Mix Engineer and Producer

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

A: Life and Plastic 3 by Dreamdoll. It was the first project i worked on released by a Major Label where i mixed the whole project as well as produced a song on the same project.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on an EP by a local NYC R&B Artist.

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

A: I don't know anybody on soundbetter.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: These days i would say Digital. Plugins have gotten so much closer to replicating the Analog magic that you dont even know whats what in a full mix at the end of the day. Also, these days fast turnaround times and last minute edits are so prevalent you don't even have time to run back to the studio and recall all the outboard gear you used for a mix. I've literally been woken out of my sleep to make a last minute edit that was needed in the next hour, I've had to make last minute edits and mix changes while traveling. Using analog gear is a luxury many Engineers no longer can have.

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

A: I promise to make sure you're in love with the mix on whatever song i work on for you.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Turning a demo mix into a polished finished masterpiece, seeing the smile an artist has on their face listening to their song fully mixed is dope.

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

A: how long does it take me to mix a song, and thats not a simple answer because there.s so many variables. but usually 4 to 6 hours on average.

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

A: That its simple to change something. People dont understand that sometimes changing one thing means i have to adjust 3 other things to make the change work.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What sound are you going for.

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

A: Make sure your files are well labeled, have a demo Bounce of the song you want me to work on, as well as 3 references of songs you would like your song to sonically sound like.

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

A: My Laptop, Barefoot Monitors, Antelope Audio Interface, Native instruments Keyboard and Native instruments Maschine.

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

A: I started off as an artist, not too long after that i started producing all my own songs. I've always been someone who didn't want to depend on people to get what i need done, so right after High School i went to Audio Engineering School, and have been writing, Producing and engineering for well over 15 years using one tool to sharpen the other.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Big and Clear!!! thats what im going for in every mix unless the song dictates otherwise.some songs the artist is looking for more of a warm vintage vibe, but even then i'm still trying to make it explode out of the speakers.

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

A: Beyonce is an artist i would like to work with because i feel like she would challenge me.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is more!! you dont want to have so much going on that it takes your focus away from the Vocal. And if your mixing popular music the Lead Vocal, Kick, Snare and Bass are the most important elements of the song everything else has to fit around those elements and they all have to be dialed in.

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

A: Most of my mixes are POP, R&B, Hip Hop/Trap.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my strongest skill is being able to understand where the artist and producer are trying to take the song and knowing how to get it there sonically to meet their vision. I think me being somebody who was an artist at one point as well as a producer gives me a better understanding of what the song needs to take it to the next level. A lot of times i hear a song and immediately know what the client is going for before even looking at the notes or listening to references they may have.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I feel like its my job to bring life to the song and add the polish needed to make the song enjoyable from beginning to end, whether your listening in a car, on headphones, a bluetooth speaker in your house or a big system in a club or venue.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Once i load up the audio files in a session i usually like to listen to the mp3 bounce demo of the song the client has been listening to to make sure the files match the demo. Then i listen to the song 2 or 3 times to see how i want to approach the mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Most of My mixes are done in the box using Pro Tools. I have a bunch of plugins i like to use From UAD, Plugin Alliance and Waves to build the sonic landscapes of my mixes. Most of My Mixing is done listening on my Barefoot Monitors and i a/b my mixes using mix cubes and VSX Headphones.

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

A: Im a Big fan of Timbaland, Dr Dre and The Neptunes

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

A: Im Usually either Mixing, Mastering or Producing tracks for my clients.