Mixing & Mastering, Arranging

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. As of right now, digital is still unable to fully replace analog. But even when/if it does, the sounds associated with 'analog' and 'digital' today aren't better or worse, just different. But some projects will call for former, others for the latter.

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

A: That I'll do whatever it takes to achieve their vision for their work.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What exactly it is that they want done, say, if it's mixing their album, do they also want it edited? Mastered?If it's a game soundtrack, will the layers or sequences need to be manipulated? Regardless of the nature of the job, I ask for references of the kind of sound they are going for. Whether it's the mood or emotion they want a composition to reflect, the instrumentation for an arrangement, overall sound of a mix, or loudness of a master (though I will most certainly advise against going overly loud) or guitar tone for a track.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Never underestimate the power of fader riding.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The center of my setup is a custom built PC, with a Steinberg UR822 interface, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Nektar Panorama P6 and Presonus FaderPort controllers. I'm mainly a Cubase 8.5 Pro user, but I also use Ableton Live 9.5 and Pro Tools 11 proficiently should the project require it.I use a UAD-2 Quad PCIe card and multiple other third party plugins from companies such as Fabfilter, Slate Digital/Steven Slate Drums, Waves, iZotope, Postive Grid, Toontrack, JST, Native Instruments, and SynchroArts among others, and sample libraries from companies such as Spitfire Audio, Cinesamples, Audiobro, Best Service, Sample Modeling, Impact Soundworks, among others. My instruments include a PRS Hollowbody II, a custom build Strat, and Schecter Hellraiser C-1 guitars, and a Mesa/Boogie Mini Rectifier amp. I have access to different amps, should it be needed.

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

A: As a mixer, Tom and Chris Lord-Alge, Andy Wallace, , as well as Jordan Valeriote, and . As a composer, Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, Harry Gregson-Williams, David Arnold, Henry Jackman, Koji Kondo and Jeff Williams. As a guitarist, Dan Estrin, Mike Einziger, The Edge, Tom Morelli, Wes Borland, Mark Tremonti, Joe Satriani, among others.