Why You Can’t Miss Jesse Yonge’s Campus Session on Oct 21 — Vocal Production Month at Beatcave

October is Vocal Production Month at Campus. Over four weekly sessions, we’re laser-focused on giving you tools, techniques, and insider secrets to take your vocal tracking, editing, and mixing to another level. On October 21, we bring in Jesse Yonge — owner and senior engineer at Secret Weapon Sound in Toronto — and that one session alone is worth circling in your calendar. Here’s why:

1. Learn from someone already operating at the top

Jesse Yonge doesn’t teach theory from a textbook — he lives this work. He’s earned credits working with major artists (he holds a platinum plaque for “Over the Top” by Smiley ft. Drake). He runs Secret Weapon Sound, a polished, professional studio in Toronto’s Queen West, loaded with industry-level gear (Neumann U87, Avalon 737, UAD interfaces, etc.). That means when Jesse demonstrates vocal chains, mixing decisions, or signal routing, you’re getting exactly what a studio pro uses — not something theoretical.

2. It’s not just about cassettes and compressors — it’s about connection

Beyond the technical skills, this is your chance to ask the kinds of questions you won’t get from a YouTube tutorial. Want to know how he approaches vocal comping? Or how he manages gain staging for rap vs. R&B vocals? Or how he evaluates multiple takes and chooses the “best” one? This session gives you access.

Also: when you build rapport and show that you’re serious, you’re putting yourself on Jesse’s radar. That can lead to future collabs, engineering support, or mentorship — opportunities don’t always come in the open.

3. You’ll get actionable, plug-in-ready tools

Some sessions are high level. With Jesse, you’ll walk away with techniques you can apply immediately:

• How to structure vocal layers (main, doubles, harmonies, adlibs)

• Tips for comping and choosing takes

• Vocal tuning and timing tricks (plus when not to overdo it)

• EQ, dynamics, de-essing strategies specific to vocal textures

• The mindset shift: mixing vocals as instruments, not afterthoughts

And because Campus is drop-in, you don’t need to commit to a long course — just show up, take notes, apply.

4. It completes October’s vocal arc

We’ve already hosted Dajaun (Oct 7) and Dominic “Dot” Okune (Oct 14) to break down vocal technique and capture workflows. Jesse’s session is the culmination — the bridge between capturing vocals well and turning them into a powerful, mix-ready performance.

Attending all of them gives you an integrated framework; skipping Jesse’s is like skipping the final puzzle piece.

5. Value exceeds its price (or time)

Campus sessions are part of the Elevate membership, and for just ~$12/session as a drop-in, you’re getting direct access to people doing this full time. One insight could save you hours in your next session or prevent a mistake that causes a mix to collapse. Think of the ROI: pay once, reuse forever.

What You Should Do Now

1. Block out your calendar — October 21, make it non-negotiable.

2. Come with a vocal project or stems you’re currently working on (or at least a reference) so you can test ideas live.

3. Prepare questions — technical, creative, career, whatever you’ve been curious about.

4. Invite a friend who works with vocals (a singer, producer, etc.) — you’ll get more from the session together.

5. After the session, apply immediately. Straight away, try one change Jesse showed you on your own project to lock in the learning.

This session isn’t just another class — it’s a rare moment to be entrusted with pro workflows, real talk, and direct mentorship from someone actively shaping Toronto’s soundscape. For any Beatcave member serious about their vocals — recording, editing, mixing — this is essential.

See you October 21 — we’re going to go deep.

Learn more & register: beatcave.ca/campus