Independent mixing engineer looking to help people take their recordings to the next level
I am a mixing engineer who likes to help take recordings and make them sound lush, alive and with a nice breath to it rather than slamming it on the meters. I take my time with mixes and make sure that each instrument has their own life in the mix rather than getting buried under another instrument. Very professional minded and a great work ethic. I have musicians available to record anything that is needed as well if the situation calls for it.
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
Interview with Gary Brenner
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Music creation through virtual instruments and learning the drums on an electronic set.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Nope
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Oh boy, how I would love to do everything in analog as there is truly nothing like the love that analog brings to music. Digital is great but it can be too clean which brings out too many imperfections and people are being too critical about it. This subject could go on and on and on....
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Quality sounding mixes
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: well, this isn't my job but I would like it to be at some point in the future and if it was, I get to make my own hours
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Do you have Pro Tools. No
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: People think I spin turn tables when I say I'm a mixing engineer
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your end result of this project and what is your time frame
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Sometimes the people who do this for a hobby have more passion than those doing this strictly for money to pay the rent
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Laptop with all my current software, USB Audio interface, USB Keyboard, USB Microphone and a guitar.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My career path was to be an audio engineer but one thing led to another and now I'm an IT Systems Administrator.As a hobby I have been working on my audio skills for over 15 years. I spent some time with Bob Clearmountain assisting him on audio technology(Nuendo) and learned a great deal just by observing so I am no stranger to music production
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Worked on a Tsunami Relief CD and had a song I mixed for some inner city kids put on it.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Very old school 70's style mixing but with today's technology
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Roger Waters. His story telling is amazing and he has vision on what the sound should be.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Less is more. Always cut on the EQ and never boost.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Typically Rock and Hip Hop
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Vocals
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Clarity, life, spacial imaging of instruments.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Start with drums and get the mood and levels set. Bring in the bass and then the rest of the instruments. Once I am happy with the instruments I bring the voice in
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Simple setup. PC with Steinberg Nuendo and Cubase, Waves Plugins, Various VST Instruments. Audio is handled by an RME Audio card being fed into an Apogee Electronics Mini-DAC as well as an RME ADI-2. Speakers are Yamaha NS-10's(original model) and KRK Rokit 5's. Behringer XD8USB Drums, Roland JP8000 Synth, Fender Electric, Washburn Acoustic
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Bob Clearmountain, Mark Linett, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Typically I will take the stems of the audio recordings and mix them at my studio.
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- EditingAverage price - $40 per track
- ProducerAverage price - $100 per song
- Sound DesignAverage price - $50 per minute
- Live SoundAverage price - $200 per concert
I'm open to any scenario to fit any budget.
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Waves
- RME Audio
- Apogee Electronics
- VST Instruments
- Reason