John Noll on SoundBetter

Professional engineer | producer | mixer with extensive experience doing rock, singer-songwriter, americana, blues, funk, reggae using vintage console + ProTools. Owner of a successful pro studio in NJ for many years, currently working out of my private space in beautiful Rincón PR. Mix remotely or come work in my tropical destination studio.

My setup is ProTools HD routed to a 1973 Auditronics 501 analog console. This vintage desk has smooth inductor EQ’s, transformer i/o and sounds full, rich and detailed. I use a hybrid approach with plug-ins for delay, reverb and effects combined with classic 70’s vintage hardware for compression and EQ. It’s a fun way to work and sounds great.

Remote mixing is my primary focus these days but I often engineer and produce sessions here in Puerto Rico with local musicians as well as visiting artists who come to this tropical paradise for vacation/destination projects. There’s a private entrance guest room on site and many airbnb rentals nearby. Come here to participate in your mix or bring your band for live tracking and/or overdubs. My studio has a collection of vintage guitars, basses, amps, drums, percussion and keyboards, fully equipped for anything you might want to do. Rincón is world class surf town, a fun place to chill and still gets some work done. Hang on the beach, catch some waves then hit the studio. Daily direct flights to our local airport Aguadilla BQN from New York or Florida. US Territory, no passport needed.

Check out the sample track I posted here and contact me to hear additional tracks in other styles. What’s your sound? Let’s talk about the goals for your project and come up with a plan to get you there. Gear list and additional photos upon request.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

Languages

English

12 Reviews

Endorse John Noll

by Paul Burgess
John has magic ears when it comes to mixing. I don't know how he does it but he takes my recordings to a standard way beyond anything I could have hoped for.
He's an absolute pleasure to work with and a real gent. Thank you John for helping me.
by Bob Vaccarelli
Had the pleasure of recording w John on several occasions. Most notably, he engineered an album for an old post-punk band I was in. John is spirited, never afraid to experiment, & chock full o’ interesting ideas. Not to mention he always creates a really cool looking & fun environment to work in! A true pro (:
by Anthony Walker
I've worked with John on a few occasions - ranging from a one-day recording session of a single track to a full length LP. As a producer, engineer, and mixer, John brings a great perspective that clearly comes from years of experience. A good vibe in the studio is so important, and John and the studio really make achieving that easy whether you're recording for the first time or a seasoned pro.
by Rick Dill
John and I clicked from day one and we have worked on several projects together. His ear and musical DNA are amazing, and since he was my first producer (blush), I credit John with being one of my early mentors and role models for hard work and high standards. His instrumentation choices, and the vibe in the studio, are perfect for creativity in any genre! Consequently, we invented Americana Music. :-)
by Colleen
I’ve recorded with John on a few occasions and loved them all. Amazing studio, great vibes and professional atmosphere. 2 enthusiastic thumbs up!! 👍👍
by John Carini
I’ve had the pleasure of working with John on several different projects. He is a total pro and really knows his stuff.
Without question, he is best producer and engineer I have ever worked with.

Even more important, he’s a great guy.
by Jason
I was able to record my acoustic guitar and vocal tracks in the beautiful garden right outside the studio with John’s expert production help! The results were more amazing than I could have ever imagined. John is a warm, experienced and enthusiastic producer and I look forward to being able to return for my next project soon!
by Frank Patrouch
John’s passion for music and the recording of it makes it a joy to work with him. His love of tradition and old school mixed with his knowledge of the latest technology gives you the best of both worlds.
by Juan Carlos Del Valle
A pleasure to work with!! Very knowledgeable and his studio has a great vibe, something not found on many of the studios in Puerto Rico. A perfect balance of analog and digital equipment. John is a true professional that will make your recording projects stand out, be it a demo or a commercial recording. 200% guaranteed!
by Riley Schiro
John was such a pleasure to work with! He was very professional and extremely knowledgeable as well as creative. John made me feel very comfortable. His studio is incredibly beautiful and tranquil. I felt right at home there. john also made the recording process really fun and exciting! 10/10 would recommend to anyone of any experience level.
by Steve
Collaborating and recording with John is an absolute joy.He is a consummate professional.
by Michelle Davies
John’s passion for the process and dedication to a quality product was evident in his deep focus every step of the way. As a beginning musician, working with John was a mentorship in recording and production. He was more than generous with his time and hard earned knowledge, leading to an enriching and exciting first studio experience.

Interview with John Noll

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Open the dialog and tell me what you're looking for. When a potential client describes the kind of music they do, I'll send them some tracks in a similar style so they can determine if we're a good match. I may be the right person for the job, maybe not. I have no problem turning down a gig if I'm not suited to a particular style of music. But if it's something I'm excited about, it increases the possibility of a positive collaboration.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Pretty much all digital these days but sometimes I print mixes to a vintage Scully two-track tape machine.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: How was your project recorded? Pro facility or home studio? What platform? File format? Track count? Did you use a click track? What tempo? Do you know how to name and export files properly and send only what's necessary? I’ll guide you through the process.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been a professional recording engineer for over 30 years. I started out playing in bands then progressed into recording by getting a 4-track tape machine and a little mixer. Things just expanded from there and eventually I opened a commercial 8-track analog studio which ultimately progressed to 2-inch tape, ProTools, iZ Radar and an extensive collection of outboard gear and vintage instruments. Progressing further, I expanded by adding a B-Room to my facility. A few years ago I shipped the B-Room gear down to Puerto Rico to set up my current studio.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't make it too perfect. Many of the all time great iconic records have minor imperfections. Human beings aren't perfect and great music often isn't either.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Mostly rock bands, singer-songwriters, acoustic stuff, blues, reggae.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I started out as a guitarist and also play bass, percussion and write songs so I can use those experiences to work things out in musical terms.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'll first communicate with the client to get an idea of what they're looking for in their mix then explain my methodology and how we can get there. We'll go over the preparation of their files and delivery, then I'll get the session started. I typically work on the preliminary aspects of the mix then take a little break. When I return to the mix I'll often notice things to tweak and fine tune it before sending a first pass to the client. After some feedback we'll tighten it up to meet their requests.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I'm lucky to have obtained a super cool Auditronics 501 console built in Memphis in 1973. I rebuilt, restored and modified it and really love its sound and its tactile feel. As a long time ProTools user, I enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid method combining digital editing and plug-ins with the dimensional sound of an analog desk and hardware compressors. I also have some great microphones and vintage guitars.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most recently I've been working primarily as a remote mixer but I often engineer and produce sessions here in Puerto Rico. Clients are welcome to make it a destination project. Enjoy the beautiful beaches here, surf if that's your thing, then get in some studio time. My fully equipped studio has pretty much anything you'll need.