Mastering Engineer: I Finalize

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

A: Mastering oneself is always tricky. I am incredibly proud of my new JFI album, Dead Lover's Kill, which I recorded, performed on as a vocalist, and mastered. It sounds incredible!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: JFI's debut full length, Dead Lover's Kill, will be completed this summer. I've got mastering projects for JJ Raschel, Jonathan Boyle, Nestarouk, HVB Music Group, and Where is Lulu? that all sound fantastic.

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

A: Davey Badiuk, Producer and Mix Engineer. He mixes every JFI record. He's the one.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, for recall, and precision in revisions.

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

A: The sound in YOUR head, DELIVERED.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that "getting out of the way" is my highest purpose, after years of misconstruing that hard work as the answer. There is a feminine, space-holding aspect to creativity, and it helps me relax.

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

A: How long will it take? Generally, one week minimum, add an extra 3 days per song.

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

A: The biggest misconception that I see is when an artist wants to reference an album that they love which is sonically disparate from their album.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking for sound wise that would make you ecstatic about this album for decades to come?

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

A: Let's have an inspiring artistic relationship as we explore that which serves your music best.

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

A: Fairchild compressor, Bettermaker 2.0 mastering limiter, Apollo 8, Cockos Reaper, and a Neumann Kms 105.

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

A: I have been a mastering engineer since 2010, when I started at Arlyn Studios in Austin, TX USA. I like to work as a frontman and performer, put out an album, tour, and then master other people's records to recharge my creative batteries.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Serve the song. The sound in your head, delivered. As an artist, I make Vapor Wave Positivity. My band is called JFI. My style is to embrace that we all have an artist within us, and that great art activates that divine part of ourselves. Almost everything I do is in the service of that spirituality.

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

A: My favorite vocalists are Amber Mark, Caroline Polachek, and Leon Bridges. Silk Sonic and Beyonce are also on my list. Their music is top tier. Bands: Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Wilco, and any band that tracks live together. I also enjoy being surprised!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Early takes are magical. They are more spontaneous and playful. Do not let it rip until you've got the sound. Knock out left brained tasks so they are out of the way. Light a candle. And THEN, give me what you got for a PORK CHOP!!!

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

A: I get a lot of Rock, Electronic, Blues, and Rap. I have also worked in Latin, Country, Classical, and (middle eastern) World Music. I LOVE the challenge of new genres, and set my preconceived notions aside in order to explore the value of what is compelling to our ears, and why.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Turnaround time; and the ability to balance left and right brained processes.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring the love of a fan with technical expertise. I hear like you see, but I also know how to listen like a fan. I know that your mix is already extraordinary, and work to support it. I also know that people take music for granted, so I am aware of any opportunity to add that j ne seis quoi.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I will create an initial master using a starting point signal chain, which I modify based on what the song tells me about itself. I create a preliminary master and then leave it alone for a day. I return a day later and make final modifications. I also listen during different times of the day under different conditions when deadline allows. I send the master to the client and ask for copious notes. Anything that comes to mind about the sound, I want to know. Artists get two revisions. I send the modified version, and this is usually more than satisfactory to my customers. A second revision is also available in the event of final specifics or mix modifications.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I am on an Apollo 8 with an additional duo core UAD Satellite for quad core capabilities. I am 100% in the box to ensure that modifications to the sound are always moving towards our goal. This also ensures rapid revisions.

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

A: I am inspired by the whole creative process. I am an artist, and an elegant capture is as beautiful as the process that creates a song. As a mastering engineer, an elegant process involves the modifications of my signal chain for a given expectation from the artist. I enjoy having references and also letting the music speak to me directly.

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

A: Mastering with a one week turnaround. The sound in your head, delivered.