Produce, Mix, and Master

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on an EDM project for someone at the moment which is really fun! It's a different genre then I normally work on so it's a new challenge!

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I think my work for Simple Story Productions really helped me become a better producer and mixer. I compose, record, mix, and master TV and radio spots for them on a tight deadline. I usually get 3-5 days at most for the whole process. It's made me work faster without comprising creativity or quality.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! It's not about the gear. It's about the sound. I'll use whatever I need to to get the sound I'm after. That being said I really like Universal Audio's digital emulations of classic analog gear. Can't beat the flexibility and ease of trying unique things.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I'll think about your project like a piece of art rather than a file on a hard drive. I'll think creatively about how to make your audio translate to every listener.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Hearing a song go from a rough demo or idea to a finished radio-ready track. It's the ultimate before and after!

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's all about the gear or technical side. It's not. Mixing is a creative skill that belongs in the same category as playing an instrument or writing a song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's the emotion you're trying to convey or the story you're telling? Can you describe the sonic mood you'd like your song to have? Vintage? Dark? Clean? Bright?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Get an idea of how you'd like your songs to sound. Find 3-5 songs that have the quality/characteristics you're after. Music is subjective but some of the worst music is technically perfect but artistically stale. A perfectly EQ'd song doesn't automatically equal a good one. If you sound like Bob Dylan but want a mix like Katy Perry it might not work!

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My Martin D-15, a laptop (with a never-ending battery), mic, UA Apollo, and a notepad.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started playing drums when I was 7 years old but picked up keyboard around 14 or 15 so I could write songs. I was interested in recording pretty much from the start. I remember saving money to buy a 4 track Tascam Tape Cassette recorder. When I was 16 I bought a Korg Triton instead of a car when I got my drivers license. I have worked as a music director at a church for over 12 years and played gigs with my band in the Pacific Northwest and abroad. I've done audio engineering professionally for the last five years along with other musical endeavors!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Creative, passionate, and willing to try anything. Technically I like to start by getting the soul of a track coming through the speakers within the first 15 minutes. I'll bring the faders up, slap the UA Ampex tape machine on the stereo bus, maybe throw a little bus compression on and get my foot tapping. Once I like the overall feel I'll dive in to individual eq/compression and effects.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Bombay Bicycle Club. I love their sound. It's always unique and seems to lend itself to creative exploration.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't cut corners. Get it right when you record it. Don't accept a halfway decent vocal or instrument performance and think, "We'll fix it in the mix." The quality of your performance is the real ceiling on how great your song can be!

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Indie Rock/Pop/Folk, Rock, Pop, Electronic

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being able to hear a finished song in my head from a simple idea and knowing how to get there.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A fresh set of ears and the ability to partner creatively with you as an artist to not only get your song out but get it out right. I bring creativity in the mixing phase without comprising quality.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For mixing: Get the tracks imported into the DAW. Listen through a few times while making level and pan adjustments. Start applying Tape, compression, and EQ to the master bus (top down mixing) to get a sense of the song. Then individual EQ, compression, and FX.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I've got an amazing sounding mixing room that's been professionally treated with GiK acoustic products and a pair of great studio monitors (SE-Munro Egg 150's). If it sounds bad in my mixing room it is and vice-versa. For my own productions I have tons of VI's from EastWest, Spectrasonics, Toontrack, XLN, UVI, and more. I typically work in the box with Universal Audio plugins but I also use Fabfilter, Slate Digital, Izotope, and many others.