Staff Engineers

Tippy Tarochione (pronounced tar-g-on-e), began DJing in the 8th grade in his home town of Knoxville, Illinois. While he still loves spinning records, his full-time gig as a mastering engineer has seriously encroached on his club work. Though he’s never played an instrument, music has always been his passion. Attending college in Iowa, he found himself far more absorbed by his CD collection than his textbooks. Following his muse, he began researching recording schools.

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After graduating from Full Sail in 1997, Tippy found a ‘gofer’ gig with San Francisco’s Height Street Studios.  Recommended to the Hit Factory the following year, he moved to NYC. There, in the time-honored tradition of dues paying, he assumed the enviable position of  ‘General Assistant’ at the princely salary of $5.15 an hour. “The engineers there were incredibly generous with their time and their knowledge,” he says.  “I sat in on some amazing sessions and acquired priceless hands-on skills. They gave me free rein to practice cutting vinyl masters and I developed skills which I continue to use throughout my career.”

By 2005, when the Hit Factory closed, Tippy had spent seven years at the legendary studio, and built a discography which includes such artists as Usher, Pink, Ludacris, Amerie and Glenn Lewis. “Trutone’s GM Adrianna Rowatti called almost immediately after the word went out that I was ‘at liberty,’” he says.  “I’d been on their radar because they’d pressed some of my vinyl work and liked what they’d heard. I’ve always been aware of Trutone’s fine reputation and their recent New York Grand Opening… Mastering here is a total gas.”

As to the genesis of his nickname, Tippy explains, “There was another Tony working at The Hit Factory when I started there. Because he had seniority, it was suggested that I pick an alias. One suggestion was Tippy, the other option was Cupcake!”