Mixing Engineer

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

A: Years ago I was part of a group of people that provides the structure to indie bands do concerts in public squares in São Paulo. I was part of the audio staff, responsible to arrange the stage, mic instruments, positioning the output monitors and live mixing those bands. This is the work that I am really proud about because I did with great people and helped a lot of indie bands in São Paulo (and some from other cities) to have a place to do concerts and show their music to people.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Working on improving my skills and get some clients.

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

A: Not yet, but I would like to!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because of space, energy and the facility to have all you need in a computer.

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

A: My promise is to provide a professional, collaborative, and high-quality mixing experience that brings my clients' music to life in the best possible way.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I can do what really like, my passion.

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

A: You offer unlimited revisions? Yes! Until every part is satisfied with the song. How long it takes to get the first version after I contract your services? Between 3 to 7 days. How we do about payment? You pay a signal of half of the service price (non refundable) and the other half after the mix is finished.

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

A: Mix engineers are not just technicians who push buttons and adjust levels; they are artists in their own right, responsible for shaping the overall sound and feel of a song. They must interpret the artist's vision, make creative decisions about the arrangement and balance of instruments, and bring out the emotional impact of the music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your reference tracks for this song? How many stems are in the song? Vocals are already tunned? Audio is alerady editted? Tell me more about your song and what are your expectations about the mixed version.

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

A: Try to be clear on what are your expectations of my work and please be patient, I will do my best to make you satisfied with the mixed song. My goal is to enhance the artist's vision and ensure that each track reaches its full potential.

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

A: My audio interface, a good notebook, my AKGs headphone and I think it's it. I could also carry my pair of refference monitors as I have space for two more gears.

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

A: Starting as a guitarist, I discovered my passion for audio production as a teenager while recording myself. I immersed myself in self-directed learning through YouTube videos and masterclasses, honing my skills in audio engineering. Seeking to deepen my knowledge, I enrolled in a prestigious Audio Engineer course in Brazil, where I gained hands-on experience in a professional studio environment. Now, with a solid foundation and years of study and experience, I'm eager to launch my career as a mixing engineer, ready to apply my expertise and passion to create exceptional mixes for artists.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style can be described as meticulous, dynamic, and collaborative. I approach each project with a keen attention to detail, ensuring that every element of the mix is polished to perfection. I strive to maintain dynamic interest and energy throughout the song, while also emphasizing clarity, depth, and dimension. Collaboration is key to my process, as I work closely with artists and producers to understand their vision and bring it to life. Whether it's crafting hard-hitting beats for hip hop tracks, capturing the raw energy of pop punk, or creating immersive sonic landscapes for electronic music, I adapt my style to suit the needs of each project while maintaining a consistent commitment to quality and creativity.

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

A: Artists from my country like Djonga, Matuê, Fresno, CPM 22, and some internationals too, like Blink 182 and Travis Scott because this are artists that I realy enjoy their music, just grown up listen to them.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It's tempting to rely heavily on EQ and compression to sculpt the sound of individual tracks, don't underestimate the power of simple volume adjustments. Use volume faders to balance the levels of different tracks within the mix, ensuring that no element dominates or gets lost in the background. By achieving a good balance of levels, you reduce the need for excessive EQ and compression, preserving the natural dynamics and clarity of the mix.

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

A: Hip Hop and Trap, Pop Punk and Rock and Electronic and EDM.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Balancing and Dynamics Control. I would say my strongest skill as a mixing engineer is my ability to balance and control dynamics effectively. I excel at ensuring that each element of a track finds its place within the mix, creating a cohesive and harmonious sound. By carefully adjusting levels and panning, I achieve a clear and balanced mix where every instrument and vocal shines without overpowering the others. Additionally, my adept use of compression and automation helps maintain dynamic interest and energy throughout the song, ensuring it remains engaging from start to finish.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As a mixing engineer, I bring a blend of technical expertise, creative intuition, and a keen ear for detail to every song I work on. My goal is to enhance the artist's vision and ensure that each track reaches its full potential.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Heres a breakdown of my typical workflow: Initial Setup: I begin by organizing the session in my DAW, labeling tracks, and color-coding to keep everything neat and manageable. Pan and Balance: The first step involves panning and balancing the levels of instruments and vocals. This foundational stage ensures that each element occupies its own space in the stereo field, creating a clear and cohesive mix. EQ and Compression: Next, I apply EQ when needed to achieving clarity and ensuring that instruments and vocals complement each other without clashing. Following EQ, I use compression to control dynamics and add punch, making sure that the mix is both dynamic and consistent. Adding Depth and Space: To create depth and space, I add reverb and delay. This gives the mix a three-dimensional quality, making it feel more immersive and natural. I carefully adjust these effects to ensure they enhance rather than overwhelm the original sound. Fine-Tuning: After the main elements are in place, I go through each track again, making fine adjustments. This includes tweaking EQ settings, refining compression, and adjusting the reverb and delay to achieve the perfect balance. Automation: I use automation to add movement and interest to the mix. This can include volume rides, panning changes, and dynamic adjustments to effects, ensuring the mix evolves and stays engaging from start to finish. Reference and Review: Throughout the process, I regularly compare the mix to reference tracks to ensure it meets industry standards. I also listen on different playback systems, such as studio monitors, headphones, and even consumer speakers, to make sure the mix translates well across all platforms. Final Touches: Before finalizing, I do a thorough check for any inconsistencies or issues. Once satisfied, I render the final mix, ready for mastering or delivery to the client. This process ensures that each mix I create is polished, professional, and true to the artist's vision.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Welcome to my home studio, where passion meets precision. My setup may be compact, but it’s fully equipped to deliver professional-quality mixes. At the core of my studio is the PreSonus AudioBox USB, a reliable audio interface that ensures crystal-clear sound quality and seamless connectivity for all my recording and mixing needs. For monitoring, I use KRK Rokit speakers, known for their accurate sound reproduction and solid performance. These monitors allow me to hear every detail of the mix, ensuring that the final product sounds great on any playback system. Complementing my monitors, I use the AKG K240 MKII headphones. These offer a balanced and clear reference, perfect for fine-tuning mixes and making precise adjustments. Despite the simplicity of my setup, I focus on creating an optimal listening environment. This includes strategically placing my speakers and headphones for the best possible sound staging and imaging. I also pay attention to room acoustics, using available resources to minimize reflections and ensure a balanced sound. With this efficient and effective setup, I am dedicated to crafting high-quality mixes that capture the essence of each track and bring the artist's vision to life.

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

A: Chris Lord-Alge, Dr. Dre, Alex Tumay.

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

A: As a mixing engineer, the most common type of work I do for my clients involves taking their raw recordings and transforming them into polished, professional tracks. This process includes balancing the levels of different instruments and vocals, applying EQ and compression to enhance clarity and punch, adding reverb and other effects to create depth and space, and ensuring the overall mix translates well across various listening environments.