Analog Mastering Engineer/Guy

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm usually in between 5-12 projects at a time, you'll have to come back to my profile and check what they are.

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

A: Communication, quick turnaround times, and a good hang.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like that at the end of the day, I get to listen to finished music. It's similar to putting on a good playlist and just enjoying everything the songs have to offer.

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

A: Strap an L2 across the two buss and make it loud. Although I do have a hardware L2 unit, there's a lot that goes into the process of mastering.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the most important to you: - Loudness - Dynamics - Balance - Feel

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Although I do like thundering lows, creamy silky highs, and vocals sitting up front and clear. I follow the mix unless asked otherwise. Whatever the mix needs to really enhance all the hard work put into the track.

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

A: I prefer to work with artists that put their everything into their music. The awards and shiny things are cool, but they also take up a lot of wall space!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Although, mastering is up there. I feel like I've perfected the art of drinking coffee. Ask me about it.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My work process starts with listening to the song, after listening to the track for about 10-15 minutes, I start putting the gear in what order I want it in. Then I tweak and tweak until it feels right, then I take a quick break, then I listen again, tweak again and then print the track.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The studio is an all analog studio with a Sontec EQ MEP 250EX, SPL EQ's (PQ and Passeq), SPL DMC Console, 6 different A/D and D/A Converters, and other analog gear. The room is in the historic RCA building on Music Row in Nashville, TN.

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

A: Bob Ludwig, Ted Jensen, Greg Calbi, Dave Kutch, and every other creative individual that puts their life work into music.

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

A: I have been in music since I was 5 years old. I started by taking piano lessons until I was 10 years old. At 10 years old I started playing the guitar, tuba, and violin taking private lessons for all instruments helping develop my ear. After Highschool I attended The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, a vocational school strictly for Audio Engineering.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, although I prefer analog over digital processing, sometimes it doesn't work for the music. Whatever tool makes it feel the best.

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

A: Bob Ludwig, Ted Jensen, Greg Calbi, Dave Kutch, and every other creative individual that puts their life work into music.

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

A: I have been in music since I was 5 years old. I started by taking piano lessons until I was 10 years old. At 10 years old I started playing the guitar, tuba, and violin taking private lessons for all instruments helping develop my ear. After Highschool I attended The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, a vocational school strictly for Audio Engineering. After CRAS, I took an internship with Howie Weinberg Mastering and quickly moved up to the position of Lead Engineer. Shortly after I started Epicenter Mastering and have been a working professional since 2012.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, although I prefer analog over digital processing, sometimes it doesn't work with the music. Whatever processing makes it feel the best.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Instead of boosting the high end, try raising the overall level, use a shelving filter and roll off the low end. It helps with phase issues.

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

A: The main genre's are: Rock, Pop, Country, and Top 40. I have also worked on Jazz, Classical, EDM, Dance Music, Rap, Neo Soul, and many other genres.

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

A: Mastering for independent musicians, indie labels, and major label clients in all musical genres.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Instead of boosting the high end, try raising the overall level, use a shelving filter and roll off the low end. It helps with phase issues.

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

A: The main genre's are: Rock, Pop, Country, and Top 40. I have also worked on Jazz, Classical, EDM, Dance Music, Rap, Neo Soul, and many other genres.

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

A: Mastering for independent musicians, indie labels, and major label clients in all musical genres.