Pop Dance EDM Mixing/Mastering

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

A: One of my latest projects required to record a string section. It was an amazing experience to hear the live performance after a draft prepared in midi.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: New projects for my own artist career. Beside that i work for a lot of different Bands as a mixing and mastering engineer and support them in technical and creative way.

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

A: I worked in the past with different musicians and singers. I can really recommend Michael Shynes or Denny White as singers for your next project. They deliver perfect quality and are absolutely reliable and feel your music. For them it's not a job it's a passion to deliver a great song.

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

A: It needs to be on point to be ready. I want a smile on your face, because then i know that the track is gonna be awesome and i'm happy too.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creativity. I love to bring the music to a next level and make my clients happy. I love to let a new song become alive and i feel the music in there. You never know what music and emotion you can create with your next song or your technical work support.

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

A: When it's about service jobs like Mixing and Mastering one of the questions is : "What would be the price for my project ..... and what Audio files do you need?" Finally i can say, that there is no fixed price for mixing in general because every project is different. For example a simple mixdown like Vocals and Guitars for your youtube video will be less work than a mixdown of a 500 track orchestra recording. So it's absolutely great to discuss the scope before starting our Project. Regarding Mastering , when it's a Stereo Master or Stem Master with 2 Stems like Vocal and Instrumental it would be always a fixed price because the scope of work will be the same. When it's a Stem Master with more than 2 Stems the prices will differ depends on the additional work requested.

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

A: I think it's quite easy to explain. :) Mixing: While mixing you can have a huge impact on the sound and how the track should look like. You can improve timing issues with instruments and fix tones and tune and stretch vocals regarding timings. Within a great production it's already done by the producer before. But you can never improve the performance and feelings of a track. You can only deliver a mix that is as good as the rough material. Best example, Vocals recorded with an i phone recorder can never sound like vocals recorded with a studio microphone and preamp. :) As a mixing engineer you can improve the sound and deliver the best possible result given by the rough material. Mastering: Finally Mastering is the fine tuning of a mixdown. You can fix some bugs in the original mixdown, set the overall volume, emphazise frequencies to get some sounds/instruments more in the front. Finally it's just a polish. Changing Compression/Eq for single instruments will be only possible when it's provided as a Stem(Groups) Master for example: Vocal Stems, Guitar Stems, Drum Stems, etc.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask for Mixing and Mastering for a reference Track to get an overview regarding sound imaginations. Mixing: For Mixing it's great to have already a very simple rough mix to understand the production and volume levels of it's components. For Mixdown i need all single audio tracks without processing to have full control about any dynamics. Provide the tracks in the same quality you recorded the tracks. For most of you it's 24 Bit and 44.1khz or 48khz. Mastering: I need the files in minimum 44.1Khz and 24 Bit. Volume headroom of 4-6 db on the Mixdown for Mastering.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Mixing: and let the song sound open wide and powerful. Production: Piano and Guitar arrangements with experience more than 20 years. Mystic and wide sounds. Wide and open drum programming and melodic strings.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Mixing/Mastering: Highlight the song and it's elements. Fine tune all tracks to perfection. Time align, tuning and phase corrections. Provide every instrument space in the frequency range and balance it well that it's broadcast ready. Producer: My style is based on mystic sounds and emotional melodies. If you search for emotion and a unique sound, then we match perfectly. Music Production: Very musical support. I'm pianist, guitar and bassplayer for more than 20 years. I understand the idea of any song and can translate it to let the main idea and message stand out in the creative process.

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

A: 15 Years ago i build up my first Studio. Passionate Guitarplayer for 21 Years. Piano 23 Years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Mixing Engineer: Focused and well concentrated to translate the creative idea.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For Mixing: I request the unprocessed raw audio files from the session. I usually ask for a reference track to see whats the clients sound imagination. Files (min: 44.1khz, 24bit, wave format) For Producing: If there is an existing topline vocal melody i have a strong focus on the lyrics and will find out the right instruments and sounds to fit the main message. The Production should support the main idea. I also like to provide different ideas for melodies that could create more uplifting character for example. Finally there are no rules it's a creative process that will focus the main message and to be on point with the whole song idea and production. :)

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

A: Mixing/Mastering Music Production

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

A: The best is to have a clear vision/idea about the final result and direction.

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

A: piano, guitar, drums, microphone and a recorder.

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

A: Coldplay, Woodkid,Justin Timberlake, Allen Stone, Pharrell Williams. I enjoy unique voices and soul .

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

A: Pop Music, Hip Hop, Soundtrack

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's a Hybrid Setup. Analog Outboard Avalon 747 Tegeler Eqp Pultec EQ Genelec 8351 Monitoring System Avantone Mix Cube Spl Frontliner Telefunken Ela M Clone DAW Cubase 10

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: The best of both.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If your mix is well you will mostly hear vocals and snare on lowest volume.

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

A: Coldplay, Bonobo, Hans Zimmer, Gregory Porter, Allen Stone, 21 Pilots