Mixing and Mastering

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working with J. Marsden on his new album, "Tune it Out." I'm recording all of his vocals, doing all vocal editing and tuning, and I'll be mixing and mastering the album. It's sounding great so far!

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: In my opinion, drums should be edited to be perfect. I would recommend Dustin Sisson for this, hands down. I've known him for many years and he's the best there is.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: My favorite thing is to fall in love with every song I mix. I've never failed to do this. I love to try to understand the song and what emotions may have been involved in the writing and recording. I believe this is crucial in bringing artistic vision to life.

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

A: Make sure you are going for the 'produced' sound if you hire me. I can do and have done lo-fi mixes, but they are difficult for me and I'm constantly pulled in the other direction. On the other hand, don't be afraid to tell me exactly what you are and aren't liking when you get a draft back. I don't have an ego with my mixes, just initial preferences. We will absolutely get there and make sure you're getting what you want. Also, make sure you are delivering fully edited tracks. The drums need to be played to a click track and edited for time. Guitars need to be in tune and in time. Vocals almost always need pitch correction, even for great vocalists. Since we're going for that produced sound, performances should be edited to perfection.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Pay close attention to your arrangement when writing and recording your songs. Be as dynamic as you can with each instrument and the vocals. This creates a symphony out of your song and will keep things interesting, especially for those who are hearing your music for the first time.

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

A: I have actually worked in many genres, but my go-to would be Hard Rock, Metal/Metalcore, and Pop Punk. I love these genres where the drums have punch and are in your face. The vocals are usually more intimate and up front. The bass tends to have more of a voice than just the really low frequencies and guitars can be loud and often aggressive. It's a fun balancing act and makes such a wall of sound when it's all put together.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is in producing a modern, polished, big sound. I believe artists deserve to be elevated to the big stage along with other commercial releases in order to be taken seriously and to let their art really shine.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to hear from the artist or producer first on their vision and to listen to a rough mix and/or a reference track of a commercial release that they are shooting for, sonically. Then I will imagine how their song or album will sound based on the recorded tracks as well as their goals. This helps me plan for the mix and to serve the song and the artist's vision properly. I'll usually mix the song in one sitting with just a couple beaks to eat and let my ears rest. I mix quietly so I can go for a long time before ear fatigue sets in. I'll send the client the mix and usually we only need one or two revisions before everyone is happy. If we are mastering as well, I will do that right away and send off the final song pretty quickly. It's a fun, rewarding process!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I mix and master entirely 'In the box' or all in the computer. I run the latest Pro Tools software and keep current on all my plugins from UAD, Waves, Massey, Steven Slate, Syncro Arts, Melodyne, etc. I work out of a treated room with room calibration and I mix and reference on multiple sets of monitors (speakers). I was classically trained in real studios, as this is what I went to school for. I'm familiar with large consoles, tape machines and all outboard gear. To be honest, these days, computer software if finally catching up to analog gear in terms of quality and accuracy and it makes sense for me to do it all digitally.

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

A: While I can and do record, edit, tune vocals, mix and master, I'm mostly looking to mix/master through this site. I find it most fulfilling for me and it's what my company was primarily created for.