French Touch Analog Mastering

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

A: The Legacy of... from Legacy (Sony). 400 anthology titles that marked my youth. I cried on a track from Tom Browne actually: Funkin' for Jamaica.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A rare Morricone soundtrack and a new and amazingly talented urban band (duo) - but I can't say the name...

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both are definitely useful. The deal is to know how to use each in the best world. So Both! The fullness of analog, surgical precision of the digital.

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

A: To always deliver my best. Each of my client matters the same to me. I have the same commitment with a billboard artist, an anonymous. or for a debut EP.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The luck to discover new artists, talents, and be the one to polish everything. That's a bliss.

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

A: I have so many questions, it's hard to say. Mostly, advises and the need of reassurance. There's a fragility in the process of creation ; Because of the famous names I've worked with, I reassure lots of rookies who wish to have my honest feedback. I feel very honoured to have the privilege to comfort people in what they love.

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

A: The best mastering won't help you hit the billboard, if so you wish.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Their style, who made the mix (studio or homemade), and their expectations. From there, I will know where we start and what we can achieve together.

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

A: Today, you must check the references and the experience before looking at the studio setup. Gears do not mean good sound. Focus on the experience and make sure the whole experience is relevant. I've seen people presenting themselves with work references but which were not related with mastering!....Sad, but true...And last one, remember : If it's to good to be true...Might not be true

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

A: I'll go with a mosquito spray :)

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

A: over tow decades. Music has always been a huge part of my life from the early 80's ; As soon as I started ridding BMX. From BMX, I've danced, and started Djaying in 1983. I've always been into the industry since.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: How much time and space do I have to answer that? Next question :)

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is more. It's always better to subtract with digital and to add with analog. Find an experienced mastering engineer with good ears; We'll add the magic, the touch, the polish!

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

A: Lots of urban music, but I have a solid reputation in electronic music. Truly speaking, we do a lot : indie bands, soul, funk, jazz, disco, soundtracks...I'm a vinyle collector; I love all musics.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My ears :)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Lots of things! I'll say musicality. No presets, no robots, just my touch.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: You call, we chat, you tell me what you want and I make my best to give you the sound.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The set up is very important to achieve the best work. But it's not magic either if you don't have the experience that gets along. We focus on the best gears and total analog chain.

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

A: Analog stereo masters of course. Our new service MixMasterStems is extremely popular too (24 tracks).