Remote Alt-Rock/Ambient Mixing

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

A: I'm currently working on an EP from the Argentinian musican Cristian Gez and I'm very proud of it because we manage to combine some good song-writing across different genres, like Zamba, Bolero, Cumbia, Jazz and Rock that Cristian writes with plenty of synth based ambience, reverb-esque ambience, sampling, that are my area of expertise, and also with some chamber instrument arrangement that involves duos like Clarinet and Viola for example. My role was producing and recording, but I also had the plesaure to focus mainly on the producing aspect, and we record some of the vocals, and all the drums at Maya Studio here in Córdoba. The last track, Ser, unreleased for the moment, involves several layers of sampling, synths and vocal layering with a rock arrangement, so instead of handing the mixing to someone else, Cristian prefered that I mixed that track.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I do everything ITB. I use Ableton Live as my main DAW, and work on a M1 Max Macbook with headphones (Sennheiser HD650) in order to work from Chile or Argentina, the two countries where I'm based. Also have my home studio in Córdoba, Argentina where I track guitars (PRS, Godin) and bass through an audient id44 mk2. I track vocals with either a replicate of a U87 by Pato Baumann (recognized microphone builder in Argentina) and Shure SM7B.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Lucet's "Luminicidio" Cristian Gez's "Ser"

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

A: I don't know anyone personally but I sure recommend Tom DuPree who apart from being a hell of a musician it's a great content creator on YouTube and bc of him I learn about this platform. Also Jose Gabriel Gentile who lives in Córdoba, and Andres Mayo, from Buenos Aires, are some great producers I admire that I've seen offer their work here. I would recommend them with my eyes closed to any of my clients who want a premium service.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: All my journey has been with digital tools, but most of earlier music influences were recorded in analog, so I believe my work has an "analog" approach but with the freedom, flexibility and high fidelity that the digital realm offers.

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

A: I'll foreground the meaning of your song while keeping the sonic aesthetic you have in mind.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: To work with as many different people and music I can. I really enjoy connecting with other sensible human beings and working on songs and music that have a deep meaning for their authors.

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

A: Most questions are regarding if the song can sound like the reference track they hand me. I answer them that it depends on the tracks themselves and If the meaning of the song is asking for that or not.

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

A: That's simple as apply reverb and make a bunch of layers panned to left and right.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What sound are you aiming for? What's the meaning of this music/song?

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

A: Please read my terms of services carefully and ask for anything beforehand so I can make sure to give you the best service I can. Regarding the tracks, label them according to my instruction if possible, and send me two or three tracks of references.

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

A: dynamic mic, interface, laptop, guitar, headphones

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

A: I started producing when I was in high school in order to record my own music, it always have come from a composition-frame interest. Later on I study musical composition with classical contemporary approach at National University of Córdoba, currently doing my grade-thesis on a noise installation. Alongside my music education I keep producing on my own, starting with my own bands and music, and later on working with other artists that reach out to me for me sonic approach.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Eclectic, deep-ambient, contemporary.

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

A: Lana del Rey, I really like her songwritting and think I could exaggerate some of the moods she creates with her music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is more, most of the times.

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

A: Don't have a specific genre of music, but all the music has in common a strong approach to ambience, synths, sampling and/or layering.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Understand the artist message and translate it into a mix.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I foreground details that are hidden in each performances of the tracks, accentuate colors, bring clarity when it's need and creates an atmosphere for each element to take place in.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1. Listening to the track a bunch of times 2. Talk with the artist to know what are the message of the song and ask for two or three references tracks. 3. Import, check if editing is needed/Edit 4. Mixing 5. Details, details, details 6. Revisions 7. Happy client and beautiful song crafted!

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

A: Brian Eno, Steven Wilson, Nigel Godrich, Shaun Lopez

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

A: Produce and mixing