Metal Mix & Mastering

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

A: The Temple of Scorn album I mixed and mastered. It really nails that sound somewhere between rawness and power.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because it gives more options to shape a sound that fits YOUR music.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Start from raw material and shape a sound that will live its own life out there, on vinyl, streaming or CD, for ages to come.

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

A: Logic, my trusted Sony 7506, my pair of Focal CMS40

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: To get a great mix, your recording must sound great already from the source: rehearse your songs so they sit perfectly, choose the right gear, take time to dial a tone that you like, tune your drums, etc.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Balance, weight, clarity, and punch. Also I do my best to make things sound natural, even when sound replacing drums.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mixing an album for a German Black Metal band

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I make things heavy and dirty. I listen to you and what you have to say. I have heard extreme Metal for 30 years.

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

A: 15 years

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Natural, agressive, pounding, balanced.

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

A: Emperor, because of their complex sound. It would be a challenge to make their complex arrangements sound powerful, clear and intelligible without loosing agression. And I've always loved their albums.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1. Check out the band's previous material to get an idea of their sound 2. Listen to the material to mix or master and the references if provided 3. Make a first mix or master for the band to review 4. Get feedback, make adjustments, send a revised version and repeat until we're all satisfied (5 revisions maximum)

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: DAW: Logic Pro X Interface: Antelope Discrete 8 Synergy Core Monitors: Dynaudio BM5A and Focal CMS 40 Headphones: Sennheiser HD600 and Sony MDR-7506 Mics: Oktava MK012, Oktava MK220, Neumann TLM102, Shure SM7B, Shure SM57, Shure SM58, Bang & Olufsen BM4 modded, etc. Guitar and bass gear: Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, Gibson Nighthawk, Yamaha 5-string bass, RedBear MKE120 tube amp, Yamaha G100 212 amp, Digitech GSP1101, tons guitar pedals - mostly distortion and fuzz, etc. Extra: Mindprint DI Port, ASHLY CL52 compressor, Mackie Big Knob, lots of coffee, etc.

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

A: Pytten from Grieghallen studio Andrew Scheps The sound of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Dead Can Dance

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

A: Extreme metal

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

A: Producing Metal albums (tracking, mixing, mastering)