Mixer / Producer

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How long have you been doing this? Who recorded the tracks? Using what gear?

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

A: Ask Questions. Make sure I see what vision you have for your music.

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

A: Rock, Metal, Pop, Rap, Country

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

A: I am primarily a FOH live sound engineer, but most of my clients ask me to mix live recordings. I spent four years mixing every live show that Linkin Park played for web release. Over 200 shows were released including a 5.1 DVD release called Live at Milton Keynes.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently mixing Iron Maiden on the Legacy of the Beast tour.

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

A: One of my favorite gigs was mixing Kiss Alive IV. 60 piece Melbourne symphony orchestra and the rock band KISS.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love the sound of Analog, but the sound of today is digital, and I am mixing for the sound of today.

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

A: I promise you will love what I do for you, or you don't pay.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love working, communicating, and collaborating with talented people.

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

A: Will I do it for cheaper? No. I am worth it. You come to me BECAUSE I'm a bit more expensive. The results speak for themselves.

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

A: That I can fix a bad song. If it's a bad song, no amount of "shinning" will fix it.

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

A: Neve 8078 console, Studer A800 analog tape machine, pro Tools HDX rig, Waves Soundgrid, lots of plugin choices.

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

A: Graduated Berklee College of Music in '92. Moved to Los Angeles and worked as a producer/engineer for five years. Started working as a live sound FOH engineer and now combine all three recording/producing/mixing in all that I do.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Old School dynamics updated for the sound of today.

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

A: Tears for Fears. All of their records have amazing space and balance. Dave Bascombe is a badass.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Stereo space and EQ within the space are key. No two frequencies can share space. Finding the right space for everything is key to success.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I have a sense of balance that will make your track shine.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Years of experience on how to help a song become a hit.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I do most of my editing and tuning without being in "mix mode", that way I can concentrate on how the overall track sounds like without worrying about fixing mistakes.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I primarily mix in the box. I have an HD pro tools rig connected to a Waves SoundGrid network to offload processing of plugins. Several hundred plugins including all that Waves has to offer, plus other manufacturers.

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

A: I am inspired by talented players and technicians. I started my working career in LA working as an assistant engineer for some of the most talented engineers and producers of the early 90's.