Rock, Pop, Indie Mix Engineer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Aside from mixing for others, I am writing songs for my Charlottesville-based band, Loose Leaf. We are on Spotify, and I was the mix engineer on our projects.

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

A: My promise is that my final mix will hold true to your original vision for the piece of art you are trying to create, and I will work with you to make that happen.

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

A: "What if I don't like the mix you send?" - I'll listen to your feedback and give it another shot! I wanna make this work for you. "How long will it take to get the mix back" - It shouldn't take me more than one week to get your mix back to you, and it will rarely take that long. "Will you also master my track?" - I only specialize in mixing services.

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

A: It seems like people believe that mixing engineers create professional tracks by using expensive software or hardware that others don't have access to. In reality, the best engineers are the ones who are well-versed in the absolute basics of production and mixing like balancing levels, EQ, and compression. There aren't any secrets; it just comes down to hard work and a good ear for the music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask if they had trouble in the studio or during the production process and what they want out of this mix. I want to help out by adding whatever might be missing from the song, or fixing anything that went wrong. What are the biggest things you'd like me to accomplish that you haven't been able to yet on this piece?

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

A: Let me know anything specific that you want to hear from this mix: any creative suggestions, how you want the tone of the piece to sound, an artist with a similar style, etc. That way, I can get it just right for YOU the first time. Every artist has a vision for how they want their art to turn out, and I want to help you get there.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Use your ears. Close your eyes, turn off the visual display on your EQ, and hear the differences you're making. Every change you make should be intentional.

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

A: I work mostly with rock artists, indie rock artists, and singer-songwriters.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My best skill is vocal production. I end up spending the most time on the vocals because they are usually the listener's main focus, and I have dedicated countless hours to learning how to get them just right.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I understand every step of the process. I am a singer and songwriter, so I will have the artist's direction in mind. I am a producer, so I grasp the feeling each track attempts to bring out. I understand what kind of mix makes for a great master, and this is what I'll have in mind while crafting the mix. As an all-around artist, I bring the most important pieces of art together in a mix.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I begin my mixing process with editing, ensuring that all the tracks work together in terms of timing, tuning, and phase coherence. The rest of the process is working on the balance, dynamics, tone, and creation of space in the mix. I deliver a loud, defined, and professional final product.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use ProTools and Ableton for mixing and producing, which I run through my 2021 MacBook Pro and SSL 2+ interface. I typically mix with studio monitors and Audio-Technica headphones. My recording tools consist of a Shure SM-57, SM-58, and SM-7B.

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

A: I am a mix engineer, and I have experience in production.

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

A: Yes, I highly recommend Marvin at Tide Studio if you need a track mastered.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: This one's simple, I get to listen to music! Every day I get to listen to incredible music from incredible artists, and I get to help shape it into something even better. What else could I ask for?

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

A: I began with production about 6 years ago and got into songwriting soon after. I've always wanted to be the guy behind every step in the process of my own music, and so I made that happen. In recent years, I have spent much more time on the mixing end of the process and also began working on projects for other artists, opening doors to more opportunities to learn, grow, and create.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is transparent but transformative. Your track will sound as great as it possibly can while keeping everything about the original vision in mind.