Simon Austin on SoundBetter

2,500,000+ Spotify Streams on credited works / Radio Play in Canada & Australia

I'm a songwriter, producer and mixer based in Toronto that specializes in Indie, Rock and Alternative music.

I take a "natural" approach to my productions, ensuring that the song always comes first. I utilize top of the line analog equipment including an API console, and I strive for professional level results right at the source. I thereafter provide clear yet impactful mixes that support the artist's vision and helps them achieve their goals within the music industry.

I currently works out of Metrolab Recordings, an approx 800sq ft facility in the heart of downtown Toronto's west end. The space is equipped with a dedicated control room, Iso booth and live room suitable for full band live sessions. The studio can flexibly cater to any artist's recording needs big or small.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

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Interview with Simon Austin

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: John O'Reilly Jr. he's a super talented session drummer with a great knowledge of recording as well!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: 1) My API The Box2 Console 2) Neumann U87 3) Empirical Labs Distressor 4) UAD Apollo 16 5) Yamaha NS10's
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Mixing, Recording and Songwriting.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work out of an 800sq ft facility in Toronto called Metrolab Recording. It features a sizable live room, dedicated mix room with an API console and a vocal Iso booth.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am always trying to get closer to Eric Valentine's patented drum sound while simultaneously developing my own take on it!
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I just finished an album for a band called The Pacifiers! it's not out yet but I truly feel I accomplished what I set out to do sonically, all while respecting the artist's artistic vision (and even more so than they had been able to achieve on previous works).
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog, because it better suits the way my brain works. I find myself constantly tweaking and second guessing when I use digital, whereas analog I can just work intuitively.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: A quality production that's true to your artistic intentions.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Recording Drums and dialing in a unique sound for each artist I work with.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can I record X songs in a few hours at your studio? Answer: No, it takes 1-2 days to record a song from the ground up and I prioritize quality over quantity.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That computers and digital software can do everything that analog equipment can.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your goals with your project and what are some sounds you've wanted to achieve in the past but haven't been able to?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Pick out some reference mixes from artists that you aspire to sound like!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I went to audio engineering school more than 9 years ago and have been working in the field since then. I have been making music itself for more than 15 years now.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Organic and realistic productions with a unique analog colour and sonic palette.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Tokyo Police Club, I really love the tonality and uniqueness of their earlier work and I believe it straddles an interesting balance between lofi indie rock and radio worthy alternative. I love colourful and stylized sounds that are a bit different from the norm and everything about their Elephant Shell album exemplifies that. As well their songwriting is truly one of a kind.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Great sounds come from the source!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, Indie, Alternative and Pop Punk.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I have extensive experience as a songwriter (my other job is as a songwriter for a company called Songfinch), and also provide an array of analog equipment typically inaccessible to artists with smaller budgets.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: If it's a full song production I start from the ground up, being the song itself (ie. demo's and pre-production). I thereafter aim to capture the song in the form truest to the artist's intentions, and utilize recording and production techniques that best suit the genre/ style of music while achieving a professional and competitive sounding result.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am inspired by artists in the Indie Rock domain such as Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and The 1975.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Full Song Production and Mixing.