Paolo Violi on SoundBetter

From Rome's Conservatory to Abbey Road's orchestral sessions - I rely on my musician's ear to mix singer-songwriter, pop, indie, rock, and folk. It's all about the song and its emotion. Contact me for mixing/mastering, or for a free track evaluation: no commitment, I'm happy to have a quick video chat about it, if it helps you refine your work!

I have two musical trainings - in performance, as a classical pianist (Conservatoire of Rome) and indie rock band member, and in sound engineering, as runner/assistant in Abbey Road orchestral sessions.

This gives me a special ear for real instruments, rooms and ambiences - things I really care about. I know how to treat them properly, and if you need to use samples (we all do), I'll make them a bit more "real". In fact, I believe in using my musician experience, listening skills and knowledge, before any tool.

I'm based in a mixing room in West London, with a Pro Tools setup. If you work in a different DAW, no problem of course! I'll send you instructions on how to easily export your session.

If this resonates with you, contact me and tell me about your project! I can have a free, no-commitment assessment, and if you think I'm the right person for your song, we'll work together.

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PRACTICAL INFO:

• Turnaround: typically, between 3 and 9 days for initial mix, depending on schedule, and 24-48 hours for revisions
• Price for mixing: mix, 3 revisions, and alt bounces once the mix is approved
• Price for mastering: master, 3 revisions
• Deliverables: WAV files at the same bit-depth and sample rate of your multitrack, with the option of free MP3s
• Stems: available for free up to 6 stereo stems (drums, bass, keys, guitars, lead vocal, BVs), +$10 for each more

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

1 Reviews

Endorse Paolo Violi

by George P
Paolo is a truly brilliant mixer. The combination of technical knowledge and musicality are simply stellar. He will always make you feel so confident and try his best to get the song's vision across. Couldn't recommend enough !

Interview with Paolo Violi

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I work digitally, but with two sets of tools, which lead to different approaches: - analogue emulations, used exactly as if I'm mixing on an old desk with patchable inserts - new digital-only designs, which allow me to do surgical manipulations on sounds (if and when it's beneficial)
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Working on something I've never heard before
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I can amend a poor recording, arrangement or performance. Technology is great, but there is too much hype: it can do many incredible things, but when pushed too hard, it will destroy the musicality of any work.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Think about the music, and not how to make a hit. It's all about - what do you want to say? Then see if there are some tracks you can relate to, that also have similar arrangement/sonics: those are great references.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a musician in Rome, while working as a designer as well: art is my thing! Some indie artists asked me to produce, and I did it for a while. Then I moved to London, where I became runner and assistant in orchestral sessions at Abbey Road - Angel One. Now I work as a freelance engineer, with a dedicated production room.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Arrange as if you're mixing. If two instruments clash over the same frequencies, don't eq them - change parts!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Understanding the musical context and references. I spent a lot of time playing in different bands, and listening to records from different eras: for every artist, I naturally try to guess what are the influences that brought them where they are.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My extensive and varied performance background. I was trained in classical piano, which I also teach. I played synth, guitars and bass in several indie bands. I sing in choirs. I'm a musician like you, basically.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I divide my work in 3 phases: 1) Technical: assessing and fixing potential issues, and preparing the session for the actual mix 2) Creative: that's where the mix is actually shaped, when I take decisions in terms of balance and colours 3) Refinement: checking there's a good flow, that it just sounds like a song
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Al Schmitt is the master I always turn to for inspiration. He was the record maker.