Darris Gray on SoundBetter

Hi my name is Darris. I'm an audio engineer in Atlanta, Ga . I have a B.A. in Audio Production and over 4 years as an audio engineer, including postproduction, tracking, editing, mixing, and mastering audio. I have been blessed with the opportunities to work with Keri Hilson, Ester Dean, Jazze Pha, Blac Elvis, and many more over the last year.

A mix can make or break your business. Need drum pocketing, vocal editing, vocal comping, vocal tuning? Let me help you take your project to the next level by giving it that industry quality touch that you desire.

Looking for producers to compose for you, my team and I will work diligently to provide you with the right sound to compliment your body of work.

Regardless of the services I offer, in respect to working hours I am very flexible. Deadlines are sacred for me and I will review your requirements and content as many times as it takes to make your vision come to life!

Send me a note through the contact button above.

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Interview with Darris Gray

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My original career path was serving in the United States Marine Corps but I decided to get out after 11 years and focus on becoming an audio engineer because I've always been in love with the overall development of a song. I've been doing it for the last 4 years.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Keri Hilson's "Dab On My Haters" feat. K-Camp and Waka Flocka. It was the first song with major artists I heard on the radio in Atlanta with my work. Blac Elvis produced the track, which I engineered and helped arrange the song. Afterwards he called Keri Hilson and Waka Flocka in for me to track their vocals. K-Camps verse was sent to me via WeTransfer. I then mixed the record.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mixing an album for a local artist by the name of Davion. Dope up and coming pop/r&b singer and songwriter.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not at the moment would love to get to know and network with others in the community.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: This is a tough question. I think if I had all the money in the world I would grab ever piece of vintage analog gear I could because I like the tonality of that some of the analog gear gives to audio processed through them. With that being said I love some of the UAD plugins that were made to emulate their analog counterparts.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That they can always count on me to deliver 110% and deadlines will always be met.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I like that I get to work with audio and provide customers and listeners a great experience.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Have you worked with any major artists? Yes, but I can't live in the past. Your project is present and my goal is to help make your project sound better than my past work.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's easy and that anyone can do it when in fact it takes some years of training and working on your craft to fully understand even some of the basics.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Was there any ideas you wanted incorporated before allowing me to creatively enhance your project? How do you envision the end product? What's your deadline?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Never judge a book by its cover. Just because one may not have the same accolades as some of the known respected engineers doesn't mean that someone with lesser years can't yield the same desired results.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Hmmm. A computer with Pro Tools / Final Cut Pro / and Logic Pro X, an Zoom H4N (to record different sounds on the island), a Canon C300 Mark II, a set of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Headphones, and a Sennheiser MKH 8060 with the boom pole and windscreen. I would document everything from my daily creative adventures in hopes that my work would be found and displayed either to the world or my family at least.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Any artist with a work ethic that is crazy because I love what I do and the more they work the more I get to work and further advance my craft.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Believe in yourself and be yourself.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: R&B, Hip-Hop, and Rap/Trap music
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Vocal Editing
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A sound of my own
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My well acoustically treated studio setup consists of an UAD Apollo Quad interface (with every plugin), UAD Solo 610 Mic Pre, Rode NT2000 Mic, Roland Fantom G8, Native Instruments Maschine, a pair of Yamaha HS80Ms, and a pair of KRK Rokit 6s. For tracking and mixing I use Pro Tools 12. For production I use Logic Pro X and Studio One 3.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Blac Elvis inspired me before and after working him personally I was given an extra boost of inspiration.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Right now I'm currently tracking vocals, mixing sessions, and producing for clients.