Mixing & Mastering | Pro Level

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I am proud of every project I work on, regardless of the genre and whether it is my own or a client's. Every project, at the time I am working on it, is the best project I have ever worked on. I love music and I love making it, that's why I chose to make it my main job.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Me.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I love most about my job is that it unleashes my creativity. It allows me to express emotions and ideas that words alone can't convey.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Customers occasionally ask why their home-produced track sounds different from mainstream releases. I explain that it all boils down to the production and recording process. Regardless of the mixing engineer, a $200 microphone directly into a $100 audio interface will naturally sound different from a $2000 microphone through a $2000 preamp into a $4000 audio interface. Even with the best mix, subtle nuances due to budget differences during the production phase will persist.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: The most common misconception is that you can turn a poorly produced and recorded track into a stellar mix. A great mix usually comes from excellent production and recording. While it is possible to improve a poor arrangement, it is crucial to understand that a professionally arranged, recorded and produced piece naturally lends itself to a phenomenal mix.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: "When engaging with potential clients, I begin by asking about their favorite artists and what specific elements they appreciate in the song they're entrusting to me. I also explore aspects they may not like, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of their musical preferences and vision.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: For clients considering my services, I recommend ensuring that the project has undergone thorough exploration in its early production phase and is truly ready for finalization. Before we begin working together, I encourage clients to create a playlist with at least 30 minutes of songs in a style similar to theirs or that resonate with how they imagine their piece should sound once finalized. This helps to accurately tune their ears throughout our collaboration. It allows for an emotional detachment from the first versions heard repeatedly during initial creation, versions that are not yet ready for distribution and which will differ from the refined final product.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: For nearly 15 years, I've been immersed in the world of music production, dedicating the last decade professionally to the intricacies of mixing and mastering. It's more than just a job for me—it's an art form. I revel in the hands-on experience of shaping songs, leaving my distinctive mark. To me, mixing is an art equal to musical composition. Beyond being a profession, it's a genuine source of joy.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Music is cyclical, it's essential to know the music of a few years ago to understand what future trends will be and, if possible, anticipate them. In addition to this, the arrangement of a song is the most important part of a professional musical production. If a song is badly arranged, the mix does not work miracles, it can help but it will always be a bad song with a beautiful aesthetic. The success of a song starts from the way it is written and arranged, the cherry on the cake will be an excellent mix and mastering.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: When I approach a song, my primary objective is to make it stand out from the rest. Yes, doesn't judge a book solely by its cover, but a well-produced and great-sounding song can make a significant impact on the listener's ears. In the realm of music, I aim to provide that extra 'wow' factor that elevates a song to a new level. To draw a parallel with the fashion industry, where makeup and retouching are used to enhance models and eliminate imperfections, I do something similar with music. I want to make a song the best possible version of itself. My goal is for a project to pass through my hands and emerge as the most outstanding and polished rendition of that song. Whether I'm working on production, mixing, or mastering, my dedication to quality and precision is unwavering. I strive to bring out the unique qualities and potential of each song, ensuring it captures the listener's attention.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process is characterized by a strong emphasis on order and effective communication. When I first engage with a client, I make it a priority to have a conversation about the sonic goals he has in mind for his song or album. It's crucial to ensure that we're on the same page, so I ask for as much information as possible and various reference tracks. This step is of huge importance, whether I'm working on music production, mixing, or mastering. Once we've established the framework and set the objectives, I start working on the project. Throughout the process, I like to keep the client updated on my choices. This helps prevent time wasted on misjudgments, and I always let the client steer the ship in each phase. If I have an idea I believe could benefit the project, I propose it, and I implement it only if the client approves. My main goal is to provide the client with the musical product they envisioned, and ideally, surpass their expectations. I offer unlimited revisions, as long as the original idea remains intact (in the case of music production from scratch) or the stems are not replaced (in the case of mixing and mastering). Therefore, I make sure that the client is absolutely certain of what he is entrusting to me before starting.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: In addition to my mixing and mastering services, I am currently working on several projects that you can listen to on Spotify. Modern Times: EDM project LO-FI BEATS MIX: HipHop Lo-Fi beats for studying and sleeping Enrico's Piano: I love classical music, so I decided to start this project where I simply play the piano. I release new songs every week, entirely produced, written, recorded, mixed and mastered by me. I love experiments. All of my projects are fun to me because they're truly mine, and listening to them reflects how I believe music should sound.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: All good artists are ok if they make good music. Music is an art, the art first of all.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital for life.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: We'll have a great time in the process!

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Nowadays you can get a professional and high quality result even with only the integrated plugins of your daw. So I summarize, I bring one: Logic Pro.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is like water, which molds itself to the shape of cup. I adapt to the needs of the moment, aligning myself with the message that the artist wants to convey and the emotions we intend to express. All achieved while maintaining precision in the drums, power in the bass, and infusing the vocals with a compelling dose of emotion

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Usually I work on EDM, Rap, Trap, Reggaeton

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My greatest talent lies in my attitude: I am constantly at the forefront of the music scene, immersed in the daily exploration of new releases. Analyzing and studying the latest mixes of the latest big releases helps me understand the evolution of the music scene. This dedication gives my productions an ever-present touch. During the process I take time to carry out the final operations, going into the detail of the automations in all the processes that make up the production of the song in progress. I don't use any presets, they are very finicky in the elaboration of a product and I am of the opinion that it is not the plugin rather than a preset that makes a song unique, rather I am convinced that it is the way in which they are used. It's not the car, but the driver that makes the difference. I consider myself an audio craftsman.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Daw: - Logic Pro x - Reaper Audio Interface: - Audient ID 14 - Apogee Groove Speakers: - Ik Multimedia MTM iLoud - Avantone Mixcube - Mission LX2 - JBL GO Headphones: - Sennheiser HD600 - Apple AirPods Pro My studio setup is entirely digital. Modern DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) offer exceptional quality and high-end simulations. I prefer the convenience and flexibility of using high-end third-party plugins over bulky hardware equipment. These plugins offer the same level of sound quality and fidelity, but are immensely more space efficient and make recalling projects a breeze. Working in a fully digital environment, I can easily access a wide range of virtual instruments and effects, allowing me to create exactly the sound and feel needed for each project. This approach not only maximizes efficiency, but also ensures I stay on the cutting edge of technology in the ever-changing world of music production. Last but not least: I can work on my musical projects wherever and whenever I need.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I love all music, even if I particularly prefer EDM and Urban music. Over the years I have collected a large list of reference artists for these genres. As for EDM music, I love the way Tiesto and Skrillex's music sounds. In general, I find it very encouraging when I deal with this musical genre to achieve their precision and sound texture in the mixes and their sound pressure in the mastering. As for Urban music, and here I include rap, trap and reggaeton, I love how Kanye West and Travis Scott's albums sound. I think they are extremely well produced, their mixes sound divine. As for reggaeton, I think the quality of J Balvin and Daddy Yankee's music is the best around. Besides that I also love other artists outside of these first ones I mentioned. For example Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Post-Malone and many others definitely occupy a prominent position among my favorite listening.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I am often hired to work on original musical productions or to provide services such as musical arrangements, mixing and mastering of songs and albums.