Chad Martin on SoundBetter

I would love to collaborate with you! I have over 15 years of studio experience and hundreds of successful projects and happy clients here on this platform. Using industry-leading gear and effective communication, I will help you capture that sound you have in your head, record it with authentic instruments and return commercial quality tracks.

GUITARS - PEDAL STEEL - BASS - DRUMS
I record electric and acoustic guitar, pedal steel, bass guitar, and authentic live drums, for anything from singles to full albums, ambient soundscapes, film score, etc. Typically, we will discuss song direction, vibe, and guitar concepts. I will track remotely and send tracks via internet. In most cases, I record uniquely different, left and right tracks to create a wide stereo spread, enhanced by mixing/matching different microphones. The signal-chain is everything! I record everything through discrete, class-A, all-tube channel strips, to create commercial-quality tracks for your songs. I use a full pallet of guitars and amps to find just the right tone. I am confident you will love the quality of the tracks when the project is completed. On request, I can record a dry direct line, if you aren't ready to commit to a specific tone, which can be "re-amped" to find your ideal tone. The key to a great track is capturing the best quality audio at the source. I use industry-leading preamps to capture the purest of tone, and add the right amount of color, vibe, and glue through world-class compressors. I excel in pop, rock, folk, and country styles of music! If you prefer to collaborate and work at a local studio, I am happy to discuss details.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

526 Reviews - 117 Repeat Clients

Endorse Chad Martin

by mark n.
Verified
Always great to work with Chad he feels the song and add amazing spice and things I don't think about well done
by FELYSA
Verified
Chad was simply amazing. He carefully listened to my approach and all references sent therefore he understood what sound I was looking for. He is also a great communicator asking all the right professional questions to make your song better. It was a very professional and human experience working with him. Definitely will come back to him and very grateful having his guitar tracks on my upcoming song. Thank you!
by Dmay
Verified
talented plus plus and a joy to work with
highly recommended
by Jim W.
Verified
Great guy, has ideas for days! Went through the cali fire and still managed to get back to work, total pro!
by John Riccardi
Verified
I don't know what else to say about Chad. I have worked with him several times and he always exceeds my vision. Grateful as always.
by Sean
Verified
Chad is easy and to work with and delivers a professional end result. Highly recommend.
by wael h.
Verified
Chad did an outstanding job on my project !
He delivered excellent work, perfectly capturing the vibe I was aiming for. Highly recommended—looking forward to working with him again!
by Jonas Leonhardsen
Verified
Chad is such a talented musician. Just tell him what you want and he will know what you mean straight away.

I used a bit of time to get other tracks recorded but Chad was susch a patience guy. A man who works great in a team.
by Shyju Mathew Music
Verified
Wow is there a six star option, so precise, so dreamy & a breeze to work with.
by Barry Russo
Verified
As always, tremendous to work with!
by Jason B.
Verified
I've worked with chad a few times now and he has always delivered very professional guitar and band arrangements! He has a great ear and is open to trying new ideas! Highly recommend!
by Todd Bublitz
Verified
Chad is an extremely gifted player, and it was a pleasure working with him. Hope to work with him again in the future.
by Michael M.
Verified
Another one with Chad! He has a great ear for finding the correct arrangement and sound for the guitars. Extraordinary guitarist! 10/10
by Yehudah P.
Verified
Chad nailed the sound and style that I was going for. A real professional. He was kind and easy to work with. Can't wait for the next project!!
by Zack S.
Verified
As always, Chad has done an amazing job recording full band production !! My number 1 go-to.
by Lora N.
Verified
As a fellow guitar player, I was lost on how to approach this piece with my instrument and needed another creative mind to help! Chad really captured the sonic essence and mood of the song that has taken it over the top. Really a pleasure to work with a talented individual like Chad and will knocking on his door again!
by Dmay
Verified
Top notch. Highly recommended. Chad is creative, versatile and a pleasure to work with.
by Dieter C.
Verified
Chad brings the extra layer to your song that gives the needed emotion. Perfectly recorded so you'll just have to drag and drop the tracks in your daw
by John Riccardi
Verified
I don’t know what else to say about Chad and his work. This is my fourth time working with Chad and every time it’s been a privilege. Creativity, performance, technique and the ability to know what the song needs is off-the-charts.
by Aasta F.
Verified
Chad played some amazing fingerstyle and rhythm acoustic for an americana track that matched the perfect emotion and vibe that was needed. was patient and communicative about delivery, and end result sounded wonderful. would gladly work with again.

Interview with Chad Martin

Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I record electric or acoustic guitar for a song, the first step in my process is a very basic one (but often easy to breeze right through): Listen. When a client brings a song to the table, I make a concerted effort to listen to the song, in it's entirety, outside of the studio. To me, there's a difference between "hearing" the song (i.e. figuring out the key, learning the progressions, coming up with cool hooks, etc.) and truly "listening" to the song. The latter is for understanding what the song is about, the vibe, the color, the mood, energy, space, etc. When I listen outside the studio, I am not tempted to pick up a guitar and start hacking away at the tune. Once I feel like I have a good grasp of the song's direction, vibe, and energy, I begin thinking about what particular tools the song is calls for. This is everything from type of guitar, pickups, the amp, overdrives, delays, 'verbs, and other effects to create the right tone for the song. For me, this step is summed up in a word: Commit. As a guitarist, it is so easy to get caught tumbling down the proverbial "rabbit hole," in search of the "exact" and "perfect" tone for a given song and project. I have expended a lot of time and energy exploring different tones, trying to find just the right balance of "chimey," "beefy," "warm," "glassy," and "rich." The truth is, most clients hire a session player because they trust the player to following their instincts. Getting hung up on two slightly different tones probably means they would both work out just fine. I learned to trust my ear and commit. Finally, the most exciting part of the work process: Create. When I approach a song with either an electric or acoustic guitar in my hands, I am always thinking Left v. Right. The stereo spread is one of the most important elements to a mix, and as a session guitarist, you can't just think like a guitarist. You have to think like a producer. When I track guitar, I ask myself 1) how I can best compliment the song? and 2) how can the guitar tracks best compliment each other? In some instances, it's thick, stereo rhythm tracks, sometimes it's wide, soaring lead lines, and sometimes it's a guitar in one ear and not in the other ear. Regardless, it comes back to thinking left and right complimentary guitar tracking. It is easily the most challenging and reward step of the process. Listen. Commit. Create. Thanks for reading! -Chad