My name is Danial, and I am a mixing engineer with 10 years experience. I feel mixing is a performance, just as much as a vocalist or instrumentalist, and I use this approach and mentality to maximize the impact an emotion of your music.
In 2014 I attended Macewan University and graduated 2 years later with a Diploma of Music with a Recording Technology Major. I also had the opportunity to travel to Helsinki, Finland, and record drums at Sonic Pump Studios for what would eventually become the debut album for Canadian symphonic metal band Solborn.
This experience completely changed my life and ignited my passion for recording and mixing, even influencing my choice of major. Since then I have recorded and mixed hundreds of songs for artists all over the globe. With release of Dolby Atmos Music for Apple Music in 2021, I dove deep into Dolby Atmos and the incredible possibilities it has opened for how to present music to the listener. I mix for Atmos in a mix room built to Dolby best practices specifications.
I look forward with connecting with more artists on this platform and making some amazing music!
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
Languages
- English
Interview with Danial Devost
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet, but I am looking forward to networking on this platform.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: For me, digital. I like flexibility, and I can do anything with digital. I can use an emulation of an old 1176 on a vocal, and use a cutting-edge reverb for the strings, and I can open the session and make tweaks for the clients in minutes.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I am committed to delivering the best product for your song. I have three included revisions in my rates, but for small fees I can continue to work on your music and make it the best it can be.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Working with artists to elevate their music to the next level.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: I often get asked why I don't use analogue outboard gear. My answer is that it does not matter what I use. What is important is how I hear the finished product and work to get there. Whether on an analog console or a laptop, which piece of gear one uses does not matter, it's what they do with what they have that is important.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: In music school, I got somewhat pigeon-holed as "the metal drummer", but I have interests in so many genres of music, and love to play any style anyone wants me too.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Please give me references and do your best to describe a clear image of what you are looking for.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If you have any questions, please reach out and start a dialogue. I have many other skills that I can help your project along with.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing drums at the age of 10, and music immediately took over my entire life. I played as much as I could, and performed as often as possible. While in university studying for a music diploma, I became interested in the recording studio, and changed my major to study that path. Since graduating, I have mixed hundreds of songs and played hundreds of shows.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I want my mixes to be as expansive and as engaging as possible, and use dynamic fader rides and other automation to create a journey.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: As a lifelong fan, I would absolutely love the chance to mix a song by Rush for Dolby Atmos.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't overthink. Pay attention to detail, but don't get sucked down a hole on small details that don't impact the big picture.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I frequently get hired to work on heavy metal and rock, but I am capable of producing great results in country, hip-hop, jazz, and EDM.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is my ability to see the big picture of a song. I have a clear perspective of how the whole song should feel as an experience and all my work is towards perfecting that.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring energy, drive, and out-of-the-box ideas.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: My mixing workflow is all about moving fast, making quick decisions, and never looking back. I work quickly to create depth, clarity, and cohesion in the mix, and then take many passes through the song, running automation, and "play" the mix to create a dynamic journey through the song.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I mix in-the-box in Nuendo, and have developed a custom console style workflow utilizing control surfaces and touch screens that allows me to connect with the music directly.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Chris Lord-Alge, Jacob Hansen, Mika Jussila
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I mix music with passion to maximize the impact of the song.
I was the Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Drummer in this production
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $150 per song
- Dolby Atmos & Immersive AudioAverage price - $200 per song
- Amaranthe
- My Chemical Romance
- Chris Lord-Alge
- Nuendo
- Yamaha
- Icon
- The Nuendo Channel StripFeb 02, 2022
The Cubase Channel Strip:
As much as I love using analog-modelled channel strip plugins, such as the Brainworx SSL 4000 E, for the heavy lifting EQ and Dynamics in a mix, often the EQ and Dynamics that Cubase has built into the Channel Strip are the best sounding and most efficient way to go. They are clean and non-coloured, but still incredibly musical and sweet to the ear.
