Engineer, Producer, Mixer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm mixing a few projects from around the US and one from Europe. I'll be headed out to N.O. to co-produce an EP for a band soon.

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

A: I just engineered the 3rd record for Louis Prima Jr.& The Witnesses (my 2nd with them) for Warrior Records with Jim Ervin producing. They are jazz ensemble with some rock n roll edge, we tracked in studio B at the legendary Capitol Studios. The worldwide pandemic has pushed back the mixing but I hope to start very soon. I also engineered and mixed on a country record for an artist by the name of Rudy Parris on Warrior Records. Chad Smith from RHCP played drums on 2 songs we also tracked in studio B at Capitol Studios. It's a very natural sounding record, I co-mixed the record with producer Jim Ervin.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's an analog front end: I utilize Vintech, Manley and Sahdow Hills mic pres., UA and ADL compressors before I hit the Pro Tools HD rig. They are tons of plugins inside the box that are also available.

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

A: I do production, engineering and mixing. I have producers and labels I've been working for and those tend to be more engineering and mixing.

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

A: That's an easy job....the bass players friend has Pro Tools and he records so it has to be easy...right?

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Open, airy, big. I like it to sound like a record as we're tracking.Get it right at the source and there shouldn't be a necessity to over process in the tracking or the mixing stages.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: After working so many styles of music, I think it's a sense of song and my engineering skills. I may have recorded any instrument you can think...or at least I'm close.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think I bring honesty. Once and artist/band has lived with a song for months or possibly years they can be to close it, I can bring a fresh ear and be honest about what I hear. I'm always tactful but honest.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It really varies from artist to artist. But it usually starts with pre-production, once we hit the studio we have good idea of what we have and that helps free up the creative process.

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

A: My mentors are Mile Clink (GN'R, Megadeath), Chris Huston (Led Zeppelin, The Who, WAR) and Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Ziggy Marley) so I tend to still use what they taught me and I've used a little bit of their styles in my work.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Intonate your guitars and use new drums heads. Put the drums heads on the night before and stretch them and tune them the next day in the studio.

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

A: Over 20 years. I was runner, 2nd engineer then someone gave me a break to be a 1st engineer, then on to production. I went the old school route.

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

A: Foo Fighters! I love Dave's approach. I've worked with Butch Vig before and he's cool, I think he and the Foos are a perfect fit.

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

A: If I'm doing production/engineering its usually has rock base. But when I'm hired by outside producers and labels. I've done country, jazz, hip hop, latin...I've worked with a lot of different genres.

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

A: I usually promise that I'll work hard to help you meet your expectations but it ultimately depends on you.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working on new music, tracking, the creative process.

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

A: Just joined...not sure yet.

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

A: The question: How long will this take and how much will it be? The answer: how tight is the band and how good are they? If you come into the studio unprepared it could take awhile and cost more in the long run...if your prepared it wont take as long and you save money.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both....the warmth and thickness of analog and the flexibility of digital. Files are so easy to share now.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking to do? What are your expectations? How much time do you think this will take? How much time do you have? Do you want know how much time I think it will take?

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

A: Have an open mind. I have tons of experience and have seen bands do some crazy stuff that didn't help their career.

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

A: Neumann U 87, Neve mic pre, 1176 compressor, Mac computer and a Pro Tools HD interface...with that anything is possible