Trey Maughan on SoundBetter

Want major-label sound? I'm a top 1% mixing and mastering engineer on Muso.AI with credits for Mystikal, NBA YoungBoy, Boosie Badazz, Kevin Gates, and Webbie. Recording Academy member since 2022. Twelve years engineering professionally. Hit the contact form and let's get creative.

I started my studio in 2014 straight out of LSU and spent twelve years building it into a professional operation. I've worked with Mystikal, NBA YoungBoy, Boosie Badazz, Kevin Gates, and Webbie — landing credits through Warner Music Group (Atlantic Records), Sony, Universal, Alamo, Rostrum Records, Santa Anna Records, Trill Entertainment, and Empire. I cut vocals for a Mark Ronson record while Bruno Mars coached the artist over speakerphone. Muso.AI ranks me in the top 1% of mixing and mastering engineers globally. Recording Academy member (2022), Grammy U mentor, and District Advocate for Louisiana artists.

But here's what really matters: I'm dedicated to making your music sound the way you envision it, and I'll work through every possibility until we achieve that vision.

While my initial approach is rooted in the fundamentals, once the foundation is laid I let my instincts guide me through any number of processes in no particular order. It becomes an unrelenting series of adjustments from the observations of each pass — focused listening and a lot of tweaking built on experience. I know a mix is approaching final form based on how the song responds to my listening environment and how I've recognized it to translate over a decade.

1 week turnaround. Unlimited revisions. Optional add-on: real-time collaboration via dedicated broadcast video stream.

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

Credits

Languages

English

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Interview with Trey Maughan

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Being a fan of hip-hop and growing up in Baton Rouge it was really cool to work on projects with Boosie and Webbie. I didn't think I would one day be working on sequels to the albums I listened to in high school.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently, I have four mixes/masters consisting of vocals recorded off site over two track instrumentals. I also have two fully tracked out sessions in que to mix/master (one revision).
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Erick Bardales.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Character of analog, precision and efficiency of digital.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Sometimes, the process requires patience, but I promise we will get it right.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The unexpected moments that become the best part of the process.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: What's the difference between mixing and mastering? Mixing is mastering.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It's like a video game!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your influences, what are your goals, and where do you see yourself as an artist in two years. Put down the image and the aspirations to become famous - would you still be making music?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Nothing beats time and experience investing in the craft.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: CL-1B, Revival 4000s (that's one right?), Bettermaker Mastering EQ, SSL G-Comp, Pultec.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Coming out of high school I saw myself more suited toward the business side of the industry. I did not know about audio engineering though. When I got my first glimpse of the process, it resonated and instantly absorbed all of my time and attention. I fell in love with the process and I have been recording, mixing and mastering music for over twelve years now.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Focused intuition.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: From my experience meeting your favorite artists kind of taints the idea you always had of them in your head. If I really enjoy an artists music then I really prefer not to meet them. Overall, I like the artists who speak from the heart, and do it for the love of the game. I would rather grow with an artist developing their sound than a famous artist who has already figured it out.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Dave Pensado: Into the Lair.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Hip-hop and its many sub genres, which makes me feel like I can adapt to anything.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Vocal production.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Over twelve years of professional experience working with a broad range of hundreds of artists.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I honestly will neglect your reference mix until the end - I actually avoid it at all costs. Nothing kills my gut reaction to a song like listening through someone's prior mix. I like to just react to the first few runs of a song with whatever ideas jump out at me. Once that initial reaction is out the way I reign it in and focus on the fundamentals (get my clips organized, gain staging, taming plosives and sibilance balancing out clips.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Hybrid digital/analog workflow with Pro Tools HDX. 24 analog inputs/outputs, and 8 digital. Allows me to conveniently access my outboard gear like a plugin via hardware insert. Alternatively, when I am analog summing, I will route entirely analog with the XT sum out going into Burl ADC. I believe in analog summing because of headroom, stereo imaging, and dimension it affords. I invest in plugins like stocks.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Dave Pensado, Rick Rubin, Manny Marroquin, Mike Dean, Jaycen Joshua, CLA, Noah "40" Shebib, Dave Hill, and most recently, Joe Chiccarelli
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Entire mixes, or mastering.