Mix Engineer | Producer

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

A: There's a new song I recently mixed and it hasn't been released yet. But it's by Big Buck and Northwest Kid. I enjoy their local indigenous talent and am proud to have mixed an amazing piece of work for them!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My personal project. Along with a client that owns a clothing brand, his new artist name goes by 'Big Buck'.

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

A: Not currently, sorry.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog feel, but in a digital way. There are some analog feels that feel great in analog out gear form (1176 comp or LA 2A, or never pre amps...or great water preamps..) how whichever, you can still achieve a desirable mix with just using 'in the box' techniques and plugins. As much as there is a war between the two, I believe that they both have their special places and to each their own! where some wont use it, others will! and there's nothing wrong with that! We have all built our sound on some form of both, so we all have to acknowledge and love both sides for our personal and many different reasons.

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

A: That I will give my all to your song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Getting a tea, sitting down and hearing a session for the first time. I love the technical aspect of it, as much as organizing and taking notes in my head about the session mix before me. I love slowly bringing it out and forward and giving it that new breath of fresh air.

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

A: "How long have you been doing this?" My answer is well known by now. 15 years. "Can we totally rework the whole mix in a different direction?" My answer is, (2) revisions man. Anything past that is another mix. "How long does it take to finish a mix?" My answer is, can a mix ever be truly done? in some generic form yes, but at some point the artist has to look at the piece and say, "Great" and be done with it.

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

A: People think that this is the final be all end all of the music production side. But as a Mixing Engineer, my job is just that, to mix. I do often send mixes to Landr do get a generic master done as a sample. But I think that a different mastering engineer can offer another element to the process to bring out even more that I can't hear, now that I've listened to your song 50 times over mixing it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How many years have you been doing music? Can I listen to your newer and older songs? Who are you as an artist and what's your plan? As an artist what type of sound do you like? Who do you listen to the most? Do you want your music to sound like anyone? if so, who and why?

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

A: I would say, trust the mix. I offer a free first mix with (2) revisions to get it sounding just right. After that, there isn't anything one can say to entice you. You either love it or you don't! and that's okay! its up to YOU to be proud of what you have to offer people!

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

A: I would take my: 1. Laptop 2. Interface 3. Headphones 4. SM7b Mic 5. Speakers. But lets be real, Where would the power even come from? haha

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

A: 15 years or so. Probably longer, but I would say my journey began 15 years ago as a mix engineer. I was always interesting since I was 15 or 16, ever since I saw my older brother record his band in our families basement. After that, my mother had this cassette tape thing where you could record your own voice and I was interested ever since.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Bright and honest.

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

A: Ollie. Because his process is just so honest and raw. He's had some great mixers and producers work with him, but I'd love to have an opportunity to add my name to that list someday.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: As artists and Music professionals, I find 'finishing' and 'completing' very hard words to come by. The action of your art being complete is NEVER complete in your eyes. I still find myself rewinding back to old mixes and remixing different ideas or trying something new I learned recently. As much as it's important to finish things, I think its also important that we find ourselves 'letting go' and just letting the art breath and leave your arms. Art is best appreciated by the observer. So my advice, is to always work towards a spot where you can say this is 'Great' and then let it go.

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

A: Being from Canada, especially the prairies, I have mixed grassroots and country. I didn't like it as much as I could of. But it was a nice change of scenery and extension of my taste palate. But usually, its the urban form with anything from Spoken Word, Motivational Speeches to anything Hip-hop and urban based.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say I am my own worst critic, I will NEVER be finished with a mix. So my own will and determination can also be my own downfall when it comes to mixing. Because I will dedicate myself to finishing this mix and to exceed expectations when I can. I realize that with some artists and songs, some don't agree with the mixing style and process. I can't mix for everyone, as a chef can't cook for everyone! we all have different tastes and ideas. But I am looking for those that have a taste for what I have to offer!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: When I look at a mix, I listen to different criteria's and my ears are focused on many different aspects. I'm listening artistically, but I am also listening critically to the dynamic range and different sonic quality that your song has. My job is to sort all of that out and make your song come to life and make it as enjoyable for you as well as your fans!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I am a mixing engineer. So I would look at your song from that perspective, and would trust that the producing side of it is all done and that nothing is needed to be added. I would listen critically towards the sonic, dynamic and character ranges that your song upholds. Then I would

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It changes so much over the years. I used to love outboard gear, but after a lot of the emulations and the constant battle between 'how many kids are listening to this on the same speakers i'm using or better?' I stopped worrying about having such an outboard gear set up. It's really nice to look at I know! But as far as sound, I can usually get some form that's as close to if not sounds just like the outboard gear from 'in the box' nowadays. So for now I run the 'MOTU M2 for its ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC Technology for superb analog sound' as well as (2) HS8 Yamaha speakers. I run everything off a 'MSI GP75 Leopard' Laptop that hosts a Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.59 GHz. So it has plenty of processing power to run Cubase 12 Pro with everything from Ozone and Neutron, Fabfilter, Waves, UAD, SLATE audio, Valhalla as well as Arturia's FX Collections 3 to help me get the job done well.

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

A: Musician wise, I am impressed by a lot of independent artists that also mix projects themselves. Such as: Cryptic Wisdom all the way to Ollie. I know Ollie doesn't mix ALL his songs, but he does do enough that its still impressive. As for Engineers that Inspire me, the list is long, but I'll do my top 5: Josh Gudwin Jaycen Joshua MixedbyAli Streaky Dave Pensado Not only are they the TOP for mix engineers, but also as teachers and 'mix counsellors'. They are amazing to learn from, and as you watch them mix, its so easy to be inspired by what they say and do! I encourage you all to look them up and enjoy them as well!

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

A: I commonly am just a mix engineer. So my job would be to mix your song to get the best possible sound out of what has been recorded.