Manuel Cardoso - Prog & Rock - Producer, Mixing & Mastering - Lisbon

I am a Producer, Mixing & Mastering engineer with Sensibility, Experience and Musicality that aims to achive the best tracks sound for all platforms ! If you want to know how I work go to "https://manuelcardoso.bandcamp.com/album/delirium" and to "https://artnat.bandcamp.com/album/artnat-two" where you will find the kind of sound I achive.

I have many years of experience in production, recording & mastering.
Always listening to the musicians and working for the music!
I´ve produced several Portugal´s main artists such as "Xutos" (Cerco), "Tantra" (Terra), "Street Kids", "Carlos Maria Trindade" "ARTNAT", and many other. Also done countless comercial Jingles, Film & TV music works.
Including several full movies mixes in a full 7.1 oficial Dolby Studio (VIDEOCINE).
I am specialized in Prog Rock, but passionated by great Hip Hop and Pop music!

P.S. - By the way... I never do "My Sound"... I always do the sound a track or band needs !
So if you need me ... You know... Give me a call !
If you don´t... all the best to you anyway!

(If live drums or keyboards are needed ARTNAT´s drummer and keyboard players will / can perform whatever will be required to finish your tracks. Contact me for pricing.)

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

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Interview with Manuel Cardoso - Prog & Rock

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: ARTNAT TWO the second album of my prog band ARTNAT. I sang, played all guitars, some bass an keybs and composed most tracks. I also produced. mixed and mastered it. You can check it out at: https://artnat.bandcamp.com/album/artnat-two
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: A good technician can make digital sound analog, so...
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That we can make miracles like turning water into wine or a bad track into a good one.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What they feel their music means and wath they want and expect from me.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Choose well.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A guitar, a recorder, a synth, a mike and active monitors...
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Since ever. At least it is how it feels...
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Passionate for sound and music.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Any inspired music composer.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: When working in details never forget the global feel of the track...
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Hard to say... Probably the result of a mix of passion, workablity and taste. The skill of understanding the music that I am working on.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Too many to specify, but they all share some qualities I realy appreciate such as creativity, boldness and attention to details. They are all also pursuiters of excelence!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Honest work and opinions.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: To make music sound great and make people happy.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Prog Rock, Hip hop, Rap, Rock and Pop
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I always try to bring audio or/and production quality and if possible a bit of Magic...without disturbing the original feel of the material I am working with.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: First of all I try to know and understand my client and his expectancies. Then I listen to what he /she has and after that I set up my line of work on his project.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have several monitors sets (B&W, M-Audio) but my main use is JBL (LSR). I also use Audeze LCD X headphones as reference. I normally work with Nuendo 13 or Cubase 14 for production and mixing and Wavelab Pro 12 for Mastering. I also have Harrison Mixbus 32C. As Plugins I use several companies as Apogee, Acustica, Plugin Alliance, Izotope, IK, Waves, TDR, Melda, Sonible etc...
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Well, I mainly do Mixing, Mastering and Production. But ocasionally I play / record some guitar leads.