Mixing // Mastering

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Some personal projects with friends as well as any multitracks I can get my hands on.

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

A: Unfortunately no, not yet.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Some of the best recordings were analog but nobody wants to cut and splice magnetic tape anymore. We live in a world where we can do both so a hybrid setup is preferred. Total real invaluable!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to listen to music and make it sound better.

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

A: I don't think I'm important enough to have misconceptions yet lol.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is YOUR story? It's not about me.

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

A: Be clear and honest with me and I'll do the same regardless.

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

A: Well I guess the gear I own lol My fully stocked iMac, interface, X-Desk, Alpha Channel and my monitors.

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

A: Spent years in bands playing drums. Recording was always my favorite things to do. Back in High School we would rock the digital mixer until I got in to Cuebase and Protools. I've tracked my friends for years doing recordings probably for about 20 years. I'm actually a welder for 15 years paying the bills. But I've been serious about mixing for about 3 years trying to perfect my craft and start doing this full time.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern yet visceral and raw.

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

A: Again so many... Currently I'm digging a band called "In Mourning" from Sweden. Also a band called Be'Lakor from Australia are pretty brutal, not sure they are around anymore though.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't be set in your ways. There are so many tips and production ideas from the previous decades that you can use in todays music. Be open and ALWAYS look to learn to new things!

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

A: Heavy music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being approachable, easy to work with and most importantly my ears.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my various years of experience in the metal genre. Sometimes I enjoy the lighter lushyer (is that a word lol?) side of metal as well as the absolute brutal side of the genre as well. Whatever it take I'm usually pretty open to ideas and taking the genre to the next level.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Everything starts with my template. Then from there I make subtle changes depending on the song and its motion. Unless the artist has a particular sound they want I usually go with my gut instinct on how it should sound.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I mix 80 percent in the box and I have a few pieces of outboard gear. I'm using a Motu 16A connected to my SSL console in which I track and sum my mixes through. In addition I have a SSL Alpha channel for tracking and mixing as well. I have a plethora of Waves and Slate Digital plugins. Everything is connected to my iMac and I monitor through Yamaha HS 80m's.

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

A: Wow so many... I grew up in Western Mass and played in "metal core" bands in the early 2000's and Adam Dutkiewicz was responsible for that sound. Always loved his productions. Devin Townsend as well as Fredrik Nordstrom, Dan Swano, Jens Borgen and Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson all are amazing in my opinion. But my guilty pleasures in life are everything 80's!

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

A: I prefer to mix and master heavy metal for my clients. Also, I do enjoy making productions from start to finish whether full albums or demos.