Mastering Engineer

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I’m especially comfortable working with rock, metal, hardcore, and heavier genres, where preserving energy and aggression while maintaining clarity is important.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Keeping the artist's vision intact, without over processing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Although I love the analog sound, I'm currently fully digital for transparent, consistent results and fast revisions.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: My promise is to respect the client's vision, enhance what’s working, and make sure your music sounds its best.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Planning/ pre production is everything. Prepare everything in advance, such as song arrangements, instruments, as well as gear prep: drum head changes, guitar set ups. Get sounds right at the source and then tracking, mixing, and mastering will come easier.

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

A: Look to see if the person you choose to mix/master your music works within your genre.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: How should I send my tracks to be mastered and what sample rate/bit depth should I send for mastering? Please send .wav files in whatever sample rate/bit depth the mix session is in! Please do not send MP3s!

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That mastering can be done via an AI online source, like Landr. While I am sometimes impressed by the results these AI mastering services achieve, it's still best to have a human ear master your songs.

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

A: Rock, metal, hardcore, pop/rock, reggae rock, punk, rap, indie, folk

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

A: I have 20+ years as a lead/rhythm guitarist and bassist, I've toured all over the USA, and opened for many major acts. I was always into recording, started in 2002 with a Tascam 4 track cassette machine in my garage. I've always loved being in the studio for my music projects through the years, so I took a few courses through Berklee College of Music and began recording/mixing/mastering local NYC bands in 2016. I now have a Master's Degree in Music Technology and am Dolby Atmos Mix Certified.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For mixing and mastering: listening to the track, listening to any reference tracks, evaluating what may need to be done, tweaking the track, taking a break, and then re-listening with fresh ears.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Home studio with AVID Pro Tools, Wavelab, Izotope Ozone & RX, various plug ins from Waves, Slate, SSL, Fab Filter, etc. , JBL LSR306 monitors, various guitars, basses and effects pedals as well as MIDI instruments

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

A: Rancid, Hole, Nirvana, Sublime, Elliott Smith, Machine Gun Kelly, Blink 182, & much more Producers/Engineers: Tom Lord Alge, Chris Lord-Alge, Bob Katz, Sylvia Massy, Nolly, Emily Lazar, Jesse Cannon

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

A: Laptop, MIDI keyboard, interface, guitar, and sm57 mic.

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

A: Travis Barker- he is influenced by so many genres (hip hop/ punk rock) and it reflects with the artists he works with.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Guitar cover play through videos for YouTube, solo material, and anything I get sent to master.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Helping my clients realize their visions.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As far as being a musician, understanding when a song is done, playing for the song, not overproducing, and leaving room for each piece to breathe. As a mastering engineer, I always want to keep the artist's vision true to their approved mixes. My goal is always to enhance the mix.

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

A: Mastering music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always like to know what direction my clients would like a song to go in and usually ask for reference material.