Rock mixing

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

A: Brutal Age "Ballads For Billy Gibbs". An old friend fronted this band. I heard them online and loved the songs but every recording sounded awful. I reached out and we recorded an entire album in one day, and it sounds great. Very proud of those guys.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Starting a new band.

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

A: No.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Analog is the best but the cost to maintain is too high and gear breaking down can be devastating. Digital gives all of us so much that we would have never been able to experience. Unless we're talking guitars. Than tube amps all day.

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

A: I'll work within your budget as long as you have realistic expectations. Together, we can make sure your song is the best it can be.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making music. Nothing feels better than putting art into the world for others to enjoy.

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

A: How much will it cost? If I like your music, not much at all. If I don't like your music, we need to talk...

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

A: It pays a lot.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What was the last record that really impressed you? If your song was streaming on a playlist, what artist do you imagine playing before and after you?

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

A: Money is tight, so I work cheap to help out struggling artists who want to be heard. But I will not deliver content that I'm not satisfied with. I will work hard to make sure you get the best mix possible.

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

A: An acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, a vox ac30, a vintage ProCo Rat, and a drum in case someone else washed up and wanted to play rhythm.

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

A: I started playing guitar in 1994. I got good around 20 years later. The digital revolution introduced me to music production. I recorded and mixed a few things on my own around 2008 before quitting my job and going to college for audio video production.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern vintage.

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

A: Tom Schultz. He's a hero but that last Boston record sucked ass. I want to know what the f* happened.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Never lose the vibe of the song. Some mixes require a lot of fine tuning, others are better left with minimal production to capture the essence of the song.

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

A: Punk and metal

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Editing. Whether editing for time or content, having all tracks sound their best before mixing begins ensures that the final product will be the best it can be.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A sound that is rooted in vintage rock and metal sounds, but with a slick modern polish to help you stand out.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Discuss the end goal of the production, listen to the vibe of the live tracks, accentuate what works, add additional production elements as needed, and ensure the client is happy with the results.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Apollo interfaces feeding avid pro tools with an extensive plugin library and software solutions.

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

A: Tom Schultz, Ian McKaye, Andrew Schepps, Cameron Webb

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

A: Recording, mixing, and mastering. Drum editing and sound replacement. Reamping.