Hip Hop Mixing and Mastering

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

A: My role as the mixing and mastering engineer for an album I worked on 3 years ago was my proudest moment. That was my first ever full length album I worked on and it came out amazing.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on an album for a client who plans on dropping it next February.

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

A: No, there is not.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Digital is much more affordable, easier to access, and gives you the ability to have more diversity in your sound.

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

A: That I will give my full and focused attention to making your song sound as good as I possibly can and that I will treat your song as if it were one of my own.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like most the creative freedom I have. I love the balance between science and art and making something sound incredibly pleasing to listeners.

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

A: They typically ask how long it will take me to mix. I usually tell them it depends on the size of the project and how much work it needs.

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

A: The biggest misconception would be that I am a music producer. I do not have any say in the arrangement of a song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How do you want your song to sound and is this the complete project. I also like to ask how it was recorded.

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

A: My advice is to have everything ready to send me and to make sure the song is completely finished beforehand.

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

A: I would take my MIDI Keyboard, laptop, Pro Tools, Neumann HD20s, and my Yamaha HS8's.

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

A: I have been doing audio engineering for 5 years now. I received a master's certificate from Recording Connections Audio Institute in New York City and apprenticed under 2 Grammy Award Winning Engineers.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is based on achieving what sounds best for that particular song. Whether it needs to focus on production over sound quality, or a clean sound over a messy one. Each sound has its own time and place and I find I am able to decipher what sound fits best for that specific track.

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

A: I would love to work with my all time favorite band Bring Me The Horizon. They have such a unique genre of music they make that you never know what sound you are going to get next from them. They bring a sound that is years ahead of any genre out there today.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One tip would be to add 1dB of gain on your master during the chorus. This allows for the chorus to hit harder when the drop comes in, adding for a more exciting listening experience.

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

A: I have mainly worked by hip-hop artists but have experience working with pop, EDM, dance, alternative, and jazz music as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is persistence and making sure your track sounds the best it can. This typically takes more than just one mix attempt to get right.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a radio ready quality no matter how the track was recorded. I use intense listening skills to make sure frequencies are clean, balanced, and spaced out well throughout the mix.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I spend the first part of the mixing stage editing and leveling, followed by EQ balancing, compression, and effects. I then use a reference track to ensure I have the ideal frequency balance. Once the mix is done, it is on to the mastering phase.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My audio setup includes the latest version of Pro Tools which I exclusively use to mix and master. I use a pair of Yamaha HS8's, Neumann HD20s, and an auratone mix cube to monitor my sound. Plug-ins include all Waves, SoundToys, Izotope, and Slate Digital plug-in bundles.

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

A: I am inspired by the sound and creativity of Mike Dean as well as producer, songwriter, and mix engineer Zak Cervini.

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

A: I am a certified audio engineer who will mix and master any genre of music. I have mainly worked by hip-hop artists but have experience working with pop, EDM, dance, alternative, and jazz music as well.