Editing/Mixing/Mastering

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid, both are great and have their benefits. Why not incorporate both when you are able to.

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

A: Great quality mix and master every time.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working with various artists and genres keeps me on my feet and ensures that I'm always growing as an engineer. No project is the same so it is always very interesting to begin work on a new project.

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

A: What is your turn around time for a mix? I typically edit tracks one day prior to mixing them. This ensures that I have a fresh ear for mixing. This means I can usually finish one track in two days (one day for edits, one day for mixing). What does Mastering mean? Mastering ensures that your music will translate to different systems, streaming services, and stores without being compromised in quality. It is also the last chance for an engineer to clean up, polish, or enhance a track before release.

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

A: Big studios always equal a better product.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What reference tracks do you want your project to resemble? Do you have a set Tempo map/Key Signature for your track? Do you know how to export tracks for mixing from your current DAW?

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

A: Find an individual within your price range but also has sufficient knowledge of audio production work. Fancy gear and names don't always indicate a great mixer.

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

A: 1176 Compressor, Slate VMS mic system, SSL Channel Strip, Slate Everything Bundle, Slate Raven.

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

A: Started Audio recording out of necessity in early 2000's. Formally trained in audio production, live sound, and pro tools at the University of Redlands 2005-2009. Live sound and studio work professionally from 2009-present including FOH (front of house) engineering for live venues and houses of worship, live music performance and recording, studio assisting, engineering, and mixing and mastering with various artists in California, Texas, and Canada.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Articulate, clear, dynamic and polished.

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

A: I would love to work with groups like The Dear Hunter, Sam Hunt, and Saosin to name a few.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Utilize eq to build space in a mix. Multiple instruments within the same spectrum can build up and create a cluttered, messy or unclear sounding mix.

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

A: Typically I work on Hip Hop, pop, and Country artist, however I greatly enjoy working with Rock genres as well such as indie rock, active rock, post-hardcore, metal.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill by far is my attention to detail in layering various sources to create a cohesive and well balanced track. Low end will be tight and clean, the midrange will be focused and clear, and the high end will be airy and not harsh or abrasive.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring 15 years of experience in audio production to each track I mix. I will ensure that each track is given the same attention to detail no matter the genre, or size of the artist I am working with. Additionally, I will bring post production tactics and ideas that will augment the song and amplify what the artist has created.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I typically will start with phase aligning multi-mic'd sources. Once I have ensure that Phase Coherency is not an issue with tracks, I will time align tracks to the grid based on the tempo. Typically this can be done using Beat Detective in Pro Tools or Elastic Audio. I will then Tune (amount dependent on source material) any vocals that need to be adjusted to ensure the quality is on par with any reference tracks provided. Once all tracks are edited correctly, I will drop the tracks into my custom mix template which utilizes outboard gear, drum and production samples, and various plugins in a top down mixing approach to create a polished and professional track. The final step is to print this mix and apply mastering. This process utilizes various processors depending on the source material, style, and desired medium the track will be delivered on. This is to ensure that the track is consistent across all systems and comply with the various loudness limitations for each streaming or music store (iTunes, Spotify, Pandora etc). Once completed and payment is received files are delivered in both high resolution .wav and .mp3 for streaming.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio currently runs pro tools 2019, Logic Pro X, Reaper, and Mixbus on a Mac Pro platform. I am running Black Lion Audio modded converters for all on my I/O for outboard and analog summing. I currently am patching in multiple 1176 compressors, la3a compressors, a TK audio BC1 Master Bus Comp as well as 1073 style preamps for my summing bus I/O. I utilize a Slate Raven MTI 2 for automation and plugins bundles from JST, Slate Digital, SSD 5, and Plugin Alliance/ Brainworx.

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

A: I am inspired by various audio engineers. My current favorites are Billy Decker, Taylor Larson, Mark Needham, and CLA.

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

A: I specialize in editing, mixing and mastering work for my clients as well as online video mixing/mastering sessions for artists who want to provide real time feedback.