Live Mixed in venues from 50 to 1300 capacity. Specialize in Pop & Heavy Rock/Metal, but can Mix and do live sound for Pop, Gospel/Christian, and Jazz. I also dabble in World & latin flavors.
I've done mostly Church venues. I've Live Mixed for Panama Wedding, Philharmonic, and Irish Blessing due to my college affiliation, as well as gospel artists like James Fortune, Bryan Popin. Venues I've done regular live services include New Covenant Church of Philadelphia, and currently Live & Mix engineer for Spring Valley Church of God
I'm really good at live and programmed drum mixes, building big sounds out of small cans with a little bit of elbow grease. I also am good with mixing vocals to sound big, booming, and dreamy.
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
Interview with Darren T Davis, II
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A project i was specifically proud of was at the church that i was working for. We put on a concert called the worship experience, and i was tasked with guitars, aux keys, and assisting musical direction, alongside 2 original songs that i wrote and produced. What i brought helped make the night a success
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Full length multi-genre gospel song
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not set this time
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. They have their specific uses? But it’s best to combine them rather than stalking a foot into either one
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will deliver a clear, clean, and enhanced song/ idea/ live sound performance for you to enjoy and utilize professionally
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Seeing the satisfaction that my services have enhanced the already well created product
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: I normally am asked what it is that I can deliver, and I normally answer with a following question aimed to understand what they need most
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It’s easy. It can be difficult at times, but it’s definitely more fun than it is easy
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What sound are you looking for? What message is your song looking to spread? How/where do you want your product to impact your base/others?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: The more passionate you are about the song you want to perfect, and the better you are at showing that passion through explanation and enthusiasm, the better you’ll be at securing my enthusiasm and drive to help!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: QSC subwoofer (to signal the fishes to find help), ukelele, my AKG headphones, Cajon, and fire starter (for smoke signals)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I’ve done live sound for about 8-9 years. I’ve written and recorded my own demos since about 13, and I’ve worked with different artists for about 5
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Spontaneous. I can find inspiration in a ringtone And create a song off of it
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I’d love to work with Jon Bellion. He is an amazing visionary as well as fantastic producer himself. I could learn and create with him.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Anything. I’m primarily producing an in house gospel record, so Christian/r&b/pop
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Drum mixing and mastering
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring the modern jazz and rnb live flair. The runs, transitions are my favorite to write and create
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Listen to inspiration, create a road map, revisit and flesh out, and reference mixes and masters every way i can think of
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Your best sounds and best tools can come out of some of the most unconventional ways. always look for that unique sound, or even sample things that you wouldn't think could make the sound you're looking for and see if you can. a really good example of this is when Jon Bellion created his guitar sound for the song "Jim Morrison" (look that up on youtube, it's amazing)
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio setup is currently 2 M-Audio B8xa with an accompanying M-Audio SBx10. My Audio Interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8. Headphones are AKG K240 for open-back and Shure SE415 for closed/IEM. I have a Silvertone Les Paul Guitar, an Epiphone ES-395 pro guitar, an Ibanez GIO solid-body guitar, and a Carvin custom 5 string bass. I use a cheap Keyboard for midi (Yamaha DGX-505 88 key). I use the Slate Academy plugin Bundle for FX & Processing. My workstation is a 2018 15" MacBook Pro for primary & Travel use, and a 2012 Mac Mini for Secondary & podcast work.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: John Bellion (as a musician and a producer), Benjamin Burnley (As both a musician and producer), Quincy Jones.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Music Production, Live sound engineering & architecting, Mixing, and Mastering
I was the Mixing and Mastering Engineer in this production
- Live SoundAverage price - $500 per concert
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $150 per song
- ProducerAverage price - $300 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- Time alignment - QuantizingAverage price - $50 per track
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $50 per track
- Dialogue EditingAverage price - $75 per minute
- Israel & New Breed
- Monuments
- Paramore
- Universal Audio Apollo series
- GAP1073 pres
- Slate ML microphones
- PDP Concept Maple 5 piece
15% off base and custom services.
