Mastering engineer

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

A: One of them has been at the Sickboy studio with the Producer Marco Mantovani and his band "Hopes Die Last" which are currently quite popular, and the album Wolfpack did very well.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: as music producer for my band album. Tough life..

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: When possible the blend. If I was very rich I would have said analog, but at the same time I know I would end up using many plugins as well. Digital is making his way.

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

A: Definitely my setup, Adam speakers, focusrite card, a guitar a mac mini and a Rode nt2000.

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

A: I'm very new in here, but I hope to do it soon!

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

A: Quality standards, I'm always very focus on my job, cheap price doesn't always mean a cheap job. Passion first of all.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The understanding of the frequencies. Mastering is a very complex field, everyday you learn something new.

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

A: Can you fix the mix with the master? Yes and No. It means that if you have Mini car, I can polish it, put some tuning and make it very cool. But it won't be a Ferrari. Fake promises don't make good engineers. But What I can promise you is to bring all of my passion inside every track as it was mine.

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

A: Working in the box you're not a pro. Well this is a big battle! but I can prove you knowing the right products how close to industry standards you can get.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: how would you like it? give me an adjective and we'll find the right sound.

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

A: My first rule as a professional is to build trust. We didn't finish until we're both happy with the final result.

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

A: I started playing instruments very young, then helping in few studios back in Italy I learnt the basics, until I felt the need to study everything in depth. I specialized in mixing and mastering at the point blank college in London in 2013 with Premen Underhill (Klaxons, lily allen, bloc party) and Doug Shearer (Kasabian, gorillaz, coldplay). After that I kept working with the Sickboy studio. Currently trying to earn my own artists.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Progressist? although I'm a very big fan of analog, Plugins are the future, what makes the difference in between an amateur user and an engineer is the deep understanding in terms of algorithms.

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

A: Jack white, I would definitely learn a lot from his "crazy" mind.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One thing that I do sometimes with tracks, is to mix and master them together in the same project. Working on the transients with the limiter on. It gives me a more detailed Idea of tweaking until the very end.

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

A: As mastering engineer I'm not fussy about the style! But I do work the most with rock, heavy, pop, indie, alternative.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Probably the fact that I'm an artist as well puts me in the position of understanding the artist idea outside of a mere technical filter. Also my hearing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Shine. That's what mastering is, to bring the mixes to a coherent level of sounds through polishing at their best. Sometimes mixes are great by themselves, so I try to keep the mixing idea untouched and shape the master around it. Other times you need to pump it up a bit further to have the "hit" sound.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I have a look at the track and I see if the mix can match the artist needs in terms of finalization. After analyzing the track I set expectations and references. I usually give myself the time necessary to be satisfied of the final master, leaving a gap of few hours before approve it. Artist's feedbacks are also very important!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: DAW logic pro, Focusrite Forte, speakers Adam A7x, Yamaha HS7, As I work in the box I've got all the latest plugins available on the market: Native instrument Komplete, Waves pack, sonnox, fabfilter, Izotope and many more.

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

A: professionals? Streaky, John Davis, Andy Baldwin, Doug Shearer, Ted Jenses, Flood, Rich Costey, Chris lord alge. There's a long list!

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

A: Mastering.