Chad Martin on SoundBetter

I would love to collaborate with you! I have over 15 years of studio experience and hundreds of successful projects and happy clients here on this platform. Using industry-leading gear and effective communication, I will help you capture that sound you have in your head, record it with authentic instruments and return commercial quality tracks.

GUITARS - PEDAL STEEL - BASS - DRUMS
I record electric and acoustic guitar, pedal steel, bass guitar, and authentic live drums, for anything from singles to full albums, ambient soundscapes, film score, etc. Typically, we will discuss song direction, vibe, and guitar concepts. I will track remotely and send tracks via internet. In most cases, I record uniquely different, left and right tracks to create a wide stereo spread, enhanced by mixing/matching different microphones. The signal-chain is everything! I record everything through discrete, class-A, all-tube channel strips, to create commercial-quality tracks for your songs. I use a full pallet of guitars and amps to find just the right tone. I am confident you will love the quality of the tracks when the project is completed. On request, I can record a dry direct line, if you aren't ready to commit to a specific tone, which can be "re-amped" to find your ideal tone. The key to a great track is capturing the best quality audio at the source. I use industry-leading preamps to capture the purest of tone, and add the right amount of color, vibe, and glue through world-class compressors. I excel in pop, rock, folk, and country styles of music! If you prefer to collaborate and work at a local studio, I am happy to discuss details.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

504 Reviews - 111 Repeat Clients

Endorse Chad Martin

by Jason B.
Verified
I love working with Chad! He always knocks it out of the park with how accurate arrangements are. The guitars sound fantastic and the drums are spot on! He has such a good ear!
by rick g.
Verified
Really exceptional work.
by Sean
Verified
I always can trust Chad to add the right tones and phrasings. Very easy to get along with and very professional.
by Ian C.
Verified
Chad has again delivered solid work on multi-track guitars, including following extensive instructions on the revision process. Always good to work with him!
by Juan E.
Verified
Chad's level of musicianship is out of this world. He has continued to deliver exceptional work on every project we've worked on. Chad is easy to communicate with. He encourages feedback and questions - Always very thorough and thoughtful with his responses. It's like working with a friend. You can't rate the level of professionalism and service that Chad provides with just five stars.
by Dmay
Verified
I have done numerous projects with Chad and he is a super guy and an excellent talent.
Highly recommended.
by Joseph B.
Verified
Chad is very professional and super talented !

His work exceeded my expectations.

I highly recommend him !
by Johnny May
Verified
Chad is a great guitarist, producer, mix and mastering guy. Super easy to work with. Highly recommended
by Garrett R.
Verified
Chad did a great job supplying the tracks needed for my project! He was very good at communicating, and played the perfect parts. I will certainly be using him again. Thanks Chad!
by Zack S.
Verified
Chad and I just finished recording an album together !! He's so talented and professional. Always my go to guitar man,
by Barry Russo
Verified
As always, a great experience all around. This time, Chad helped me put my own spin on a very iconic cover song. I highly recommend him!
by John R.
Verified
As usual, Chad nailed it. Third time working with him. I can't imagine not working without him. He always delivers tasteful work - not too little and not too much - and adds melodic lines so good I feel obligated to include him in the writing credits. Very communicative and responsive too.
by Dmay
Verified
creative
excellent player
easy to get along with
Highly recommended
by Lori B.
Verified
Chad is really talented, kind and open to feedback! He helped me create a song from the ground up and he’s the best I’ve ever worked with. The soundscapes are unmatched. Hope to make many more! 🩷
by David S.
Verified
Already done with another track, and I'm gonna keep being a repeat client, too. Thanks, Chad! You're the best!
by Ryo T.
Verified
We had 13 hours of time zone difference but Chad was patient and nice. Perfectly understood the tone and feeling of the song and made really good arrangements.
by David S.
Verified
I chose Chad for his 481 5-Star reviews (!!!) and reasonable pricing.
Now that the job is done, I'm amazed at his service! Chad has all the equipment, talent, and drive to deliver whatever you want. He is timely and professional, too. I'm already starting the next project with him!
by Juan E.
Verified
Another song down! Chad continues to be such a joy to work with. Great communication, such a down to earth individual and always willing to go the extra mile to help. Chad is such a skillful musician. His level of professionalism always exceeds my expectations. Do yourself a favor and get in contact with Chad, you'll be happy you did in the end.
by Sean
Verified
Very easy to work and communicate with. Knocked it out on the first try. Would use again no problem.
by Johnny May
Verified
excellent and responsive to ideas
a pleasure to work with

Interview with Chad Martin

Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I record electric or acoustic guitar for a song, the first step in my process is a very basic one (but often easy to breeze right through): Listen. When a client brings a song to the table, I make a concerted effort to listen to the song, in it's entirety, outside of the studio. To me, there's a difference between "hearing" the song (i.e. figuring out the key, learning the progressions, coming up with cool hooks, etc.) and truly "listening" to the song. The latter is for understanding what the song is about, the vibe, the color, the mood, energy, space, etc. When I listen outside the studio, I am not tempted to pick up a guitar and start hacking away at the tune. Once I feel like I have a good grasp of the song's direction, vibe, and energy, I begin thinking about what particular tools the song is calls for. This is everything from type of guitar, pickups, the amp, overdrives, delays, 'verbs, and other effects to create the right tone for the song. For me, this step is summed up in a word: Commit. As a guitarist, it is so easy to get caught tumbling down the proverbial "rabbit hole," in search of the "exact" and "perfect" tone for a given song and project. I have expended a lot of time and energy exploring different tones, trying to find just the right balance of "chimey," "beefy," "warm," "glassy," and "rich." The truth is, most clients hire a session player because they trust the player to following their instincts. Getting hung up on two slightly different tones probably means they would both work out just fine. I learned to trust my ear and commit. Finally, the most exciting part of the work process: Create. When I approach a song with either an electric or acoustic guitar in my hands, I am always thinking Left v. Right. The stereo spread is one of the most important elements to a mix, and as a session guitarist, you can't just think like a guitarist. You have to think like a producer. When I track guitar, I ask myself 1) how I can best compliment the song? and 2) how can the guitar tracks best compliment each other? In some instances, it's thick, stereo rhythm tracks, sometimes it's wide, soaring lead lines, and sometimes it's a guitar in one ear and not in the other ear. Regardless, it comes back to thinking left and right complimentary guitar tracking. It is easily the most challenging and reward step of the process. Listen. Commit. Create. Thanks for reading! -Chad