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.
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
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.
