Record Enable is an initiative created in 2022 by Emily Wheatcroft-Snape to help women and non-binary people create sustainable careers as audio engineers and music producers in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The initiative was born out of Emily’s desire to see more gender diversity in technical roles in local recording studios.
There are many barriers that stop women and non-binary people from becoming audio engineers and music producers; lack of role models, hesitancy to ask questions or make mistakes, not being taken seriously by clients or peers, and feeling unsafe in isolated studio environments, amongst many other reasons.
Record Enable uses multi-pronged approach to reach people of different backgrounds with different skill levels and career paths. Ideally our participants have some prior experience in their craft and are looking to develop to the next stage of their technical career. Our events aim to be free, on weekends or evenings, catering provided, and parking available. Our giveaways are available to New Zealand citizens and residents, open to any age, and only require a self-identification of gender identity.
Participants at one of our Studio Skills Workshops at Roundhead Studios, 2024
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Panelists at our "Career Paths" seminar at Parachute Music, 2024
Record Enable Events
Events are run annually in Auckland, Wellington, and online where possible.
Find upcoming and previous events on the "Events" page
Studio Skills Workshop
Two day workshop at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, and Surgery Studios in Wellington.
The weekend aims to up-skill participants in the recording studio to utilise their skills as producers and engineers for paid projects. It supports the practitioners by allowing them to gain experience and build confidence in the spaces they want to work in, plainly lays out expectations and practices within studio environments, teaches them in-depth technical aspects of recording e.g. microphone features and studio routing, introduces them to local studios and practitioners, and builds community amongst participants.
In 2024 there were two workshops in Auckland, and one in Wellington. Workshops in 2025 will be at an intermediate to advanced level.
Production Weekend
Two day event at Parachute Music.
The Production Weekend is designed to provide participants with opportunities to collaborate and record music at a professional level.
There are three producer rooms, each with a producer, an artist, and a collaborator, completing a demo the artist has provided. Parachute Studio A is available with an engineer to record live instruments.
The goal of the workshop is to help participants, most notably the producers, gain confidence in collaborating and producing high-quality music.
Step-Up Program
Aims to provide resources to music creators to help them step-up in their careers, create to their best potential, and enable them to create more frequently.
Equipment Step-Up
This giveaway with Rockshop aims to set-up a promising audio engineer or music producer with high quality equipment they can use to elevate their work.
Studio Step-Up
Five self-directed half day studio slots are available at Big Fan to help music creators who require a studio space to finish a song or project.
Project Step-Up
Provides two awards of $500 to music creators who require monetary help to finish a song or project. Costs could include; software, hardware, studio time, personnel hire, travel, or living costs.
Industry Seminars
Three seminars in person at Parachute Music and online, with two to three panelists hosted by Emily Wheatcroft-Snape.
The panel discusses their experiences and give insight on a given topic chosen by Record Enable. The topics aim to valuable and practical for the Record Enable community.
Seminars in 2024;
Creating at Home with Paddy Hill, Tom Broome, and Amelia Murray. Career Paths with Greg Haver, Karl Steven, and Savina Fountain. Everything Industry with Dean Cameron from RMNZ, Anthony Healey from APRA AMCOS, and Pippa Ryan-Kidd.
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