Record Producer

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

A: My new studio. I've built a professional recording studio on a building's 6th floor at Porto's downtown.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Producing and recording loads of artists.

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

A: It is only over when we are both totally satisfied, within reason.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working with creative minds!

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

A: Normally, they think there is a standard studio procedure. And I say that there is no standard studio procedure :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's my role in this work? Can you be present? What's your schedule?

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

A: A microphone, a recording system, headphones, a stereo equalizer and a stereo compressor.

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

A: Started playing with 14. Graduated from Music Production here in Porto, Portugal. FOH Live Sound Engineer since 2010. Worked as an Assistant at Meifumado Records for a year and a half. Dj'ed a lot until I was tired of it. Been working in the studio with bands and musicians since 2010.

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

A: With anyone who wants to work with me.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Motivating & Mixing

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Go to the band's rehearsals and try to envision the whole process. If there are demos, listen to them with maximum focus. Work on the song structure and record, separately or at the same time. Edit what needs to be edited and prepare for the mix. Mix until everybody is happy... I am usually the last guy to be satisfied. Master after a week or two if not enough budget to do that with a pro.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: TRACKING & MIXING — Pro Tools HD — Peavey AMR 1600 mixer with 4-band variable PEQs (32ins-&32outs) — Neve 8816 Summing Mixer — Antelope Orion32 converters (32ins&outs) ​ MONITORING — Genelec 1031 speakers — Yamaha NS10 with P2700 Amp — Palmer Monicon L Passive Control — Audio Technica ATH-M30 headphones — Superlux HD headphones for tracking (4) ​ MICS & DIs — EV ND868 — Golden Age R1 Active (2) — Heil PR40 — Oktava MK012 (2) — Sennheiser E604 (3) — Sennheiser E906 — Sennheiser MD441 — Shure SM57 — Shure SM58 — Superlux HI10 — Palmer Dacappo Reamp Box (2) — Palmer PAN 1 passive DI (2) ​ OUTBOARD — Alesis Nanocompressor mono/stereo (2) — dBX 160X (made in USA) — Drawmer DL241 dual/stereo compressor (2) — ElectroHarmonix BassBalls (made in Russia) — Klark Teknik DN500 dual/stereo compressor — Lexicon MPX100 multieffects ​ PLUGINS — Antares — Avid — Eventide — Izotope — McDSP — Melodyne — Native Instruments — Sonnox — Synchro Arts — Waves — etc

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

A: Engineers/Producers: Ben H. Allen, Brian Beattie, Bruce Botnick, Greg Calbi, Dan Carey, John Congleton, Jason Cox, Rhett Davies, Steve Dub, Phil Ek, Geoff Emerick, Flood, Dave Fridmann, Brian Gardner, Nigel Godrich, Bill Halverson, Tony Hoffer, Andy Johns, Nick Launay, Bob Ludwig, Mike Marsh, John McEntire, Alan Moulder, Nilesh Patel, Conny Plank, Ken Scott, Roger Seibel, Butch Vig, Tony Visconti, Andy Wallace, Howie Weinberg, Tim Young Musicians: Air, Ariel Pink, Beach Boys, Beatles, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Blur, Brian Eno, Camel, Car Seath Headrest, Caribou, Carlos Paredes, Carole King, Chico Buarque, Connan Mockasin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, David Bowie, Deerhunter, dEUS, Dirty Projectors, Divine Comedy, The Doors, Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, Four Tet, Frank Zappa, Gorillaz, Jim O'Rourke, John Coltrane, John Maus, Kanye West, Kraftwerk, LCD Soundsystem, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Marvin Gaye, Maurice Ravel, MGMT, My Bloody Valentine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nirvana, Panda Bear, Paul McCartney, Pharoah Sanders, Pink Floyd, Primal Scream, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Scott Walker, Sébastien Tellier, Simon & Garfunkel, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Strokes, Suede, Talk Talk, Tame Impala, Tears for Fears, Tindersticks, To Rococo Rot, Todd Terje, Tom Waits, Tortoise, Velvet Underground.

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

A: I'm new to SoundBetter!

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

A: That all the prices are negotiable.

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

A: Do the absolute best you can!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog and digital. Try to use the best of both worlds.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Friendly, focused and creative.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always take the time to listen to your work as a listener :)

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

A: Experimental, Rock, Electronic, Alternative Pop, Disco, Math/Prog, Indie, etc

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: What the band wants/needs.

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

A: Recording, Production, Mixing, Mastering and Live Sound!