Production and Mixing

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Because digital can do a lot but it can't do everything yet, so analog still sounds better and is easier for me when using compression, recording guitar, or even eq sometimes. Analog gear can make a sound cut through a mix.

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

A: You will like it or you don't pay.

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

A: Can you fix that (often referring to a performance error)? My answer: Of course.

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

A: That mixing and mastering will make the song better. It will and it won't. If the song isn't catchy before a mix, it won't be afterward.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who are you influences, what do you love about the music you listen to, what do you love about the song you want me to mix?

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

A: We provide music production and building arrangements. The process starts from a single instrument and a scratch vocal and is taken to the final product the artist envisioned.

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

A: Work until you Love your song before it gets mixed and you will love it even more after the mix.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: A Laid back, easy going person. Usually clean and punchy mixes.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep moving forward. If you are always improving your craft then your current project will not be your best, and that's a good thing. So finish, learn something, and keep moving forward.

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

A: Singer-Songwriter, Pop, Rock, and Gospel.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity and precision. I strive for a mix where each sound has it's place.

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

A: I went to school for Recording Arts. I have been working at it for 15 years.

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

A: Lee Ritenour because I can randomly pick any of his albums and, with good odds, really enjoy what I hear.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I believe mixing is my strongest skill. Breaking down what is necessary for translatable emotion.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I take a page from Rick Rubin when producing. I start with the song, is the song good enough? I stress to my clients that if the song is mediocre, the arrangement won't help any. Once we do have a song worth taking to the next steps, I get to know what the client really wants from the song and get their vision to reality. When mixing, I follow Bobby Owsinski's method outlined in the book Mixing Engineer's Handbook. I break down each song into its structural form and then emphasize the important parts. The art becomes deciding what get emphasized and what takes more of a secondary role.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: An overdub/mix studio with two api 512c's, two SSL 611 Eq's, one slate dragon, one SSL XLogic G Series Compressor, and an Apogee Symphony.

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

A: There are several producers and engineers that I can think of, including Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, Chris Lord-Alge, Warren Huart, but when it comes down to it, inspiration can come from anyone and hardly ever comes from any place predictably.