Mixing and Mastering engineer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Well, I have worked with many setups over the years, initially of course I learned to do everything in the box with an old version of cubase bought second-hand (the sx3 if I'm not mistaken) however more than enough to learn how to make projects, use stock plugins, automation etc. Then I went through various versions of new cubase, better and better third party plugins, an infinity of sound cards and studio monitors; From the ITB mix I switched to the OTB mix on the console (entry level) with which I worked a couple of years but it was not at all comfortable especially to recall the sessions of the customers with whom I worked simultaneously. Taking a step back and optimizing the software, listening, controllers and workflow to the maximum, I now work with both ProTools and Presonus studio One, plugins of waves, digital slates and FabFilter, as you listen to the use of the excellent Adam A7X in combination with Eris e5, audient interface with excellent converters, I use a 16-channel presonus controller to optimize the workflow and some modified outboards with MOD components.

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

A: Over the years I have had many sources of inspiration, sometimes from the client and most of the time from the great Mixing engineers like Joe Barresi (I love how 10,000 Days of the Tool sounds) but for years my favorite remains Chris Lord Algie (having loved particularly American Idiot by Green Day) but in truth I also appreciate less famous technicians with a great sound.

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

A: My daily bread is mixing, I have been doing it for 10 years and like many I started from scratch with very little equipment and with many sacrifices I managed to get many satisfied customers who give me the motivation to go beyond the limits and always try new ways to become a better mixing engineer.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The first thing I do after importing the tracks into the project is to arrange them all with the various groups (Drums, bass, Gtr's, Sinths, Vox for example), I create all the buses that I will need, after which I clean them from the silences and put the tracks in phase where it is needed. Once this was done, I raised the faders to play all the tracks and I created a first balance, after which (assuming a rock song) I started mixing and typically I started off dealing with drums and then proceeding on bass, guitars etc. once focused the color that the song will assume I proceed with the voices and then return to the instruments to wrap it all up (Just in two words then in reality things are a little different lol)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I love punching and dynamics, I don't like songs that play flat and dark so what I always try to do is give color to the song by acting on the Eq typically using emulations of analog machines or outboards to do this. Sometimes the client sends me his tracks where I only act on some parameters such as Eq, dynamics and some corrections leaving the balance created by him intact and then send everything to the Mastering engineer.