Roy Shelton on SoundBetter

Credits wise, I may be a small fish in a big ocean. However, I recognize that music is your art, and you have an intimate connection with it, so I approach it as such. I want nothing more than to make your art, your passion, invoke the same emotion that you put into it, so that every listener can feel what you felt while creating it!

I got my start as a live audio engineer and lighting designer, allowing me to gain a necessary, but intimate knowledge of how instruments blend and interplay with each other. This has taught me how to carefully craft space for every instrument to be heard, and creatively use bleed where it exists to ensure the most is brought out of your song.

I was lucky to have the opportunity in 2020/2021 to get a chance to produce, mix, and master recordings that I had made over the past years with Stoney LaRue in a live capacity for a 25 track digital release titled 'Double Live 25' which has garnered appreciation throughout the Texas scene for capturing Stoney in a raw, engaging way that allowed the live aspect to shine, but still gave the polish that every artist strives to hear in their work. After focusing a little more on live production, I began to switch gears towards mixing and mastering in 2020. Since then I have began working with various local artists like Pederson and Francix Himmy, as well as other upcoming artists globally like MCRockyLee.

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Credits

Discogs verified credits for Roy Shelton (2)

Stoney LaRue
Stoney LaRue

3 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Roy Shelton

by Francix J.
Verified
Roy’s my go to engineer for anything I need done on my track, from the first track we did I knew right then and there that he’s professionalism is unmatched.
by Hatbox
Verified
Very easy to work with and attentive to our needs. Had some great thoughts and ideas about our track. We especially loved the guitar sound he was able to achieve.
by Francix J.
Verified
Definitely the best mix&mastering engr to work it here.. he is patient & listens to every little details you bring to his attention, I recommend him 100%.

Interview with Roy Shelton

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: A lot of people have talked to me about mixing just being a process of blending and editing. It is far more than that, it is an emotional investment, feeling the music, and adding flavor. Mixing is a work of art in its own, and I would argue that Mastering is art in its own right as well. Each track takes careful brushstrokes of different palettes to create an artistic work that not just encompasses what I hear as an engineer, but the passion that the artist has while creating their works.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Double Live 25. I helped produce and scoured through years of live recordings to pick out some of the best moments and compile them on one 25-track release, that also allowed me to mix and master.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both! Both avenues have tools to get the most excitement out of the work and are simply tools in an artists toolbox. The key is knowing the how, when, and why of utilizing those tools.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I typically listen to the rough mix of the song first, then start studying the music that both influences the artist and that they want their music to emulate in any way. From there, I dig into the tracks, starting with whatever speaks to me first, and build from there.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am constantly working on live recordings with Stoney LaRue, as he is always utilizing those to better hone his craft. I have also been recently working on Rap, Hip Hop, and Rock tracks.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise that you will be completely ecstatic about our working together and the art that was created.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The creativity. I love approaching the music with a creative mind to help bring the heart, soul, and emotion of the song to the forefront.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What was your inspiration for the song? What emotions did you feel when crafting this? Tell me about the process you employed when creating this song and recording it. I want to get a feel for what the client had in mind throughout the process, and really open up to their vision.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Let's communicate throughout the process, as it is the key to our success. Tell me exactly what you want, and we can achieve it.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My laptop, a set of studio monitors, a hard drive, my iLok, and a fan to keep me and the equipment cool. I can exist completely in the digital realm if I absolutely have to.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: As of 2021 I have been on the engineer side of things for 13 years. I started as a kid learning guitar back in high school, and it did not take long for me to realize that I was interested in the crafting of music that was happening at the engineer spot. I started with live audio in 2008, and then went to school to really learn and hone the craft. I originally aimed to move over into the studio to engineer and produce, but found myself back on the live audio side of things, and then also found myself plying my craft and what I heard as a lighting designer. I continued to also mix live audio, until being asked to come on the road as a Front of House engineer with Stoney LaRue. My partnership with Stoney opened windows and doors, as I would find myself with the opportunity in 2020/2021 to mix and master liver recordings that we had made over the years, and compile them as a producer into a project called 'Double Live 25' that he released in 2021.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: A Chameleon. I can mold my style to fit your needs.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I love to work with every artist, as I they all have a story to tell and share with the masses, and I want to help them bring it to everyone.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Go for your vision every step of the way, and get the best possible sound from the get go. That makes everything come together beautifully and fall into place the way you have it envisioned.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on Rock/Country and everything inbetween those two genres, but I am always open to every genre of music, as I have an appreciation and love for all music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Communication. It is the key to success on a project.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I run a fully digital setup, completely inside of the box, utilizing the full Slate mixing suite, as well as plugins of choice by Waves and iZotope, amongst other third-party plugin providers.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I have always been inspired by the Lord-Alge brothers body of work as mixing engineers.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mixing and Mastering is the most common work I do for clients.