Indie producer and mixer with credits by Deerhunter, Soccer Mommy, Hazel English, Cate Le Bon, Washed Out, Kaiser Chiefs a.o.
"I want records to feel a little bit dangerous, like we're allowing ourselves to do things in ways that some might not consider correct or proper. Celebrating imperfection and idiosyncrasies leads us to the true identity of an artist. Once I have a vision for where a record wants to go, I just get on board, take whatever risks necessary to preserve that identity and refuse to water it down with conventional "best" practices. Some of my favorite captures and mixing moves in the studio have been serendipitous. The key is to create an environment where these things can happen."
Originally from Bern, Switzerland, Ben Etter migrated to Atlanta, GA to focus completely on making records after spending many years as a recording and touring artist himself. Very much a child of the 90's, his work has been tied to the decade less in style than in approach. The attitude of independent artists at the time created an environment in which making records was, perhaps due to technical and time limitations, unencumbered by fear or overthinking and instead driven by fierce confidence in the material and artistic vision. In an age of unprecedented access and scrutiny in music production, this is the kind of mentality Ben brings to every session. This is reflected in his creative, often experimental recording and mixing approach - rendering exciting and sometimes unexpected results.
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
Credits
- Deerhunter
- Soccer Mommy
- Washed Out
- Cate le bon
- cut copy
- Hazel English
- Dan Croll
- Japanese Wallpaper
- The Big Moon
- Girl Ray
- Kaiser Chiefs
- Franz Ferdinand
- The Magic Gang
- Erasure
- Maximo Park
- Belle and Sebastian
- O'Brother
- Slum Sociable
- Honeyblood
- Wild Moccasins
- GGOOLLDD
- VHS Collection
- Childhood
- Jeans For Jesus
- Small Reactions
- Speelburg
- Albin Lee Meldau
- Shock Machine
- Jack River
- Royal Canoe
- The Souls
- Goodbye Fairbanks
- OOHYO
- Little Suspicions
- Starbenders
- Magic Gang
- Nolan Trotter
- Binding Spell
- Warahenege
- Phobia Quartet
- Biters
- Far West
- Flamingods
- worlds greatest dad
- Skittish
- Catskill Mountain Rescue Club
- Bad Suns
- Albin Meldau
- The Bad Suns
121 Reviews - 30 Repeat Clients
Endorse Ben Etter
check_circleVerifiedI am so grateful for Ben Etter’s passion and creativity which gave this complex track, that was years in the making, such unbreakable integrity that without any revisions there is nothing to add or remove from it. The sound glues together so well, i do not want to change a thing, zero notes and zero revisions!! Ben not only honored all the work that went into this track but elevated and opened it up so I now hear parts that were buried, while adding warmth and depth… pure dirty perfection!!!
check_circleVerifiedBen is an amazingly intuitive producer. He understood my intended sound and was articulate when explaining his vision and his process. Throughout, he was professional, pleasant, and super easy to work with. I am thrilled with the final! I would absolutely trust Ben with another song baby.
check_circleVerifiedAnother deeply patient, meticulous, creative, satisfying mixing experience with a true pro! Thanks as always, Ben.
check_circleVerifiedIt's been a honor working with Ben! He was able to bring my song to the next level and I feel so proud having him mix this song! Looking forward to working with him again!
check_circleVerifiedNailed another mix and master
Thanks again Ben!- check_circleVerified
Ben is amazing--calm, sure-footed, and a masterful engineer. He has great intuition with regard to arrangement, knowing when to press the mute button or turn up the faders to serve the song. A real pleasure to work with! Thank you Ben!
check_circleVerifiedBen was swift, professional, organized, communicative, and most importantly, a fantastic engineer. I highly recommend working with him if you're looking for a balanced, professional mix with some of his signature sonic warmth.
check_circleVerifiedBen is a really talented professional and has a keen ability to transform and elevate my self-recorded work into finished-sounding pieces, while still retaining their homespun nature. We have worked together twice now, and I plan to do so again. I highly recommend him.
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Mixes sound huge :)
Thanks! - check_circleVerified
Ben is an incredibly talented engineer who truly brought my mixes to life! Working with him on this album was an absolute pleasure—he not only made the tracks sound amazing, but also inspired fresh ideas throughout the process. His collaborative approach made the experience smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend working with Ben if you're looking to elevate your sound!
check_circleVerifiedWorked with Ben to have him mix our second single after nailing the first job. Was extremely impressed with his calm professional approach, and excellent and positive communication.
He brings such a cool creative touch to how he approaches his mixes and always gives a songs treatment the character and sparkle it deserves.
Highly recommend working with Ben.- check_circleVerified
Ben nailed it again! He's such a talented producer, I highly recommend him, he has elevated my music to a whole new level.
check_circleVerifiedBen Etter is the finest mixer I've had the pleasure of working with. Highly professional, creative, perceptive, and supportive of my artistic vision.... there's a reason he's worked with big and up-and-coming names in the indie world. I have zero regrets about paying a bit more than I have in the past and I genuinely can't wait to work with him again because I know he'll tastefully elevate my music to another level - what more can you ask for?
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Was an absolute pleasure working with Ben. Communication was clear throughout the process, and he knew exactly what to bring to the table to elevate the track and bring out its essence. Revisions process was quick, fun and collaborative. Looking forward to working together again!
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It was an honor having Ben mix our song! He took our song to the next level with his mixing expertise!! I look forward to have Ben on future projects!!
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Incredible experience working with Ben! Truly brought our sessions to life with his mixing and master services. Quick and clear communication to make everything seamless.
Very thankful to have his ears on our project and plan to return in the future.
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Extremely generous with his time in order to get the best possible result for the track.
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Ben is a very thoughtful, talented, and kind person to work with. Can't thank him enough for bringing such enthusiasm and professionalism to my home recording. He helped me get to where I wanted to go and supported my vision all along the way. 100% recommended. Thanks Ben!
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Another good experience with Ben. I thought my rough mix was ok but now when I compare with what Ben did, it was definitely not;) So much more dynamic and clean now. Small adjustments on the voice to get the direction I wanted and it was done.
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Can't say enough about how pleasant and professional and communicative Ben was to work with. The song I had him mix was passed over by another mixer who was struggling with the song and Ben totally knocked it out of the park.
brought so many cool creative elements to the song and really brought out the true essence of our vision.
Interview with Ben Etter
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Deerhunter's "Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared". I came on in the final third of the making of this record as a engineer/producer and, ultimately, mixer. I was lucky to be working with a group of such gifted and daring creative people who pushed me further than anyone else had before. I'd never worked in a less structured studio process and that record would not have come to fruition any other way. Totally eliminating boundaries opened the door to a whole different dimension in the band's vocabulary for the record - it was liberating. I was just doing my best to keep up with the pace of the session, facilitate ideas and help lace them up in the end, and this is what my role should be!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, depending on availability and sensibility. Gear rarely determines outcome, but rather the process to get there.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I am a product of the 90's, so I came up hearing a lot of independent music that feels raw and unapologetic. Whatever the style, whether I'm dealing with a 4-piece rock band or an electronic artist, I still crave and push for that quality in every piece of music I work on.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Only as much as it needs. I approach each project with the goal to understand the true, honest identity of the artist I'm working with and roll with that. For some projects, I need to stay out of the way and showcase the raw energy of the band, for other artists I need to create more of a journey.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Whether it's recording or mixing, I like to be prepared and get all the technical basics set up ahead of time. This allows me to unleash everyone’s full creativity later on in the process. I want to minimize friction between an idea and its realization and stay as flexible as possible.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Callum Barter and Larry Crane are both great people and excellent professionals.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Chris Walla is a producer who first made me realize how artistic the recording process can be and how instrumental it is in shaping how we perceive and connect with artists. I have also been lucky to have had incredible mentors throughout my career (Jason Kingsland, Ben Allen, Matt Goldman, Bradford Cox), who continue to inspire me.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to do something that I truly love and see purpose in everyday. It comes with a lot of challenges and sacrifices, but that ensures that I will only do this for as long as I truly love it. Also, I get to bring my dog to work!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will live and die by your record just as much as you do, maybe more.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Different shades of independent rock, sometimes more electronic, sometimes more organic.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Know what your vision is and how far you're willing to take it. If all you need is a properly blended, "punchy" mix that otherwise sounds just like your demo or rough, some providers (and their rates!) are suited better to that than others.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I do most of my work out of Maze Studios in Atlanta, GA, which is packed with great gear and toys. I also have a lean, but mean private mixing and production facility. In practice, the two flow together and I love oscillating between these spaces. This setup also keeps me nimble and able to adjust to most budgets.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Probably mixing several records at the same time!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I came up as a touring artist and fell in love with the studio world from that side of the glass. The transition came naturally to me. I quickly progressed from an intern sweeping floors at now defunct Glow In The Dark Studios, to staff engineer and studio manager at Ben H. Allen's Maze Studios in Atlanta, which is still my home base as an independent engineer today, almost 10 years later.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Pay attention to the happy accidents. Does the guitar amp you're trying to record sound great through the drum overheads that you left unmuted by mistake? Cut it!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I've worn most hats you can wear in a studio. Producer, engineer (often both at the same time!), and mixer. Recently I have been most excited and focused on mixing.
I was the Producer, Mixing & Recording Engineer in this production
- Futurism by Deerhunter
- Secretary by Cate Le Bon
- Too Late by Washed Out
- Hidden Perks by Palm Friends
- Mixing EngineerContact for pricing
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- ProducerContact for pricing
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $300 per track
- EditingAverage price - $300 per track
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $70 per song
- Recording StudioAverage price - $700 per day
5 free Revisions included. Additional revisions, multitrack parts, submix stems and additional file imports during revisions subject to a fee. Please send an audio sample when contacting.
- Deerhunter
- Soccer Mommy
- Washed Out
- Shallow Water
- Akai Reel to Reel
- RE-10
- Tea Towels
- Sleigh Bells
Mastering only $75 per song when added on to a mixing project
