From the Grand Ole Opry to some Grand Ole coding: Introduction

Hope Gipson
4 min readApr 21, 2021

“Why software engineering?”

When I was in college, I studied audio engineering. However, in every one of my audio classes, I had a natural interest in the software and technical tools we were using to the same extent I was interested in the audio we were studying. I wanted to know how the Pro Tools software manipulated audio, how the iZotope plugins worked in creating virtual instruments, and that interest led me to taking a plethora of computer science classes during college. These classes taught me basic Java and object-oriented programming, starting me on the path to really having a passion for coding. As someone who has always been into audio engineering and musicianship, I’m a natural creator, and code allows you to build creations from the bare bones up, building expressions of creativity.

After college, I pursued positions related to my major as an audio engineer for many years, putting coding aside to an enjoyable hobby for the time being. I worked in teams alongside Grammy winners with some of the industry’s biggest stars and properties, and developed a skillset unique to the entertainment industry. I knew how to interact with major celebrities in a respectful/private way, how to set up giant shows that would have thousands attending, and how to work with diverse companies including film and video game studios.

On the red carpet of the Nashville Film Festival. Author is pictured holding the Gibson guitar.

I also founded my own mixing and mastering company in the years spent working as an audio engineer after a tragedy affected my family. I wanted to originally just do a little freelance mixing and mastering to have extra cash to support my family financially during this tragedy, but the company grew past what I could have fathomed. It not only allowed me to do that, but years later it has grown 800% into a company servicing 500+ clients in 50+ countries. During my work with this company, I have never missed on single deadline, and average five stars in reviews of my work quality, communication, and providing the service expected.

A map of the 50+ countries I have serviced clients within as a mixing and mastering engineer.

Buoyed by success in this industry, I never expected the Covid-19 pandemic to put the industry I loved so dearly at a standstill. However, the temporary lapse in entertainment industry events and traveling finally gave me some time to take stock and reflect on my own goals, as for years I had been working 12+ hour shifts preparing live events or running recording sessions nearly every day. Not much extra time to reflect with that schedule, so a small lapse in business in my industry was a blessing in disguise.

After some reflection, I realized I wanted to use this rare opportunity where I had extra time to chase my passion for code, because I still felt so drawn to coding every moment I had free time. I believed I could invest myself in this passion finally and make myself a greater asset to the industry I loved, as coding had become even more of a necessary skill in the age of live entertainment events converting to virtual events. I decided to study at the Flatiron coding bootcamp soon after to further my coding ability, and the next ten months I refined my skills in coding languages such as Javascript, React/Redux, Sinatra, CSS, HTML, SQL, AWS, Python and many more.

In this blog I will share thoughts on that journey and my current journey as a software dev. I hope my takes can be an asset to those considering taking the leap and chasing their passions in technology. I will also be sharing tutorials for projects I have enjoyed building, as well as my own thoughts on technology topics, doing business as a technology expert, and the entertainment industry as it relates to technology.

I encourage comments and discourse. You don’t always have to agree with my takes on any topic and I would love to discuss different points of view. If readers have suggestions, comments, requests etc. they are welcome to leave a comment or contact me through my social media. I can be reached through the social media given in the Linktree in my profile bio.

Thank you for reading, and I hope I be a service to you, the reader, in my technology content. Come back soon for the first coding tutorial I will be posting — creating a Superhero Battle Simulator CLI application in Ruby.

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Hope Gipson

Audio engineer with 8+ years of working with Grammy-winning teams, full-stack engineer specializing in React/Redux and Javascript. https://linktr.ee/hopegipson