Mixing/Mastering Engineer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I was trained on analog and LOVE IT for its natural sound of tape, the saturation, the little "hiss" on the record... But it is SO much more expensive to maintain, and not at all portable. Digital is portable! I can plug my laptop into ANY studio in the world and go right to work! And the BEST part of Digital, when mixing, but I can't complete a mix, or wish to come back to it later, just "save' and "close" and onto the next! You can NOT do that with Analog, especially if you are using a patch bay, with lots of Analog equipment plugged in... I remember , as a kid, just starting out, having to document EVERY analog processors' setting, by taking Polaroids, and also writing the settings into a notebook (for future reference), and then tearing EVERYTHING down, "Zeroing" out the mixing console to prepare for the next session... LOTS of work!!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I was trained on analog and LOVE IT for its natural sound of tape, the saturation, the little "hiss" on the record... But it is SO much more expensive to maintain, and not at all portable. Digital is portable! I can plug my laptop into ANY studio in the world and go right to work! And the BEST part of Digital, when mixing, but I can't complete a mix, or wish to come back to it later, just "save' and "close" and onto the next! You can NOT do that with Analog, especially if you are using a patch bay, with lots of Analog equipment plugged in... I remember , as a kid, just starting out, having to document EVERY analog processors' setting, by taking Polaroids, and also writing the settings into a notebook (for future reference), and then tearing EVERYTHING down, "Zeroing" out the mixing console to prepare for the next session... LOTS of work!!

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

A: Research, research, research... Type "Jake B Nimble Rodriguez" into Google to find out all about me, my industry work experience, and past clients. Read reviews, listen to music produced, mixed, and/or mastered by the person you may be hiring. Check with former clients... how were they treated?? Once you've done that, then contact the potential hire directly.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It's important as a (Pop/Hip Hop) songwriter/producer to easily be able to distinguish between your verse and hook. I know it sounds easy enough, but I can't tell you how many times I've had to REWORK the hook, or in some instances I even had to WRITE/PRODUCE one in the studio... ON THE SPOT!! Make your hooks POP OUT OF THE SOUND SPECTRUM!! IT IS WHAT WILL MAKE/BREAK YOUR SONG!!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say my ears and ability to hear thing in the minutia are one of my strongest skillsets, as I have a keen sense of melody and harmony. I can also hear when something is out of tune (voice or instrument). I also have a very good sense of rhythm and timing. I know if something is on-beat, or off..

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My 35+ years of writing, producing, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering songs at a HIGH Industry Level! My ears of knowing if something sounds "right" or "good" (I know, very subjective), is innate to me.

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

A: Mixing and mastering records. I've been doing it for over 30 years! I am also a vocal arranger/producer, working directly with artists, in studios, creating/developing melodies, harmonies, and adlibs, as needed.

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

A: I have been in bands, or recording Pop, Hip Hop, and Rock Stars in recording studios, or performing LIVE for well over 35 years. Initially a trumpet player, I taught himself piano, and then trained and transitioned into a recording engineer, and later became a (Minnesota Music Award Winner, and Latin Grammy Award Nominated) music producer/arranger.