Mixing Engineer

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Receive the session files, organize and prep for mix, adjust volumes and create overall balance to mix, add effects and processing, vocal tune if necessary, finish mix and send to artist for approval, then master.

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

A: 2chainz Based on a TRU Story, I was working with the producer of the song, Keno, when we had to make some changes and add his vocals to the beat and submit before the deadline that evening. We were able to submit the music in time to make the album cut and that record was Grammy nominated.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Few project mixes for artists preparing to release their music in the new few months.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: not at the moment.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog gear is great but requires a lot of capital to have the best gear available to everyone. With digital, we can get plugins that replicate the sounds of the great analog gear we love. And the digital sounds are getting better and better.

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

A: To keep open communication and to work on the mix until you're happy.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like working talented musicians and having the opportunity to shape their sound for the listeners ears to capture them as fans and help see the artists succeed.

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

A: That anybody can do it, especially someone who charges less. I think mixing is an art and just like an artist, I feel mixing engineers are one of a kind. If two different engineers mix the same record, you will get two very different mixes. You pay for the engineers style and experience.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your project goal? A single or an album? How many songs? Are they tracked out production? How would you describe your sound? Who are your musical influences? What is your plan for distribution and marketing after the product is delivered?

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

A: Listen to the reference mixes I have done and determine if you would like your sound to replicate that feeling.

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

A: macbook, ilok, headphones, interface, lunchbox.

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

A: I have been working over 12 years as a recording/mixing engineer. Worked in big production studios and now am working for a recording label in Boca Raton, FL.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: lots of bass and sound depth/width with the music. I like creating a 3D listening experience by using different effects to create different spaces.

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

A: Bruno Mars, I would like to see his workflow when writing and recording records, how he picks and layers his harmonies and backgrounds.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Create a template of your favorite settings/effects/busses/plugins that you use in a session so that way you can import everything upon loading the DAW, then your creativity won't be delayed by the setup and you can start creating right away.

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

A: Hip-hop, RnB, and Pop

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Mixing the instruments to work well and give space to the vocal.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The artist's emotion and feeling. My goal is to make their emotions connect with the listener to provide a visual for when the song is being listened to.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: ProTools 12, UA Apollo 8p interface, Avalon 737 Preamp/compressor/eq, Dangerous Music monitor station, Ableton Live, Waves plugins, Autotune, Soundtoys, Ozone.

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

A: Kanye West, Timbaland, Pharrell, Dave Pensado, Jaycen Joshua, Quincy Jones,

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

A: Mixing and mastering for hip hop/rnb/ and pop clients.