Recording | Mixing Engineer

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

A: Haha that's a difficult question...I think the project I'm most proud of is the very very first album I recorded and mixed when I was student...It's a modern flamenco album and the whole experience in the studio was phenomenal and the result is fantastic! Find the album here: https://ramonruiz1.bandcamp.com/album/calle-lunga-album-9-tracks

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Recording & mixing records for a living it's a dream to me! Of course it has ups and downs but the fact that I work and collaborate with talented musicians and artists on a daily basis, helping them create and complete their vision it's the thing I like the most!

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

A: Well....people have different questions all the time depending on their experience or how much they trust you. However, the most common question that everybody asks is "how much time will it take? How much time do you need to mix it?" Depending the size of the project and the condition of the audio files I usually determine the turnaround. Most of the times I have a mix ready within 3 days. After that it comes down to how quickly I get the feedback for revisions.

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

A: People who work in the music industry such as artists, producers, songwriters etc. they usually know what mixing is, of course some have more information than other but that's ok. The confusion starts with people who don't know what's the process and stages to make a record and usually confusing mixing with being a DJ - I know it's hilarious but it happened...:P

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I like to connect with my clients, try to understand them, talk about their visions, their goals. What's the reason they make music, what drives them to be creative etc.

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

A: Looking for a mixing engineer can be tough. My advice would be: check out their work on Spotify or their websites, contact them and talk about your project. As an artist you need to feel safe that this person will give their best for your music. I hate when I see mixing or mastering engineers not caring about someone's music. Don't waste your time and money and don't make compromises...do your research, talk with engineers and pick the one you trust the most!

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

A: My involvement in music started at a young age playing the bouzouki - Greek instrument and guitar. As a teenager and early 20s I was DJing in clubs and bars and that's how I discovered my passion for music production and engineering. Coming in London I studied at Abbey Road Institute where he started developing my engineering skills being mentored by some of the best in the industry. Since then I worked in some of London's most famous studios together with world class engineers like Lewis Jones, Gordon Davidson, Chris Bolster, Jake Jackson and producers/songwriters like Nile Rodgers, Clarence Coffee Jr, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Tony Visconti, Kipper Eldridge and more.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Different projects come and go all the time! Some of them are recordings in studios or mixing songs for different artists.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: That is a huge discussion that I have in a weekly basis in studio environments. Both analog and digital have advantages and disadvantages and there is no right or wrong. It all comes down to what a record needs. If someone is interested in that topic we can discuss it at any point :)

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

A: My clients can rest assured that the mix will be technically perfect and work on every device and playback system whilst we keep their vision alive!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The arrangement of the instruments is the number one. Find instruments and textures that talk to each other and not against each other. Keep your sections interesting, don't overproduce a song just to say how huge your project is. Try to understand what the song is trying to say and build the production accordingly.

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

A: I work in all types and genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My stronger skill is definitely my critical listening. Being able to spot small details in a very busy production makes the difference to get a powerful mix.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I will bring a new pair of ears with the experience and ability to understand the artist's vision and make it happen!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I usually ask for a few things before starting a mix. I would like to have a rough mix, if possible, to get an idea of the vision - where elements are placed, what we can improve, potential problems we might face etc. Together with that I usually request a few reference tracks where artists pinpoint sonic characteristics they might like to get for their song, for instance "I like how the vocals sit on this track or the relationship between kick and bass is really nice on this track etc."

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work in Pro Tools using all different digital softwares and plug-ins. I also have outboard analogue gear such as compressors and a tape machine which I use very often on my mixes. Working in the digital domain is more convenient nowadays cause it gives you more flexibility and faster pace to work on many different project without losing a lot of time recalling a mix. It also makes the revision process much much easier and faster.

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

A: The list is very long including some of the most famous names in the industry like Serban Ghenea, Andrew Scheps, Chris Lord Alge and more but I also get inspired every day from talented people I meet in studios that they are determined to reach their goals and make their dream come true.

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

A: The most common work I do for clients is mixing their music. Quite often though, I will tune vocals or edit some instruments to lock them together getting more groove and energy. Also audio restoration is quite common as sometimes you get recordings with chair noises, amp buzz etc.