Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Giffin.
Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path has really been a mix of music, education, and entrepreneurship.
I’ve been making music for most of my life, but things really started to accelerate when I discovered Ableton Live. It completely changed the way I approached producing music and performing, and it has become one of the music industry’s standards for studio production and live performance. I became obsessed with learning the software and eventually started teaching it to others.
That eventually led to me becoming an Ableton Certified Trainer. There are only about 380 of us worldwide, and it’s a global certification program Ableton runs for educators who specialize in teaching their software professionally. Along the way I’ve also had the opportunity to work in the studio with platinum and Grammy-winning artists, including Mac Miller and Machine Gun Kelly, as well as helping prepare live setups for major tours.
Around that time I also started the Ableton Music Producer Podcast. The idea was simple: I wanted to have deeper conversations with artists and producers about how they actually make music and the technical workflows behind it. Over the years the podcast has grown into a platform where I’ve interviewed a wide range of producers, engineers, and industry innovators, which has connected me with an amazing creative community.
Since 2017, I’ve also been releasing music under my artist name Philia, which is a melodic bass and electronic project focused on emotional sound design and danceable grooves. That project has led to performing alongside major artists like Tiësto, playing festivals like Electric Forest, and other events around the country.
Most recently, I launched SoundHaven Podcast Studio in downtown Denver. It’s a professional podcast and content creation studio designed for creators who want high-quality production without having to build their own studio.
The idea for SoundHaven came from my own experience recording the Ableton podcast at different studios around the city. I was often frustrated with either the quality of the production or the communication process. Eventually I realized the best solution was to build the kind of studio I wished existed — one that provides a smooth experience from recording all the way through editing and publishing.
Looking back, the common thread through everything I’ve done is building tools, platforms, and spaces that help creative people learn, collaborate, and share their ideas.
Denver has been an amazing place to do that because there’s such a strong and supportive creative community here. I moved here in 2022 from Indianapolis and quickly fell in love with the energy of the city. At this point I definitely plan on staying.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like most creative careers, there have been a lot of twists and pivots along the way.
One of the biggest personal challenges happened early in my life when my dad passed away when I was 13. Music became a huge outlet for me during that time. It gave me a place to put my energy and emotions, and in a lot of ways it helped shape the direction of my life. Looking back, that experience is part of what pushed me to dive so deeply into music and creativity.
Professionally, the music and creative industries don’t really have a clear roadmap. You’re often figuring things out as you go—developing your skills as an artist while also learning the business side, building an audience, and finding ways to make it sustainable.
Over the years I’ve built multiple pieces of my career at the same time: teaching music production at multiple recording studios (and currently online at Ball State University), hosting the Ableton Music Producer Podcast, releasing music as Philia, and now launching SoundHaven Podcast Studio. Each of those projects came with its own learning curve.
Starting SoundHaven has also had the typical challenges that come with launching any new business—designing the space, investing in equipment, building systems, and making sure the experience for creators is seamless.
But those challenges are also what make the journey rewarding. Every step has introduced me to amazing people and helped me learn new skills.
I’ve found that persistence and curiosity go a long way. If you keep creating, keep learning, and keep showing up, opportunities tend to grow over time.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to relationships and investing your time and energy in the people and communities that matter most.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SoundHaven Podcast Studio is a professional podcast and content creation studio located in downtown Denver. We help creators, entrepreneurs, educators, and businesses produce high-quality podcasts and video content without needing to build their own studio.
Podcasting has become one of the most powerful ways to share ideas and build an audience, but the technical side can be intimidating. Cameras, lighting, audio equipment, editing, and distribution can quickly become overwhelming for people who just want to focus on having great conversations.
SoundHaven solves that problem by providing a fully equipped studio and a smooth production experience. We offer professional audio recording, multi-camera video podcast production, editing services, and content optimized for social media. Our goal is to make the process simple so creators can walk in, record their episode, and walk out with high-quality content ready to share.
One thing that sets SoundHaven apart is my background in professional music production and audio engineering. As an Ableton Certified Trainer and long-time producer, I’ve spent years working with artists, studios, and recording environments. That experience helped shape the way SoundHaven was designed, with a strong focus on audio quality, workflow, and creating a comfortable creative environment.
Another big part of the vision is community. Denver has an incredible creative and entrepreneurial scene, and SoundHaven is meant to be a space where creators can collaborate, share ideas, and grow their platforms.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is building something that genuinely helps people bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s a first-time podcaster or an established business launching a new show, the goal of SoundHaven is to give creators the tools and environment they need to produce something they’re proud of.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
A few things about my life might surprise people.
Early in my career I trained with a team of audio engineers called Electronic Creatives, who run sound and playback for artists performing at the Grammy Awards. It’s an incredibly high-pressure job where everything has to work perfectly in front of millions of viewers. I learned a lot from that experience and was even asked to work with some high-profile artists through that network.
Outside of music, I have a serious weakness for dogs. I impulsively adopted a very high-energy Australian Cattle Dog from the Denver Animal Shelter. His name is Roscoe, although he also goes by Muffin, and he definitely runs the house. He takes up a lot of my time, but he’s a good boy and very spoiled.
Music actually started for me as a drummer. I won my high school talent show two years in a row doing drum solos, and then won again in college performing a drum solo to dubstep music.
Before music fully took over my life, I was also a college soccer goalkeeper on scholarship until I unfortunately tore my ACL twice.
I’ve also had some pretty adventurous travel experiences. When I was 13, I jumped off a 600-foot cliff at Victoria Falls in Africa tied to a bungee cord. I’ve also spent time doing nonprofit outreach in Venezuela and later worked on construction projects on the Navajo Nation helping repair homes for families in need.
Looking back, I think those experiences all shaped my perspective — a mix of adventure, creativity, and wanting to contribute to the community around me.
Pricing:
- Recording sessions start at $125 / hr with a 2 hour minimum
- Full episode editing services starting at $175 / per hour per episode
- • Social media clips and reels packages available
- Discounted monthly podcast memberships available for creators producing multiple episodes per month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soundhavendenver.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundhavendenver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denverpodcaststudio
- Other: https://www.abletonpodcast.com
