[1][2] He coined the term "bass trap" and is credited with a number of recording studio design innovations, including soffit-mounted monitor speakers and sliding glass doors between live and isolations rooms.
[2][3] As a teenager, Hidley spent long hours playing the saxophone, clarinet, and flute until ordered by his physician to cease after suffering a physical breakdown.
Turning to other music-related activities, Hidley began working at loudspeaker and tape-machine companies while recording at clubs after-hours.
[4][5][6] While at Record Plant, Hidley also began selling pro audio equipment system packages from the garage of his home in Westlake Village, which is next to Thousand Oaks, California.
In 1971, Hidley partnered with Glenn Phoenix and Paul Ford to open Westlake Audio on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
His partners unanimously opposed the idea, so Hidley sold his share of Westlake and founded Eastlake Audio in Switzerland, where he continued to design studios and sell monitor speakers.