Hello, I specialize in remote mixing and producing pop, rock, country, country pop and bluegrass. After mixing your track “in the box” I will run it through my high level analog chain -Neve 5057 Summing Mixer > SSL Fusion > WA Master Bus Compressor > Maag Master EQ > Neve MBC AD Converter/Limiter- to get you a Radio Ready Track.
My first priority is to build a relationship in order to understand and carry out the client’s vision for the project. I have been a SoundBetter client and understand the importance amd value of establishing strong communication between the client and provider.
My fees are project based as follows - $300 for mixing a single song with up to 16 tracks or 8 stereo stems. This includes up to four revisions. If there is any production work needed, there will generally be an additional $250 fee.
As a Music Producer, Mix Engineer and recording artist, Leo works with aspiring and professional recording artists and session musicians to record/mix/produce new and original music in his project studio in Connecticut and his mobile studios that he uses to remotely record artists throughout the US.
As a singer/songwriter/storyteller and trumpet performer, Leo's music career spans over four decades with over twenty years as a solo artist. He began his professional career as a trumpet player with local big bands and society bands at age thirteen. Throughout his high school and college years Leo continued to perform as a professional musician both as a singer and trumpet player. Leo has performed with such notables as The Temptations, Bobbie Vinton, as well as The National Tours of White Christmas, The Sound Of Music, and Peter Pan.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
Languages
- English
9 Reviews
Endorse Leo Lavallee
check_circleVerified (Client)Always love working with Leo, very creative guy! Look forward to working again with him!
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Leo is always a pleasure to work with. I have a lot of fun coming up with ideas and just being a part of his projects.
Will look forward to working again with him! 
check_circleVerified (Client)I always look forward to working with Leo.. great writing style ad very talented musician! Definitely a pleasure to work with!
check_circleVerified (Client)Always great working with Leo!
- check_circleVerified (Client)
Love working with Leo! Great guy and has great vision for his music. Happy to work with him any time.
Leo is a highly skilled multi instrumentalist . His years as a live performer in symphonic, jazz and pop settings have prepared him well to sit behind the recording desk as a producer. His mobile recording rig is a world class studio on wheels. For anyone looking for the best on location recording, I highly recommend Leo .
I've worked with Leo the past few years on several recording projects as a session musician, he's a great producer and audio engineer with fabulous musicianship, good ears, technical ability, and he possesses some top notch recording gear. I always look forward to working with him in the studio!
I’ve worked with Leo as a musician on several projects and he is creative while being organized at the same time to get the project done on time and sounding great! Definitely recommend.
Leo is a very talented musician. I have worked with him on multiple projects. He has always been professional, accommodating and has great communication. I definitely plan on working with him again.
Interview with Leo Lavallee
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I really enjoyed working on the project (song) on my profile example - AMERICAN FORGED - I am the songwriter, producer, mix engineer on this project - it was done 100% remote with session musicians from Nashville and Connecticut.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I e got several projects going at the moment, an original song with a 5 women FAMILY vocal group from North Carolina, two bluegrass songs currently in production, and two great songs covered by recording artist Megan Frechette.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: One of my mentors and an amazing musician, producer is Austin Moorhead. I would also recommend Bruce Hoffman if you’re looking for a session multi instrumentalist (dobro, fiddle, banjo, mandolin)
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both - well, we’re not tape back and forth through the mail anymore so everything ultimately is digital. That being said, I have a hybrid rig that allows me to impart all kind of analog goodness into your mix!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to work hard for you, listen to you and make our project the best I can possibly make it!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love working with emerging artists perhaps just entering this phase of their journey…
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Actually, most questions I get are project specific. I think that is because I try to be detailed in my communication up front before we mutually agree on the project.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Like many industries, there is quite a learning curve to become proficient at audio mixing. In my own growth I went from “unconsciously incompetent” to consciously incompetent” and “unconsciously competent” to FINALLY “consciously competent”. So the little gem of wisdom here is if you are relatively new to this pursuit, you might serve yourself beat to assume that you are currently “unconsciously incompetent” (you don’t know what you don’t know) … It is my hope that through our interactions we can both grow through this continuum!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your vision for the project? Do you have examples of previous “radio-ready” mixes of your music? What do you plan to do next once you’ve received the final mix?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: To find the best fit, check references, the project audio examples, and the area of specialization - stay away from generalists
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Hmm … my (1) Taylor 710 Dreadnought acoustic guitar, some kind of (2) solar powered power cell, a Zoom (3) remote recorder (it has internal effects and a great stereo mic built in), my (4) trumpet, and and (5) iPhone so I could distribute my “desert Island” music to the masses …
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I was first in a recording studio as a vocalist during the Spring of my senior year at Ithaca College. I was immediately hooked and vowed to learn all I could about this process of making music! That was in 1981!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My style is laid back but professional. I truly enjoy this work, especially meeting amd working with new artists.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I’d like to work with Taryn Papa … do you remember her on the Voice a couple of seasons ago? She is a tremendous talent with a “Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood caliber voice. With the right songs and production, she is going to become a superstar!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: “Less is More”. In other words - don’t wait to buy all that exciting gear and think that is the secret. Come up with a song idea, get it down somewhere simple (iPhone voice recorder works great for this), then work on the melody/hook and re-record… this is all you really need to start the process …. Repeat this process often ….. It is true that the more you write, the better you get!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Lately, I’ve been working on country, country pop, bluegrass and blues…
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I have been told my strongest skill is my ears … my ability to hear what is happening in a mix and then to make the alterations necessary to bring out the true artistry of the client.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring audio engineering experience, musicianship, and my creativity, energy and my desire to make my next mix the best I’ve ever done! In addition, I have assembled quite a few high level pieces of studio gear that can add that that illusion punch, depth, width, warmth, and analog charm missing from so many modern mixes.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: The process can vary as I will adapt to any clients specific needs. However, a typical project work process would go as follows: After a project has been fully communicated and funded the client would send me (1) up to sixteen (16) .wav file stems of the tracks to be mixed with all processing removed (unless we’ve mutually decided to include an effect because it is essential to the tone the client wishes) (2) a guide track of the song recorded an roughly mixed. (3) a reference song recording that most closely reflects what the client is looking for. I will create a mix of the song and send an .mo3 to the client for review. I will revise the song as the client requires (there will be an additional charge of $50 per revision after the included four). Once the client has approved the mix, I send off a .wav file of the radio ready stereo mix.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I actually operate two separate studios, a project studio (Sunday Audio) and a Mobile Studio (Carnegie, The Music Adventure Van)… Both are fully equipped to track and mix to a “radio-ready” output.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: As I develop my skill set, I’m inspired by some of session musicians I’ve used for various projects. Check out guitarist Chris Condon or Austin Moorhead, Keyboardist Ryan Prewett, Multi Instrumentalist Bruce Hoffman. These cats can play on your next song and help to get you closer to your vision!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I love to work with emerging songwriters who are looking to “step up” from recording by themselves and are looking to have their song(s) mixed to a “radio quality” level.
I was the Songwriter, Producer, Mix Engineer in this production
Up to (4) four revisions included in project fee
- Toby Keith
- Trisha Yearwood
- SSL Fusion
- Neve Orbit 5057 Summing Mixer
- Neve Master Bus AD Converter
- Apollo Audio Interfaces
- Logic Pro
- Luna
- Protools
3 song package 10% Discount - 6 song package 15% discount
- Carnegie, The Music Man Adventure Van - Heads out on the roadJan 08, 2022
During the month of February, I’ll be traveling throughout Florida, Georgia and Tennessee on three separate music recording projects utilizing our fantastic (and newly updated) Mobile Recording Studio, Carnegie-The Music Man Adventure Van! Stay tuned for some cool video of the journey!
