Mixing Engineer / Producer

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

A: What's your rate? $500/song.... BUT if your music is AMAZING and you don't have the budget, I'll do it anyway.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Mix at 83dB.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Is there anything specific you want to hear. Give me references!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: New mixes every week.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both.

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

A: I'll take it as far as you're willing, though that may require more effort than you expect.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Hearing new things everyday.

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

A: Mixing is not magic. The source and the arrangement are what makes or breaks the mix.

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

A: Lots of communication and setting expectations upfront makes everything smooth and outcomes good. I'm always willing to take the time to get to know a client.

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

A: Laptop with Pro Tools HD, 2 Apollo 16's, a Neve 8028, big box of mics and cables. Ok, so maybe that's more than 5.

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

A: Started doing mix tapes as a teenager, had a home studio before graduation, short stint in recording school and then 15 years of freelancing. Have done everything from ghetto rap to live orchestras.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Organic, emotional, clean and BIG.

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

A: KT Tunstall. Her songwriting and style are like nothing else.

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

A: Singer songwriters & Pop. I love Rock and RnB too, would like to do more of it. My RnB mixing is really good.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: A no bullshit opinion on music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Perspective.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Mixing is in the box with UAD and other great modern stuff. Tracking is no nonsense vintage mics large format consoles and big studios. I don't compromise on the front end; therefore, the mixes are fine ITB.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Mixing room is Pro Tools HD with S3 controller and top converters and monitors. I frequently track in many of the top studios in Nashville and other cities.

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

A: Andy Wallace, Michael Brauer, Chuck Ainlay, Mark "Spike" Stent, Lex Price, Linda Perry, Coldplay, Hybrid, Sublime, 311, Incubus, all 90's rock & hip hop, Norah Jones, KT Tunstall, really there are hundreds––this could be awhile.

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

A: Mainly mixing, but I produce about 4-5 projects a year. Used to record live dates everyday, very adept at live tracking in real studios.