Analog Mastering Studio

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

A: I grew up listening to Fragil (a progressive peruvian band) and now it´s lead singer is my client! that makes me feel lucky and forced to do my best!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I have just finished an album by Cemeterio Club a peruvian "british sounding band" I did 4 of their 9 tracks and wished I haved done the whole album! I suffer when a song does not sound well.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: I have not seen the whole list... Maybe later I´ll do the update

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog.. it is the real deal! electrons traveling through components. Then, digital to reach levels.

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

A: I already stated it... To do everything to make their songs sound better.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I work by myself, alone and nobody is telling me to turn the guitar up!... I like getting mixes and make them sound better.. if possible!

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

A: If I can give them a discount!!! jaaa.. What I say is that I do this for a living and they will get a job done with all my effort.

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

A: That mastering will fix any tracking or mixing mistakes.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do they want, How do they want to sound.

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

A: First, always look for what is good for your music. Not for a "name".. the fact that your album says: mastered at a mega super studio does not mean it is going to sound great.. Look for who "wants" and "will try" to make your production really good.

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

A: A SSL 4000G+; My Bowers, My Massive Passive, a Telecaster, and cables to hook everything up! mmm also a proper power suply.

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

A: I started as a musician writing songs and playing guitar. Then I jumped to the other side of the glass, recording then mixing. Then I felt that mastering was more like me, lonely and relaxed type of guy. Soon I developed a talent because I do like music and to listen to it and make it sound betters pays my days.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Eclectic (when listening)... conservative when working. As I said before, I prefer a nice sounding song from a "squashed" one!

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

A: Nigel Godrich... He is a great producer and I would like to share his ideas.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Visualize, use "imaging", create a visual concept and pursuit it! Do not begin moving nobs until you have your mind clear and focused.

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

A: Basically rock; despite not having been a great techno fan, a fair amount of my works are techno or electronic. Which I do really enjoy.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: love for music and audio... that gives me what I need to enter the studio and work for a better sound.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Personally I don´t like harsh sounding or overprocessed albums. So call me anarchist, but I prefer to sound cleaner rather than louder.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First listen to the whole project. Then decide the correct way to go, this includes everything needed (even calling the client to ask for a new mix). We dedicate as much as possible to ensure best results.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Hitmakers Mastering (America), we have another studio in Europe, trusts in it´s easy but powerful signal flow thanks to our great gear (tubes and transistors), in our great monitor system and in our carefully treated room... at the end of our chain our L2 give us those few dB needed to sound loud, still dinamic.

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

A: To me, Nigel Godrich excels at production (almost God!).. In the mastering field, perhaps Bob Ludwig, Bernie Grundman, and Greg Calvi are the ones I try to follow.

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

A: We mostly do stereo mastering for music albums, musicals and movie soundtracks.