Johnnie Truesdale on SoundBetter

I am a Grammy Winning Engineer with over 10 years experience. I worked at Bennett Studios in Englewood, NJ . I have experience on Consoles, tape machines, Pro Tools, and Logic. I am formally an instructor at SAE Institute in Los Angeles.

I have my own studio Firefly Sound in Brentwood, TN. I can track Instruments including drums with various microphones and preamps. I offer Mixing and Mastering Services as well.

I attended SAE Institute’s Audio Technology Program in New York. In school I studied with Jay Messina (Aerosmith, Kiss, Cheap Trick), Rich Tozzoli (Al Di Meola, Ace Frehley), John Siket (Dave Matthews Band, Sonic Youth, Phish), John Jensen (The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Cinderella, Warrant) Michael White (Lisa Loeb, Whitney Houston). Following school, I worked as an intern with Multiple Grammy Winning Engineers Dae Bennett (Tony Bennett, Naughty By Nature, Lady Gaga) and David Kowalski (Rob Base, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Sturr) to become a Staff Engineer at Bennett Studios in Englewood, New Jersey working with artists such as: Steve Martin, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Darlene Love, Anita Baker, Ravi Coltrane, John Patitucci, and Andy LaVerne. As well as producers such as: Phil Ramone and John McEwen. In 2011, I moved to Los Angeles and started teaching at SAE Institute in Los Angeles while doing freelance mixing and mastering at my home studio. I am currently working on my own s

I am familiar with Large Format Consoles such as: SSL, NEVE, API, TOFT. I can use software such as: Logic Pro, Pro Tools, WaveLab. Plugins: Universal Audio

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

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Interview with Johnnie Truesdale

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Production: taking stuff from Demos to fully recorded and produced tracks.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My Laptop, my Apogee Duet, a guitar, and a controller. (Hmmm that's 4 ) Well I really wouldn't need much else.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Metal, Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, Dance, Jazz. Lately some country in Nashville. All kinds of genres because I like to listen to all types.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I do tracking, mixing, mastering and production.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Digital is cleaner but there is something about pushing around electricity that gives it magic.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That they are satisfied with my work
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: It's about music and making it sound good and that's the whole point.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Do you know this (Person, Artist, Genre)? To which I say I can listen to examples of what you are looking for and do that basic thing as well as add my own ideas.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That this is easy and anyone can do it. I spent a lot of time learning this (and continue to every day)
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I like to know where it was recorded, how it was recorded, how many tracks, If it is a master I like to know who mixed it an where. It gives me an idea of what to expect.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If you want someone with experience but willing to listen and help you get your project where you want then I'm your guy.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have been recording since the 1990s. I have doing this professionally since 2006.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Recording the first Steve Martin Banjo album, The Crow. It was very organic. I was the tracking engineer.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: More natural. Not over compressed.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My ability to improvise on the spot.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I can bring a song to life and make it sound better (no pun intended). Give it space and help all instrument sit where they need to in a mix and in a master.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I take each project on an individual basis, meaning that project gets it's own attention not thrown into a template that has been used 1000 times before.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have Pro Tools and Logic. Black Lion Modded Apollo and Dangerous Summing. Plugins: Slate, Universal Audio, MC DSP, Soundtoys, Toontrack and More....
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Everything from current Pop producers to old school methods. It depends on the Style of music.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I think I would like to work with Eddie Van Halen he has been my guitar hero since I was a kid.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: If it doesn't feel right it isn't right.

Mastering EngineerAverage price - $90 per song
Mixing EngineerAverage price - $300 per song
Vocal compingAverage price - $40 per track
Recording StudioAverage price - $800 per day
EditingAverage price - $30 per track

Turn around time varies depending on the project and need. No more then two revisions for a mix or master. Additional cost for further revisions and pay pal.