I'm a Brooklyn, NY based mixer and tracking engineer, currently working as touring FOH and IEM's for Theo Katzman. Previously I was on staff at Brooklyn Recording where I had the opportunity to work on some incredible artists. In my free time you'll find me out in the garage restoring motorcycles or pursuing that perfect cup of coffee.
The vast majority of the work I do is remote mixing for songwriters. Throughout my career, I've made a point of trying to make records that sound big, organic and inviting in whatever capacity that means to the project. If what you do is sincere and compelling, I'm in.
My mixes are priced on a flat-rate system. I find this keeps the focus on quality, not the clock. A mix can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple full days, but in the scope of a whole project, I find that it evens out.
If you've got a project but don't think you can afford hiring a mixer, give me a ring anyways. More often than not, we can work something out!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Interview with Nick Nagurka
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love the "Aha!" moment. Whether it's the little victories along the way, or listening to playback and having that indescribable feeling of intense emotional gratification. I love those rare moments where I feel purely like a music lover.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: We, as engineers, can do a lot to how you sound, but ultimately we're not miracle-workers. Well, maybe we are. Anyways - mixing is an important process, and if you want truly great sounding mixes, you have to bring great sounding tracks and production to the table.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: You have to hire someone you can establish trust with.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A pair of ProAc's, Bryston 4B, a good D/A, Mac Pro and an internet connection. Lay it on me!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: When I was 16 I got my first Tascam 488 cassette recorder, and that was pretty much the beginning of the end for me. I became immersed in recording myself and my friends, trying to push the limits of what I could do with that minimal rig. I ended up studying music composition, production and sound engineering at the University of Michigan and started freelance engineering during my junior year. After school, I continued to work in and around Ann Arbor and Detroit, trying to make as many records and mix as many shows as I could. When I was 23, I was afforded the opportunity to move to Brooklyn, NY. After a year of freelancing in NYC, I joined up as an assistant engineer at Brooklyn Recording, where I worked on over 40 records in house, mixing on the side as much as my schedule allowed. As of the middle of 2015, I've moved to full-time freelance work and have been lucky enough to be making a living working for myself.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Every time I hear a song, I think where it wants to go. Both from a musical point of view and from a production standpoint. I'm hearing a sort of sonic imprint of where I think it needs to be, how I want it to hit me. I'm always trying to be conscious of the emotional impact that my choices make and trying to highlight that - whether the emotion comes from a lyrical place, a musical place or from the sonic environment.
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $500 per song
- EditingContact for pricing
- Time alignment - QuantizingContact for pricing
- Recording StudioContact for pricing
Mixing is priced at a flat rate. Typical turn-around time is within 24 hours of successful file delivery. This generally includes 3 mix revisions.
