J. Benjamin on SoundBetter

J. Benjamin at your service! Violin Tracks or Audio Mixing, I've got you covered!

Benj learned to play the violin at the age of 10. He studied with several renowned Filipino violinists before moving on to finish his Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, and Master's Degree in Music Performance from the Philippine Women's University College of Music.

Benj currently produces violin covers of today's popular love songs, as well as classics from yesteryears. He also teaches the violin to aspiring young ones.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

3 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse J. Benjamin

by Stefan B.
Verified
This was my second project for which Benjamin recorded the violin tracks. Again, I am very satisfied with his work. The tracks are of highest quality and were delivered promptly. It is a pleasure to work with Benjamin and I will be more than happy to reach out to him for future projects.
by Stefan B.
Verified
I am very happy with J's work and it was a pleasure collaborating with him. He was very responsive and professional, and the violin tracks he delivered are excellent. J clearly is a highly accomplished musician and violin player who takes great pride in his work. I will gladly reach out to J again for future collaborations.
by Ryan
Verified
Jose Benjamin was a pleasure to work with. He is a talented violin player, open-minded, professional and very kind. Most importantly, he was easy to work with and as a producer I find that an essential quality for a productive session - that goes hand in hand with musical talent.

Interview with J. Benjamin

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I once played with the Manila Symphony Orchestra as a soloist. The MSO is the one of the oldest orchestras in Asia and I am proud to have performed with them the Love Theme from 'Cinema Paradiso', arranged by John Williams for the violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "Can you add a violin track to this and make it sound great?" My answer? Always a "Yes!"
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Most people think that music has no money, no future. They would rather go find "high-paying" jobs.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I usually ask them the full details of their project and what I can do to help.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Not every provider has value for their price. Always check first their audio portfolio or samples of their work.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been an orchestra musician for as long as I can remember. Recently I've also been teaching the violin in two academic institutions.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Working with Graham Cochrane would be fun, because we can share ideas on creating great music!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Always strive for the best quality possible. Don't settle on just one take; play the same song over and over again and you'll hear your music become better as time goes.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Listening to a song for a few times over, identifying details of the song (key, pitch, groove, etc.), then trying it out on my violin for a few attempts!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Nathan Milstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Michael Rabin, Maxim Vengerov, Graham Cochrane
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring to it my years of experience in playing the violin and my heart.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Whichever is available. I can go with digital because it is very accessible and available, but if there's analog I'd grab it!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My microphone, laptop, audio interface, headphones, and MY VIOLIN!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Classical, but I also do cover songs.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Basic home studio setup: Laptop, Focusrite Scarlett Studio, and Pro Tools.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: At the moment I am improving my violin technique and doing practice mixes.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Client hires me, we discuss details for a bit, then get started!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to my clients that I will do the best I can to meet their expectations and even exceed it!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Mainly Classical, but I can adapt to other genres like pop, rock, etc.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love it. Simple as that. I can't do something that I don't love doing.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I produce violin recordings as best as possible, according to the client's request.