, Neil Dhand‘s narrative film, distributed through Discreet Charm Productions
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2011: Field recording and post-production audio mixing for RIT Organ Donor videos: Giving The Gift and Receiving The Gift, in cooperation with RIT SOFA Chair Malcolm Spaull and Senior Lecturer Mark Foggetti
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2011 and 2012: Post-produced soundtrack for Nancy Ghertner’s film After I Pick the Fruit
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2011 and 2012: Post-production audio engineering and was musical producer on Pakistan One-on-One a Mara Ahmed documentary released through Neelum Films
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2012: Voice talent and was recording engineer and editor for a Rick Spencer audio program entitled Work Now: Employability Assessment and Work Assignment Program in Monroe County”
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2012-2013: Field audio recording and post-production audio mixing, as well as sound design, for The Intrepid: Discovering Lincoln’s Balloon Corps for Northlight Productions; world premiere screening at Hatch Hall in the Eastman School of Music in October 2013; aired on WXXI Public Broadcasting on October 21
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2013: Analog audio tape restoration to digital format for broadcast for Mountain Lake Public Broadcasting
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2013: Post-production audio mixing for Messages of Hope, a feature-length documentary by Chris Lavelle
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2013: Post-production audio mixing for A Walk through History in Mount Hope Cemetery, feature-length documentary aired on WXXI Public Broadcasting, Rochester NY
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2013: Featured guest on WXXI’s Arts Friday Connection radio broadcast, hosted by Mona Seghatoleslami
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2014: Consultant by WXXI Public Broadcasting Council for audio analysis and critique of recordings
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2014: Audio engineer for Susan B. Anthony House & Museum narration used in mobile applications
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2014-present: Consultant for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra to review/improve current recording techniques for broadcasting purposes. Currently in my 6th year as Recording Engineer and Broadcast Producer with the RPO
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2015: Audio engineer/audio post-production for documentary A Thin Wall, for Neelum Films
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2015: Recorded/edited voice-overs for José Casado’s Palacido Media Group
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2016: Business sponsor for the High Falls Film Festival, featuring Women in Film, Rochester NY
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2016: Audio engineer/mixer for Grammy winner Jeff Tyzik’s world premiere of his Jazz Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Juliana Athayde
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2016: Post-production audio engineer for documentary, Election Day 2016, directed by Linda Moroney; screened at “Meet the Press” Film Festival
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2017: Business sponsor for the Rochester Music Hall of Fame Awards and the High Falls Film Festival, featuring Women in Film, Rochester NY
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2017: Featured speaker at the premiere of LIGHT & SOUND INTERACTIVE, Rochester Convention Center, Rochester NY
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2018: Business sponsor of the Fast-Forward Film Festival, Rochester Music Hall of Fame Awards
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2018-present: Business sponsor for Rochester International Film Festival/Movies on a Shoestring
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2018: Recording engineer for rock artist Kim Simmonds’ CD release, Savoy Brown: Hellbound Train, released through Kim’s London label
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2018: Audio and video recording engineer for University of Rochester’s production of a rarely-produced Baroque opera, Love in a Village, a collaboration of the U of R English Department and a Canadian operatic team
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2018: Location recording engineer/producer/photographer for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation production regarding Xerox and their printing technology.
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2019: Foley, ADR and full audio production mix for Remember Me, a short live-action film set during the Civil War, directed by Shaw Austin
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2019-present: Location audio recording and post-production for broadcast of local commercials produced by Great Atlantic Productions
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2019: Recording engineer and audio producer for the audio book, Stories of Food and Love, by Rochester author Mariuccia Milla, narrated by Sandra Boysen Sluberski; currently available through Amazon’s online Kindle Store
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2019: Recording/Production Engineer for audio/video for the Chopin Singing Society & Amherst Chamber Orchestra Ensemble at St. Stanislaus Cathedral in Buffalo NY.
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2019: Sound Supervisor on Scarlet Winter, feature-length live-action film shot in upstate NY; full replacement of all dialogue/sound effects/Foley, completed with surround sound mix. This film had its world premiere at the 2022 Syracuse International Film Festival
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2020/21: Surround sound mix for feature film Bottom Feeders for Loose Screw Productions. This was MAGIC Spell Studios sound mix’s first professional client, contracted through my invitation. An article entitled “RIT Audio Expert Brings MAGIC to Locally-Made Film” was published for RIT in the news. This film was screened at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. https://www.rit.edu/magic/news/rit-audio-expert-brings-magic-locally-made-film
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2021: Recording/technology engineer for voiceover artist Cristina Milizia at MAGIC Spell Studios in conjunction with Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network and additional major networks in Los Angeles for current and upcoming worldwide TV/film series
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2021: The Gift feature-length documentary; Location sound recording
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2021: Faithstreet Films: The Mystery of Her; ADR Recording Engineer and Final Mix Engineer
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2021: Redhawk Films: Location Audio Engineer
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2021: Wheelhouse Creative: Location Audio Engineer for an untitled documentary
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2021: Bullock Productions LLC: Tough Love short film; Location Audio Engineer
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2022: NYS Emmy Award for Women and the Vote, produced by Low to the Ground Productions and Epic10 Films; distributed by PBS
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2022: Westwood Studio Films: promotional trailer for A Date for Anya; Location sound recording
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2022: Yap Films, Toronto: documentary on the University of Rochester laser laboratories; Location audio recording
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2022: Epic 10 Films: Appalachian Heart documentary; Re-Recording Engineer
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2023: Wildlight Productions: Rate It X documentary; Audio Restoration and Re-Recording Engineer
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2023: Blazing Bull Productions; PGA Tournament. Location Audio Engineer for the week of the PGA, held in Rochester, NY
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2023: PGA Digital; Play Like a Pro video; with Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, sponsored by Cadillac. Location Audio Engineer
Testimonials
“Dave Sluberski is a consummate professional who delivers phenomenal recordings over and over again. He does his homework and captures performances with clarity, sensitivity, and depth no matter what the challenges are. Dave goes beyond and above to offer excellent sound quality and timely service. He is utterly reliable and brings passion and artistry to his work. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra broadcasts on WXXI shimmer thanks to him. He is the best!”
Brenda Tremblay - Classical Morning Host & Producer - WXXI
Dave Sluberski, owner of West Rush Media, LLC, has been recording concerts and producing for broadcast the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from before I arrived as Concert Production Manager, and I am extremely thankful to have him on board. Dave is an absolute professional, both in attitude and product, which makes him a pleasure to work with, and results in an excellent broadcast. He sends the recordings for approval, listens to the notes given by our conductors, guest artists and administration, and goes above and beyond to execute the requests. Recently, Dave was instrumental in helping replace sound recording equipment, he understands what a professional orchestra needs for a quality recording, and his connection to WXXI, our local PBS radio station, also comes in handy as a bridge between the two organizations. Dave also looks out for the RPO as a non-profit organization, and often contributes well beyond the job description, including using his own equipment.
Rebecca Sealander - Operations Manager, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Voice talent for your production!
Whether it's for commercials, industrials, animated character voices, recorded books or podcasts, you've come to the right person! Radio, TV, Film, Video, Podcasts -- Sandra's the voice for your project!
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Want to learn more about West Rush Media & Dave's professional experience?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch.