Mixing Engineer

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

A: I worked at this song with Akapellah, one of latin americas best rapper and I produced the song "Gordo Funky" that I love and lot of people like.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Im mixing a song from Ire Pelusa.

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

A: Not that I know. But I would recommend Darryl Thorpe.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. They both have their own qualities.

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

A: I will put all my heart to the job.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making songs that inspire people, that makes people feel good and enjoy different moments of their lives.

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

A: Can you make my vocals sound like this artist or that artist... I respond I can make you sound like the best YOU.

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

A: That we can fix a bad song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always asked what is the feeling they're looking for.

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

A: I would say that communication is the most important thing. Always be clear with what your vision is and be respectful.

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

A: My laptop, headphones and my NS10s. :)

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

A: I started 18 years ago making beats back when I was very young, then I started working with Venezuelan rappers and from there I was going to studios, learning how to record, mix, edit, etc. I learned pretty much by watching other engineers doing their jobs. I got a job as an assistant engineer in Caracas while I was producing more and more. Then I moved to Miami and worked at a studio owned by Will Madera (Pitbull's Engineer) and after 3 years moved to Los Angeles where Ive been working in my studio.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is big drums! good low end and modern but always looking for making it sound very analog.

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

A: I would like to work with Rosalia, I think she is the perfect mix of latin and modern. With a lot of attitude from HipHop. I love that.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Break rules and always try to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

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

A: I usually work with HipHop, Pop, Latin, Trap, Reggeaton, all kinds of genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is vocals and Drums. Coming from producing and mixing hiphop I developed a great ear for big drums and great vocals.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: If im mixing I always try to talk a little bit to the artist and the producer and see what they want. I like to get the song to the next level, always respecting the sound and the time they took into getting the song to the point they liked. So my job after that is to fix the problems it may have in terms of frequency and make it sound as good as it can.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When Im mixing a song I like to set my session first. I organize the session, name everything, fix audio files, edit and all that stuff. The next day or so I go in the session and just mix, that way im not distracted or wasting time with nothing. All my attention and creativity is with my mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup is a hybrid of analog and digital. I have it dialed in so my mixes are in the box and then I go from there to an SPL Mixdream Summing mixer that I use with some master inserts (SSL Gbus, 1073s, 1176, Cl1b, Dangerous Compressor) depending on what I need. After the summing I go back to Protools digitally (AES) with Dangerous AD+ Converter and then I process my master with plugins. I have a couple of apollo's x16 and I work with UAD, Waves, Valhalla, Acustica, Fabfilter, Soundtoys and all the great plugins out there.

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

A: I am very inspired by all types of musicians, I grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley but I also like a lot of other musicians and producers in different genres: Dr Dre, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Mike Dean, Rick Rubin, Manny Marroquin, Arca and many many more.

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

A: Depends on what my role is on the project, most of the times my job is to mix the song or songs. And very often I am asked to add production to songs or they want me to produce and mix the whole thing. Im always down for what the artist or client needs.