Produce | Mix | Sound Design

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now, I'm in the final stages of developing the full audio score and sound effects for a new Scifi Virtual Reality computer game for the Oculus Rift and HTC Hive).

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: This is not a "one or the other" option. I have and use both, and it depends on the task at hand. I firmly believe they should both compliment each other.

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

A: Honesty.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I'm a complete nerd, so I love playing with gadgets, learning new software/hardware, developing new techniques in sound-design and production. What more could I ask for in a job?

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your end-goal with this?

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

A: Be clear in what it is you want. This needs to be in w main areas: Your creative vision and intent, and what you need technically to get there. The first part allows us to both work towards the same thing, and the second part allows me to quote accurately and set the right expectations.

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

A: computer (with wifi?), headphones, Audient DA, Moog Sub37, Kyma Paca

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

A: I've been doing this for 20 years, although 15 of those have been professionally. I started as a child learning to experiment with sounds, and constantly pushed for more knowledge.

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

A: Radiohead, because they seem to enjoy the process of making something.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get to know one synth inside and out. Far too many producers have an abundance of synths but don't realise what each one is truly capable of.

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

A: Mostly electronic, from film-score to game audio and sound effects. However, I'm a keen listener of most genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My obsession with sound, combined with 20 years experience means that I'm usually able to develop a fairly efficient workflow so that creativity can breathe.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to think that I can bring some originality through my sound design and mixing techniques.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to chat with clients when I can, to get an idea of their artistic intent and vision. This always makes it a smoother ride when working to a brief.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Having an engineering degree (BSc Hons) I decided to build the studio myself, and by carefully choosing the materials and densities of each wall, along with the acoustic treatment, I was able to test and improve each section of the build to arrive at a fantastically natural sounding room. The studio is Mac Pro based, and I have a selection of various synths (Moog, Korg, Roland, etc) and DSP machines (UAD, Kyma, etc) with a set of Event Opals as the main monitors, and an Audient AD/DA in charge.

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

A: I'm a huge fan of Hans Zimmer, and a lot of sci-fi film score in general. I love to hear a score that has equally intriguing sound-design.

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

A: My work is mostly split between sound-design (for synths and computer game score and SFX etc) and mixing and studio-engineering (for all genres of electronic music).