Brian Malouf on SoundBetter

Michael Jackson, Queen, Pearl Jam and many more. Multi-Platinum Mixing Engineer. Top 5 records in 4 decades spread over several charts, traditional and streaming. 16 years of experience as a major label A&R executive, I listen and mix with competitive ears. I specialize in getting the vocal right. To me this is the most important and lacking element with most producers and mixers today.

Brian Malouf is a multi-platinum American producer, engineer, and mixer who has worked with acts such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Sabrina Carpenter, Andy Grammer, Mic Lowry, Cage The Elephant, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, Tokio Hotel, Wolfmother, and All Time Low. Also serving as an executive at several major record labels over the years, his work has amassed a total of 53 gold, platinum, and double platinum records to date.

Malouf grew up in Los Angeles, playing drums from a young age. In high school he experimented with instruments such as the trombone and upright bass, writing for the school's big band, but he returned to his percussive roots.
By 1990, Malouf had risen to the top of his field as a mix engineer, and continuing to grow his high-profile clientele list. In 1994 Brian was offered the position of vice-president of A&R at RCA Records in New York, where he remained for eleven years while continuing to mix and produce. Working for various labels over the years as a consultant and senior A&R executive, including a 3-year run as the VP of A&R at Walt Disney Records, he now owns Cookie Jar Recording in Sherman Oaks, California.

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Credits

4 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Brian Malouf

by Andre P.
Verified
Brian was great to work with. Very professional and knows how to great a great sound out of your mix. Highly recommend!
by Michaela T.
Verified
Brian has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He is incredibly organised, patient, easy to communicate and work with as well as being an incredibly talented mixing engineer with a brilliant set up for mixing tracks remotely. He has delivered some first class mixes for me and we are already starting work on another batch of songs. I would recommend him to anyone looking to work with a highly experienced professional.
by Lucas McKinnon
Verified
Brian's work is professional and he accomplished what a great mastering engineer should do - enhance the mix with a transparent but salient touch.
by Lucas McKinnon
Verified
Great working with Brian. Clients were pleased with the master. Brian was a pleasure to communicate with, showed enthusiasm for the project, and delivered the product well in advance of the deadline. Thanks, Brian!

Interview with Brian Malouf

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mica Millar, Exit 18, Debbie Gibson, and others
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Manny Marroquin
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital. Workflow. I can easily pull up a mix I did ten years ago and have it sound exactly the same as it did when I put it away. Comes in handy when you finally get that sync...!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, Pop, R&B, &Nashville, (whatever that is to you these days).
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Lit "A Place In The Sun". I mixed it and it has held up. Everclear, Eve 6 and The Verve Pipe - I was on a roll...
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I won't stop till you're happy.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The music.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: When can you do it? When do you need it?
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That the more tracks, the harder it is to mix.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you like the rough?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Hire me if you're looking for a better vocal sound/presentation.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Computer, speakers, Neve channel strip, Elam 251, Focusrite RED 3 Compressor/Limiter.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Musician, Engineer, Mixer, Producer, A&R Executive, Producer|Mixer, Educator. 40 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Transparent.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Post Malone. Or Coldplay. They're the best songwriters.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Use dynamic eq. Almost all the time.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Getting the groove right and vocal sounds.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A bight white spotlight on what is good, and a tasteful hiding of what is not.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Receive files, do the add'l production work, mix, get notes, mix some more, get final notes, do final mix and master. 2-3 days.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Professional, tuned mix room with ProTools Ultimate and DControl Surface. B&W, Yamaha Speakers, tons of outboard and plug-ins.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ian Kirkpatrick, Greg Wells
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Final mix and Mastering, but often times Add'l Production, Mix and Master.

Em Sasson "Relapse"

I was the Mixing and additional production in this production

Dolby Atmos & Immersive AudioAverage price - $800 per song
Mixing EngineerAverage price - $1000 per song
Mastering EngineerContact for pricing
Recording StudioAverage price - $500 per day
Vocal TuningAverage price - $300 per track
Vocal compingAverage price - $300 per track
RestorationAverage price - $150 per hour

75% upfront, two rounds of notes, 25% upon completion and delivery of final version.

Lit
All Time Low
Dirty Heads

Compressors: FOCUSRITE
TELETRONIX
EMPIRICAL LABS
DBX
UA
MANLEY
TC ELECTRONIC FINALIZER. Desk/Controller: D-Control (ICON). Every single Plug-In made by: UAD
Waves
Plug In Alliance
Sound Toys
Fab Filter
Sound Radix
Lexicon
McDSP
and more