Mastering

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now, in between mastering jobs I'm working on a remix for a friend. Super fun to start with just a vocal and build a whole new song around it.

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

A: I'm going to care about your record as much as you do. I'm not going to impose my will on it, I'm going to make it sound how you want it. Many years ago I had some records I'd made come back from mastering drastically different than what I'd sent, and it was a very disheartening experience. I felt like all my hard work had been paved over. So now as a masterer I make sure to never be That Guy.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I just love going into the studio every day, and pressing play on something new. It's always interesting, I love a lot of my clients' music, I've learned a ton from them over the years.

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

A: That mastering is about making it loud, or about processing (eq. compression, etc). Mastering is about LISTENING and doing what the song needs, which is why I keep talking about acoustics and monitoring.

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

A: Just reach out! Get in touch, I'd be happy to talk about your project.

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

A: I'm assuming there's no electricity on this desert island so I'll just take a guitar. Some sunglasses and a floppy hat. A desalinization device and an enormous box of Cheezits.

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

A: Started playing drums at 10, started guitar at 15. Got a 4 track in college. Started recording people in the late 90s, mastered my first record in 1999. Mastering full time since 2010.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I just want it to sound good. I'm always going to respect the mixer's work and not bludgeon a mix to death with heavy handed mastering.

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

A: I would love to remix Metallica's "And Justice For All" but that is unlikely.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Here's a half dozen: 1. Take a break. 2. Get out of your chair and go listen to it from back on the couch. 3. The mute button is your friend. 4. Mix at a quiet monitoring volume 5. Don't just listen to your own music in your studio. Listen to tons of different stuff, really get to know how finished records sound in your space. A/B your mixes with your favorites, be brutally honest with yourself. This may be very humbling! It was for me. But it will help you immensely, trust me. 6. Acoustic treatment isn't sexy but it's the smartest money you can spend in the studio. When you can really hear what you're doing, the quality of your work will drastically improve, and you'll have a lot more fun doing it.

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

A: All sorts, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Primarily rock, indie and otherwise. Lots of Americana and folky stuff too. Some jazz, some country, some skronky experimental noise rock, occasionally some metal. I like music!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: As a mastering engineer, it's obviously going to be listening. But I'd add empathy and compassion. I want to help the songs, I want to help artists and musicians. I've made lots of records myself, I know how much time and effort and care goes into them. It's a lot of work! Nobody should try and master their own record after all that. Put your feet up and relax, hand it off to a good ME for the finish.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Objectivity and experience. I haven't listened to the song 8 billion times. I'm not burnt out on it. I can hear it fresh, in a really precise and accurate environment. And I've been doing this a really long time, with that experience I can hear a song, know what it needs, and know what knobs to turn to get it there.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Listen. Adjust. Listen some more.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's a purpose-built mastering studio with a focus on really first-rate acoustics and monitoring. Compressors and EQs are great but by far the most important thing in a mastering studio is being able to trust what's coming out of the speakers.

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

A: Too many to list. I played in the Boston indie rock scene for years and made a lot of friends there, all of whom were/are great musicians and they were all a big influence on me. As far as famous people: Miles Davis, Can, Fugazi, Tchad Blake, Steve Albini, Bob Ludwig, Greg Calbi, Bernie Grundman

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

A: Mastering for independent artists and producers.