Pop/Rock Recording and Mixing

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

A: I would have to say working for the Guitar Hero franchise was especially formative. I was tasked with re-mixing these massive hit songs to sound like the original recordings, but so they could use them in specific ways for gameplay. Reverse engineering some of the most iconic recordings gave me a pretty wild set of mixing tools to use moving forward.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently doing a band with friends and fellow industry folk here in LA. It's been a while and can't wait to get back out and do the thing that got me into this crazy business. Play some rock shows!

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

A: Una Jensen is the most amazing singer/songwriter I've ever met. She is also my daughter. I MIGHT have a bias :-P

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: At this point, digital. The gap between warmth has closed. You can model most any extra juice you get from an analog deck. That being said I do miss the craftsmanship of working more with my hands.

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

A: I promise to give you my best. I will always put forth my best effort to realize your vision, and/or take the responsibility of creating a vision to make your work shine in the best way I know how.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I am the most professionally fulfilled sitting behind a mixing desk. And in most cases now, behind the screen. I love listening to music of all kinds, and being part of the creative journey with someone is the best thing in the world.

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

A: The mixing process is not a good place to fix a broken recording. Yes, it's a powerful tool in the process, but if you aren't happy along the way, you will rarely find you love the final product. Also, there is no one way or plug in to "get that sound".

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your favorite records?

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

A: As much as I like to be a knight in shining armor, never ever try to "fix it in the mix". Send me something great, and I'll make it greater!

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

A: Pro Tools rig, U67, 1073, LA2A, Les Paul.

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

A: I started, quite typically, recording and mixing my own rock band. As we begin to make more waves, the recordings I made brought me a lot of other locals to do their records. I moved to LA and assisted Scott Gordon (Ringo Star, Alanis Morissette fame) and Mike Post (LA Law, and more). I eventually branched out on my own to pursue engineering and mix work.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I am born and bred out of the Massachusetts Hardcore/Metal music scene. But have always been fond of to 40 pop. The way I've explained myself is I like my metal brutal and my pop flaming.

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

A: I'm a big John Mayer fan. I would love to get a chance to get my hands on some of his music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If it sounds right, it is right.

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

A: My strength spans the Pop and Rock genres. Although I've mixing a much larger swath of styles, I am most familiar with the idiosyncrasies of these genres.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring decades of critical listening and decision making to the mixing process. Easy to work with and responsive to the clients vision.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For mixing I am sent the full multi's of the track in question along with prelim notes and references. I prep for mixing with a go over of the tracks to make sure there are no large issues to address before starting the mixing process. If there is anything remaining work that needs to be done before mixing I will consult on the easiest way to get the tracks ready. The mixing process usually takes 24-72 hours and will give you a chance to take notes and address any final issues that might be present. Final delivery will be a Full Mix, Instrumental and Vocal Up mix version.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a Pro Tools and Apollo set up with a hearty list of plug ins from all the usual suspects. I have a front end vocal set up that starts with a U67 into a hardware 1073/LA2A. I have a Kemper for all of my guitar tones and a Stage Nord (and a slew of VI's) for synths.

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

A: I like to watch the greats do what they do best. I love top 40 mixers and try to keep my ear current with what is happening today.

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

A: Most of my outside hires are in the mixing arena. I have mixed directly for artists, but also a lot for library and film/television/video game adaptations. I also have a small brick and mortar recording studio in the Los Angeles area. I also create library music for various publishers.