Michael was a dear friend in Seattle during the '80's when I was a stagehand / soundman for the Seattle Repertory Theatre where he was my resident sound designer for 7 seasons. The first day we met he asked my boss to "borrow" me to discuss work, and so we spent a lovely hour or two outside by Seattle Center's Singing Fountain discussing our mutual love of life, music and the Beatles. I knew immediately I'd met a soul brother. I began a education in music production and also operating a camera at Studio 932, which he ran with partners Parker, Mark, Jack and Mike. He was a workaholic, but always with a keen sense of what needed to happen with a kind and funny demeanor. I surely will miss him always, but am happy in the memories of the fun we had whilst working together, he was always a joy and pleasure to be around and my sincere condolences are with his partner and all who were, like me, lucky enough to be fair dinkum mates with Michael.

Michael, yours was the most creative, ingenious and humble spirit I've ever been blessed to encounter. Just this evening, I've learned of the beginning of your everlasting journey. I will miss you, mate. I so fondly remember our wonderful adventures throughout China in 1995. The opportunity to partner with you in location and post production projects continues to top my personal life's demo reel. What fun we had. It has been an honor to carry on the company's name to this day, so many years later. God bless your bright, glowing and generous soul. God bless your loving family. And may the Good Lord watch over each of us who have been blessed by your presence in this life.

From the Broadcast Pix website I have just learned of Aussie's passing and my heart feels a lot heavier this morning. We worked together at BPix and he camped at my house for a short time while making the jump from San Antonio to Billerica, MA and he looked for a new home. We only worked together for a short time before I moved on to other positions. I do not believe I ever saw him without that big Cheshire grin and I am saddened to learn of some of his passions and interests "after the fact." I will spend time listening to his music this morning, making a donation in his memory and wishing the best to Aileen in your difficult time.  Those memories will help you through.

Agreed Michael was the best creative person I have had the pleasure of working with. Started for me when he was documenting Earth Day at Gasworks Park in Seattle about 1974. He was working with High Hopes Media Productions, a guerilla alternate media cooperative. I was assisting by sticking my lens out the open window in an small airplane circling the park for use in their production. Michael seemed to gravitate to planing, setting up, directing the video recordings, as well as post producing, putting his discerning hand and eye on many quality finished productions.  At the same time he played and sang in the Crustaceans protest band at every demonstration in the region. This media group produced numerous social issue documentaries over many years with the High Hopes Group. They became well known as the go to production company for protest and positive social change. 

Later in the 1980's Aussie was producing numerous medical education and training productions while working as the NW Kidney Center Production team, Medic One Helipad Landing Training, public affairs spots, several successful childbirth education classes with Penny Simkin, staging and producing a multi camera performance of a play on the life of Supreme Court Justice Douglas, and so many others. All these productions while continuing the unpaid social issue messaging that eventually led to a large body of work that looks forward and has high hopes for change. 

Michael was a technical wizard in many areas. His theatrical sound designs were used as audio environments to support hit Broadway plays and winning acclaim, awards, and national recognition. His destiny lead him mostly elsewhere still doing a number of plays.

He refused to repeat tasks that could be automated and applied this to video editing. One example of hundreds of programs he wrote, when he needed to edit multiple cameras shooting a car race from different vantage points he created a program to essentially "live" edit the 6 cameras on the roll switching seamlessly where called for in one pass. He was a master editor with an eye and ear for detail. And he could deliver working numerous all night editing sessions routinely. This was how he worked during our time together producing medical education and training productions.

Michael lived in Seattle where the basement of their large old house was a finished studio and editing facility. Later he and Erica, Jenny and David moved to the farm in Monroe Washington with five acres, built a full studio, with horses, chickens, duck, rabbits. goats, dogs and a hot tub. A very loving father and lover of animals.

Aussie loved animation and he always excelled at it being self taught with an insatiable appetite for knowledge. When he did sleep there was usually an animation running to view in the morning. His ability to create was astounding.  This is evidenced by wonderful finished products and his hours on the phone and providing online help often for complete strangers in the middle of his own work he would answer questions for long periods of time with no hesitation. No worries Mate...He knew so many people who trusted his advanced skill and abilities that he either figured out himself or taught himself. And he was so humble. Not one to push his own horn or to create friction when things go bad. With one client he asked me to sit between he and Michael in editing sessions to avoid one particularly rude doctor. He always had fun. He liked to laugh, had lotta good stories like the time he was driving backward on Broadway on Capital Hill in Seattle. Spotted by a cop he switched seats with Mike Cady who took the blame as Aussie couldn't get a ticket then. Funny to hear them tell it. Michael's snack around 2 am was usually a large box of cookies and always coffee. Vegemite was also on his plate along with other Australian childhood loves. 

Sometime in the 90's they moved on to opportunities in Austin where he continued to innovate with the TriCaster among other things, a device that enabled countries, communities, businesses, and individual people to set up a radio or television station with capture, edit, post production with audio/video online or cablecast capabilities. Radio or TV station in one box cheap at $5000.00 it has opened doors from online streaming of live events to 24 hour broadcasting around the world, the first of its kind. I visited his family in Austin and he showed me his "office" at NewTech in a large warehouse. Used bicycles and Segways to move about. Each creator there had a large open area. His was most colorful, covered with a para shoot, colored spotlights and a full multi-format video editing suite, computer setups, and his books and literature.

One story bears repeating, we were in an auditorium filming a play. Three camera operators with headphones and mics connected to the director, Michael switching cameras live. Jack fell asleep in the dark running a camera. Aussie couldn't raise him. Had to quietly request the people all along one row to pass the nudge from one person to the next to wake up the camera guy.

Will never forget the warm glow of his spirit, a gentle quick sense of humor, making and playing his music, and his love of work which wasn't work .  Love you my fiend miss you mate...

A year ago I had never even heard the name "Michael 'Aussie' Holten." Then last spring we met in an online songwriting class. At the end of the six-week term I was wishing that the group could continue to meet informally on our own. I didn't get a chance to suggest that, however, because Aussie brought it up on his own even before I could. And right away I thought, "I love that guy." Little did I know at the time that within a few months I would actually come to Love that guy, with a capital "L." The group has met biweekly ever since Aussie suggested its creation. And that is where I came to know and love Aussie. You all know him, so this will not come as any surprise to you, but I have never in my life met anyone as genuinely joyful and positive as Aussie. He simply refused to dwell on any negative part of life. What's the point of that, right, Aussie? For me that is so much easier said than done. Yet he did it effortlessly. And he was so quick to praise our songs effusively, even though he knew so much more about creating music than the rest of us combined, and his songs were so damn smooth! 

Aussie's songs, which Michael Hayashida from our songwriting group has already linked on this memorial site, reflected his incessant optimism and joy. I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't heard them to go and have a listen. My three favorites are "Footsteps in the Sand" (https://soundcloud.com/aussiestudio/leaving-footsteps-in-the-sand), which is hauntingly beautiful and has a lovely backstory, "Best Mates" (https://soundcloud.com/aussiestudio/best-mates), which is just thoroughly Aussie, and has the added advantage of being one of the few of his songs that he did the vocals on, and "A Silly Story" (https://soundcloud.com/aussiestudio/a-silly-story), a really cool song about John Lennon waiting around in heaven or some heaven-like waiting area. (Aussie told us that John Lennon was his favorite musician on his favorite band. I'm not going to go so far as to say they have "Come Together" in heaven. I'm also not saying they haven't. I'll just note that Aussie passed away exactly 40 years and a few hours after John Lennon did.)

I want to take this opportunity to thank Aussie's amazing wife, Aileen, for staying connected with our songwriting group. She has given us a way to stay connected to our friend and to be able to mourn his loss properly. In barely over half a year, we all fell in love with his lovely spirit. I find it so uplifting that a man whom I didn't know a year ago can appear in my thoughts literally every day. And while losing Aussie, especially in these hard times, is a terrible blow to me and to our group of songwriting friends, our lives are so much better for having known him even for a short time.

I'll end this by raising one small bone I never had the chance to pick with Aussie. It has to do with his song "Best Mates." The song opens with:  (My dad said) "If you can count your mates on one hand// Then Son, you've done, alright by me." Who was Aussie kidding??? He could count through all his fingers and toes and then start borrowing digits from his many best mates. Still, I loved that Aussie included us among his best mates. Such an honor. And I take real solace in the very next two lines in the song: (He said) "I outlived all my best friends// But they always turned up, when I need." When he played the song for us, I asked Aussie if he would consider changing "turned up" to "turn up," with the idea being that even after death our best mates stay with us and help when we need. He liked the suggestion and said he'd make the change the next time he recorded the song. He never got the chance to record the song with that change, but no matter. Aussie is now a part of me, and I know that he will always turn up when I need.

From BroadcastPix, as posted on social media:


Michael Aussie Holten

We are all heartbroken at the loss of Michael “Aussie” Holten, who suddenly left us on December 9, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19.

Born and raised in Australia, Michael was known to everyone as “Aussie.” He was immensely talented, and had a varied and accomplished career as a video producer, editor, theatrical sound designer, musician, and – most recently –, software designer and developer.

Aussie ran his own production company in the Seattle area for 25 years, and received numerous awards, including a local Emmy® for Best Documentary for A Question of Survival and a Dramalog Critic’s Award for theatrical sound designs.

He became a leading third-party developer of tools for nonlinear editing systems, authoring 300 video and audio plug-ins through his software company, OZware. He also won a special “For Giving Me Back My Dad!” award for writing the time-saving Co-Pilot Audio and Co-Pilot Video tools.

Aussie joined San Antonio-based NewTek in 2000, and was instrumental in designing and developing the TriCaster. In 2008, he moved to Billerica, MA, and joined Broadcast Pix, where he made huge contributions to the useability and interfaces of the Broadcast Pix family of products. Broadcast Pix users will continue to enjoy his innovation, passion for simplicity, and design ideas for many years to come.

Aussie loved the business and really understood the user; because of his production experience, he had a unique skill in understanding and designing easy-to-use solutions for customer issues. He will be sorely missed by all of his “mates” and the entire Broadcast Pix family. Creative, talented, and kind, Aussie was truly a one-of-a-kind friend and colleague. His impact on our lives will always be remembered.

I remember when I interviewed Aussie for a software engineering position at Broadcast Pix so many years ago. He came in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I don't remember exactly what was on the t-shirt, but it was definitely unique. I remember thinking "This guy certainly is different". He sure was. I had no problem with that and recommended hiring him. It was a pleasure and honor to work with him. He brought humor and creativity to our meetings, and I will miss that the most. His mark on our company and our lives will always be remembered.

As part of the songwriting group that Aussie started after our class at Club Passim wrapped up, I was so in awe of what the man could do with music. Most of us are somewhat clumsy sculptors, and we chip away at the block and what we thought would be an arm falls off, and we say oops and press on.

But with Aussie, holy cow, his songs would take whatever form he wanted, and his finished products were indistinguishable from radio-ready tunes. Plus he was a cheerleader for us for sure, but also a generous teacher about what he knew.

I encourage you to check out his stuff on SoundCloud, especially if you're unfamiliar with that side of him. (I doubt that's possible considering how much he loved music, but just in case :)

https://soundcloud.com/aussiestudio

As we let 2020 pass quietly into history, I have missed Oz for months on Tuesday nights when we use to solve the worlds problems from the bar stools in the Center Cafe, but have been unable to since February due to restrictions. Had the opportunity to enjoy a few concerts of historic legends with Oz over the years, like Robert Palmer regaling ELP greats in the Narrows in Fall River, n Richard Burton in Lynn Memorial Auditorium. There is an unmistakable loss of light in your passing which we will all have to make up by trying to be a little more Aussie.

I am so deeply saddened by Aussie’s passing. He was such a bright light, always upbeat and smiling. Whenever I saw Aussie, he greeted me with a huge smile, a loud OY and a huge hug and he would sniff my neck and make me laugh, lol. It was hard to be down or in a bad mood around Aussie. If there were more people in the world like Aussie, the world would be a better place.
Farewell Aussie. OY

Michael was the best creative partner I ever worked with, and a dear wonderful friend. Find our High Hopes Media work at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkQHrEa98O6JrkYZ_Qg5QFA

I knew this great Mate for about 25 years. Our plan was to drink Margaritas on Clearwater beach and get old together.... and smile at all the ladies : )
Now I'll have to drink two.... and try to smile a little more.

Cheers Mate,
you will be missed by all.
 

Hey bro, I’m so sorry you’re gone mate. You are my little brother, but the senior in so many ways, & I love you dearly. I remember you coming to my rescue in Oz in 1992 when I needed your help, your countless joyful family trips to Oz over the years & our many Christmas’s together in Seattle. It is your love of life & people that is so memorable to me - you always “light up the stage” when you meet people, even perfect strangers. You are so proud of your family on both continents, & you formed wonderful lifetime friendships. Rest In peace my dear brother - you’re out of distress now & deeply loved by your family & all the mates you’ve made along the way. I salute you.

Oh Aussie, I am so sorry you are gone. To his family: none of you would know me, but I'm one of the folks in the songwriting group that Aussie was in this year. As extraordinary as his music skills were, what we were blessed with the most was his sunny, mellow, encouraging, good-vibes personality. Every week or so we'd meet using Zoom, and Aussie would share his music knowledge (including the professional-grade mixes he created), his enthusiasm for us and life in general, and, of course, stories. We were looking forward to the time when we might all actually meet in person. I'm sure we still will, but there will be an Aussie-sized hole that won't be easily filled. I'm really thankful I got to have Aussie in my life if only for these last few months. And I'm happy I get to say to his family how much he came to mean to us. Great big hugs to you all from wintry Maine!

Michael, you were the light of my life. Every moment with you was increasingly the best of my life. From when we met in San Antonio, to my moving to Billerica. Our trips all over and the adventures on each. This last year was full of misadventure, but was highlighted with our wedding. My Darling, My Life. You will be with me forever.