Jay Craggs Interview
By Brad Beno and Lukas VanHammond
Anyone who has taken a class with Jay Craggs knows that he's easily one of the most interesting people on campus. Having started off teaching high school band, he then got hooked up to David Bowie, and took off. Soon he was running his own recording studio, Stoic Media, and then became a college instructor. He also worked at Madison Media Institute, starting the Audio and Recording Program there. He received his Master's Degree at Columbia College. We interviewed Jay Craggs, asking him some basic multi-media questions.
Q: How long have you been teaching here at Whitewater?
A: Probably about 15 years, off and on. I've had a bunch of different jobs. I was the Technical Director for Young Auditorium, before I got my Master's. Besides my position at the University Center, I teach audio, electronic media and communication classes.
Q: What are some major projects you've been involved with that deal with communication/multimedia?
A: Well, easily the biggest one would have to be when I worked with David Bowie on his Sound Plus Vision Tour. Some things I was involved with were synchronizing film and video, sampling background vocals, midi sequences, and lighting, all on very early all-on-one Macs.
Q: Any modes of communication/multimedia you would like to see make a comeback?
A: I'd like to see more use of Midi with composer and music production. It's a powerful tool, and offers many advantages for recording audio files.
Q: Who are some famous people you may have worked with in the communication/multimedia field?
A: I've worked with the band Living Color, also Stain, Frank Mantooth, Phil Collen (guitar player), Tom Tom Club, Night ranger, Paul Pesko, Rush, and Prince to name a few.
Q: Do you see multimedia going a certain direction, more digital or elsewhere?
A: I see it more and more being taken for granted. Interactivity is changing. Cable TV is all converging with other forms of multi-media. Business and personal users are converging. Programs and developers are converging, such as PlayStation uses Blu-ray movie players. The whole idea of human connectivity, people being connected at all times. Whether it is through a computer, cell phone, or other device, we are all connecting in some way. Tweeting is too much though; but there is a whole new market for people who are wrapped up in that.
Q: What are some of your favorite aspects of multimedia?
A: Probably the types of or level to which you can now create amazing products. Laptops have the capabilities to do things that are astounding in terms of audio and video editing interactivity of it, how cool animation is, and the degree to which software and hardware have evolved where you can do much more expressive things. I also really enjoy where 5.1-surround sound for audio has gone; surround sound is amazing. Another thing that interests me is the expanded editing capabilities with video and audio. I really do enjoy how things are cheaper now days, bringing it to the masses easier. I am also very impressed with the fact you can run a studio with your laptop.
Q: Are there any new classes you teach in the Department?
A: I am teaching the Audio course this semester, as well as the Audio Practicum. I really enjoy teaching those classes. Also, I will still be teaching my Foundations of Audio Editing, Recording, and Live Sound.
Q: What other classes excite you that you don't teach?
A: Other classes that I'm really interested in would be the Foundations of Electronic Media class. Another would have to be the course on Multimedia with Elena Bertozzi; I really enjoy those classes where you get a lot of hands on with actual multi-media outlets. One thing, too, I am very excited by the multi-media major in general, I feel it's going in a positive direction, and that it's helping students gain a better understanding of multi-media. A favorite pet class of mine was Physics of Sound and Music back in my schooling days; I was fascinated by it.
Clearly Jay Craggs is highly skilled and enthusiastic about his work here at Whitewater. We can only hope our program here can continue to grow as it has, gaining experienced staff, as well as new and exciting courses that will challenge and engage our students to become better communication, and multi-media users.