I use my ears and sensibility to bring my unique point of view to the production. Over Two Billion streams and a few Platinum Records under my belt.
Max Carola is equally at ease with the lush sounds of Folk, World, and Jazz, as well as R&B/Soul, orchestral scores, and the powerful energy of Rock.
With three decades of world-class studio engineering and production experience—including a tenure as the Technical Head of one of the most prestigious recording studios in the world—he is well-equipped to produce, mix, and master your next hit
Always on the cutting edge of technology and open to experimentation, Max Carola is dedicated to integrating the latest advancements in production while respecting the rich heritage of recording history.
Feel free to reach out to Max Carola to explore the potential for collaboration on your next project. He has partnerships with several recording and mixing facilities across Europe and is willing to travel to find the perfect setting. For those with more modest budgets, he also offers remote production, mixing, and mastering services, allowing you to save significantly while still receiving world-class quality.
Act now! Contact Max Carola!
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Credits
- Robert Palmer
- INXS
- Aerosmith
- Roxette
- Peter Maffay
- Akenathon
- Pascal Obispo
- Karim Kacel
- Yayo Gonzales
- NCCP
- Enzo Avitabile
- Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
- Mannarino
- Gary Moore
- Moujard
- Franco Battiato
- Elio e Le Storie Tese
- Mango
- FLO
- Alejandro Lerner
- Kumiko
- Peter Gordon
- Fito Paez
- Euphoniques
- Spaccanapoli
- Zooming on the zoo
- Holliwood Bowl Orchestra
- Tomoyasu Hotei
- Gert Stainbaecher
- Hondy
- Innesto
- Nuova compagnia di canto popolare
- Tonton David
- Susan Ciani
- Souled out
- Mariah Carey
- Spackanapoli
- Monica Pinto
- Sineterra
- Orchestra Joubes
- James Senese
- Napoli centrale
- C.f.f.
- Agnese Valle
- Amrit/Metz
- Mariano Schiavolini
- Takako Okamura
- Tomohiasu Hotei
- Altotas
- Chick Corea
- Antony Hequet
- Zotz
- Giacinto Piracci
- Pietro Condorelli
- Audio2
- Eugenio Bennato
- Vasco Rossi
- Secret Garden
- Okamura Takako
- Daniela Carelli
- Billie Ray Martin
- Lorena McKennit
- Loco Ironico
- Amirit/Mitz
- Pascal Obispò
- pino daniele
- Nino Buonocore
- Power Station
- Yoko Kanno
- Lorena McKennitt
- The Kelly Family
- Marc Lavoine
- Marco Borsato
- Philippe Maujard
- Renzo Arbore e l'orchestra italiana
- Stefan Jarue
- Zucchero
- Carmen Paris
- Orchestro Joubes
- Vesevo
- Mitz
- SoulFtaara
- Gabriella Rinaldi
- Keem
- Euphonics
- Ferraniacolor
- Roadhouse
- Dj Ötzi
- Concetta Barra
172 Reviews - 26 Repeat Clients
Endorse Max Carola- check_circleVerified
Max is a gifted, competent and professional musician who achieves the best quality after each work. I collaborate with Max since I have started to compose and I hope to continue it in the future. As my official partner, I recommend Max without reservations.
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Max is a gifted mixing engineer that I had the pleasure to work with on my song, he's a hard worker with quick and clear communication to get the best possible result for your project. Looking forward to working again in the future.
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Awesome work yet again!
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Great Work and very professional . "Exactly what I needed.…
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Max is willing to see your musical vision 200% the way through, and is able to expertly apply his wisdom and experience to modern records.
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Max is a highly skilled and dedicated mix engineer with a wealth of experience. He went above and beyond to try to meet my requirements and was always open to feedback and adjustments. His commitment to achieving the best possible result is truly commendable. I appreciate his patience and professionalism throughout the process. Highly recommended!
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I extend my deepest gratitude for the incredible work Max Carola did on mastering my song. His expertise and attention to detail have truly brought our vision to life, and the results are beyond anything we could have hoped for. His talent and dedication have made a significant impact, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome.
Thank you so much Max for your outstanding work. It has been a pleasure collaborating with you, and we look forward to future projects together.Lilit
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Max the Master! Very Professional, Understanding, with great insight to little details. We came with our project Mixed already so Max only Mastered it, However his services did not stop there.
We will be working with Max in the near future. - check_circleVerified
Max is very passionate about music so that gives him understanding.
Beautiful vocal reverb delays give such emotion.
Check his Spotify incredible compositions the space around the sounds.
I learned a lot from listening - check_circleVerified
Max is Maximum sonic energy. Very professional and a great ear for detail. I will be working with him again on the next project.
Thank you Max - check_circleVerified
I've worked with Max several times now and he always delivers an amazing finished mix. Super fast and professional turnaround for what I felt like was a tricky album to mix. I used samples and instruments from all over the place and Max made everything sit perfectly in the mix, levels dialed in to perfection. Definitely will work with Max again
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Max really worked wonders on my mix! He took it from rough to polished in no time. It's got that pro sound but still holds onto that analog charm. He's got a real knack for balancing different styles and making sure everything sits just right, especially the vocals and overall levels. Plus, his EQ skills are top-notch. Total pleasure collaborating with him!
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Max is a top-notch engineer. Took my song to a whole new level, was very responsive to the edits. 10/10
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Max Carola is authentic. Max knows music and he knows how to mix it. Max DOES what others say they can do, but they fail miserably. I tried "so called" mix engineers on soundbetter before I used Max and it was a nightmare. Be careful who you go with because there are people on this site who don't have the skills they attest to.
Save yourself the pain. Use Max Carola for your next mix.
David Lawrence. songwriter/composer - Australia - check_circleVerified
Thank you Max! Great working with you.
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Max is the best, he has mixed and mastered three songs for me and is the definitely my go to. I highly recommend Max for all your mixing and mastering needs.
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Max has done it again!! His experience and expertise will never disappoint anyone who has a passion about creating your own music at any stage. The best out here!!
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This guy is literally the best on the platform! I've worked with a few other engineers on this platform and no one else even compares to Max! I will be working with him a lot going forward!
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It was a pleasure working with Max. He gave me exactly what i ask for and more. I appreciate his work and look forward to working with him again!
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Very professional and easy to work with. Top notch quality. Really brought life to the song. Highly recommended.
Interview with Max Carola
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I started all analog and I know it deep. And I like digital since has made possible to deliver great production at a fraction of the cost. And now most of the quirks about digital sounding are gone. In my work, changing from one song to one other several times a day, the digital ability to bring back on the desk exactly the same sound I had left is invaluable and a must to keep the price tag in a possible measure where the records are not so profitable as before. So I like budget conscious clients and I work hard to let them perceive the value of my collaboration. And there are some things that in analog are just impossible... But I still like a lot when I record on the SSL to a half inch stereo master tape, if you can afford it. I always hope to meet clients that have the proper budget to allow that.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise them my best effort to make their music successful, powerful and immediate. And that both the industry and the people will enjoy to listen to it, non stop. I have evidence that my work stand the test of time.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I am a music lover and I like to know new people that share that same passion. Sometimes it's hard to work for long hours and sometimes you have to struggle to reach to a point you start to really feel a song. But when you accomplish the task and the song shine I feel wonderful. It's a mystic experience
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Is the lead guitar loud enough? :-P And my answer is almost always, yes! Another question is often: Do you like the song? And I can only answer to the question after my mix is ready. And when I have a mix done, you bet I like the song since I spent an inordinate amount of time just to reach that point!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I've been so lucky to work with clients that trust my judgement and like my work so I'm not really sure how to answer to that question. But for me is clear that there is a lot of confusion about the production and the mixing, especially now that there are less "A&R" people involved in the process. My real work is to "balance" and for me that means guiding the listener into a musical journey that enlighten and inspire, that make the listener change his life, her point of view about the world. That's the power of music.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Powerful, clean and professional. I tend to create mixes that are rich, balanced, wide and "tall". I work hard to balance all the tracks aiming to a crisp and warm sound. The mix is of paramount importance to a song and I put into the game my taste, my knowledge and my experience to help the song to find it's way into the emotional world of the listener. I work hard to make the intention of the song get trough. It's a tough job though. You have to find the balance and create a sound that is comfortable and aggressive at the same time and that can cut trough the floor noise of an ever increasing offer.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Wow, one of the many... Ok: I like to work on the feel of a drums track fixing little time problems but never bringing the things too deep to completely erase the "groove" of the drummer. All is made manually, spending as much time is possible so that if feels natural and exciting. Sometimes it takes hours but is worth it. All the song then sounds a lot more emotional and exciting. I use mostly elastic time for that, but I never use it to the point you can hear it work. Same with the vocal editing and tuning. I like melodyne since it makes easy to do small fixes, just the ones needed to let the music flow. I don't like to be distracted by bad intonation problems in a great sung phrase.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Most of my work is aimed at the R&B, Soul and Pop market, but I also work very much in the world music scene and I like to work in jazz projects as often happens. Lately I am having great fun with the HipHop and Trap scene, that seems to appreciate my sound. I like all kind of music and I try to experiment in any genre. Maybe metal is the one that I work less even if it happens, now an then, and I know the sound of it!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My musicality and sense of balance. And a deep knowledge of the music that seems very useful sometimes when producing young bands. Also my technical expertise that gives me the ability to create powerful, detailed masters that are far ahead in the strong competing world of today's music, but with full respect of the original intention of the Artist and the Producer. Sometimes I have to work hard to preserve the original intention and still deliver a professional sounding mix.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Thanks to my long years of experience I tend to bring to the song an organic sound, very intense and defined where ideas shine in their strength. Also it appears that I have this sense of "balance" that makes even the most intricate arrangement easy to listen to. And if in need I can play to the song adding the missing details to make it a hit!. All in a deep respect of the original idea and production. I am ready to work on additional production (credited) and bring whatever elements are needed to enhance the production and help to bring it to the next level.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Being a Free Lance I tend to work in many different studios. I like to work with SSL 4000G+ large format mixer and analog outboard but is getting more and more difficult to have a big enough budget to allow that so I set up my mixing and recording room, a "non studio environment" place with daylight that I managed to get acoustically and technically meaningful so to be able to give the best price to my clients, thanks to the internet and the technology available. It's based on a powerful Pro Tools HD system and a Dangerous Music analog summing mixer, plus a lot of analog and digital gear. My main monitors are EMES mastering grade speakers, plus yamaha NS10s (great for balance), Auratones 5C's (vintage, still very important check), and real world little speakers. I like to record with class A mic preamps and I have a wide choice of Neve's, Focusrite's Amek's and JoeMeek's to make my collection of mics happy. And for the producers and my own arranging and producing I have a huge collection of Analog, digital keyboards (including Kork, Yamaha, Oberheim, Sequential Circuits) and plugin instruments plus a more than 150000 sample library with many originally sampled sounds. Plus my collection of guitars and basses (and amps). All you need for a great sound.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: I am the one to be recommended, sorry :-) But if I find a pro that is worth my help I will write it here.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am currently working on several projects. I don't like to talk about projects until they are published and available to the public; I believe is more professional that way. What happens in the studio stays in the studio. But I can tell that in two of the projects I am involved in the production and in others I am only the mixing engineer. I one I also do the recording and is a long term project for a major release. But there is always some time for interesting music, in my life. I hope to see you there!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: My main interest is to know what is the aim of the song, if is an album track or a single for radio. This is a crucial question since a radio friendly song must be a lot more focused on the "quick" reaction of the listener so everything must be neet and immediate. And a lot more time is spent on little details that in album songs don't need to be that worked out. I like album songs; often are the ones that surprise the listener and find their own way to success. Since I offer several mix revisions in my work I try to make the client happy no matter what but I really like to mix quick so that I don't loose the freshness of the first listening. But I'm ready to work hard in case the mix needs it.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please do your work prior to sending to me your songs. Be sure to clean all the tracks from noises, false starts etc. And please send me only relevant material. I will try to fit all you send me in the mix (at least I will try), before deciding to do some cleaning. But this might be time consuming and will shift the focus from mixing to producing and editing (not included in the fee ;-). I assure you that is a completely different work and there is a lot more in mixing that most people are aware of. I will be dedicated to the song and usually I don't stop trying until I like the song a lot and I feel touched by the music. Only then I will propose my mix to the client. So there is no minor song or work for me. And my goal is to have you as my client forever! And please send the Lyrics.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Just too long. I started in 1975 as guitar player touring with famous local artists. But I was already into recording and a happy owner of a nice home studio based on the teac 3340 and a revox a77. In 1980 I started to engineer officially in a professional studio and in 1982 I did my first work as a mix engineer (35 years of mixing,,, cool !) Since then my career turned more into the engineering even if I found a way to sigh a major contract with Casablanca and bring forward my artistic side. In 1990 I was involved in one of the best recording studios in the world, the Capri Digital Studio, in the Capri Island. I was there for ten years working with the big names of the music industry, including Solomon Burke, Aerosmith, Inxs, Roxette, Power Station and many others and learning my way to the top quality in music, production and sound. Since 1999 I work as free lance traveling all around Europe (and more, sometimes) offering my skills to the artists and producers that ask for it. And I still find time to record my own music, mostly for movie, tv and theatrical works. But you can find a lot more on the web...
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Ah, that's easy (sort of) 1x Shure SM7 1x 1073 Neve pre 1x Urei 1176 Black face 1x Fender Telecaster 1x Dangerous Music 2Bus
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The project I like to share with you is my experience in Sound Design of the film "Enzo Avitabile Music Life" directed by oscar's director Jonathan Demme. It was all recorded live with incredible musicians from all over the world including Trilok Gurtu, Eliades Ochoa (Buena Vista Social Club), Jivan Gasparian (The sound of Gladiator!) and so many others that is too long to write down. I had to record, and mix the film soundtrack and the cd under pressure to present the film in Venice and I loved every moment of it. I hope you can find a way to see the movie.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Usually my work starts when I receive the tracks from my client (via a file transfer system) and a brief about the song to mix. I like to hear the "rough mix" and read the lyrics. Then I do a quick mix to hear what's on tape and to find some hidden pearls in the recording. When I know my direction I can put the mix together to a point that I like to call "1st pass" in memory of the old days. This is my "first impression mix" that I send to the client for a comment, prior to go in details with infinite moves and little tweeks to get the song to the right place. Usually, my clients give the green light and I finish the mix creating some alternative mixes if needed. If the client ank for a mastered track I also do a mastering session or send the mix to the mastering chosen by client or I do the mastering internally (included in the fee). The whole process may take from several hours to some days, depending of the budget and the destination of the song.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: This is a tough question. I've been so lucky to work with so many artist I love that it looks like I've been blessed. But I like a lot to work with young and inspiring artists and share with them my knowledge. Anyway I don't want to elude the question so: Bjiork (since I believe she found a really new music paramount). I would like to work more and more in the R&B scene.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I have a wide range of professionals that inspire me. Starting from Quincy Jones, and Rick Rubin (that may seem far but not in my world). I have to thank my mentor Humberto Gatica for the incredible knowledge that he was able to pass me in such a brief time. And Phil Tan, Bernie Grundman, Alan Parsons. And the late Bernard Edwards (RIP) for the immense lessons on producing I had the luck to learn working with him. And the many other producers and engineers I worked with. Everyone of them has been a great inspiration.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Depending on projects, I record, mix and master albums for my clients. I have a really good sounding recording space that I offer to my clients and a light but powerful on location recording rig in case we decide to use an unconventional recording space. I collaborate on writing and arranging contributing with ideas and keeping the session flow. Most of my work is really mixing, pushing the songs of my clients to a very powerful, intense but polished sound that seems to appeal the industry and the public.
I was the Mixing and Mastering Engineer in this production
- Identiy - Euphoniques
- Prison (GDDFNO)
- Monica Pinto - Anime minori
- Rivoluzione - Pan Island
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $600 per song
- Dolby Atmos & Immersive AudioAverage price - $900 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- Post MixingAverage price - $250 per minute
Rate includes final 24bit WAV master & unmastered full-resolution mix with headroom. Can include two alternate prints (inst + acca) free of charge; additional mixes incur a cost. Stems are an Extra.
- SSL_4KG+ Analog Summing
- Neve 9098 Pres
- ProTools Ultimate
- Mytec DtoA
- Lexicon480
- Focusrite
- Jensen
- Waves
- Eventide
- Dbx160a
- Dbx118
- Emes BlueHR Mains
- Auratones
- Ns10s
- JoeMeek
- Korg
- Spire
- NI Ultimate
- Arturia
- Spectrasonics Vip.
Unlimited Revisions - 50% deposit (Non-Refundable). I can provide my full terms with regard to mixing or production - just shoot me a message and I'll send them over in a PDF. I consider acceptance of proposal as an acceptance of my terms.
- REV6000 Now availableJul 20, 2024
I am proud to inform you that I have acquired the REV6000 reverberator. The sound is incredible and will be a great help to create wider ambience.
- Native Instruments Komplete 14 Collectors Edition Update!Jun 13, 2024
I just updated my Komplete 14 Ultimate Collector Edition!
I will spend the next few days listening to the new sounds available, ready for the next productions. - Maselec EQ for my mastering needsApr 08, 2024
🎶 Excited to introduce my latest addition to the mastering arsenal - the Maselec Eq! 🎧🔸Impeccable craftsmanship and a sleek design that complements my studio setup beautifully.🔸
- Weiss DS-1 - my first choce in mastering limiterMar 24, 2024
It's been a while now that I have been using the Weiss DS-1 and I have to say that I go back to that limiter every time. I have several Top Notch limiters but the Weiss makes it easy to get the final sound. More on that in the next few days.
- My new MASELEC!Dec 31, 2023
A new addition to my mastering chain is the MASELEC eq plugin. It's really powerful and clean!
- New entry - Sontec MES 432Sep 22, 2023
Thanks to Metric Halo, I now have the new Sontec MES 432 Mastering Equalizer in my mastering chain. It's a magical box. A little touch goes a long way!
- Music ProductionMay 06, 2023
For several years now, I have been spending my weeks mixing songs from
all over the world.This is the link: https://www.maxsound.it/2022/12/04/music-production/
- Music Production BlogDec 05, 2022
A new article on music production is out on the website http://www.maxsound.it
- Soundtrack for Film "Indivisibili" was flooded with awards. Recorded and mixed by Max CarolaJul 10, 2017
- Maxsound new web site on lineJan 18, 2017
Finally the new web site is on line for the Maxsound Vibe Studios. http://www.maxsound.it
Here you'll find information and interesting articles about recording, mixing and production.
MC - O' Sanghe - James Senese & Napoli Centrale wins Targa TencoSep 22, 2016
O' Sanghe - James Senese & Napoli Centrale wins Targa Tenco. The Albus has been mixed by Max Carola @ Maxsound Vibe Studios and has been chosen by the prestigious prize, the most important Italian reward for the Music in Italy.
http://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/album/v-9286/james-senese-o-sanghe - Encore un jour CD by Karim KacelMay 12, 2016
RFI has just released the new CD by KARIM KACEL entitled ENCORE UN JOUR. Mixed by Max Carola at Maxsound Vibe Studios.
- Encore un JoMay 12, 2016
- 'O Sanghe by Jnc-Napoli Centrale mixed by Max Carola at Maxsound Vibe studiosApr 30, 2016
The new CD by James Senese and Napoli Centrale has been released. The album has been mixed by Max Carola at MaxsoundVibe Studios.
http://www.amazon.it/Sanghe-Jnc-Napoli-Centrale/dp/B01D5I30Z0 - Max Carola's Masterclass on Mixing the 8th of MAY in ItalyApr 13, 2016
A long awaited Masterclass on mixing will be held by Max Carola at "The Basement Studio". The class is open to 10 to 15 people and will be a full immersion presentation on the digital "in the box" mixing techniques.
to book your seat contact masterclass@maxcarola.com - Mixing the new Enzo Avitabile CDMar 03, 2016
After the successful recording and mixing session with the VESEVO trio, currently up in the euro world charts, I'm currently mixing the new Enzo Avitabile album in my mixing facility. After that I will mix the new cd of a promising Artist, Agnese Valle, and the new CD of the group Spaccanapoli, discovered by the Real World records of Peter Gabriel. And still more to come...
- In studio with FLOOct 12, 2015
Max Carola is in the studio mixing the new FLO album that will be released in 2016 by Agualoca Records.
- C.F.F. first video is on lineOct 12, 2015
https://youtu.be/nH8Hu6_xxgc.
C.f.f is an Italian band (trio) that brings the punk rock sound into the
realm of the acoustic world. "Come fiori" is the first single from
"Canti Notturni" - Telecom Music Talent Space in Berlin...Dec 25, 2014
The recording and mixing session in Berlin for the Telecom Music Talent Space held in the Funkhaus rooms has been a complete success. Great appreciation for my mixing work and good vibes everyehere! http://musictalentspace.net/
- New room in Berlin!Aug 11, 2014
From september 2014 I will be available for mixing in a new room @ Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastrasse. For the clients that wants to meet in person with me instead of On Line mixing and are based in Berlin this will be a very good option! This is a great sounding room and I will be there to mix every month!
Please contact me for inquiries or a quote. Or you can get in touch with me for an ON LINE mix session and get a DEEP, TALL and WIDE mix of your music, with your voice UP FRONT and a DEEP 3rd dimension! - Mixing sessionsMay 24, 2014
Just finished a quite demanding mixing session for the French artist Karim Kacel and Arranger Angelo Zurzolo. The mix was completed in my hybrid Analog/Digital mix room using Pro Tools and some amazing Hardware and Software outboard for a warm, analog sound and precise, up to front vocal.
Please take time to listen to the mixes as soon I will be able to publish it (just after the record release).
Now busy with the mixing of a new project "Spaccanapoli" for their third release. The previous albums were on Real World records and gained worldwide interest.
And already working on a third project with the singer Fiorenza Calogero, producer Andrea Aragosa and Artist/Composer Enzo Avitabile. - FLO Album releaseDec 11, 2013
FLO Album will be released soon by Agualoca Records. Mixed and mastered by Max Carola @ Maxsound Vibe Studios.
For a prerelease preview:
https://soundcloud.com/agualoca-records/sets/alcd005-flo-d-amore-e-di-altre