Mixing for Metal & Heavy Rock

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

A: Not yet, but I'm new to Soundbetter.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Laid back, open minded to all ideas, and always willing to try anything.

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

A: I got recently got the opportunity to work with a band Frank Hannon of Tesla is currently managing and producing. He heard my final mix of theirs and I was told by the vocalist that Frank stated "Finally an engineer who knows what he's doing". That seriously warmed my heart! : )

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

A: Metallica, Lamb of God. Alice In Chains, Messhugah, Deftones, Eagles. All musical geniuses.

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

A: Eddie Van Halen, James Hetfield, Don Henley, Bob Rock, Billy Decker, John Mutt Lange

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Cemetery Legacy, Rugged Soul Project, Savatix and 24gore albums.

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

A: How much do you charge? Depends on the project.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being in charge of my time and being my own boss.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Staying organized, and I am obsessed with doing great drum and guitar editing.

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

A: I have worked with so many genres, but if I had to narrow it down it would be Metal, Rock and Hip Hop.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Simple set up, but gets the job done with every project I have worked on. I work mostly in the box. I have great mics, and room for getting the great sounds that I need.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My heart and soul, and full focused attention.

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

A: If you choose my services, what you will get is a pro sounding high quality mix that you want, with fast turnaround time, friendly first rate service, quick communication, and flexibility.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals and vision for your music? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

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

A: Mixing and mastering are the final steps in the process of making your music sound amazing. It can be the difference between proudly showing off your music or being so embarrassed you never release it. It can be the difference between getting signed or being stuck in "local band hell" forever. It can be the difference between getting millions of streams or getting ignored.

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

A: I have been working in Audio Music Production and establishing trust with my clients for the last ten years in many different genres of music, providing professional Recording and Mixing services locally, and remotely for artists from around the country and the world.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: For killer guitar tones especially in metal and hard rock, it always begins with the player, and not just the amplifier and cabinet you're using. Picking and palming technique, the right type of pick, and strings, a high quality guitar with high quality pickups (I always suggest EMG's, but that's just me) will give you that awesome attack, and bite.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Very organized. I do work with templates at first, but not always since every project is different.

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

A: Recording, and mixing production. I have also produced, co written, and played bass and guitar for my clients.