Drums and Percussion

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

A: That anyone can play drums and percussion well.

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

A: I am inspired by any musician or production that serves the song. From very little drums and percussion to a double bass drum shuffle-if it is FOR the music-I am inspired by it.

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

A: I am proud when the music I am a part of serves the client. I have recorded on music played at the United United Nations International Conference on Children, and on TV commercials. My pride comes from a client that is pleased with the end result, my role is always to provide what the music needs.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Music publishing client, power trio rock recording, blues recording, actress with a new project.

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

A: Michael 'Smidi' Smith-producer, songwriter, recording engineer

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

A: My promise is to make your track my priority. As the client you will get my full focus and musicianship on every track I do for you.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The most common work flow for me is receiving the music from the client. A short, focused conversation about the goal of the drum track, and any recordings that the client feels sound like the desired result. I will then select the proper gear and recording approach to create those sounds. I will track the song, send to the client, and we evaluate the outcome. Based on the number of revisions agreed on, we work from there to perfect the track for the client.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a purpose designed and constructed drum recording room. I use Logic Pro X, and can track 16 tracks live. I have a combination of Sennheiser, Sure, Audix and Yamaha products used to record. My goal is to provide clean tracks that are easily produced to taste by the client. My sounds are not overly produced or EQed, leaving the client a wide range of production options.

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

A: I am here to serve your song and help your musical vision become reality. From brushes to double bass drum, I have a variety of musical vocabulary ready for your project. I record drums and/or percussion for most clients both private and corporate.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I am digital in my studio, I have extensive experience playing in analog studios as well.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Helping someone realize their musical vision is the single greatest part of my job.

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

A: How long will the turn around take? What do you charge? Do you have a snare drum like (insert song title here)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Did you use a click track? Is there a song that your song sounds like to you? What is your vision for this song? What is your timeline for turn around? What budget do you have for tracking?

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

A: Look for someone who wants to serve your vision, and will give you suggestions to improve your recording. Tracking should be about YOU the client, not a time for the musician to pull out the 'dig me' chops.

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

A: I started playing for pay at 12 years old and have never looked back. I have played music all over the world, so many venues and styles over the years. I have worked in Los Angeles for the last 20 years doing live and recording work.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style when recording is to match the vibe and intent of the music. I like to carefully choose snare drums, hi--hat cymbals and ride cymbals for each song. I do not try and put 'my' thing on a client's vision, unless they ask me to. For those tracks, I listen to what the music tells me it wants!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen to the song, it will usually tell you what it wants from you.

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

A: Musically, each day brings different genres. It is not uncommon for me to track brushes and double bass drum tracks on the same day, many times for the same client!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Using my decades of experience to make the music I perform on find it's best light.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Passion, experience, focus and great sounding instruments are my calling card. I live to make a song come to life and enjoy finding the proper sounds and vocabulary. I work collaboratively with the client's needs as the central guiding focus.