Juan Bernabe on SoundBetter

I'm an obsessive editor. My goal is to achieve neatness in the editing of takes without losing the groove or the human touch. I get honest mixes, looking for the best sound without breaking the atmosphere from the recording.

Since 2005, I have produced dozens of albums of independent artists. I've worked with them from pre-recording rehearsals to the mastering stage, reaching professional levels of excellence. One of these independent productions won the Carlos Gardel Award, the most important prize in the music industry in Argentina, and two of them were nominated.

I started my career as a musician, wrote countless scores for theater and dance, and obtained the Trinidad Guevara Award as a composer. My training as a musician and a composer are an essential contribution in order for the recordings, editions and mixes I make to achieve a remarkable balance between accuracy and naturalness. My training is also valuable for understanding what the artist wants to communicate.

As a proud promoter of independent productions and artists, I also run workshops on musical composition, composition for performing arts and instrumental ensemble, working with artists from their very beginning and training.

A mantra: the most important thing is the commitment to the work.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Interview with Juan Bernabe

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: By 1984, I started playing guitar. Five years later, I made my first compositions. My first recordings were on my music about 1995. Then, I moved to Barcelona to study audio properly at 2000. On 2005, back in Buenos Aires, I made my first production. On 2006 I won the Trinidad Guevara Award as a composer for performing arts. At 2016, an album I produced entirely, Risas del Sol, won the Carlos Gardel Award.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: La voz de las flores, by Valeria Donati. Most of the album was recorded at another studio. She brought it for audio restoration and mixing. I loved it but I suggested some changes and additional recordings. We did the rest in our studio. I believe we got where the artist was specting to. And of course, the album Risas del sol by Magdalena Fleitas, wich won the Carlos Gardel Award. I was the producer.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: First, I listen to the music. Then I ask if there's someting I don't get or I tell them what I heard to see if I got it. Also, I would ask what are they looking for artistically? or if they do have any album refferences?
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: At Vuela Ñandú, our studio, we do everything: recording, editing, mixing, mastering, even rehearsals. But, depending on the project, I personally focus on the editing and the mixing.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Natural or realistic it is not perfect. And/or viceversa.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I'll do my best to take their song to where they expect it to.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: On a very special album of a musician I admire a lot, Javier Estrin.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Andrés Mayo, of course.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Unfortunately, she passed away. But I would love to work with Lhasa de Sela.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I don´t call it this way, but it's what is ussually called World music. But we also work on pop-rock related music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Meticulousness to achieve naturalness.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Mainly, to achieve in the studio the spirit that the band has live.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'm not alone in the studio. When we receive a complete project, ranging from rehearsals to mastering, one of us deals with preproduction, the accompaniment of the musicians during the recording and the editing of shots (post recording). Another deals with recording and mixing. And finally, a third party deals with mastering.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Nigel Godrich and, of course, Sir George Martin.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Hard to tell. I love everything about it.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's easy and/or technical.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: As an artist, you must demand respect for your music and vision. On the other hand, if you hire a producer you must listen to him too.