Meet the Team

PAUL SANDWEISS

President

After graduating with an associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Paul got his start in the business in 1976 at Wally Heider Recording in Hollywood. He became chief engineer of mobile operations, traveling the world, and having the opportunity to work with many talented Artists, live engineers, studio engineers, and producers on various live projects, from The Oscars to The Last Waltz.

After leaving Wally Heider’s studios in 1980, Paul became a freelance engineer and still mixes many live-for-broadcast specials, series, and award shows including The Oscars, The American Music Awards, The BET Awards, The Billboard Music Awards, The Academy of Country Music Awards, The Emmy Awards, The Trumpet Awards, The Urban One Honors, Annual Grammy Tributes to Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, The Bee Gees, Elton John, Motown, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder, and the annual Kennedy Center Honors show on CBS. In the last few years Paul mixed many other specials, including a tribute to Norman Lear “100 years of Music & Laughter”, a tribute to Carol Burnett, “90 years of Laughter and Love”, and a tribute to Joni Mitchell, “The Gershwin Prize for Joni Mitchell”.
When time permits Paul enjoys working on concert specials from Elvis to Quincy Jones, and comedy specials from Aziz Ansari, Tracy Morgan, Netflix is a joke, Patton Oswalt, Chris Rock, Steve Martin and Marty Short, to name a few.
After opening Sound Design Corporation in 1996 on the historic Hollywood Center Studios lot, and spending 27 years commuting from Agoura Hills to Hollywood, Paul built a new Audio Post Complex in 2023 in Westlake Village, across from the Four Seasons Hotel, and with a new six minute commute Paul continues to mix some live shows and work in the studio posting non-live tapings.
His main focus is on running the day-to-day operations of Sound Design, and taking care of many creative clients who have made Sound Design the place to be for any sound mix, from pre-production through post production.
In addition to working on so many award shows, Paul has received over 35 Prime Time Emmy Award nominations along with 9 Prime Time Emmy wins, and many other awards and accolades. He has worked with many of his long time pals/ musical directors mixing their well deserved Emmy winning shows including Steve Jordan and Mark Watters, Rickey Minor, Greg Phillinganes, and Don Was.
Paul also worked with longtime pal David Crivelli designing the broadcast audio systems used for many years on The Conan O’Brien Show for TBS, and Jimmy Kimmel Show on ABC.
When things are in the groove, Paul likes to take some time off and work on his golf game, with tempo being the key ingredient. He also loves to spend time on the tennis court, or yoga mat, and after a day of exercise, relax with a nice glass or two of red.

KRISTIAN PREDREGON

Chief Technical Officer | Senior Mix Engineer

Kristian is a graduate of Pomona College, with a BA in Music. He quickly put his skills to use as a recording engineer for a number of years where he honed his skills tracking and mixing acappella vocal groups, sixty-five piece orchestras, and everything in between.

Kristian began his post career at Sound Design in 2004 after doing time as the Technical Guru at Fairlight USA, and The Record Plant.

Each project has a life all its own, and it’s attention to detail that makes them shine all the brighter. Apparently bright enough for a Daytime Emmy nomination for From The Top, 14 Primetime Emmy nominations, and 4 Primetime Emmy wins for shows like: The Oscars, Adele: One Night Only, and Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul.
Working on shows like: Elton John: I’m Still Standing, Soul Train Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, and Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the BeeGees, have enabled him to take music performances to a whole other level. Performance shows with musical genres from Gospel to Country, and Hard Rock to Latin Pop keep him engaged and pushes his ability to tackle any challenge.
Kristian has enjoyed doing commercials for Disney, Discovery, and Sony. He has worked on trailers for HBO’s Entourage, as well as dvd extras for major theatrical films such as Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Additional credits include: The Primetime Emmys, The Oscars, New Years Rockin Eve, American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and BET Awards to name a few.

SHANE O’CONNOR

Mix Engineer

Shane is a mix engineer, originally from frozen, snowy New Hampshire by way of Berklee College of Music in Boston. He cut his teeth recording music at Q Division Recording Studios in Boston and Record Plant Remote with Kooster McCallister. He met Paul Sandweiss while recording Black Girls Rock on the Record Plant Remote truck in New Jersey. A day later he moved out to Los Angeles and found a sunny, surf soaked lifestyle on the west coast.

You can find Shane mixing production at Sound Design Corporation for shows such as Seth Rogan’s Hilarity For Charity, MadTV, Comedy Jam, Paradise Run . He may also help you out recording and mixing your next show.

DOUG WINGERT

Chief Engineer of Flight Pack Operations

Doug Wingert is all things audio. Immersed in recording and mixing records, broadcast and venue sound reinforcement, audio sweetening, as well as 3D CAD design and acoustic consulting, he has developed a comprehensive audio knowledge base over his nearly 20-year audio career. His broad overview of technology and its challenges help keep things running smoothly.

In his words, “Diversity is key in the entertainment business. It’s an ever changing model. Having a wide base for the pyramid of your career enables one to make in-tune, profitable business forward decisions.”
After years of owning a recording studio in Denver, CO, Doug moved to LA to attend R.I.T. in Hollywood where he graduated valedictorian. He then went on to record and mix with the likes of Sylvia Massey, Marc Needham, David Khan, and Micheal Brauer on various records. As the “glory days” of recording studios came to an end, Doug advanced forward into the vast world of live sound. Since then he has worked on shows such as the Super Bowl, Grammys, Oscars, American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music, BET Awards, and the Primetime Emmys to name a select few. His work with corporate clients include Microsoft, Walmart, Verizon, GE, Young Presidents Organization, and the DOTA-2 International Championships, with a few private backyard parties for Bill Gates. Doug has also mixed for clients like Nick Jonas, Lindsay Buckingham, Jordan Rudess, Steve O, James Taylor, K-Flay, and Melissa Etheridge.
While his diversity in audio is passionate, his love for life is as well. His mantra of “Good Man, Good Heart, Good Life” serves him well, enjoying activities like horseback riding, gardening and growing grapes, with a typical night off ending with something on the grill. Between gigs you can find him with a dry aged bone-in ribeye and glass of Borolo. “…again, the base of a pyramid for success!”