Our chairs think beyond the edge of the desk. Because even outside traditional office environments, it is clear that sitting in motion makes all the difference.
For his work in a mastering studio, Brock McFarlane sits on an Aeris Swopper, that keeps him and his workflow in motion throughout the day. For Brock, the right rhythm is not only crucial in the latest track, but also whilst sitting. We asked him what really drives him at work and why sitting in motion has such a big impact.
From passion to profession - Brock's path to music production
Brock McFarlane is the owner and engineer of CPS Mastering. It was clear from an early age that music would play a major role in his life.
„My family had a gorgeous old Bang and Olufsen stereo system“, tells Brock. „As a toddler, I was covering the turntable in cotton balls, because I wanted to know what they would sound like - ruined a nice needle in the process...“
Brock spent his school years in a band - but despite his love of music, he describes himself more as a „pretty mediocre musician“. However, it didn't really click for him on stage: a visit to a studio in his school days was the turning point: „The person on the other side of the studio glass with the knobs and faders and science was where my skill and passion intersected.“
But the path there was anything but straightforward. After leaving his studies at university at Alberta, Brock moved to Vancouver to attend the Pacific Audio Visual Institute. There, one of his instructors recommended him to the owner of a local studio, who ran a mixing and a tracking room. After 7 years of working at both studios and the deeper he got into the processes of recording and mixing, the more he was drawn to mastering. So much, that he finally decided to open his own studio, CPS Mastering, in 2008.
„It really felt like someone had made a job for just my particular mindset and skills.“
What exactly is mastering?
Mastering is the final step of a music production in which the sound quality, volume and dynamics are optimized. It is a combination of technical and artistic processes in which a mastering engineer ensures professional and consistent reproduction on all platforms and formats. Mastering puts the finishing touches to a music production and ensures that it is appealing and competitive.
Independence and work-life balance - everyday life in the studio
Brock likes to start early in the day, usually around five in the morning. After the first creative sprint, he has breakfast and takes his child to school. Brock's working rhythm is therefore anything but rigid:
Sometimes he works for hours without interruption, sometimes in 45-minute sessions with short breaks to stretch, move, get coffee or simply pause for a moment. This independence gives him the flexibility he needs and the opportunity to listen to his energy levels.
„If I´m not in the right space for a project, I can take a break, take lunch, or just go run some errands and come back to it when my mind is in the right place.“
At the same time, this freedom also harbors the danger that work never really stops - especially if you love your job. „It’s definitely a slippery slope to work taking over your life and that balance falling apart. As I get older I’m (slowly) getting better at seeing this creep happen before it tips too far.“
Walks, the family and trails in nature provide a remedy. And sometimes a forest path with birdsong is just the right place for new ideas.
Working in motion with the Aeris Swopper
Sitting for hours on end is just as much a part of working in a studio as controllers and reference monitors. But for Brock, sitting never means stillness – even in his seat, he stays in sync. Every moment moves to his rhythm. Because the right flow starts with movement – not just of mind, but of body too. That’s why the Aeris Swopper has long been a key player in Brocks creative workflow.
For Brock, freedom of movement in the workstation is not only pleasant, but crucial for his creativity. His studio is set up so that he can move freely between his main computer, laptop and analog equipment - quite intuitively. And the Aeris Swopper helps here:
„It´s great to be able to get up and walk around the room a bit every now and then, and know that my seat is in the same place all the time, giving me a nice constant listening position to work from, while still being able to bounce, wiggle, shift, lean, and move.“
How did the Swopper come into the picture?
Lack of exercise, back pain and less energy: After some time, the physical consequences of Brock's long working hours in the studio became clearly noticeable. After an injury in 2015, he began to rethink his working environment: „I had spent over a decade working in a mostly fixed position in more traditional supportive work chairs, none of which I ever really found to be a great fit for me or work that well in a studio environment.“
After a lot of research and on the advice of his physiotherapist, he finally chose to get himself an Aeris Swopper. „My back and core are in a much better and stronger place than they were before my injury“, Brock says. „I wanted to try seating that allowed more natural motion and promoted core stability and strength, and the Swopper really checked all the boxes -plus I think it looks amazing.“
Together with his purpose-built studio desk and a height-adjustable second workstation, Brock has now created a setup that is as flexible as his workflow.
„I can honestly say I can´t imagine sitting on anything else anymore.“
In the meantime, three more Swoppers have moved in with Brock - plus one with his colleague Elisa.
Brock's creative passion drives him - always on the move and never at a standstill. His path shows: Those who move - physically and mentally - do not stand still, but continue to develop. He gives a clear, powerful advice, especially to young people wanting to start out in music production:
„Follow what´s exciting to you, passion is infectious. Let that passion and drive lead you to continue to learn and explore new things."
To quote this favourite mentor Shawn Cole at this point: "Options enslave, limitations liberate"
👀 We are looking for you!
Like Brock, you do also have a job where you sit in an Aeris chair and which is anything but a typical office job? You also have to tell a story of your moving profession? We´re happy to give you a platform here!
Send us a message to online@aeris.de!
... If your story becomes part of our journey, you may soon find another Aeris product moving into your home.💌
