Your music deserves to sound its very best and I am committed to helping you achieve your sonic goals in an open, detailed, and creative way.
Hello!
My name is Alex, and I've been professionally recording, mixing and producing music for about 10 years. Based in Boston, I primarily work out of my recording studio The Bridge Sound and Stage, where I have an analog/digital hybrid setup for both recording and mixing.
My diverse background as a musician and producer has provided me the tools to comfortably work within all genres, but my fundamental strengths lie within amplifying edge, highlighting ambience and infusing creative modulation into my work.
When mixing a record, I love to experiment with outboard gear, guitar pedals and different amps to help create a unique sonic space. Also, when appropriate, I like to use subtle, creative layers of sound design to help drive build. My ultimate goal for any given mix is to tell a story with highlighted, detailed dynamics. I want the big parts of your song to feel larger than life, and I want the intimate sections to feel as if they were right in front of you.
I offer a distinctive and creative approach to all projects, but my priority is always centric to ensuring your artistic vision is realized. Every record presents its own set of needs, and I will dedicate an expert level of attention to detail and unwavering commitment to the creative goals of each project.
Reach out and ask me anything, I look forward to hearing more about your art!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
13 Reviews
Endorse Alex Allinson
check_circleVerifiedAlex helped me mix a song in the format of a mixing class, and I cannot be happier! He was extremely methodical, patient, professional and friendly, made sure all my questions were answered and that I understood everything we were doing. It was really fun and I am very happy with the result. I learned a lot and will be definitely staying in touch with Alex for future projects.
Alex did such a fantastic job mixing our album, I would recommend him to anyone! He's incredibly talented and has a great personality. It was a pleasure working with him.
Engineering is a craft, and Alex is a master. He will be sure your experience is personalized from the microphone, through the FX bay, and into your listener's ears. Your first session is the beginning of an artistic relationship. And that's truly what you'll have with Alex. He'll know when you've got more to give to the song and will make sure you're doing your art justice. The environment he fosters is professional and creative. He'll gladly join in the fun & add his own flavor as well, if invited. He's helped me make the best music of my life.
Working with Alex has made the recording process feel seamless with our group The Freqs. While working together for the first time on our EP, Alex became like a fourth member of our group and made the transition of production feel effortless. I would highly recommend any artist to work with Alex. His kindness, patience and passion for music are an inexhaustible resource to any project.
Alex is amazing at his job on every level. My band, Large Bodies, worked with him on our last record and he made it come alive. As a mix engineer, he listens deeply and pulls out sounds/frequencies that serve the sound. He takes risks and is really creative, but is always supporting the vision of the artist. Plus he's like the nicest human on earth so working with him is good vibes all the way.
Alex is not only an incredible engineer, mixer, producer but also an amazing person. After first meeting and recording together in 2016, I have chosen to work almost exclusively with him ever since with my band The Rupert Selection, on numerous solo releases and various other projects throughout the years. His attention to detail and engineering/mixing abilities are unmatched and you literally won't find a nicer and more dedicated person to work with. I honestly can't recommend Alex enough, he's the best. 10/10
I've had the pleasure of working with Alex across multiple disciplines for many years. Do you want gigantic sounding guitars? He's on it. Do you want to capture the intimacy of a jazz band playing in one room? He's got that too. I've heard Alex's mixing talents and producorial insights applied to everything from weird ambient folk music, to rap, to Gregorian chant. He's a joy to work with and an absolute professional who provides a calming presence during his sessions.
I wish there were a sixth star to give but alas....
Alex is many things: he is an excellent communicator, an exceptional producer and recording/mixing engineer, and a very warm and intelligent human being. My band recorded a full album with Alex over this last year and could not be happier with the finished product. Recording during a pandemic was difficult because the band was not always able to be together at the same time. During this process, Alex was accommodating and patient, creating the most badass mix when we weren’t sure how to communicate exactly what we wanted to hear! 6 stars!
I cannot overstate what a joy it is to work with Alex. Knock Over City went in to The Bridge to do a single & he was perfect. He's thoughtful, knowledgeable, & patient - not to mention the Bridge itself is an excellent place to record. I'm VERY nitpicky & Alex consistently fixed issues before I could even bring them up. He never offered an un-asked for opinion & the production touches he added were so seamless that I can no longer play the songs without hearing them. We're going back in a few weeks & I couldn't be more excited to work with him again. You owe it to yourself to work with Alex.
I’ve worked with Alex on projects including CD’s, soundtrack & commercial offerings. These included Rock, Reggae, Blues, Mento, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Funk, Country & Metal. Alex delivers an uncluttered mix that lets the instruments speak with their intended voices.
His hybrid approach keeps him from being limited to a piece of kit or plugin. His attitude is to “Begin with the end in mind” & the results are his best endorsement. Truly, his best asset is his talent for taking what you hear in your head & translate that to what you want to be heard. Alex facilitates transmitting your sonic vision.
I'm stingy with accolades but Alex Allinson is a great in the making, a diamond desperate to shine. He's committed to being his personal best. He's also committed to helping others achieve their best. I've never felt so much like I had a person in my corner, an engineer who listens in every sense of the word. Feel free to reach out to me personally for more details on my experience.
Alex is the best. And I don’t just mean the best producer/engineer I’ve personally worked with. I honestly don’t know what more anyone would want out of someone that does what he does. I’ve been gigging and recording for over 15 years and working with Alex since 2015. We’ve cut records for multiple bands with very different styles and he’s brought the absolute best out of every project we have worked on. Great mind, great ear. 10/10.
Alex is the best, most professional mixer you could ask for. I've worked with Alex for over 7 years at this point. I met him while playing on a session for which I was very unprepared. But when I heard the final mixes from that day, Alex had stitched my takes together into an entirely new, very much improved part. We've made several records since, and he knows how to unlock the potential in any performance or sound, and how to do it with absolute precision and professionalism. No matter how good you are, he'll make you sound much better. A consummate professional, and a wonderful person.
Interview with Alex Allinson
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill would have to be my attention to detail. No stone is ever left unturned.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a focused, unique and creative voice to each song that I work on. I like to explore, get my hands dirty and shake things up often.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like to connect with artists first and get to know where their tastes lie, what some of their previous musical experiences were like, and what their overall sonic goals are. After understanding what the artists hopes to achieve and files have been delivered/organized, I usually take an overall levels and broad stroke approach to a mix to help all of the elements sit with each other. After that, I circle back around to spend time on any creative fine strokes I wish to incorporate.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm especially proud of The Rupert Selections first EP "Baseball Practice," Which I produced, recorded and mixed. This was my first time working with them, and I have made several records with them since, but working on this EP was a special process that allowed my creative voice to truly shine.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: When delivering files to be remotely mixed, try to be as organized as possible. Having things labeled and organized in a cohesive manner can save more time for creative decisions.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: While I feel comfortable bringing a focused and unique perspective to any genre of music, my personal tastes typically lie with big, heavy and/or ambient arrangements.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My DAW of choice is Pro Tools, and my mixing setup incorporates a wide range of both analog gear and digital software. I love using analog compressors, particularly Distressors on drums, and my GML 8200 usually finds its way on to most mixes, but I have an extensive library of digital plug ins that I use as well. My workflow is flexible because each song that I work on is unique, and each mix should be distinctive of what the overarching sonic goal is.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Some of my favorite engineers and producers are Matt Bayles, Will Putney and Kurt Ballou. I love how all three manage to have huge, modern, powerful sounding mixes, while still retaining an organic feel.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I like to take an aggressive approach to all of my mixes. That doesn't necessarily mean immediately slather distortion on every track and squash dynamics (although that can be fun), but what I mean by that is I set out really shake things up creatively and shape songs in an aggressive way. I'm not afraid to use heavy handed approaches to generate unique musical results.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Excluding my mac or Pro Tools, I would take my Electrovoice RE20, LA2A, Empress reverb pedal, GML 8200 EQ, and an Empirical Labs Distressor.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I figured out that I loved recording and mixing music while tracking my high school band in my parents basement. Our set up was laughable, and none of the recordings sounded good, but I was more excited to tinker in the studio than I was to write or perform. After studying audio production at Boston University, I interned in various Boston based recording studios while freelancing in and around the city. While building my personal client portfolio I began working my way up the engineering ladder at a recording studio called The Bridge Sound and Stage, eventually becoming a co owner and chief engineer.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: While I offer a wide array of audio production services, I most commonly record and mix records.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently I'm mixing down a few records to start the year, but have some exciting new records that are in the pre production phase and are slated to start up late winter/early spring!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Ryan Lucht, whom I've worked with on a few different projects, is a good friend, talented individual, and I would definitely recommend him.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I work with an analog/digital hybrid setup! Both worlds have tremendous amounts to offer a workflow, and I've cherry picked different parts that work best for me!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: My job is never done until your creative vision is 100% realized, regardless of any extra work that may be necessary.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: My favorite part about my job is how every day is different from the last. Some days I'll be in the studio mixing a record by myself, while others I'll have a full band here tracking all together. Also, I work with so many different genres my creative ear is constantly changing and staying fresh.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What have you been listening to lately?
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Never lose sight of the overarching creative vision. It's easy to get wrapped up in an individual aspect of a mix, but in the end it's more important to focus on the entirety of a composition as a whole.
I was the Recording and Mix Engineer in this production
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $250 per song
- Recording StudioContact for pricing
- EditingAverage price - $100 per track
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $75 per track
- Time alignment - QuantizingAverage price - $100 per track
Turnaround time varies depending on my current workload, but I typically can have something for you to listen to within a week. I'm happy to make whatever revisions necessary to get you to your goals.
- Knock Over City
- The Rupert Selection
- The Freqs
- Analog: Emperical Labs Distressors (4)
- UAD LA2A
- Lydcraft Tube-Tech
- Urei 1176
- Urei LA-3A (2)
- Urei LA-4A (2)
- GML 8200
- SSL 611 (6)
- Trident 80b (2)
- Extensive amp and pedal collection available for reamping.
- Working Class AudioJan 01, 2022
I was recently interviewed by Working Class Audio on my background, my gear buying habits, and what I'm currently up to. If you're interested in getting to know me a little better you can check out the full interview here!
- Boston Music AwardsJan 01, 2022
My studio, The Bridge Sound and Stage, won the "Best Recording Studio" category in 2021's Boston Music Awards. Thanks to everyone who voted, our killer staff, and every artist who chooses to work with us! Cheers!
- Boston Music AwardFeb 03, 2021
In 2020 I was honored to be acknowledged with a 'People's Choice' award. I'm proud to be a part of such a vibrant community and look forward to serving it for many years to come!
