Zach is a lifelong musician and sound artist, with a background in music production, guitar performance, film score and sound design. Zach attended Chapman University, in Southern California, where he acquired skills as a music technology student, gaining proficiencies in digital audio workstations, scoring student films, and producing and mixing his own original music. Zach’s band Freedoms was able to successfully release music and complete tours in California, further igniting his passion for music. In New York City, Zach acquired his master’s in Music Technology from NYU Steinhardt, where he focused on Game Audio, Automotive Sound, and Immersive Audio. Zach’s work included his master’s thesis on electric vehicle sound design, Audio designs and composition for VR learning apps, and an immersive original score mixed in Dolby Atmos. Zach also works as a sound designer for theater and live performance such as his work on successful producer and choreographer Kiara Benn’s ‘Just For You’, an immersive and experimental dance show, and Saidiya Hartman & Kaneza Schaal’s ‘Litany for Grieving Sisters’. Zach is currently working as a freelance Sound Designer, Engineer and producer taking on artistic projects and continuing the development of his original artificial engine and propulsion sounds for electric cars.

Zachary Salem-Mackall

Zach is a lifelong musician and sound artist, with a background in music production, guitar performance, film score and sound design. Zach attended Chapman University, in Southern California, where he acquired skills as a music technology student, gaining proficiencies in digital audio workstations, scoring student films, and producing and mixing his own original music. Zach’s band Freedoms was able to successfully release music and complete tours in California, further igniting his passion for music. In New York City, Zach acquired his master’s in Music Technology from NYU Steinhardt, where he focused on Game Audio, Automotive Sound, and Immersive Audio. Zach’s work included his master’s thesis on electric vehicle sound design, Audio designs and composition for VR learning apps, and an immersive original score mixed in Dolby Atmos. Zach also works as a sound designer for theater and live performance such as his work on successful producer and choreographer Kiara Benn’s ‘Just For You’, an immersive and experimental dance show, and Saidiya Hartman & Kaneza Schaal’s ‘Litany for Grieving Sisters’. Zach is currently working as a freelance Sound Designer, Engineer and producer taking on artistic projects and continuing the development of his original artificial engine and propulsion sounds for electric cars.

Available to hire

Zach is a lifelong musician and sound artist, with a background in music production, guitar performance, film score and sound design. Zach attended Chapman University, in Southern California, where he acquired skills as a music technology student, gaining proficiencies in digital audio workstations, scoring student films, and producing and mixing his own original music. Zach’s band Freedoms was able to successfully release music and complete tours in California, further igniting his passion for music.

In New York City, Zach acquired his master’s in Music Technology from NYU Steinhardt, where he focused on Game Audio, Automotive Sound, and Immersive Audio. Zach’s work included his master’s thesis on electric vehicle sound design, Audio designs and composition for VR learning apps, and an immersive original score mixed in Dolby Atmos.

Zach also works as a sound designer for theater and live performance such as his work on successful producer and choreographer Kiara Benn’s ‘Just For You’, an immersive and experimental dance show, and Saidiya Hartman & Kaneza Schaal’s ‘Litany for Grieving Sisters’.

Zach is currently working as a freelance Sound Designer, Engineer and producer taking on artistic projects and continuing the development of his original artificial engine and propulsion sounds for electric cars.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Sound Design Intern at NYU Create Lab
April 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025
Designed over 30 original sounds and melodic ideas for two VR and AR research studies; Designed trailer music, score, UI, UX, and environmental sounds for two VR games; Participated in weekly brainstorming meetings and creative design projects; Worked closely with game developers and animators and assisted with Unity implementation; Created high-quality audio assets for Looking Inside Cosmos and Looking Inside Cells VR games.
Studio Technician at New York University
September 1, 2023 - January 31, 2025
Maintained and assisted NYU's recording studios and classrooms; Installed, tested and repaired speaker systems, consoles, compressors, microphones, instruments, cameras, and projectors; Provided AV support to classrooms and professors with ticketing and tracking; Operated AV and sound for official NYU recordings, concerts, panels, and discussions.
Guitar and Music Production Teacher at Outschool
September 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
Taught semester-long private music production, guitar, and bass lessons for students of all ages; Created and executed music theory curriculum for beginner to advanced guitar; Assisted students in becoming proficient in Logic Pro X, GarageBand, and Final Cut Pro; Developed music production 101 curriculum including recording audio, MIDI, basic mixing techniques, and equipment maintenance.
Summer Music Director at Camp Meeting House
July 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022
Led all audio, visual, and music technical setup and maintenance; Directed camp activities including games, music, and artistic programs; Managed and supervised a large group of 70-80 middle school students.
Music Teacher K-5th at Epic Academy
August 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Created and executed music curriculum for instrument instruction and theory for kindergarten to 5th graders; Developed lesson plans tailored for special education environment; Facilitated student participation in showcases featuring multiple instruments and vocals; Designed introductory music technology curriculum using GarageBand and computer music games.
Guitar & Music Production Instructor at Superba Vox
March 1, 2020 - October 31, 2021
Designed original lesson plans for over 50 guitar students of various ages and skill levels; Created personalized curricula for private and group lessons; Produced and shared instructional videos for student review and practice.
Music Producer & Engineer at Freedoms (band)
December 1, 2017 - May 31, 2020
Collaborated with peers to form a soul collective for live and recording events; Performed mixing, production, and original guitar work on multiple Spotify projects, with an original composition reaching 12,000 listeners; Composed original film scores for six student films including an animated thesis film.

Education

Master's in Music: Music Technology at New York University
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Arts: Communication Studies at Chapman University
August 30, 2016 - May 1, 2020
Bachelor of Arts at Chapman University
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2020

Qualifications

Dolby Atmos Essentials
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Dante Level 1
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Pro Tools Certification
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Gaming, Software & Internet
    uniE608 Spencer Stroud's Intero: Immersive Soundscape and Score by Zach Salem
    This is a clip from Spencer Stroud's Intero, performed on May 2nd and 3rd at The Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, NY. This is a short clip from the 23 minute soundscape and original score Zach composed for this piece. This vast sonic experience includes hard beats, synth soundscapes, mandolins and guitars and field recordings of the city. Choreographer: Spencer Stroud Dancers: Kiara Benn, Eury Germ, Demetris Charalambous Video Credit: Emily Massey
    uniE608 Cadillac CT5V Black Wing Commercial: Re-Sound Design by Zach Salem
    This is a re-sound design of the iconic Cadillac CT5V Black Wing launch commercial. I wanted to re-create this ad with more detailed samples of the Black Wing, creative sound design techniques and my own original music. Hope you enjoy! Video Credit: @Motor1 on Youtube
    uniE608 Beyond The Deli Door- Original Score
    This is a short clip from Beyond The Deli Door, directed by John Mastandrea. Zach utilized modular and polyphonic synths, and manipulated samples of various wind instruments to compose this otherworldly score. Director: John Mastandrea
    uniE608 Sound Design Demo Reel- Zach Salem
    Sound Design Demo Reel by Zach Salem-Mackall The following is a set of clips lovingly borrowed from Youtube to demonstrate some Game Sound Design. Each clip was re-sound designed and mixed by Zach Salem-Mackall. I do not own the rights to these clips and the gameplay is credited below. Elden Ring- @Shirrako Assetto Corsa- @Vroomy Deadspace- @gamespot Starbound- @EpicSmileYT Jak and Daxter- @projectlongplay
    uniE608 Just For You
    This is a clip from Kiara Benn's 'Just For You' an immersive dance show performed back in 2022 at The Performing Garage. Zach created an soundscape with recordings of household objects paired with a drone for the opening sequence of the show. He also composed an original song for guitar and bass that was performed live by musicians with improvisations from each dancer at the performances. Choreography/Direction: Kiara Benn Dancers: Christian Denny, Celina Haber, Elisa Hernandez, Jessica Robling, Spencer Stroud, Jailyn Philips-Wiley Video Credit: Charlotte Youkilis Bass: Grayson Jobst
    uniE608 Mansion Melodies
    This is a clip from the short animated film, Mansion Melodies, directed and animated by the talented Amy Santana. Zach used dreamy and droning guitar for the haunted house and also composed an original tune for the ghost trio to play. Animation/Direction: Amy Santana Bass: Matt Owens Trumpet: Jeremy Davalos Composer: Zach Salem-Mackall