Record and Production Studio

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

A: The projects I'm proud of are where I and musicians learn something during the sessions and get one step better.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My challenge right now is a latino/rock band with three songs with more than 60 tracks each. Lots of different percussion and wind instruments.

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

A: Mastering.LT studio for mastering.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I always choose analog for live recording - more punchy and forgiving. For studio job I choose digital - because when you know what you do, you can do better than with analog. Still I use lots of analog EQ's.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Tracking, timing and mixing extreme fast drums. Powerful bass guitar sound.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Precision.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to start production in the rehearsal room where you get overall view about the compositions and musicians you are going to record. Most important thing is the tracking session - here you take the most control of the recording. I try to avoid "fix it in the mix" conception. Mostly, I like to mix in the box. Though I use lots of analog EQ's and dynamics while recording. Reamping guitars through multiple amps and stomps is my favored stage of production. I also accept multitrack recordings for mixing.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: MuzLab record studio consists of 2 live rooms, a control room and editing room. Main control room has the following facilities: Console: Soundcraft SM20 48 ch and 20 groups. Also dBX, Drawmer, Lexicon, Alesis, Aphex dynamic and effects processing. WorkStation: PC su Win7, Cubase 6.5, ProTools 10 Mic PRE's and Interfaces: Digidesign Digi002, Steiberg MR816, Focusrite ISA one, 4x API's, 2x Redd.47, Joemeek TwinQ2, 2x Aphex 207D. Monitors: Dynaudio BM6A MKI and JBL Control 2P. Headphones: Sennheiser HD650, Sennheiser HD595, Beyerdynamic DT150 and oth. We also have 3 types of different quality drumsets, guitars, lots of stomp pedals and tube amps. Microphones: Shure: SM7B, Beta52, SM57 x3 AKG: 414 x2, 418, 4x C451 B (Matched pairs) Neumann TLM 103, KM184 Telefunken: SM2 Audix: i5 x2, D6 Heil: PR30 Cascade: Fathead Rode: NT5 x2, M1 Sennheiser: e609 x2, MD421 RED5: RV10 x2, RV15 etc

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

A: Producers/mixers who inspire me: Randy Staub (Alice In Chains), Dave Fortman (Ugly Kid Joe), Andy Sneap (Carcass, etc), Matt Wallace (Faith No More, etc)

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

A: Mixing, tracking, live sound mixing, producing, teaching.

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

A: We will do the greatest record ever !!! :)

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

A: My music career path started at school more than 20 years ago when I took my first guitar and started to play in a band. Soon we started trying our first DIY recordngs. Later I studied laser physics and got PhD in laser physics, but all these years I did studio recordings and live engineering as freelancer. After finishing PhD studies I opened my own record studio (MuzLab). Mixing and recording is my main job now. Some times I make courses for students in music engineering.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Precise but groovy.

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

A: Any. I like variety.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: While recording drums, in addition to microphones, always record acoustic drum triggers. This helps and saves much time while mixing and timing the drums, especially for precise control of the gates.

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

A: Mostly it is Rock related (Rock, Metal, Pop, Folk, Latino). Sometimes Jazz or Opera.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Free time planing which lets you choose mixing when you are in the right mood. Also communicating with the most awesome people in the world - musicians.

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

A: I guess the most common is "How much does it cost to record a song?". I get emails with this single question. But they always forget to explain in more detail. What? Is it just a shitty vocalist willing to record his/her disgusting voice or a serious professional band with 6 members and full album to record?

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

A: I still prefer analog. Although digital sounds sometimes even better.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Usually I like to meet them first. If it's not possible I like to talk on the phone. The questions are very simple - I'm trying to find out their level of professionalism, potential and expectancy. This is how I evaluate the amount of work to be done.

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

A: Are you sure you can play? Better you do ;)

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

A: I guess that would be 5 cans of beer. Any gear would have no advantage without electricity...