Remote Mixing engineer

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

A: I have been recording and experimenting with sound since I was about 15 years old, and working professionally for over 12 years in studios. Audio and music has been my main hobby since i was a kid, and only career as an adult. I was a runner at Bryan Adam's studio The Warehouse, and later a studio assistant, and then engineer. I now freelance. I have a mixing room located downtown in Toronto ontario.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For most indie budget projects, my mixing setup is simple. I mix primarily in protools, with great monitoring and great convertors. If you have a larger budget and would like to pay for me to mix on an SSL in a bigger commercial facility i'm also happy to do so, and have years of experience on SSL's (4k, 9k, Duality) and many generations of Neve consoles including several vintage desks and the modern Neve Genesys.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I love clarity and excitement in mixes, as well as small details. Having the song evolve subtly in the mix from the intro until the final chorus, all those little subtle changes effect your listeners perception of the song and add to the excitement and interest.

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

A: RnB pop, rock, folk, some electronic.

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

A: Lets chat on the phone or skype. I'd love to get to know you and see how I can help bring out the best in your songs.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring creativity and excitement to the mixing stage. I love music, and the power it has to emote and excite listeners. Mixing is all about finding what makes the song exciting and bringing out those elements. Making the vocal engaging, and making the listener want to crank it up!

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

A: I worked under Randy Staub and love how huge his mixes sound, when working on pop/rock that is often my benchmark. I am a huge fan of Max Martin's productions, and a real sucker for those pop arrangements. I also love indie rock, weirder stuff like Tame Impala, arctic monkeys, etc.

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

A: I spend most of my time mixing singles and albums, often contributing creatively at this stage as well, depending on the need and what the client wants, and the song needs.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Whatever excites you and helps you create great music.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working with many different people, on different styles and genres of music. Being able to be creative and helping songwriters and musicians hear their songs be bigger and better than they have before.

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

A: A piano, a guitar, shaker, a computer, and a generator.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The songwriting and arrangement are so important. A well arranged song can practically mix itself. In pop music, the vocals are the most important thing- if the delivery is weak, the song will not be successful.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: The ability to communicate with a musician, producer, or artist and understand what they want, figure out what I think the song needs, and then bridge that gap and make everyone happy, while serving the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to talk with the band or artist about expectations and artistic direction and influences before starting on a mix. Usually the production speaks for itself and guides where the mix wants to go.