Anthony Gravino on SoundBetter

I am a Grammy nominated producer, recording, mixing and mastering engineer with over 20 years experience as a professional engineer and musician who has worked on hundreds of albums in various capacities. Some of the artists I have worked with include Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Nate Smith, Marquis Hill, Davy Knowles, Ari Hest, Tobin Sprout.

My primary services are mixing and mastering but I will also considering producing and/or performing on certain projects. I have worked on hundreds of albums and singles as a recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, producer and musician. My studio, High Cross Sound, is equipped with an API console and a wide variety of vintage analog equipment as well as all the modern digital tools creating a wonderful hybrid between old school and modern.
Go here for a tour of my barn studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2ewPLTTQs
PBS documentary about me: https://will.illinois.edu/prairiefire/story/high-cross-sound
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Interview with Anthony Gravino

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: There are too many to list. That is like asking "who is your favorite child?"
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Producing a bluesy soul record.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Ari Hest
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Both do some things better than the other.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will work hard, work fast and be very communicative. I am a very good listener to both music and people.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The fact that I have been able to work in such a wide variety of genres.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q: How long will it take? A: That depends on a lot of factors but generally I like to work quickly and decisively.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I have no idea.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Describe how you want it to make you feel? What's the deadline?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Listen to as much of the perspective engineer's work as you can to get an idea of their aesthetic.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Only acoustic ones because there is no electricity on a deserted island.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My first professional music gigs were at age 15 as a guitar player in bands. I toured/recorded with bands as a musician for many years and at some point around 2007 transitioned to being an engineer and producer full time. I have been playing music professionally for over 30 years and engineering for about 20 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Fluid.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: David Gilmour. Everything he sings and plays is beautiful.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Be bold and take chances. The only way to know where the line is is to go way past it.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Singer/songwriter, rock, jazz, folk, R & B, soul, hip hop, blues, country, classical........... I have worked on just about every genre of music and love it all.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My musical sensibilities.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Whatever it needs.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Every day is different and project specific.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio is a hybrid analog/digital setup featuring and API console loaded with SSL EQs, a healthy assortment of vintage analog outboard gear, an MCI JH 110c tape deck and Pro Tools. I mix and master using analog and digital tools for their strengths in order to get the best sound possible out of the tracks. I am not a purist in any way. Best sound wins.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Nigel Godrich, Tom Dowd, Daniel Lanois, Trevor Horn, Tom Elmhirst, John Leckie, David Gilmour to name few.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Production, recording, mixing, mastering.