Sound Tech workshops with The 1975’s audio engineer
Wednesday 11 February 2026
One of live music’s most sought-after audio engineers, Lee McMahon, recently spent two days working with students at LIPA.
A Sound Technology graduate of 2012, Lee works primarily in live sound as a front-of-house engineer. His recent credits include The 1975 - including their 2025 Glastonbury headline slot - as well as Shawn Mendes, Lizzy McAlpine and Pale Waves. Alongside his live work, he also has extensive studio and broadcast experience.
We spoke to Lee about the workshops and his time studying at LIPA.
What have you covered in the sessions?
We’ve been looking at how the industry has evolved since I graduated in 2012 - how shows are put together, how budgets work, and where we fit into that alongside other departments. We’ve also talked about methods to get a job, how to keep it, and the importance of the soft skills they’re already developing at LIPA.
On the technical side, we’ve covered more advanced mixing approaches for front-of-house, monitor, and broadcast engineers. We’ve also looked at workflow strategies I’ve developed over the years, and discussed how live and studio work - once very separate disciplines - have moved much closer together, with far more crossover which is driven by artists’ demands for the live show to honour the recording. It’s been a busy few days!
How have you found the students?
They’ve been great - really engaged and asking loads of thoughtful questions. You can see that some of them immediately click with what I’m talking about, while for others it’s clearly given them something new to think about. So, it’s felt like there’s been something in it for everyone. The idea has always been that they leave the sessions with new ideas that they can draw from while they’re still studying at LIPA.
What from your time at LIPA has proved most useful in your career?
Honestly, it’s the relationships I made and nurtured. There are so many Sound Tech grads working in live sound now, and some of the people I work with most regularly are friends I met from my very first day here back in 2009. Those relationships have been incredibly important. It really comes down to those interpersonal skills - being professional, courteous, and kind - which are just as vital as the technical skills.
