Will Cassell
Session guitar player, audio engineer, producer
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Interview with Will Cassell
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently worked on a television show (that I can't tell the name of) as a recording engineer. I recorded most of the cello cues ensuring that the quality of the recordings were top notch. That was pretty cool.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Several mixes for clients, a few personal projects, a large advertisement production catalogue
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital, but you absolutely cannot replicate analogue sound. I'm a firm believer that technology advances for a reason, but analogue gear has something to it that is hard to beat.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That you will be happy with the end product.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Freedom.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Usually they're specific to the job at hand, but common ones are usually surrounding the process or mastering levels.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I'm not sure. Maybe I would say that this can be done in a bedroom with no training, but there have been many artists who have successfully done that. That being said, your chances of it sounding as good as it possibly can choosing that route are slim.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your goals?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Make sure you are happy with your recordings before you hire me to do a mix. Take attention to the small things like clipping etc.I can take your song and make it sound great, but there are limitations of what I can do if they aren't great recordings! That said, I'm more than happy to be hired for production if you need help ensuring the recordings and arrangement are on par and competitive with modern music.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A Neve 1073, My computer, an interface, a U47, and my guitar
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 4 year bachelors music degree then full time studio work. I've been playing music for my whole life and have been mixing and mastering for 4 years professionally
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Efficient
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Anyone inspiring. We're all humans.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: DON'T OVERCOMPRESS
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Anything and everything, but my favourites are acoustic music and pop/rock
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Guitar, mixing, mastering are all pretty confident skillsets.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Sonic balance. I strive to keep mixes full of life and keep them as organic as I possibly can. I want the songs to sound great on whatever system you choose to listen on.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Depends on the job, but usually I approach things on a song to song basis. Mixes usually get done in several 2 hour mix sessions. Mastering is done in 1 or 2 short sessions. Session guitar is a case by case basis.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Home studio with two Neve 1073s (classic with carnhill transformers), multiple mics ranging from modern to vintage, UA and presonus interfaces. Multiple monitoring options with the mains being two 6.5" 2-way paired with a 10" sub crossing over at 46hz. Using Pro Tools as my main DAW.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm inspired by artists every day. We can all learn something from anyone that we cross paths with.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: General mixing and mastering, audio editing, production with live instrumentation as well as pop production with virtual instruments, session guitar.
