Robin Ball

Mix & Record Engineer

starstarstarstarstar
13 Reviews (5 Verified)
Robin Ball on SoundBetter

Robin has many years of Musical training under his belt, that's what makes him such a great engineer, as well as a great set of ears and fantastic taste. Being a Recording/Mix Engineer that has worked with many as well as the brilliant U2, he knows what a great record should sound like.

I was trained in SAE, London & Berklee College of Music, Boston. After SAE I was an assistant in Dublin working for great acts including Dervish & U2. Having drummed for many years and featured on many studio recordings my musical ability is a massive asset in the studio.

I'm a little obsessive about sounds/sources, that translates into my recordings and what makes the albums I work on special. I'm move mountains to make sure your record sounds like a Grammy!

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

13 Reviews

Endorse Robin Ball
  1. Review by Ivan Berger
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Robin is great vocal tunning!

  2. Review by Alan R.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Great job done by Robin,
    Great person to work with,
    he will give you what u looking for
    Highly recommended !

  3. Review by Emily G.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Robin is very professional and friendly. Communication with him was always thorough and he was quick to respond to any of my questions or requests. He worked with me to the end to make sure I was happy with my mix. Thank you!

  4. Review by Alex D.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Robin is a pro. Excellent communication. He brought our songs to life. He was able to translate the vision we heard in our heads to our ears. Will be working with him again!

  5. Review by Phil H.
    starstarstarstarstar
    check_circleVerified

    Robin is a highly gifted and professional mix engineer. He has a great ability to identify the strengths of each song, creating sonic landscapes of bright and rich tones. His comprehensive studio background illuminated my music and propelled each mix beyond expectation. It’s a joy working with him, and I’m thankful for his contribution to my album.

  6. Review by Dean
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Dean

    Robin is an absolutely wonderful mixing engineer. He approached my track with a lot of care, giving equal importance to the technical and musical sides of the song. Was always in touch and made sure I was 100% happy. After many bad/lackluster experiences with other mixing engineers, I finally found someone I can trust with my music. Thanks Rob!

  7. Review by Conor Wynne
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Conor Wynne

    I worked with Robin on a project live full band session for a national radio station. He went out of his way to come to our rehearsal space for pre-production before the date. During the recording and mixing stages he was spot on with everything, having honed in our sound. He's a fast mover and very professional, hugely pleased with the results.

  8. Review by Micheal Roche
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Micheal Roche

    Robin Ball is an outstanding studio engineer. We had robin project manage our recording.A stress free experience.Rob had played drums on an album previously recorded by a band member so we already were aware of his skills in organizing the people involved, our best time management and the overall sound of the record.Micheál Roche from 'Root Cellar'

  9. Review by Lucy
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Lucy

    Robin’s knowledge of every aspect of the recording process has evolved into an intuitive art form. You know that when he advises you he knows exactly what he’s talking about, and you should take note and listen. He's also a genuinely lovely guy with a great sense of humour! Lucy, Factions.

  10. Review by Mick
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Mick

    Rob's worked with me on a few projects and I'm always amazed with the results. He’s a real pro. Everything you could want in an engineer/producer. Also - a great drummer. He came in (as an engineer) to listen to a few tracks pre-recording - we ended up asking him to play drums on the entire record!

    You want this guy’s name on your inlay card

  11. Review by Rich
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Rich

    Robin has an exceptionally musical ear and a highly refined ability to focus on subtle tones from instrumentation and mixes. I have played bass with Robin in a band context; his calm demeanor, observant nature and robust sense of focus make him an ideal colleague for any collaborative situation.

  12. Review by Late City Edition (Dublin based rock/indie band)
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Late City Edition (Dublin based rock/indie band)

    What can I say about Robin.....he's an absolute legend! He just mixed our second single in New York in September and we are delighted with the result! He kept in constant touch all through the mixing process to make sure we were happy with the progress and has an amazing attention to detail. Thanks Rob! Late City Edition

  13. Review by Jay Ritchie
    starstarstarstarstar
    by Jay Ritchie

    I've had the pleasure of working with Robin on a couple of mixing projects both in Ireland and New York and he has achieved outstanding results. His direct and professional approach is second to none and he strives for perfection ensuring all the time that the artist gets the sound they envision and more. Would highly recommend to any band/artist

Interview with Robin Ball

  1. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  2. A: Digital. For todays fast paced world I need to work quickly. I might mix a track during the day but have comments from another track come back in the evening. If I work in Analog I have to spend time doing recalls, time, that I don't have.

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

  4. A: That anyone can do it.

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

  6. A: Computer, UAD interface, Focal Speakers ....... I only need three!

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

  8. A: I have been mixing for 9 years,

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

  10. A: I usually work on Rock, Pop, Funk & Electronic music where there is drums.

  11. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  12. A: My strongest skill is making the music sound natural, like the band are playing in front of you. I also give a great space to the instruments to make sure there's room for the parts to be heard properly. Being a drummer I can get an average sounding kit to shine in a mix.

  13. Q: What's your typical work process?

  14. A: In a typical mix process I like to get an idea from the client what they are looking for, some of their influences and the direction they see the tracks going in. Once we have established that I'll work on what I call a 'Static mix' of the track - this it a version of the mix without automation to see if the track is moving in the right direction. At this point it's called Mix Version 1. Pending the general sound is approved I'll go about putting the final touches on the track, bringing out all the details with automation then send to the client for comment.

  15. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  16. A: I work in a Studio complex in Dublin, it's based around a Neve 6604 Console with some great outboard and microphones. I usually work in the mix room, it's a system based on the Univeral Audio UAD products. I use plugins from manufacturers including: UAD, Waves, DK Labs, Sonnox, UBK, Eventide and many more.

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

  18. A: My main influences at the moment would be Manny Marroquin, he has such a wonderful ear and approach to mixing. Someone who has very similar talents to Manny would be Michael Brauer, they can both mix so that the music is presented without the mix getting in the way. It's a serious talent, one that I am constantly working on.

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

  20. A: I would mostly Mix for people/bands, I'm also often asked to tune vocals for Clients as I have an excellent ear for tuning and use tools that require me to do it by hand so it never sounds overly processed.

loading
play_arrowpause
skip_previous
skip_next
Loah

I was the Record/Mix Engineer in this production

GenresSounds Like
  • John Mayer
  • U2
  • All Tvvins
Gear Highlights
  • Pro Tools 12
  • UAD Apollo
  • Sonor Beech Infinite Drums
  • Meinl Cymbals
  • Roland R880
  • Eventide Harmonizer
  • Focal Solo 6be
  • Chandler TG1
  • Neve 8801
  • API 7600
  • 1176
  • EMI Channel strip.UAD
More Photos
More Samples
  • Press Record VideosFeb 09, 2017

    Head on over to my Youtube channel to see all of the live in-studio videos I have been working on. 

  • FirstageJan 04, 2017

    I'm now the Production Director for Firstage.com. Augmented Reality for Music. There's a bright future ahead for Music.

  • The Mixermanhattan Video PodcastApr 04, 2014

    I've just begun a new project with some great bands. Head on over to Press Record to see some of my recording and mixing chops. These guys are all playing live, I think they all do a great job.

  • Have a listen….Feb 12, 2014

    https://soundcloud.com/mixermanhattan

  • Root Cellar AlbumOct 03, 2013

    Just finished the Root Cellar album. It was an album that I was pretty busy on as the drummer, record engineer, mix engineer and also production. It's gone to mastering, I'll post a link here when it gets released.