Mixing Mastering Production

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

A: The first album I recorded, mixed and produced. I loved the songs and I think the record sounds great even to this day, two decades later, though I recorded it with almost no gear and very little experience. All I really had were my ears & and my gut. Though it wasn't sonically perfect, the entire album still FEELS great, and that's what matters.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I just recorded, produced, mixed & mastered a heavy metal version of "White Christmas" for a client overseas, and produced, mixed and mastered an EP for an artist from New England.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: No.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog sounds better. Digital is easier, and more cost effective to work with. But they the analog emulating tape machines are getting REALLY good. :)

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

A: To deliver, to the very best of my ability, what you are paying me for.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It has allowed me to travel much of the world.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Can you mix this? My answer is "Yes, I can mix this."

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

A: Some thing mixing and mastering is easy with a laptop in a bedroom. It may be easy, but it takes many years to really be a professional. Like they say, you gotta put in your10,000 hours. There's no shortcuts.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are you releasing this work commercially? Who is your audience? What is your goal with this recording? Did you use AI in the creation of this music?

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

A: Look at my past work and if you like it, reach out!

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

A: A boombox, a Marshall amp, a Telecaster, an 160GB iPod and great headphones.

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

A: I started playing in bars in the early 1990's. Then I began busking on the streets in Boston MA. Then played open mics, then played supporting other artists, then headlined my own shows, then toured the US and Europe, then moved to Nashville and have spent the last 20 years touring as a live musician for multiple Grammy winning artists. When home I write songs for a publishing company (Sony/ATV, BMG) focusing on TV/Film licensing.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Organic. I enjoy working with musicians playing instruments rather than computers playing loops.

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

A: Brendan O'Brien, who produced some of the best sounding albums of the 1990's.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen listen listen. Serve the song. Serve the artist.

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

A: All genres. The majority of my work tends to land in the Rock N' Roll, Americana, Singer/Songwriter world, but I love working on Pop, Hard Rock, Metal, Bluegrass, Classical, you name it.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Listening.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: 25+ years experience of making my living as a musician and studio engineer.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen to the recorded tracks delivered by the artist, and ask them to provide me a reference artist or recording they feel represents what they are aiming for. I then mix the song while incorporating some of the aspects of the reference mix. I then deliver the mix, make any necessary revisions, then master the recording and delivery a Hi-Res 24/48 stereo WAV file.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work out of my private studio in Nashville TN. I use Protools, with software emulating the best vintage analog hardware, by UAD, Soundtoys, SSL, Neve, API, Studor, Waves, Izotope, Native Instruments, etc..

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Brendan O'Brien, George Martin, Phil Spector, Quincy Jones,

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I offer a number of services including mixing, mastering, and full-song production from scratch.