Maurizio OttO De Togni

Maurizio “Otto” De Togni is a veteran musician, composer, arranger, programmer, and audio technologist, known for his expertise in both Pro Tools and Apple Logic Pro, which he teaches at UCLA Extension and beyond. With over 30 years of professional experience, Otto has collaborated with renowned artists including Franco Battiato, Zucchero Fornaciari, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Nikka Costa, Samantha Fox, Sandy Marton, and Den Harrow. His production credits span major commercial campaigns for Heineken, Subaru, Campari, and Lindt, and he has contributed to more than 1,000 episodes of award-winning programming for top Italian TV networks such as Mediaset© and RaiTV©.

A certified expert in both platforms, Otto holds nearly 90 certifications, including Avid Pro Tools Certified Instructor, Pro Tools Expert, and Apple Logic Pro Certified Trainer. Having worked with Pro Tools and Logic since their earliest forms—Digidesign Sound Tools and Emagic Notator in the late 1980s—he has taught nearly 15,000 students in over 1,500 classes worldwide, both in-person and online. His teaching credits include the Academy of Entertainment Arts and Professions at Teatro alla Scala & Espero (Milan), Soho Editors (London), Future Media Concepts (Stanford University), Musicians Institute (Hollywood), the Grammy Museum, and UCLA Extension.

Otto’s clients have included Paramount Pictures, James Valentine & Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5), Mike Posner, and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. A regular contributor to Macworld magazine, he is also a member of both the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS – GRAMMYs).

Among his credits as a music editor and supervisor is the multi-award-winning documentary The Jumper Maybach Story, a powerful exploration of identity, courage, and equality.

Otto’s contributions to education have earned him multiple honors, including the Outstanding Instructor Award at UCLA Extension (2012) and Instructor of the Year at Musicians Institute for four consecutive years (2015–2018). In 2022, he was recognized for his leadership and innovation at the Avid Voice of the Customer Summit.

Today, Otto is focused on shaping the future of digital learning. He leads Train The Trainer (TTT) programs focused on best practices for online instruction, using tools like Zoom, OpenAI (ChatGPT), and other emerging technologies. His recent teaching and consulting work spans the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Outside of music and education, Otto is deeply passionate about Italian cuisine and culture. He co-authored and produced two cookbooks—including A Queen in the Kitchen, developed with his late wife—and a video channel celebrating authentic Italian recipes. He is currently producing a third, posthumous cookbook in her honor, continuing to preserve and share her legacy with audiences around the world