Mixing & Mastering Engineer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My own band called looking for heather!

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

A: I don’t , sorry …

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think it's my ear for a good balance.

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

A: Eric Church is one. Just love how creative he is. Great song writer ! His abilities are wide reaching. Keith Urban is another. Again , versatile , amazing guitarist. And lastly Lady A. I just love them so much. Would be a dream to work with them.

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

A: Country and Rock are my mainstays although I’ve done a bit of R&B and pop. A lot of the newer country incorporates these elements so it’s good to have experience there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: pretty simple. Mostly in the box. Pro Tools, UAD Apollo Interface, and TONS of plug ins. If it's gonna help make a mix sound great, I have it. I have an 1176 compressor and a pultec EQ that can be used for a bit more analog feel but honestly, In the box I can get it every bit as good!

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

A: Went to college for music production in 1996 and have done this while playing in bands for about 25 years!

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

A: it's kinda cliche to say this but Chris Lord-Alge is a hero of mine, but I also love Joe West, and Billy Decker.

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

A: I worked on the very first EP by the strumbellas. Just seeing how far those guys have gone is pretty cool!!!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Way easier to work with and way more creative. Analog sounds good but in the end the listener usually doesn't care or even know the difference.

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

A: That I will work hard for you, and do the best I can.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working with such talented , passionate people! The feeling when you have a great mix and the artists is loving it!

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

A: Can I hear a before and after comparison. I usually say no because it's the wrong way to approach it. They're usually shocked that the before isn't that far off the after. They assume the before will be terrible and I somehow saved it and made it great. Truth: I can't save a bad recording and make it great. It will always be mediocre at best.

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

A: That we "Fix" everything. "Fix it in the mix" is such a false way to approach it and it WILL lead to sub par results. Most clients are shocked when I show them before and after mixes...because they don't sound a lot different ! If the producer and recording engineer did their job I get great tracks and can spend time making the song "Move" and have punch and dynamics, not tuning the lead singer.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you hoping I will do to your song? What is the end goal of the song, and who are some artists who's recordings you like??

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

A: Hire someone who loves music. I don't care if you hire me, but know that you are getting someone who won't sleep until you get a great end product! You worked hard on it, so should your mix engineer!

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

A: Obviously the computer and interface...so lets go with my top 5 plug ins!! 1.) CLA Signature Series Vocal - Just awesome! 2.)Waves SSL E-Channel - can do anything you need!! 3.)Greg Wells Mix Centric - adds awesome polish and compression to the master bus 4.)CLA Signature Series Bass - my go to for a starting bass sound 5.)JST Side Widener - helps me get big guitar sounds!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Artist Oriented. Meaning I work for the artist. Its' not what I want, it's what they want. I'm there as the vehicle to a final mix and to lend some expertise and guidance.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Spend time on the arrangement, performance and recording! The mix is 25% of the finished product. the recording and performance is 70% Mastering is 5%. Don't short cut and record a bad song, with bad arrangement and out of tune performances and think the mix engineer will fix it!!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A really musical ear, and a passion. More than gear, more than anything hire someone who is passionate about music and listens to a lot of it! I am an encyclopedia of music , and I think I know HOW to listen to it...may seems like a weird statement but believe me there are different ways people listen!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Organize the session, pre mix, then start with drums usually, bass, guitar vocals last. I typically keep the lead vocal up while I do bass and guitar so I know what space it is going to occupy.

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

A: I mostly do mixing work, although from time to time I go back to my roots and do the recording and production. I find mixing the most fun and rewarding so those are the jobs I usually do.