About Big Bear Sound

Michael Browne

Managing Director and Head of Contracts

A skilled musician, engineer and producer, Michael began working at Audio Engineering Ltd in the 1980's, organizing mobile recording setups for bands such as U2 and The Waterboys, whilst also running his own recording studio in Dublin. He co-founded BIG BEAR SOUND in 1995 and spent the next few years concentrating on the massive growth in digital audio and hard-disk recording technologies, and built it into Ireland's leading professional audio services company, with a client list including Broadcasters, Computer Manufactures, Educational Institutions, Recording Artists, Recording Studios, Post Production, Commercial & Medical, Venues, Theatres, Events & Shows.

He has been directly involved in some of the most prominent professional AV projects undertaken in Ireland. His experience is in demand as a Consultant and Project Manager but he also delivers turn-key solutions for many facilities, encompassing complete system design, project management, financing, construction, M&E, & acoustic solutions.

Darren Phelan

Sales Director

Darren Phelan, a seasoned professional, joined BIG BEAR SOUND in 2012, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the Pro Audio industry. Darren's journey in the industry began with his engineering studies at DIT in Dublin, followed by a specialised course in Sound Engineering at Pulse recording College. His academic foundation was further honed during his 8-year tenure at Control Techniques Ireland, where he worked in sales and technical support. Before joining BIG BEAR SOUND, he served as the Managing Director and Sales Director of Studio Solutions.

Darren is the companies Sales Director is primarily responsible for the product portfolio. at Big Bear Sound. With over 30 years of experience in the Audio Industry, he has garnered a deep understanding of the field and earned respect from both clients and manufacturers. His wealth of experience and enthusiasm are instrumental in maintaining our commitment to providing a high level of service to our customers.

Darran Cummins

Technical Director

Darran holds qualifications in Sound Engineering, Music Technology and Electronics. He has worked as a freelance recording engineer and a studio manager before joining BIG BEAR SOUND in 2003. Since then he has worked to develop BIG BEAR SOUND’S technical facilities, and to expand and improve our technical expertise and support services for customers. 

Darran provides extensive pre-sales consulting & system design, installation & commissioning and client training & technical support. He is a certified product specialist and service engineer for several manufacturers, and helped establish BIG BEAR'S in-house wiring and cable manufacture facility.

Odhran Connors

Sales & Technical Support

Odhrán is our expert in digital audio & video workstations - designing, installing and supporting systems for recording and post-production studios, broadcasters and educational clients. He is a Certified Support Representative and service engineer for Avid's studio mixing consoles / control surfaces, and storage systems.

He is Ireland's authorized service engineer for Avid's VENUE range of live mixing consoles, maintaining this critical equipment for many broadcast clients and live / touring music and events companies.

Derek Browne

IT Sales & Service

Following a unique career path that began as a private aircraft pilot, Derek made a significant transition into the IT industry in 1995. His journey led him to BIG BEAR SOUND in 2011, where he has become exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of networking & infrastructure, servers & storage solutions, backup & archival, and software licensing.

Derek currently manages a high-profile client list including some of Ireland's leading medical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, commercial institutions and private customers. His responsibilities range from consulting services and system design through to complete project management and on-going support and maintenance.

Cameron Macaulay

Sales & Support

A musician, composer and sound designer Cameron holds a BA in Music from Trinity College Dublin and a MSc in Sound Design from the University of Edinburgh.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Cameron supports clients who are just beginning their journey by helping them select the right equipment. He provides expert guidance on a wide range of software including music notation, recording, editing & sound design as well as essential hardware including computers, audio interfaces, MIDI controllers, and speakers.

His passion for theatre has led him to collaborate on productions for The Abbey, Landmark, Rough Magic, The Irish Arts Council, Dublin Fringe, Volya Theatre (Norway), Project Arts Centre and The Everyman Theatre.

Morgan Browne

Marketing & Social Media

Morgan joined Big Bear Sound in 2022. With qualifications in Music Production from Windmill Lane and Marketing from University College Dublin, Morgan's role focuses on keeping our clients informed - sharing the latest updates on installations, new product releases, special offers, and events.

Gertrude O'Brien

Financial Controller

Gertrude is a qualified accountant with a Business Studies degree from University College Dublin. She joined Big Bear Sound in 2024, bringing extensive experience from across the wholesale/co-op, IT, healthcare, and tech sectors. Her diverse background adds valuable insight and expertise to the team.