I Make Trailer Songs

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

A: I finished a full album recently titled "Neon Nomad" that is an 80s synth-style instrumental that has been a great adventure to work on: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/neon-nomad/id1232064928

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A new song for a singer that has yet to be released is on its way to itunes and spotify as I write this. I am currently working on a theme for an Australian short film.

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

A: James Nagel - great producer and sound engineer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I work fully in the box, along with UAD plugins that mimic analog hardware. It's much better for working on the move, and lets me move much faster with fixes to clients.

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

A: Your song will be unique, but still approachable.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: - It is very creative - I'm a geek so I get to geek out on all the technology stuff

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

A: - "Can you make my voice higher in the mix?" -> "Yes" - "I can't hear my voice!" -> "I'll check the mix and EQ settings" or "I'll bring it up"

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

A: - That Revisions and changes are free

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: - what other songs do you like the sound of that match the genere of this song?

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

A: Be open to new ideas, and be ready to give feedback several times over the course of the production.

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

A: Shadowhills mastering compressor, macbook pro , a generator that runs on sea water, and a pair of Genelec 8050Bs (assuming there would be a good power supply!)

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

A: I've been working as a software engineer for a couple of decades, and in the past 5-6 years have slowly been inching into the professional music world. Music, along with technology, have always been passions of mine, and I find it challenging and rewarding to create something from scratch, both as software as well as sound. I learned drumming as a kid, and guitar when I was a bit older, and Drama was my favorite highschool subject :)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Trip-hoppy

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

A: Clarity - has an amazing voice.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Use mid-side EQs at the mix bus level to open up the track and give much more depth to the listener. I usually cut out some lows on the sides, as well as MONO all frequencies under a specific threshold to keep the track balanced.

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

A: Electronica mostly. Hip hop, trip hop, chill-out, and EDM..

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Organization, follow through and iterative work-client feedback cycle, to make sure everyone is on the right track and keeping the client with full visibility into the process. I also work fast between iterations (though a track might take from a few days to several weeks, depending on how much "rest" my ears need between sessions, and my work load)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Usually a vision of a full song structure , and many times the backing chords or even melody.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When I work with a customer on a new song, we sign a contract detailing our PROs (Ascap or BMI usually) and our royalty splits (if any). I usually ask if they already have melodies or lyrics or even existing vocal rough ideas. Then I'll take those vocals or melodies and slowly start building a full track around them. I'll usually show the client various sketches and rough ideas of track arrangements to see if we are on the right path for their vision, and slowly and iteratively work on the song until the arrangements and structure are on par with what's on our vision. Then I'll start the mixing stage, and again send progression updates to for the client to listen to and give notes. When client signs off, I either master the track myself, or we send it to a mastering engineer. Who bears the cost is set in the initial contract when we start the work. We then register the song (if relevant) in the agreed PROs such as ASCAP or BMI based on the contract details. If the client would like to, I can also distribute the track through my own label (if the track fits the vibe of the label) or directly to itunes, spotify and the like through distrokid.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: HARDWARE & INSTRUMENTS ------------------------------------------ Macbook Pro 16GB, 2TB SSD external Audio Interaces: Scarlett i1820 UAD Apollo Twin Quad mkII (Thunderbolt) (master clock) UAD Satellite Octo DSP Presonus Monitor Station Effects ------------------------------------------ ElevenRack KaossPad Quad Control Surfaces: ------------------------------------------ Softube Console 1 MKII Komplete Kontrol 88 Keys Fully Weighted keyboard Maschine Studio + Maschine MKI FaderPort 8 + Faderport Classic MPKmini Novation Launch Control & LaunchPad Speakers ------------------------------------------ Yamaha HS8 Avantone MixCube (single) Headphones ------------------------------------------ DT 990 Pro (250ohm) ATH-M50X Instruments: ------------------------------------------ Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar Uke Mics ------------------------------------------ SM-58 AT2020 SOFTWARE ------------------------------------------ Backups: 2 Cloud Backups(Amazon + Dropbox Business), wetransfer.com backups DAWs used: Pro Tools 11.0 Studio One Pro Ableton Live 9 Suite Logic Pro X WaveLab 9 Maschine Addictive Drums Native Instruments Komplete Synths ------------------------------------------ Diva OmniSphere 2 Trillian Stylus RMX Arturia Collection Nexus Op-X Pro II Repro-1 Serum Sylenth Zebra 2 Vocal Auto Tune 8 Melodyne Studio 4 Libraries ------------------------------------------ 8DIO Epic Taiko Ensemble Studio Suspended Tonal Polyphon Instrument New Hybrid Tools 2 Majestica (240 Piece Epic Orchestra) Liberis Angelic Choir Lacrimosa Epic Choir Insolidus Choir Hybrid Tools Vol. 3 Greek Percussion Instrument CAGE Bundle: Strings, Brass & Winds Blendstrument Motion Textures Blendstrument Hybrid Pulses Blendstrument Cinematic Pulse Blendstrument Alive Percussions Anthology Strings Agitato String Bundle LASS Full Orange Tree Evolution Dracus Evolution Sitardelic Evolution Stratosphere SLIDE Acoustic SLIDE Lap Steel Diva M-Tron Pro Output Substance Heaviocity Gravity Natural Forces Vocalize UVI Vintage Legends

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

A: Massive Attack, Deadmu5, Moby

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

A: I usually either take vocal stems and build a full song around them (verses, churuses, bridges), including instrumentation parts, arrangements, mixing and mastering. The second most common thing I do is create Beats for use in hiphop. I also dabblle quite a bit with Remixing existing songs, usually from pure vocal stems.