Available for Booking

Dennis Arriaza

Live Sound Engineer

High Desert, CA

Dennis Arriaza is a live sound engineer based in the High Desert, California, with a career in audio production going back more than two decades. He started tracking artists out of his garage on Cakewalk and an Mbox interface around 2004, recording rap artists, Christian rock tracks, and session drums for other artists. In 2008 he launched Elevated Studio as a working home recording operation, which became Elevated Media Group in 2011 when he expanded into full-service media production. In 2015 he earned his certificate in Audio Recording Technology from Citrus College — full-sized SSL consoles, Pro Tools rigs, and participation in the program's live-gig nightshift where students ran FOH and built out stages for corporate and formal events across Southern California. Live sound is his primary specialization — multi-band festivals, musicals with 10+ live mics, rider-driven productions running Avid Venue Profile rigs for FOH and monitor world, everything in between — but his full background covers studio tracking and mixing as well. His approach is built on calm preparation, deep console literacy, and getting out of the way of the moment happening in the room.

Primary Service

Live Sound / FOH Engineering

Also Available For

Studio tracking, mixing, audio consulting

Experience

Tracking from 2004, Elevated Studio founded 2008, Citrus College Audio Recording Technology certificate (2015)

Consoles

Behringer X32 series (most worked/owned), Allen & Heath SQ7 & GLD-80, Avid Venue Profile, Yamaha M7CL and early scene-capable digital boards, Mackie and various analog — comfortable on whatever you put in front of me

Studio Interfaces

Dual Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 (current), Presonus FP10 / Firepod (earlier rigs)

Location

High Desert / Inland Empire, CA — available throughout SoCal and beyond

Inquire About Dennis Read Interview

Specializations

What I'm Best At

Multi-band festivals and events. Comfortable running large PA systems — dual-18 subs with mid and high fills — from a single console, keeping transitions clean between acts without killing the room's energy.

Theatrical and musical productions. 10+ live mics on stage, scene-based routing, cue management, and the attention to detail required for staged productions where dialogue, music, and effects all need their own space.

Rider-driven artist productions. Full FOH and monitor-world setups for touring acts, including ground-up system design — handling all inputs and outputs, delivering a clean mix for the audience and accurate mixes for every performer on stage.

Corporate, formal, and private events. Boardroom-appropriate reliability. You're hired to be invisible and audible — both.

Studio tracking and consulting. In addition to live work, I track and mix at my home studio using a dual Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 rig. I also take on audio consulting and system-design work for churches, venues, and event producers who need a set of experienced ears and hands.

The Interview

Getting to Know Dennis

Watch the full interview below or read the Q&A transcript.

"Introduce yourself."

[PLACEHOLDER: Your intro]

"How did you get into live sound engineering?"

[PLACEHOLDER: Your path — teenage drummer, learning audio by ear, formal training at Citrus, the first paid engineering role in 2016]

"What's your philosophy behind the board?"

[PLACEHOLDER: How you approach a mix — calm reliability, staying out of the way, serving the room]

"What kind of gigs are you best suited for?"

[PLACEHOLDER: Where you shine — church services, corporate events, worship productions, etc.]

"What's the most rewarding part of what you do?"

[PLACEHOLDER: Your answer]

"What are your goals going forward?"

[PLACEHOLDER: Your answer]

Dennis Arriaza

What I'm Best At

Getting to Know Dennis

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