Producer, Mixing Engineer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: BOTH! Whoever said you had to choose.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: When an artist or band is really happy with the sound, which they've been chasing after often times for many years, that feels really good. I've even had clients in tears before, because they were finally hearing out of the speakers the music they have been imagining for years. And that never gets old.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I mainly want to hear the song and then hear some of the music that inspires the artist. That gives me a really good idea of whether I will be the right fit for them. At the end of the day, I only want to take on projects that I really believe I can knock it out of the park with and make the client really happy.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Again, it's hard to analyze oneself. I'm sure there is a sonic signature that pokes through most of my productions without me even noticing. But I definitely to follow one core philosophy, which I truly hope comes through with every production I'm apart of. I want the song not just to sound great, but to FEEL right. I wasn't the listener both engaged and affected exactly how the artist intended, whatever that may entail. Sometimes the prettiest vocal tone or the most polished guitar sound isn't the "right" sound. It's all about feeling and at the end of the day, if the listener never thinks twice about the "recording" or the "production" but instead thinks "I love this SONG," then I've done my job.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't fight the song. Let the song lead. Often times, we try to squeeze things in that may not even be best for the song. Whether it's a cool backup vocal or guitar solo, the highest priority should always be the good of the song. And if at any moment you are struggling to make something work, the song, more than likely, doesn't need it or you need to try something completely different.

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

A: I've worked with many, many types of music, but I won't go as far as to say I can do "anything." The genres I feel least experience in are heavy metal and hip hop. I've done some hip hop mixing, but as far as making beats go, I would advise you to look elsewhere. But I have a lot of experience with Rock (70's through today), singer-songwriter, Americana, Cinematic, Pop, Country, Praise and Worship, and some Blues.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: It's hard to analyze oneself, but a very common comment I get from my clients is how they are able to hear the music they've always imagined in their head actually come out of the speakers. And I feel incredibly grateful to be able to help anyway realize their music in that way. It's very gratifying.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Honestly, I'm a little bit of an analog snob. lol But my setup is hybrid. I use a handful of UAD and Waves plugin, but mostly outboard gear, especially for the most important elements (drums, vocals, etc.) Here's some pieces of gear I own and really enjoy using: Apogee Symphony Converters 1988 Soundcraft 6000 series 44/24 channel mixing console Adam A7 studio monitors Processing: (2) Pultec EQP's (2) Pultec MEQ's (2) Neve 1084 EQ's Modded ART VLA Compressor Teletronix LA2A compressor Gates STA-Level compressor SSL 4000 G bus compressor Warm Audio WA76 limiting amplifier Mic Pre's: Stam Audio 1073 MPA Great River ME-1NV (2) CAPI VP28 (2) CAPI 312 (2) Chandler TG2 (2) Black Lion Audio B12a Microphones: (2) Custom U47's (1) Telefunken C12 clone (2) Neumann KM84 clones (2) AKG C414 XLII (2) Sennheiser 421 (5) Shure SM57 (1) Shure SM7b (1) Stam Audio SA67 (Neumann U67 clone) (1) Stam Audio SA87 )Neumann U87 clone) (1) Cascade Fathead II Ribbon And more Keyboards: Nord Piano 2 Hammond XK3c organ Roland D-50 Roland Super-JX Yamaha CP70 Guitar Amps: Modded Marshall Plexi 1965 Fender Concert 1964 Fender Super Reverb 60's Fender Tweed Deluxe Matchless Lightning Reverb Marshall Silver Jubilee 25th Anniversary Guitars: 1964 Gibson J45 acoustic 1959 Fender Stratocaster 1999 '59 reissue Gibson Les Paul Historic 2003 '57 reissue Gibson Goldtop Les Paul 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom 1999 Fender Telecaster And far too many more to list lol

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

A: I've always been particularly inspired by the producer/artist types like Jeff Lyne (ELO), Tears for Fears, Hans Zimmer, Alan Parsons, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, etc. These people have always had a very good understanding of the entire process of making a record and because of that, they were not completely at the mercy of whatever engineer/producer they were working with. Which I also think is why those records always have a sonic trademark to them, which makes them very unique. Other producers I find extremely inspiring are George Martin, Jack White, etc.

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

A: The bulk of my work involves me build entire instrumentals to songs sent to me as rough demos, typically just a cell phone recording. And then the artists tracks vocals on top of the instrumental and sends it back to me to mix and master. I also do a handful of mixing jobs as well as session musician work.