Live Sound and Post-production

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

A: One project I’m especially proud of is the post-production work I did on a recent church Sunday service. I handled the mixing and mastering for the full service. I was proud to see how much my skills had improved over time — comparing this project to my earlier work really showed my growth. It’s been a learning process, and seeing the final result sound so clear and professional reminded me that I’m constantly moving forward as an engineer.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment, I’m working on live sound for my church and also handling post-production for church recordings. This includes mixing and mastering worship services and gospel music to ensure the sound is clear, balanced, and uplifting for both live audiences and online platforms.

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

A: At the moment, I don’t personally know anyone on SoundBetter that I can recommend. However, I’m always open to building connections and learning from other professionals on the platform.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I prefer digital because it offers more flexibility, faster workflow, and easier integration with modern tools. In digital, I can save sessions, recall settings instantly, and use a wide range of powerful plugins. This helps me deliver consistent, high-quality results whether I’m working in the studio or live. While analog has its unique character, digital gives me the efficiency and control I need for most of my projects.

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

A: My promise to my clients is to always deliver clear, high-quality sound that matches their vision. I commit to listening carefully to their needs, communicating openly, and working professionally from start to finish. Whether in the studio or at a live event, I will do my best to make sure their message and music connect with the audience in the best possible way.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I like most about my job is helping bring music to life. Especially in gospel music, it’s very rewarding to create a sound that touches people and supports the message of the song. I also love the creative and technical challenge — every project is different, and I enjoy finding the right balance to make each mix sound its best. In live sound, I enjoy the energy and teamwork it takes to deliver a great experience in real time.

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

A: 1. “How long will the mixing/tuning process take?” 2. “Can you work within our budget?” 3. “Will the sound be clear and balanced on all devices?” 4. “Do you have experience with this style of music or event?” 5. “What equipment do you use?” --- How I answer: I always explain the process clearly and set realistic expectations about time and cost. I reassure them that I focus on delivering clear, balanced sound that works well across all systems — from phones to big speakers. I share my experience with similar projects and the gear I use to build their confidence. Communication is key to making sure we’re aligned on the vision and goals.

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

A: 😭 One of the biggest misconceptions about what I do is that I’m a DJ. While DJs play and mix music live for an audience, my role as a sound engineer is different — I focus on capturing, mixing, and delivering the best possible sound quality, whether in the studio or during live events. My job is about making sure every instrument and voice is clear and balanced, creating the best listening experience for the audience.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: When I work with prospective clients in Ethiopia, I usually ask questions like: 1. What is the style or genre of the music or event? 2. What is the main goal or message you want to communicate? 3. Do you have any references or examples of the sound you like? 4. What is the timeline and budget for the project or event? 5. Are there any specific technical needs or challenges I should know about? These questions help me understand the client’s vision clearly and plan the best way to deliver great sound.

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

A: My advice for a customer looking to hire a sound professional is to choose someone who listens carefully to their vision and communicates clearly throughout the process. It’s important to work with an engineer who understands both the technical side and the emotional side of music or live sound. Make sure they have experience in the style of music you want and can deliver consistent quality, even under pressure.

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

A: 😂😂 If I were on a desert island and could only take 5 pieces of gear, I’d choose: 🎙️ A quality condenser microphone — to capture great sound anywhere. 🎧 Reliable headphones — to hear every detail clearly. 🎛️ A portable audio interface — to connect my gear and record. 💻 A laptop with my DAW — so I can mix and produce music anywhere. 🔋 A power bank or portable battery — to keep everything running without power.

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

A: I started my journey in sound when I was a kid, just watching and learning at my local church. Over time, I got more involved and gradually took on bigger roles. After years of practice and learning, I became the sound engineer I am today. It’s been about 7 years since I’ve been actively working in this field, mainly focusing on Ethiopian gospel music. That early experience at church really shaped my passion and understanding of how important good sound is for worship and community.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is focused on clarity, emotional impact, and balance. I aim to create mixes that let every instrument and vocal shine without overpowering each other, preserving the natural warmth and soul of the music. Whether in the studio or live, I work to enhance the energy and message of the song, making sure the audience connects deeply with the performance.

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

A: I would love to work with Ethiopian mixing engineers like Eilshaday Getahun and Amanuel Fantahun. They are very skilled and have helped raise the standard of music production in Ethiopia. Collaborating with them would be a great opportunity to learn from their experience and bring fresh ideas to the mix. Working with talented professionals like them would help me grow both technically and creatively.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One important tip I always follow is to properly set your gain staging from the start. Keeping the levels balanced and avoiding clipping at every stage in your signal chain helps maintain audio clarity and headroom. This makes mixing easier and ensures the final track sounds clean and professional.

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

A: I mainly work on Ethiopian gospel music. I really enjoy mixing gospel because it has so much emotion, dynamic range, and a strong message. I’ve worked on a variety of gospel styles, from modern worship to more traditional Ethiopian gospel sounds. I focus on making sure the vocals are clear and the overall mix supports the spirit of the music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is that I bring a complete, balanced approach to sound. I have a trained musical ear that helps me create clear, emotional mixes in both studio and live settings. I’m very good at problem-solving — whether it’s fixing technical issues quickly during a live event or finding creative solutions in a mix. I also work well with teams and artists, communicating clearly to make sure we all achieve the same vision. On top of that, I’m able to stay calm under pressure and work efficiently, which is especially important in fast-paced live sound situations.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity, balance, and emotional impact to every song — whether I’m mixing in the studio or running live sound. In the studio, I focus on making sure every element of the track supports the overall feel and connects with the listener. For live sound, I bring a strong understanding of how to translate that same clarity and emotion to a live environment, where energy and audience connection are key. I also bring a calm and professional attitude under pressure, which is very important in live situations.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process starts with understanding the vision for the project — whether it’s live sound or studio mixing. For studio work, I begin by organizing the session and cleaning up the tracks. Then I focus on gain staging and balancing the mix. After that, I move on to EQ, compression, and effects to bring the sound to life. Throughout the process, I constantly reference both my monitors and headphones to ensure the mix translates well. I usually take short breaks to keep my ears fresh and always do a final review before delivering the project

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Right now, I have a home studio set up in my room. It’s a simple but effective setup — I use a pair of studio monitors, a good pair of headphones, an audio interface, and a laptop with my main DAW. I also try to treat the room as best as I can for sound. It’s a small space, but it allows me to do quality mixing and production work.

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

A: I’m very inspired by Ethiopian mixing engineers like Eilshaday Getahun and Amanuel Fantahun. Their work shows a high level of creativity and technical skill, and they’ve really helped raise the quality of audio production in Ethiopia. Internationally, I also follow engineers like Dave Pensado and Chris Lord-Alge to learn different approaches and techniques.

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

A: 1. Live sound 2. Recording 3. Post-production