Vocal Engineer (tune, comp fx)

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a hybrid setup with a yamaha 02R 96 V2 as the console (cause I love riding faders) I have 2 RME fireface interfaces running 32 channels of adat and 20 analogue plus 2 SPDIF stereo outs i use for recording outputs. I have 38 channels going into the console at mixdown (plus afew pieces of outbord synths & a 303). the rest of the audio i/o's are used for external fx. 2 x UAD stalite quads, an SSL Duality Chanel strip (EQ & Dynamics) and some great clones of outboard classics like the 1176, LA-2A, 1073, Dimension D and 3 pultecs that are all amazing. in the case of the pultecs and the LA-2A, I've upgraded the Tubes to very high quality tubes and on everything else I have upgraded the transformers, they sound much better than most clones. once out of the desk the stereo signal travels through my 1273 stereo preamp then into my matched pair of pultec clones then back into my consoles master channel, then from there the signal gets driven into my prism lyra then back into my DAW (Cubase 14 pro) to be recorded. my main monitors are Focal Twin Be 6 and The room is fully treated acoustically including diffusion and a sizeable cloud. If there's anything you'd like to know specifically please don't hesitate to ask

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

A: Working with major artists like Flo Rida, Atomic Kitten and 2 Live crew is always great and each one I can say I was blessed to have that particular dream come true. The one that I'm especially proud of was an unexpected success story that the public in the uk really got behind. When I say unexpected, I always knew it would be a hit on the club scene but it had commercial success too. I was the vocal engineer on for Vikki Waters, Luvfoundation uk & Ian G on their track "Take me Back" What started as a favor for a friend (recording and engineering the vocals on a club track), went straight in at number 1 in the main charts on both Amazon & iTunes, 18 on Beatport and number 28 on the official UK Big Top 40. It was definitely a wow moment.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I've got a few projects on the go. I've just recorded a 400 piece choir for a very exciting summer anthem that has to be a secret at the moment. I'm working with Natasha Hamilton from Atomic Kitten on a very exciting solo project that will be out in the summer too. I'm recording and engineering the vocals on a very exciting album collaborating with Vikki Waters, Luvrush uk and Avohee Avoher. I'm also producing and co/writing an Album with MC Tunes I've just recorded the vocals and in the middle of engineering them for a new track involving the sugarbabes which is exciting too.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I started in the mid 90's completely on analog and I moved completely in the box during the late 2000's. Having had success in both worlds I have seen the advantages and disadvantages of both worlds which is why I now have a hybrid system and will always work this way in the future

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

A: To try my very best to justify the trust and faith they put into me

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The variation of work. being a vocal engineer allows me to work in many genres so every day is interesting

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

A: Do you actually know what all these dials and buttons do.? Yes, it's my job.

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

A: That I can push a magic button and make a bad recording sound world class. In those cases I talk to the client and advice them on their mic placement and / or technique, to help them make the recording that is solid enough to produce world class results.

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

A: my computer, my focal monitors, prism lyra, UAD stalites and my stage piano

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

A: I started out as a DJ in the mid 80's and by the mid 90's I found rave culture and traveled the world as a successful rave DJ spanning 5 genres. In 1995 a friend gave me a Roland synth, an Emu sampler and a DAT machine to play with. I already had an Akai computer so I got cubase and I was hooked. Started producing dance music then had brief encounters in the pop world but my love for vocals took over so I changed my studio to favor engineering rather than production and now I do mixing for a living. mainly vocals

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

A: I've worked with the people just starting out all the way to the biggest stars on the planet and they're all people just the same as you and me. As long as they're passionate about what they're doing, respectful and want to have fun in the studio while doing it then I want to work with them

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: turn the speakers down when mixing cause everything sounds great when it's loud and you'll miss whats really happening in the mix. Obviously you have to turn it up once in a while to hear what the bass is doing but for the majority, try to work quietly. you will hear more and do way less damage to your ears.

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

A: usually it's dance music or pop but I also work on a lot of hardcore and underground tracks too

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: getting the best emotional performance from a singer when recording vocals

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I try to bring out the very best emotional content from every vocal, mix or master

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

A: I mainly do vocal recording and engineering, (tuning comping & fx) I also do mix engineering and stem masters. I still work producing too but over 90% of my work involves vocals