Remote Mixing and Mastering

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

A: Bits and Pieces by The Continental (nickname I use on streaming platforms). This is my latest EP which I composed, arranged and mixed, so I feels very personal to me

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, as it gives us far more flexibility in terms of sound processing

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

A: Alan Wilder. I admire his production techniques

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Use layering (aka wall of sound) technique if you want to create that big, wide and thick sound

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

A: Electronic, hip-hop, jazz, funk, alternative

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a pair of Yamaha HS7, Yamaha HPH-MT8 headphones and Apogee Duet 3 audio interface. I mix and master entirely "in the box" using a wide range of plugins

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on my new album and some songs that I mix for local music bands.

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

A: Elliot James Mulhern. If you're seeking a mastering engineer who combines technical craftsmanship with a genuine passion for music, Elliot James Mulhern is the name you can trust!

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

A: I promise that my approach to mixing and mastering will adapt to your artistic vision, ensuring a personalized and authentic result

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Listening to the final result and realizing I did a good job

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

A: How to prepare tracks for mixing and mastering? Possible answer can be: "Ensure that your tracks are well-organized, labeled correctly, and free from any unnecessary processing like EQ or compression. It's also helpful to provide a reference track that captures the sound you're aiming for."

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

A: One of the biggest misconceptions about what I do as a mixing and mastering engineer is that it's a purely technical process without much room for creativity or artistic input. In reality, while there are technical aspects to the job, mixing and mastering are deeply artistic endeavors.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: - Could you describe the emotion or vibe you want to convey through your music? - Do you have any specific references or songs that capture the sound you're aiming for? - Do you have any specific formats or delivery requirements for the final audio files?

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

A: Listen to their portfolio, ensure they are receptive to your ideas and trust your ears. If the engineer's work resonates with you and they seem genuinely passionate about your project, it's likely to be a good fit.

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

A: MacBook Pro, Apogee Duet 3, Yamaha HS7, Roland JUNO DS88 and some solar generators to power this whole setup

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

A: I have been doing music production, arranging and composing for over 10 years, but I have recently switched to mixing and mastering as my primary occupation

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Non-intrusive. The artists' vision is the most important thing and my job is to help materialize it

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being able to adapt my mixing skills to various genres and styles, as opposed to making everything sound like a rock song, or a hip-hop song, for instance.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Coherence, clarity and good translation to various listening environments (i.e. the mix must sound equally well on all types of speakers, headphones etc.)

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I analyze the song to be mixed/mastered and a reference track (if there is one). It is important to know and understand the desired mood and balance in your music. Then I set the balance of instruments and do some automation and panning, after which I apply EQ, compression and modulation effects to taste.

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

A: Alan Wilder, Mick Guzauski, Andrew Scheps, Chris Lord-Alge

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

A: I do mixing and mastering