Hybrid Mixing/Mastering

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

A: I'll get back on that one lol

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

A: I worked with a local artist, Pineapple A.D., on a 3-track EP that blended atmospheric textures with heavy emotional energy. The project featured both real instruments and digital elements, along with a wide range of vocal layers that needed to feel cohesive. The challenge was gaining clarity and depth while keeping the raw, heartfelt character intact. I stepped in early, consulting on arrangement and mix decisions, then handled the full mastering process. Seeing the final tracks connect so strongly with the artist’s vision made the whole process incredibly rewarding.

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

A: Carl Bahner

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog brings depth, warmth, and character. Digital brings precision, recall, and flexibility. I choose whatever best serves the music so the final master feels alive, balanced, and fully realized.

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

A: I promise to respect your vision, communicate clearly, and deliver work that feels intentional and professional. Your music matters, and I treat it with the level of care it deserves all the way to the finish.

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

A: Most people ask if I can make their track louder without ruining the dynamics or vibe. The answer is yes — that’s the whole point. I make it translate better everywhere while keeping the energy and emotion intact. They also ask how many revisions they get, and I tell them I’m here to get it right, not rush the finish line.

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

A: Choose someone who listens. You’re not hiring a limiter preset, you’re hiring a set of ears and a partner. Make sure they understand your goals, communicate clearly, and respect your vision. When the relationship is right, the master will reflect it.

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

A: I’ve been involved in music for most of my life, starting as a performer and diving into production not long after. While I was building my skills and studio, I worked full-time in the automotive world as a professional painter. That job taught me attention to detail, patience, and pride in craftsmanship, all of which directly shaped how I approach mastering today. Over the years, I’ve shifted fully into audio, and now running Level 32 Studio in Denver allows me to focus on helping artists finish their music with clarity, impact, and emotion.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is clean, deep, and emotionally focused. I care about punch and clarity, but never at the expense of vibe or musicality. I make tracks feel bigger and more intentional while staying true to the artist’s vision.

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

A: I’d love to work with Or Ron Stern, also known as Symbolico. His productions have a rich, psychedelic depth while still feeling punchy and alive. Since he produces, mixes, and masters his own work, collaborating would be a chance to bring fresh perspective to an already dialed-in sound and help push the energy and emotion even further.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Trusting your monitoring is everything. Before chasing new plugins or tweaks, make sure your room and reference chain are reliable. When you can truly hear what’s going on, every decision becomes faster, cleaner, and more musical.

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

A: I work across many styles, from electronic and ambient to rock, metal, and indie. The common thread is artists who care about depth, clarity, and emotional impact in their sound.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is enhancing clarity and depth while preserving the emotion and character that make the music unique.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity, confidence, and emotional impact to a song. I make the low-end translate, the details shine, and the whole track feel more intentional and alive. My goal is to elevate what’s already working without changing the heart of your sound.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by listening closely to the mix and asking about your goals for the release. Then I refine balance, depth, low-end translation, and loudness while making sure the vibe stays intact. I send a first pass, get your feedback, and finalize the master with revisions if needed. Clear communication the whole way so the end result feels exactly right to you.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is built for accurate, trustworthy mastering. I use acoustic treatment, room calibration, and high-quality monitors to make sure every decision translates. My chain combines precise digital tools with analog character pieces for depth and energy when the track calls for it. Everything is routed cleanly and gain-staged for a smooth workflow, so I can focus fully on delivering a master that feels finished, balanced, and confident everywhere it’s played.

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

A: I’m inspired by engineers and artists who care deeply about emotion and sound quality. People like Yosi Horikawa for detail and space, Tycho for atmosphere and tone, and mastering engineers like Dave Tipper who push low-end and depth without sacrificing musicality. Anyone who treats sound as a full-body experience motivates the way I approach the final stage.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently mastering independent tracks, consulting artists on their mixes, and handling full mix and master projects for a growing collective of creators.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The customer's response! Helping artists experience that moment when their track suddenly feels complete. Seeing their excitement when everything clicks — that’s the best part of what I do.

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

A: That it’s magic. Mastering isn’t a secret spell — it’s focused listening, technical precision, and respecting the artist’s intent. The magic only happens because the craft is solid underneath.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I like to understand the artist before I touch the project. I ask what they love about their music and what isn’t quite landing yet. I want to know their top influences and where they want the final sound to sit. That clarity up front helps me master with intention instead of guessing, and ensures the result feels like an elevated version of their vision.

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

A: Most of my work is mastering: taking a finished mix and making it translate everywhere with more clarity, punch, and emotional impact. I protect the artist’s original vision while refining depth, balance, and loudness so the release feels professional and confident on every system and platform.