M-Audio Employee Brings Expertise to Community

In an ongoing effort to bring flexible, affordable technology into local communities, M-Audio head of tech support Calvin Banks has formed a partnership with Greater Thousand Oaks Telecommunity (GTOT), a facility dedicated to demystifying new communications and computer technologies for those who find the tools intimidating or inaccessible. Banks will soon begin teaching a workshop entitled “How to Optimize the PC for Digital Recording,” which will teach adults and adolescents how to interface their PC with current digital audio recording technology.

Banks has looked for other ways to empower would-be musicians ever since he played an instrumental role in the launch of MORE (M-Audio Outreach Recording Ensemble)—an M-Audio-sponsored program that teaches music and music technology to abused and underprivileged young people. After GTOT Executive Director Wendall Hahm approached Banks about providing tech support for the school, which uses M-Audio’s Delta 66 audio cards and keyboard controllers, Banks began to think about other ways to get involved. It wasn’t long before he started developing a curriculum for the aforementioned workshop.

“We’re always looking to do more with local communities,” Banks explains. “Thousand Oaks and the surrounding areas are heavily involved with music production, so we thought this would be an ideal opportunity. In the long-term, I see other members of our tech department teaching classes geared toward adult education. I think it is important to educate adults so that they can support their children as they grow up in a society increasingly reliant on technology.”

In addition to heading up M-Audio’s tech department, Banks continues to write, produce, and develop material for his own imprint, Startek Media. His career in the music industry spans over 25 years, and includes playing guitar with such artists as Roy Ayers. He will soon be releasing a CD of sample loops entitled "Chicken and Waffles" through M-Audio.