Sam Higham on SoundBetter

Producer, Mix Engineer, and Musician - shining a light on the beauty of human performance. I want to make meaningful productions/arrangements/mixes that both captures and embellishes the artists creation.

Hi there, I'm Sam

I specialise in working within a kind of 'rock band scenario' (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals) with a big focus on capturing a great performance. A multi-instrumentalist with the ability to arrange, perform, record, and mix these instruments to a radio ready standard - I can give your original compositions the backing they deserve.

I work from a home studio which is set up so that I can record live instruments with ease, and offer a quick turn around time on recordings. I have tailored my mixing environment to provide a clear and detailed picture of the music, allowing me focus on creativity, and provide competitive, professional sounding mixes.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

Languages

English

7 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Sam Higham

by Jake Stokes
Verified
Another awesome edit from Sam. Much appreciated and highly recommended!
by Jake Stokes
Verified
Sam did an amazing job of editing my drums. I have very high standards and have tried many editors. He nailed it first time, will absolutely use him again. Highly recommended.
by Joel B
Sam recorded our EP and was very patient with band members needing multiple takes while the rest of the band kept entertained playing pool nearby. Sam is a master of drums, keys and guitar and has a discerning ear for when notes are fractionally out, and can offer nuggets of wisdom to improve certain phrases. This was my band's second EP and stands out in terms of punchiness and clarity when compared to the first (despite paying for it to be mastered in the US). If you're looking for a chill yet professional environment to record in, Sam is your man!
by Standard Jack
Sam was the key to bringing the songs in my head out into the real world. He has an amazing ability to work with artists across genres and understand their creative vision, and how to bring that vision to life. He recorded and mixed my 5 track EP, and his mixes were given praise by Grammy Award-winning mastering engineers Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone.

I absolutely plan to work with Sam again in the future and highly recommend him if you're looking for a producer/mixing engineer on your projects!
by Jamie
We recorded our second EP with Sam. He gave our tracks a huge sound and was amazing to work with. I really appreciated his creative input and patience! Super nice atmosphere and great place to hangout too. Highly recommend!!
by Callum Worsley
Great to work with. Sam tracked drums for us at the castle - his mixing skills are impressive too will definately work with him again!
by Scott
Sam did an awesome job recording our EP! Super helpful and professional

Interview with Sam Higham

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: If you're looking for someone to give your music that modern, polished, larger than life sound, then Jake Stokes is someone that I highly recommend. Always very professional and a pleasure to work with.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. My home studio is all based on a digital workflow and I love the speed, options, and recallability that a DAW offers. Although if I get the chance to work in a studio with lots of out board gear, I'm definitely taking advantage of it. There's something incredibly satisfying about being able to touch the devices you're using, and it can often make for some quick and exciting decisions.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will work my arse off for you. I want to make a piece of art, and I won't be satisfied until I feel like I have done that. I don't just want to get your project finished to make a buck, I want to feel like I have managed to bring something special into this world that wasn't here before.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Being able to bring what was in the artists head into the real world, and being able to experience some beautiful music stripped down to elements most people won't get the chance to hear.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is their project? What role do they want me to play, producer? Engineer? Session musician? Have they got a demo I can listen to? Are there any influences that should I listen to to get an idea of where they want to push it? What are some meanings/feeling behind the song? I might also send through some of my own specific audio examples to see what kinds of sounds they prefer for certain elements.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I love making huge dynamic productions with lots of drama. I love big natural roomy drum sounds, guitars that sound like they are nearly out of control, bass that bites and cuts, and vocals that weave into the music while holding your attention throughout the whole experience.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Poppy, she's doing some freaky fresh stuff, and I'm all here for it. Would be a bit of a change from what I have done previously, and I'm sure there would be some creative madness to be had!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Any kind of 'rock band' music is where I feel most at home.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My main goal is always to bring the artists vision to life, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for creative input. It's always project dependent, but one thing I love being able to bring to a song are big vocal harmony layers, there can be such a lift and added drama by a well arranged harmony part. It's very satisfying working closely with the artist and opening their ideas up to something bigger than what they originally imagined.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work from a home studio setup with a Live room capable of recording a small rock band. The room next door is setup as a mixing/control room. The mixing room features a range of a custom built acoustic panels to provide me a clear detailed picture of the music.