Mike Davis on SoundBetter

Hire a mixer that has been in your shoes. I have extensive experience being a performing/recording artist and that makes me a uniquely relatable. I am highly skilled at mixing, mastering, recording, editing, performance, songwriting, lyricism, composition, and arrangement. Give your music an extra punch and make it shine for an affordable price.

My name is Mike Davis. I'm a professional multi-media producer and mixing/mastering engineer, with 12 years of experience in music production.

My production experience has largely consisted of recording my own music and friends', amounting to dozens of albums that I have written, performed on, recorded, mixed, and/or mastered. This puts me in a very unique position to approach any music project from an evolved-yet-relatable perspective, to maximize the impact of your art.

My extensive home recording experience has prepared me well to handle not only home-recorded music, which can be particularly difficult for someone unexperienced, but also professionally recorded music. In my many years learning how to mix with home-recorded tracks, I have developed many quick tricks to improve sound quality and bring out the best in the mix without rerecording.

My DIY experience puts me in a unique position to offer great advice on improving your home studio setup on a budget, so that you can focus on making music, and not be derailed by technical issues and price tags. If advice is needed on this front, I'm more than willing to share my knowledge!

I use a wide array of plugins that aid me in the mixing and mastering process, including but not limited to FabFilter, Waves Platinum, and the full suite of iZotope plugins. My preferred DAW is Bitwig. (similar to Ableton)

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Credits

19 Reviews

Endorse Mike Davis

by Fernbrook
Verified
Mike was efficient, transparent, & open to everything we asked of him. Followed through with every single request we had, and gave even more than that. Great ears here!!
by Apophis 68
Just completed my first single with him and all I can say is.....I want Mike on all the mix/masters going forward. He nailed my artistic vision of the song. The bass is rich and the drums are punchy. Vocals fell right into the mix with ease. I can't wait to cut an EP with him and potentially more!
by Christian Nyzio
Mike worked on our album with The Nightshades. Incredible quality, attention to detail and communication through the process. I value, deeply, the work he put in and will absolutely be doing more collabs in the future. Hit him up if you're looking for deep nuance and high quality work!
by Maxwell T.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike on a few creative projects. It’s clear that he has a wide knowledge of music and production and always brings his A-game for every session and rehearsal. He’s a lot of fun to work with!
by Trae Beneck
Mike helped me score a film I edited last winter. We reached out to him late in the process and he was able to produce a high-quality soundtrack with a very quick turnaround time. He was able to build out a lush soundscape primarily using midi that ended up complimenting the film very well.
by Miles Mercer (King Crawdad)
We worked with Mike on mastering our most recent EP. He was diligent, thorough, and his attention made him easy to work with. He was responsive throughout the whole process and was always direct with his communication. We also loved how dedicated he was to mastering these tracks in a timely manner. He was great with sending us options for different tracks, utilizing our input, and using his skillset to master these tracks promptly while ensuring high quality. Mike’s commitment to our project and overall work ethic made our vision of this project come to fruition.
by Justin D.
I have been working with Mike for nigh five years and I can say confidently that his work is outstanding. His attention to detail is tremendous and constant throughout the project, whatever it may be. He is also quick and eager to learn when he is not familiar with something (a rare occurrence). He’s personable, communicates well, and just fun to work with. Highly recommend!
by Colin Farnsworth
I have worked with Mike on many occasions. His attention to detail and quality is second to none and he always goes the extra mile to ensure that the end result is the best possible sound it can be. Not only that, but he is great at thinking ahead throughout the course of making a project so that it goes smoothly every step of the way. He is top notch!
by Dylan Kishner-Lopez
Mike was my exclusive producer for three releases (two studios and one live album) and has always been completely transparent about his process and pricing. His input and creativity have been a huge help for a newbie learning how to navigate professional recording. His work on my live album was especially good, capturing all the nuances of live performance while adding some more heft to the mix.
by Kid Trippz
Excellent producer! Been working with Mike for 3 years now and he has helped me become a better song writer and artist overall. He has helped with getting my lyrics put together, the beats, mixing/ mastering, and does all his own instrumentals. Also does album artwork, photography, and music videos. Couldn’t have been growing as an artist without him. Here’s the first song we put out on all platforms: https://open.spotify.com/track/697Q9Vu0tFaxymR2TXmo6q?si=i7NiZAqDQDuq0nZ66F4Rjg
by BBMC
Mike is definitely communicative and detailed. He’ll give feedback and opinions that are both helpful and insightful. Working with him on our newest single, Style was an easy and enjoyable process and I always find myself learning something new! Mike is very knowledgeable in this field and I would definitely recommend him for your mixing and mastering needs. I often ask him for points and tips on my own musical projects. It’s helpful knowing that he will give me honest feedback with detailed solutions for what I am trying to achieve.
by Tyler Decker
Over the years I've worked with Mike on multiple songs and projects and the results always exceed expectations. If you are looking for a producer with a pitch perfect ear with knowledge on how to craft a unique song that tells a story look no further. Not only that but Mike can help with recording your unique sound in the correct way so that it will sound as good as it is supposed to be. Most importantly as a any good producer will do he won't just accept the first pass and will try to bring out your absolute best. All of these qualities make a full package that is worth every penny
by Dan Sykora
Mike has been one of my best friends for 15 years, and we've written and covered dozens of songs together. To see how skilled, focused, and professional he and his sound have become has been a joy to see. If you hire Mike, you'll get someone who takes his job very seriously and will work tirelessly to get your music sound the way you want. He's a very consistent communicator and will always be up front about the progress of a song or record. Musically, he's not only the best drummer I know but is also incredibly versatile (guitar, bass, vocals), and I'm convinced he can learn anything.
by Molly Love
Working with Mike is always a pleasure! He is a hard worker and does his best to make sure your music sounds great. I worked with Mike on one of BBMC’s single releases, “Masquerading”. He had a great creative mindset and was attentive to our sound and needs. Definitely a great price for great quality and company, I would highly recommend!
by Chelsea Twiss
Mike helped record, mix and master a music video I recently put out for one of my songs. I was really appreciative of his willingness to help out with the project and to complete quality work in a timely and efficient manner. Mike was also engaged in communication throughout the process and I didn’t have to worry about whether or not the video would get done before the deadline. It is clear that Mike is invested in helping artists in his own community create projects they will be proud of.
by Robbie Brian
Mike has the work ethic and talent to make your single or album sound exactly how it is suppose to sound; professional. He took ownership of my single "The Getting Life" ensuring I got the sound I was looking for. He is an excellent communicator who provided quick responses to any questions or comments I had during the entire process. Mike performed and arranged the drums, mandolin, additional guitar and backing vocals, and has the mixing and mastering artistry comparable to any professional producer. Take a listen: https://open.spotify.com/track/5qahc0dyR6PspXM1ezqdOY?si=84c7c7
by Robbie Brian
Mike has the work ethic and talent to make your single or album sound exactly how it is suppose to sound; professional. He took ownership of my single "The Getting Life" ensuring I got the sound I was looking for. He is an excellent communicator who provided quick responses to any questions or comments I had during the entire process. Mike performed and arranged the drums, mandolin, additional guitar and backing vocals, and has the mixing and mastering artistry comparable to any professional producer. Take a listen: https://open.spotify.com/track/5qahc0dyR6PspXM1ezqdOY?si=84c7c7
by Keaton Nalezny
This guy is committed to the art of mixing/mastering and has done some great work! He mixed/mastered a live recording of the band Wolfblitzer and made it sound badass, and was a joy to work alongside. Mike is a great person to get involved if you need high-quality ears on a project! His audio skills are worth every penny!
by Goth Club
Mike is a pro! He produced the audio & video for my song "I Am Going to Catch You" & offered some incredible edits in terms of instrumentation, as well as layer additions that brought my song to the professional level. One of the many things I was pleased with was his level of rhythmic understanding and instrumental effects. I brought a bare bones song to him (just vocals, synths, melodies), and by the time he was finished, it was exactly as I'd imagined the final result to sound. Mike was very communicative & even when I asked him to make additional edits, he was happy help. Thank you, Mike!

Interview with Mike Davis

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm very proud of my work on The Nightshades' debut album, for which I was the producer, mixer, and mastering engineer. This process proved to me that I am capable of doing a professional job of everything from recording thru finalization of a full album. The full album is yet to be fully released. They do have three singles out on Spotify though: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2weYF6HJGKxEt5HABg9f4Z?si=rhKjJ6_XTA2O2LeD6Zekew
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm currently mixing and mastering a few hip hop songs for a client under the name Kid Trippz. One of his songs that I produced is released on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/697Q9Vu0tFaxymR2TXmo6q?si=71b421e3193d48bd
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: I'm new here, so not yet!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: It really depends on what you're looking for. Some analog equipment adds the perfect amount of color to certain instruments, so it is ideal to use analog in those circumstances. But, if you don't have access to analog, luckily there are many options for digital emulation of those devices (and these are always improving).
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise I will treat your project as though it were my own, and I will not cut corners under any circumstances.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I just love how I can easily get into a flow state and the time melts away. I don't get annoyed hearing the same song, or even the same segment of a song, over and over again. Music is such a beautiful thing and I'm very grateful that I can make a career out of it!
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you make me sound like [insert artist here]? The answer is often complicated, depending on the quality of the recording, the quality of the performances, and the effects desired. I can get you to sound as close as possible to particular artists, but it is never exact because of the MANY factors BEFORE mixing/mastering that contribute to achieving a particular sound. It comes down to healthy expectations!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: The misconception that it is just a hobby and doesn't take much practice. It requires many years of skill development, ear training, and practice to become a skilled professional producer, mixing engineer, or mastering engineer.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your recording setup like? Do you need advice on sound treatment, gear purchases, or effects to buy? How can I offer my knowledge and expertise to help you get the best final product?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Make sure you're ready for someone who's willing to take responsibility of his work on your project, and to give it proper attention. You hire me to help you bring your music to a professional level, and I treat that task with the respect it deserves!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Laptop, 2-input audio interface, electric guitar, keyboard control surface, and my sm7b microphone.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been doing music as a side hustle about 10-15 hours a week for 12 years. I began in high school and I've slowly but surely built an impressive home studio over the course of over a decade.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My style is experimental above all, but not without heavy awareness of what makes a specific genre.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd love to work with All Them Witches, because I feel their style of music would be appropriate for my recording skills.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Get the right sound/performance DURING the recording process, instead of relying on "we will fix it in post". It will always save you time in the long run.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on rock and roll type songs, but I also have extensive experience in hip hop, electronic, jazz, country rock, folk, metal, and ambient music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is my ability to take criticism and learn from that criticism in an effective way. Whether it's changing course within a single project's timeline, or taking lessons from each project and applying them to subsequent ones, I am always trying to learn and better my craft.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I have an extremely diverse taste in music, and that allows me to look at every project through a wide lens and make unique suggestions. Not being limited to elements/effects within a small subset of music is really valuable for helping an artist break through the noise. Additionally, I listen with my ears, not my eyes. This is very important in the age of visualized audio plugins. People often get caught up or distracted by visual elements of their plugins.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I usually like to get familiar with the song and its soundscape first, developing an end vision for what the song calls for in the production, mixing, and mastering process. Then, I usually begin by establishing a strong presence in the rhythmic components of a song - a strong beat really elevates a song to new heights. After that, I refine the other instrumental elements such as bass, synths, and other melodic instruments. After achieving a mostly refined instrumental, then vocals can be placed on top of that.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a very efficient workspace where I record, mix, and master. This includes two electric guitars, an acoustic guitar, an electric bass, an upright baby grand piano, a vocal booth, and various high-quality microphones. All of these items are oriented around my recording desk, complete with a super-fast desktop computer and 3 monitors for maximum efficiency.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar, Black MIDI, Tigran Hamasyan, All Them Witches, Flying Lotus, Baths, Thrice, The Dear Hunter, Coheed and Cambria, Karnivool, Tool, Adult Jazz, The Mars Volta, Animals As Leaders
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I most often do mixing and mastering work, and I have a few recurring clients in recording and production.