Roman Putnam

Audio engineer.
Live sound & broadcast.

Live sound, event audio, and broadcast production in Chicago.

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Selected work

AV Digital Producer

Current role

Second Unitarian Church of Chicago

Intuitive audio workflows for volunteer operators.

A custom Stream Deck interface developed with Bitfocus Companion consolidates 100+ configured audio controls into clear, repeatable workflows. Source setup and mixing become accessible to volunteers without an audio engineering background.

Live sound and broadcast production for services and events, including presentation management and recording edits.

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Systems design & integration

104 controls across 19 Stream Deck pages consolidate source presets, channels, routing, DCA groups, and service operation. A custom Ui16 bridge and X32 assignment module integrate Bitfocus Companion with the mixers. Reusable controls and presets support workflow optimization and future expansion.

Validation & recovery

Channel mappings and mixer state are checked for consistency. Live status indicators, assignment previews, and confirmation steps help prevent unintended changes. Verified external backups and documented restore procedures support troubleshooting and recovery.

Live production & operator workflows

Live mixing, microphone setup, presentation slides, streaming, and recording edits support services and events. Consistent controls translate complex mixer operations into repeatable workflows that volunteers can learn without an audio engineering background.

AV Engineer

Current role

VU Rooftop · Atomic Hospitality

Daily audio operations for DJs and live bands, from equipment setup and sound checks to live mixing and teardown.

Live Show Operations Intern

TastyLive

Live studio mixing on the Allen & Heath SQ5, audio and video routing with Dante and NDI, and Bitfocus Companion macros for show cues. Studio support also covered live caller and guest connections, signal troubleshooting, and equipment setup.

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Live broadcast operations

Operated the Allen & Heath SQ5 and managed audio and video routing through Dante and NDI. Supported live mixing, signal flow, and troubleshooting during broadcasts.

Callers, guests & show cues

Coordinated live callers and guests, managing audio connections, cues, and transitions into the show.

Studio setup & controls

Supported studio setup and strike for microphones, cabling, and camera systems. Developed Stream Deck and Bitfocus Companion macros for recurring production tasks.

Projects & background

Personal projects & interests

Personal PC & audio workflow

A personal audio setup combining REAPER, audio plugins, and Stream Deck controls. Ongoing refinement of the setup focuses on practical shortcuts and a more efficient production workflow.

Portfolio development

A custom Next.js portfolio with responsive photography layouts, animated image transitions, keyboard-accessible viewing, and a private contact form. Design and interaction are refined across desktop and mobile.

Independent streaming

Personal Twitch production and experimentation with audio, video, and broadcast setups outside of venue and studio work.

Photography

Nature, urban exploration, and night photography, with RAW development in Lightroom and a focus on light, texture, and composition.

View photographs

Additional professional experience

Other roles include security at House of Blues and a manufacturing engineering internship at Smalley.

Tools & platforms

SQ5 · X32 · Ui16 · Dante · NDI · OBS · Bitfocus Companion · Pro Tools · Logic

Education

SAE Institute Chicago

Associate of Applied Science in Audio

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

IMSA graduate

Photography

Nature & urban exploration.

View photographs
Balanced stones by the lakeshore at dusk

Contact

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© 2026 Roman PutnamChicago