Recording and Mixing Engineer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid, I like the creative freedom that ITB gives you, but nothing can beat analogue summing yet, some hardware reverbs are irreplaceable. Most of my processing is ITB, but for summing I try to use analogue console.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I don't think that I have a particular style, but there are certain things that I like and gravitate towards during mixing. I like wide mixes with a lot of low-end and open high end, somewhat Hi-Fi sounding.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't postpone production decisions. Commit to the sound, commit to the parts. If you can solve a problem during recording, do it.

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

A: I started in 2012 as a FOH engineer in Gnesin Academy Concert Hall and a year later I started working at the broadcast station "Orpheus" recording and mixing classical music concerts in various halls in Moscow. Since 2015 I work at Mosfilm Music Recording Studios as a studio engineer, since 2019 I'm a chief specialist of the music recording studios at Mosfilm.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Avid Pro Tools Ultimate software and plugins from Universal Audio, Audioease, Soundtoys, Kush, Fabfilter and Waves. I rely on my Amphion One18 monitors which I know pretty well. It is possible to arrange mixing session at Mosfilm Music Studio 2 where we have 48-channel SSL 4000G console, Prism Sound converters and finest outboard gear from API, Neve, Universal Audio, Summit etc. Yamaha NS-10, ProAc Studio 100, Kinoshita monitors and professional acoustic environment designed by Tom Hidley.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Anything that can help me to understand their vision and the sound they want. The best way to demonstrate vision is to use references so I ask for reference tracks, favourite productions.

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

A: I work with acoustical music that could have some electronic elements in it as opposed to fully electronic. So the genres are blues, singer-songwriter, country, indie rock, rock, pop-rock. As a recording engineer, I work with acoustical ensembles, rock bands.

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

A: I'm really inspired by the work of Serban Ghenea, Andrew Scheps, Tchad Blake, Michael Brauer and Eric "Mixerman" Sarafin.