Mixing/Mastering/Editing

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think the biggest thing I learned from being in a band myself and being a producer/engineer is how important having a fresh outside perspective on your music can be. So I try to be that. I'll give some suggestions on elements that could improve the song, whether its adjusting the arrangement, tempos etc but always - and I want to stress this - always with the provision that the band is allowed to tell me to f**k off if I'm going too crazy with ideas

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When working with a band, I will start in the rehearsal studio. I'll pop along to some rehearsals and gigs to get a feel for how the songs sound in the room. We'll demo the songs in the rehearsal space to figure out what parts work, what need improvement. Basically get a list together of how many parts we're recording to get a feel for how long the studio recording will be. Once the songs are good to go, I'll get a feel for how the band want each element to sound, and from there we will start looking at what studio works for that sound. This pre production can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to months. Once the recording side is done, I'll take the songs to prep for mixing. I'll do the initial mix alone, before we get together for mix tweaks as a group.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I tend to work out of Sound Training Productions' and Temple Lane's studios in Temple Bar in Dublin. There are 3 high quality studios at varying budget options to suit any level. I also have a mobile rig consisting of a 32 input/32 output interface, so I can also record in your rehearsal space. I've done this with a couple of artists now, and it really helps recording in a space that the band are comfortable in. When mixing and editing (both music and podcasts), I work out of my home studio. So remote work is also possible.

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

A: I really love the work of Enter Shikari and Biffy Clyro. I love how they can blend some weird genre bending parts, with massive pop choruses.

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

A: I mainly work with independent local artists, taking them from the rehearsal room to the finished piece. I love doing this as it helps to build rapport with the band, and make sure they know that I will take care of their musical baby. I also record/edit/mix podcasts for clients. I can help them choose equipment/software to make recording their podcasts easy and reliable, but also high quality.