Drummer, Mix & Master

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

A: I am certainly proud of my productions as I am both the drummer and the mix and master engineer. This makes me even more satisfied. But I am also satisfied with tours made with national and international artists and collaborations with great productions that have given me so much satisfaction such as with Diego Corradin (Fiorella Mannoia) or Nicola Oliva (Laura Pausini).

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: For my productions I have completed six complete songs for a Live Demo for a Tour. As a Drummer, after the tour, I have to make an album for a local band of 10 tracks.

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

A: No, unfortunately I don't have any friends or acquaintances who use this platform.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Because today, to have a well-done and structured job, I believe hybrid work (Analog - Digital) is essential.

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

A: Definitely that of putting all my experience into every job and trying to do it in the way the client asked me to do.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: They are always varied and different. They often ask me about my style, my credits, my instrumentation and my studies.

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

A: Fortunately, no real misunderstandings have ever arisen regarding what I do as I am always clear and I always try to fully understand what they want from me precisely to avoid misunderstandings.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: questions that serve as much as possible to understand what he really wants, what can satisfy him in the best way.

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

A: Be clear and give me as much information as possible, not only technical but also artistic, about your project or your needs.

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

A: well for everything I do 5 pieces are not enough! So I would say as an instrument a Ludwig Supraphonic, a Gretsch USA Custom bass drum, Zildjian Avedis Traditional hi hat and ride and a pair of drumsticks to groove a bit!

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

A: I only started as a drummer at the age of 12. I then studied and graduated at the University of Rome with the greatest Italian and international drummers and session men. Then for about 20 years I have also been involved in mixing and mastering, taking private courses with top Italian engineers but with an eye to the more typical American fat sound.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: As a drummer I am a very solid, basic drummer with lots of sound and groove. For my philosophy and for my genre the drums must be solid as a rock and all the technique must be used in this direction. As a mix and master engineer I really love fat-3D sounds, strong... in your face!

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

A: With all those who want to grow and who are not satisfied because I love growing and we only grow if we surround ourselves with Artists who always look ahead regardless of their name.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen to a lot of music in completely different genres from what you love. Don't have any barriers and love new things even if you are "vintage inside"! Looking to the future with healthy roots.

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

A: Pop, Rock, Pop-Rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: The groove and the sound. I believe that, especially for my genre, you always need to have a good groove and sound with good precision and technique but always at the service of musicality. All these qualities must be understood both for the take of a drum session and for a mix.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Both as a drummer and as a mix and master engineer, I can approach the track from a songwriter's perspective along with the expertise and know-how of a professional drummer and an expert engineer. It is often very important to give sound flavor to what you do and not only from a technical and executive point of view. So after a good take, being able to enhance it by shaping its sound is certainly one of my peculiarities.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Before starting any project I try to understand the artistic and technical needs of my client as the important thing is always to satisfy the client's needs and not my own. So for me it is essential to understand well what the client wants to achieve so that I can best satisfy him from both a technical and artistic point of view.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I love analog sound and only use the highest quality preamps for my drums and more. I have 12 API 312 channels with 3 API 3124+ modules and 4 NEVE 1073 channels with 2 NEVE 1073 DPA modules. As audio interface and additional preamps I have an RME Fireface. I use Apogee Ad-16X AD\DA converters. Most popular vintage and modern microphones and how you listen to the famous Yamaha NS-10M Studio driven by Mass Technology MASS 500 with a Sub Adam PRO. I use a Gtretsch USA CUSTOM 22,10,12,14,16 as a drum set with various snare drums and cymbals to be associated with the various projects to be carried out.

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

A: Are many. As drummers I am inspired by John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Steve Ferrone, Lele Melotti, Vinnie Colaiuta and many others, as Engineers Mix Chris Lord-Alge is certainly among my favorites

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

A: I essentially work in my studio to record drums but often both for my own productions or for external productions I take care of mixes and mastering