Robert Nation
Encyclopedia
Robert Nation is a Canadian audio engineer and producer
as well as co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios
in London, Ontario.
Robert's father, Ernie Nation, was the Head of Finance for RCA Records
and in 1972 he was transferred to Toronto, Ontario, when the record division was moved.
After taking a couple of small recording courses, Robert began mixing live sound for some Toronto acts and landed himself a gig at the offices of RCA Records
. Wanting to further his education in recording engineering and music production, Robert moved to London Ontario where he completed a 3-year diploma in the Music Industry Arts
program at Fanshawe College
. This is where he met his colleague, and eventual co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios
, Joe Vaughan
.
in London, Ontario
where the new music scene was vibrant and blossoming. Electronic Media Arts Corporation
was first located in downtown London at 343 Richmond Street on the 3rd Floor of a large building, which also housed CKSL Radio. During the first 10 years of operation, Robert refined his record engineering
and production
talents, and helped EMAC Recording Studios
become a destination for local and out of town bands. At the same time, EMAC
also began producing commercials for radio and sound for television which allowed Robert to gain experience as a broadcast commercial producer.
In the wake of these improvements, EMAC Studios
expanded to a new location in 1990. They purchased a Salvation Army
Church at 432 Rectory Street and converted the building into a state of the art recording facility.
In 1995, Robert expanded his repertoire to include production sound, audio post-production, and location audio recording for television and film. He has traveled to many parts of the world including: Southeast Asia, France, and throughout the Caribbean to record audio onsite for Taste of life: A Gourmet Food Travel Show (Food Network) and High Point: Casinos of the World starring Kenny Rogers
. Robert also worked as part of the Canadian Crew for Michael Moore
’s academy award nominated movie Sicko
.
Most recently, Robert worked as an audio post-production engineer
recording dialogue for Christopher Plummer
’s character in Pixar
's academy award winning movie Up
.
Robert is now an audio engineering professor at Fanshawe College
in the Music Industry Arts
program and continues to operate EMAC Studios
. He is also the chair for the Producer of the Year
selection committee for Canada’s Juno Awards and sits on education panels for the Jack Richardson
Music Awards and the Audio Engineering Society
.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
as well as co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
in London, Ontario.
Early life
Robert was born and raised on the West Island of Montreal where he attended Dorval High School. While in his teens, he started mixing live sound for local bands.Robert's father, Ernie Nation, was the Head of Finance for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and in 1972 he was transferred to Toronto, Ontario, when the record division was moved.
After taking a couple of small recording courses, Robert began mixing live sound for some Toronto acts and landed himself a gig at the offices of RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. Wanting to further his education in recording engineering and music production, Robert moved to London Ontario where he completed a 3-year diploma in the Music Industry Arts
Music Industry Arts
The Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College was the first school of its kind in Canada, , to train young people for careers in the contemporary music industry...
program at Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
. This is where he met his colleague, and eventual co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
, Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan is a Canadian recording engineer, musician, and currently, professor of audio engineering in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College. He is also a founder and co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios in London, Ontario.-Biography:...
.
Career
In his last year of college, Robert made the decision to open a recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
where the new music scene was vibrant and blossoming. Electronic Media Arts Corporation
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
was first located in downtown London at 343 Richmond Street on the 3rd Floor of a large building, which also housed CKSL Radio. During the first 10 years of operation, Robert refined his record engineering
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
and production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
talents, and helped EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
become a destination for local and out of town bands. At the same time, EMAC
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
also began producing commercials for radio and sound for television which allowed Robert to gain experience as a broadcast commercial producer.
In the wake of these improvements, EMAC Studios
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
expanded to a new location in 1990. They purchased a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Church at 432 Rectory Street and converted the building into a state of the art recording facility.
In 1995, Robert expanded his repertoire to include production sound, audio post-production, and location audio recording for television and film. He has traveled to many parts of the world including: Southeast Asia, France, and throughout the Caribbean to record audio onsite for Taste of life: A Gourmet Food Travel Show (Food Network) and High Point: Casinos of the World starring Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. Robert also worked as part of the Canadian Crew for Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
’s academy award nominated movie Sicko
Sicko
Sicko is a 2007 documentary film by American filmmaker Michael Moore. The film investigates health care in the United States, focusing on its health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry. The movie compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S...
.
Most recently, Robert worked as an audio post-production engineer
Audio post production
Audio post production is the general term for all stages of production happening between the actual recording in a studio and the completion of a master recording. It involves, sound design, sound editing, audio mixing, and the addition of effects.-Film:...
recording dialogue for Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
’s character in Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's academy award winning movie Up
Up (2009 film)
Up is a 2009 American computer-animated comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and presented in Disney Digital 3-D. The film premiered on May 29, 2009 in North America and opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first animated and 3D film...
.
Robert is now an audio engineering professor at Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
in the Music Industry Arts
Music Industry Arts
The Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College was the first school of its kind in Canada, , to train young people for careers in the contemporary music industry...
program and continues to operate EMAC Studios
EMAC Recording Studios
EMAC Recording Studios is a music and commercial recording facility in London, Ontario, Canada, established in 1979 by Robert Nation and Joe Vaughan.- The Building :...
. He is also the chair for the Producer of the Year
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award
The Juno Award for "Producer of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best record producer in Canada. It was renamed the "Jack Richardson Producer of the Year" award in 2003, after Jack Richardson who is a noted Canadian record producer.-Producer of the Year...
selection committee for Canada’s Juno Awards and sits on education panels for the Jack Richardson
Jack Richardson (record producer)
Jack Richardson, CM was a Juno Award-nominated Canadian record producer and Order of Canada recipient. He is perhaps best known for producing the biggest hit records from The Guess Who from 1969 to 1975...
Music Awards and the Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
.
Selected Discography
- KittieKittieKittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. A quartet of women, the group rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
– SpitSpit (album)Spit was the successful debut album by Kittie, a Canadian metal all-women band from London, Ontario. It was released in 1999 on Artemis Records and projected the band into the mainstream heavy metal music scene...
& OracleOracle (Kittie album)-Personnel:* Morgan Lander: vocals, guitar, piano* Mercedes Lander: drums* Talena Atfield: bass-References:# #... - Nicole Scott – Self Titled
- Glenn Bennett – I Like My Music With A Beat
- BURNusBOTH – Stray Bullets
- The Corndogs – Love is All
- '63 Monroe – Stinkin' Out The Joint
- River Junction Band – Limited Edition EP
- Luddites – 86-91
- Clarke Bryan & Marion Miller – Rachmaninoff
- John James – Still The Beat Goes On
TV & Film
- PixarPixarPixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's UpUp (2009 film)Up is a 2009 American computer-animated comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and presented in Disney Digital 3-D. The film premiered on May 29, 2009 in North America and opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first animated and 3D film... - Michael MooreMichael MooreMichael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
’s SickoSickoSicko is a 2007 documentary film by American filmmaker Michael Moore. The film investigates health care in the United States, focusing on its health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry. The movie compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S... - Anne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is the fourth film in the Anne of Green Gables film series. It was released as a television film in 2008 on CTV. Before the broadcast, CTV had recently acquired the rights to the entire Anne catalogue including the 1985 miniseries.The film stars 14-year-old...
- High Point: Casinos of the World
- Taste of Life: A Gourmet Food Travel Show