Mixing Engineer, FOH Engineer

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

A: I am proud of mixing the latest album of my band because I did everything I could and the result was great. The reviews about the sound were awesome and I got clients because of that mix! I am also proud about reamping and mixing the album of Fortid - World Serpent, because I had a a very short deadline of 12 days and made it! Also, when it came out it was the album of the month for the German Metal Hammer, Sonic Seducer and a few other outlets.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on 3 metal mixes and one post rock project.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: There is no analog really anymore. Also if there was a budget for analog, I would gladly use more analog gear because I love it! I keep any stages I can in analog, but almost no one has the budget anymore. And a very small percentage of people will listen to analog, even if vinyl is back

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love mixing! I like the fact that I get “panicked” sometimes when I am at the first stages of mixing and it doesn't sound as I envision. Then I work my ass off and suddenly the mix sounds great. It doesn't happen often, but I love finding solutions to mixing problems, I always do!

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

A: There are a few I know, I would recommend one of them if needed

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

A: That their mix will sound clean, punchy and aggressive. Provided the recording is good.

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

A: How fast I can deliver the mixes (I mix an album in two weeks), if they can be present while I mix (they cannot, they can only be present when we are doing corrections), what will I use for guitars/bass (depends the project, re amping or plug ins), payment details (varies)

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

A: That I am a magician and that I can make a bad performance sound good. I can edit to death, but again, it won't sound as great as a great performance.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: In mixing I am asking what is their vision about their mix and to let me know of any particular details that worry them.

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

A: To compose music that is of a lower performance demand than their actual playing abilities, because the quality of the production depends majorly on the recorded tracks. If you play less than you actually can, you will nail it. If you’re trying to play more than you are capable of, you will fail. Also never to tell me that they wanna sound like this or that band. This is naive and impossible to happen both because they are not the band they wanna sound like and because I have my own vision and tools that differ than the mixing engineer that mix the album of reference. PLUS they should aim for their own sound, not imitate.

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

A: In a desert Island I would take 5 tools and other stuff that would help me survive, hahaha... If I would manage to do it, I would go for my Neve preamps, my Danmar red wood beaters, a D6 by Audix, my Audio Technica 4051 and my Universal Audio Satellite with all my plug ins

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

A: I am doing this job for about 15 years, I worked on venues and then I build my own studio that helped me study a lot. I already had a degree in Music Production and Recording Arts and then I also did a masters degree in Berklee College of Music in Mixing and Mastering with Pro Tools

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Absolutely Modern Metal

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

A: A lot! I would say Architects, Bad Omens and Killswitch Engage for sure, but also Krokus because it's my all time favorite old school metal band and they have a different way of working.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Record your tracks in the best possible way and it will make your life easier. Especially drums, there are A LOT of tricks in the recording that will make your drums sound great!

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

A: All kinds of Metal, I prefer modern metal of course. I also work on Rock, Punk and Post Rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Aesthetics! I emphasize on drums and rhythm guitars because I find that that's more than 50% of the mix. Vocals also is another strong point since I am also a professional singer.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I believe that my main strength is that I have the aesthetics and the vision of where the song should go. I definitely bring a modern but not plastic touch, a lot of creativity wherever there is space and of course my main three aspects that are clear sound so you can hear all instruments, punch and aggression.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I arrange the instruments in an order (drums, bass, rhythm guitars etc) first, I group them and listen to the songs start to end fixing the levels just to feel the songs, realize the spirit of each song and get the strongest points. Then I import my template on each song and start with drums and rhythm guitars. Then I bring the bass guitar and then all the lead instruments or synths and last I work on the vocals and make them sit on the mix

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use Pro Tools and a lot of separate pre amps instead of a console for maximum versatility. Our monitoring is happening through the Focal Trio 11 Be.

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

A: Favorite musicians, I would have to say Freddie Mercury, Chuck Schuldiner and Dave Mustaine cause they were/are all geniuses and they had a real vision. Production wise I would have to say Alan Parsons and Mutt Lange for sure, the guys did amazing stuff. To day I would say that I am a hyge fan of Andy Sneap, Rhys Fulber, Frederik Nordstrom and of course Jens Bogren that I have to admit that he has a different style in regards to my taste, but he created a whole new vintage sound. Very good and young mixing engineer I like is Zakk Cervini, I like how he combines pop with modern metal.

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

A: The main thing I do is mixing albums, but I also do tracking of all instruments and A LOT of editing. Drums mainly but everything that needs editing.