Producer, Composer, Mixer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Grape Jelly Puffersfish. (Dave Watanabe) from Hawai'i. It was his debut EP, and I was the producer, co-writer and mixer. Beautifully crafted songs, that I could get nuts on programming sounds, Drums and String arrangements. One of my best works as a producer and arranger. It pretty much mixed itself. I still listen to it and like what I hear, several years later...

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Film Composition for TV

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

A: I don't know - I'm pretty new here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Doesn't matter. It depends entirely on preference - I like either way.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I will give it my all! ALWAYS!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Every single session is different - we always start from scratch and the song will take us somewhere. It's the music guiding us, we are just tools.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Can you make the drums sound like "so-and-so"? "Well, if so-and-so played on the tune, then it will sound like him!"

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That you can learn it on YouTube or at SAE and such. You can't. It needs years to get where I am now. It is like learning to play an instrument.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Don't tell me how you "wanna sound like". Tell me, what people should feel like, listening to your music: that's what counts!

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

A: You get what you pay for! THAT IS A RULE. Hire people with real experience in the business. And Listen to their demo reels. Make sure you like what you hear, because it is a signature.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My Nord Stage, My M4 ProTools Rig, My Truth Ear inEars, my Topping Converter and my Telefunken Mic.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started professionally in 1988 as a studio musician, while setting up my first own 8-Track Analog Studio at home. In 1993 I built the Audio Arts Studios in West Germany, placed in old Locomotive Halls. Signed producer and publishing deal in 2000, followed by several international releases and awards. Since 2007 in the USA, working worldwide (often remotely now)

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Peter Gabriel. - still today one of the most innovative Songwriters and Producers.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't overthink it! What you played on the first take is to 98% it. It will not get better,, only in your head.

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

A: Mostly POP, ROCK and JAZZ. Frequently Classical Productions

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Multi Instrumentalist and Session musician for many years. I also learned engineering and mixing from the ground up in the late 80s. I have been one of the first Hybrid recording studios in the early 90s, replacing huge footprint Tape Machines with ProTools and RADAR, running through an 80Channel desk. Now working entity in the box

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: - Checking tracks after delivery and layout the session in one of my templates - Listening to Rough Mix and - if provided - Reference Track. - Gain Staging, Routing, Level Mix... - Edits where necessary, Sound Mixing and Automation - First Test Prints and delivery of 1st Mix, followed by 2 revisions (if needed)

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Small fingerprint, but high effective. ProTools rig with Apogee and Topping Converters, running on an an M4 Studio Max. Monitoring through Neumann KH120s and DT880Pro/Blue Mix headphones (also TruthEar in Ears) TC Clarity optical

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

A: I'm inspired by well arranged songs and beautifully recorded performances. A song should always work as a solo Piano/Vocal or Guitar/Vocal track. Then you know if it's a good song. Less is More! That didn't change in 40 years.

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

A: Lately I do a lot of MIXING sessions. Production often includes Mixing if demanded.