I am a singer-songwriter with a passion for the recording process. I have produced and recorded my own music. I designed my home studio for optimal sound quality and creative productivity.
I would love to help you with whatever project you are working on. I can help with just about any aspect of the process. Producing my own music has forced me to develop in multiple areas of music making.
Writing is my first love. I would love to help co-write a song for you.
Instrumentally I am most skilled in piano and guitar. I love to play ambient keys creating a soundscape for the listener. I employ the keyboard as a MIDI controller and take it to new heights with samples and plugins. The guitar is another beautiful instrument that can sound great acoustically or plugged in. I love to hook up to my amps or directly into my audio interface and see where it leads.
I love to experiment; so, if avant-garde is your flavor I can experiment with you.
I am also a spoken word artist. I would love to be featured on your song.
I fell in love with the mixing process. I would love to mix your song. The mixing process is more than a technical step in the process. Mixing requires technical and artistic skill.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Interview with David LaLone
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am working on a few spoken word albums.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: no not really still new to SoundBetter
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I respect both, but I have more experience in digital. The reality is that digital is cheaper and still holds up to the quality of analog.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to give it my best.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The new challenges that I face everyday.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: how long will it take? can you fix it in the mix?
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: people think that audio engineers rely on gear to do it all.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What sound are you looking for? What do you want your listeners to feel after hearing this song? what inspired this? what songs should I use to reference this song? what artists inspire you? what is your story? what is the story of this song? What do you want?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Know what you want and make sure you get it. Don't settle for less.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: If I am on a desert island I want to make music, so no electronic gear just acoustic instruments. I would take a cajon, bongos, classical acoustic guitar, straight acoustic, and a piano.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I began in my early twenties as a singer-songwriter that as I began recording my own songs I fell in love with music production.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: my style is listen and react and then create a methodical path forward. My focus is problem solving.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: There are so many.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: trust your ears and your taste.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I mostly work on singer-songwriter and hip-hop.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: As a musician my strongest skill is song writing
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I'm always looking to bring out the rawness of the song. Where is the most emotion? I want that to be the drive of every song.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I work with a client I like to ask good quality question that get to the core of what they are looking for. If I can pinpoint a problem I can solve than I can focus on that as priority one.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a cozy home studio in my attic. It is a private intimate space that suits all my purposes. It is sound proof from most indoor and outdoor noise. It is acoustically treated to create a quality balanced sound. It is also creatively inspiring with bookshelves and art on the walls.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I draw inspiration form a wide group of musicians from Kanye West to Ed Sheeran. I gravitate towards authentic deep lyric writing of Connor Oberst and Tom Waits. I also love a good pop tune from bands like the Ting Tings, or MUNA. I'm inspired by other music production professionals that I read in Tape Op magazine and other articles and blogs I subscribe to.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I typically mix and record for my clients. I serve a broad base of genres but I lean more into folk, singer-songwriter, rock and hip-hop.
I was the artist, producer, and engineer in this production
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $25 per song
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $150 per song
- RemixingAverage price - $200 per song
- Production Sound MixerAverage price - $200 per day
- Singer - MaleAverage price - $50 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $70 per song
- Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $50 per song
I expect healthy and clear communication of expectations. I will do my best to communicate effectively and fulfill your request in a professional and creative manner.
- Ableton 10
- M-audio M-Track audio Interface
- Audio Technica AT2020 P48
- Blue Spark condenser mic
- and handful of dynamic mics.
