Bio

A member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild’s Local 700 Union as a Y1 / Mixer. A member of A.S.C.A.P since 1990. Experienced in; Musical Composition, Arranging, Lyrics and performing for Theater, Film and T.V. DVD and CD’s. More specifically in the areas of; Animated Series, Mow’s, Commercials, Documentaries, Low Budget & Feature Films, New Age, R&B and Fusion albums. Head Audio Engineer / Mixer, Foley Artist, and Keyboardest. Mixing, Up-Mixing, Music and EFX Editor, ADR and Foley Recordist, Sound Design, Sound Restoration, Conforming, Printmastering, Laybacks, Laydowns and Transfers in all audio and video formats. [link="http://cdbaby.com/cd/jmcgrath"]"Moods of the Common Man"@cdbaby.com[/link] John McGrath's Graceful, well-designed instrumental New Age crossover classical/experimental debut CD "Moods of the Common Man" is said to be a manipulation of time in spacious soundscapes. - a soundtrack for the psyche. John's talent, versatility and experience composing, recording, editing and mixing music for the film/tv and music industry is clearly evident in "Moods of the Common Man" by being dramatically somber and meditative to wildly moving, energetic and exciting. By Jack Cousineau - See all my reviews This is beautiful music, May 31, 2008 What do you do if you are a composer and hiring a symphony orchestra to record your pieces is a bit out of reach? John McGrath has an answer; it's his recording "Moods of the Common Man". Your reviewer is a player of an acoustic instrument who is not a fan of synthesizers. And yet I like this music. McGrath must be writing for real instruments and obviously has tried hard to find the highest quality sounds to substitute for them. And so in this recording he succeeds in conveying a real sense of the depth, power, sophistication, and beauty of his musical imagination. That imagination seems to relish a tonal/modal approach with enough tasteful dissonance to keep us moderns in touch with our 20th century roots. "Moods of the Common Man", the first track, is rich, passionate, and modestly titled. The next two, "Morning Colours" and "Rita's Midday Creek" are sure to please listeners who meditate with music. "Manic Expressions" is the keyboard piece in this set. This is mania as pure energy and a one movement concert piece for piano and orchestra. "2am and on till Dawn" begins in an electronic impressionistic way, moves on to lush orchestral textures, and then to folksy modalism with tasty drum kit support, before a simple, elegant ending. Do get this recording. The music is wonderful and the listening experience is sublime. McGrath creates a profound accoustic space in this recording. It must be that he knows a lot about recording and producing, as well as composing. WORK HISTORY 2002-Present WARNER BROS. Responsible for Mixing, Up-mixing, Conformng, Printmastering, Dialogue, Music and Effects editing, Sound restoration, transfers and laybacks for all audio formats. 5.1, L.C.R.S./ Lt/Rt, Stereo and Mono. 2000 – 2002 CHACE PRODUCTIONS, Mixer, Music / Effects/Conform Editor Responsible for Mixing, Up-mixing, Conformng, Printmastering, Dialogue, Music and Effects editing, Sound restoration, transfers and laybacks for all audio formats. 5.1, L.C.R.S./ Lt/Rt, Stereo and Mono. Projects for, Warner Bros. Ned Price, “Singin’ in the Rain”, “Silk Stockings”, “Kiss Me Kate”. Re-Edit and mixing the Music from the original takes utilizing Protools for editing and mixing to create newly restored 5.1music pre-dub stems. Then mixing the newly restored mono composite or Dia., 5.1 Music and Efx stems for the final 5.1 mix for DVD release Projects for, SONY Pictures, Dir. Peter Hunt, “1776” (see add in Videography Mag.). “Once Upon a time in America”. Re-Edit and mix the Music from the original 24 trk. recording sessions / takes utilizing Protools for editing and mixing to create newly restored 5.1music pre-dub stems. Then mixing the newly restored mono composite or Dia., 5.1 Music and Efx stems for the final 5.1 mix for DVD release. 1991-2000 ALL POST, VDI MULTIMEDIA Audio Operations Manager / Head Engineer As Audio Operations Manager I’m responsible for over seeing the daily operations of the Audio Dept., Co-ordinating with the audio scheduler, Responding to technical questions from clients, sales dept. and scheduling, Responsible for the hiring and firing of employees of the Audio Dept. In 1998 All Post was sold to VDI MULTIMEDIA. VDI hired me back to be the Audio dept. Head Audio Engineer / Mixer / Editor. As Head Audio Engineer my responsibilities are to work in the main mixing room: Doing Mixing, Music and EFX Editing, Sound Restoration etc. For Films, T.V., Trailers, Commercials etc. Responsible for setting audio procedures and quality standards. The ALL POST audio dept. was limited to doing only Laybacks and transfers. But because of my background and knowledge I was able to turn this dept. into a much more versatile, competitive and profitable audio dept.. ALL POST became capable of; Mixing, Editing, Sound restoration, DVD, Laybacks, Laydowns, 16mm, 35mm, Mag xferes, Digital 24 track, Analogue 24 track, 1/2” 4 track, 1/4”, DA-88 and DAT xferes. 1984-1988 SABAN PRODUCTIONS, Music and EFX Editor / ADR Recordist / Composer Responsible for editing Music and Efx for various animated programs such as ; ALVIN and the CHIPMUNKS, The CAMP CANDY SHOW, SUPER MARIO BROS., and many others. Worked into a Composing position for other animated shows. 1987-1996 FREELANCE with various companies; HANNA BARBERA, DIC ENT., WOODHOLLY, TURNER, BUENA VISTA, MUSIC ANIMALS, ATMOSPHERE, FOUR POINT ENT., VIDFILM, WARNER BROS., MORGAN CREEK, GLENDALE CENTER THEATRE, MELROSE THEATRE, STARLIGHT BOWL. Held various positions such as; Audio Supervisor, Graphics Supervisor, Composer, Mixer, Music editor, Efx editor, ADR and Foley recordist / editor, Actor. EDUCATION Dick Groves School of Music - Composition / Arranging, Film Scoring, Conducting, jazz improvisation. Pasadena City College - Chamber Singers, Choir, Voice, Music, Film and General Studies. Glendale High School - Choir, Chamber Singers, Voice, Music, Jazz Band and General Studies.