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.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

518 Reviews - 115 Repeat Clients

Endorse Chad Martin

by Shyju M.
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.
by Steve W.
Verified
Working with Chad has been great; easy communications and great guitar parts. Definitely work with him again, highly recommend!
by Sean
Verified
Always a pleasure to work with Chad once again. 3rd time around. Always smooth easy experience. Highly recommend.
by Jason B.
Verified
I love working with Chad! He always knocks it out of the park with how accurate arrangements are. The guitars sound fantastic and the drums are spot on! He has such a good ear!
by rick g.
Verified
Really exceptional work.
by Sean
Verified
I always can trust Chad to add the right tones and phrasings. Very easy to get along with and very professional.
by Ian C.
Verified
Chad has again delivered solid work on multi-track guitars, including following extensive instructions on the revision process. Always good to work with him!
by Juan E.
Verified
Chad's level of musicianship is out of this world. He has continued to deliver exceptional work on every project we've worked on. Chad is easy to communicate with. He encourages feedback and questions - Always very thorough and thoughtful with his responses. It's like working with a friend. You can't rate the level of professionalism and service that Chad provides with just five stars.
by Dmay
Verified
I have done numerous projects with Chad and he is a super guy and an excellent talent.
Highly recommended.

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