Mixing and Mastering Engineer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a self-built 32GB ram and 8GB GPU computer with 1TB M.2 system drive, 2TB SSD storage drive, and 2 1TB backup hard drives with 2 monitors running Voicemeeter Banana, Reaper 7-8, and Audacity. I also have a Tascam US-16x08 interface and a pair of CAD MH510 Headphones. A Reaper user created custom-made proprietary plugins called Tukan plugin bundle which consists of a console channel strip and a buss compressor that can emulate SSL, Neve, or API consoles all in one (I use SSL). On my mixing template, I have a tape plugin and the Tukan SSL channel strip on 96 channels and the Tukan SSL buss compressor on the master channel fx chain with a tape plugin on the end of the chain. Reaper also has a dedicated monitor fx chain. First on that chain is an eq with my own headphone calibration preset; 2nd is a spectrogram analyzer; 3rd is a stereo field plugin; 4th is a lufs meter plugin; 5th is a speaker and room emulation plugin (sort of like the Steven Slate VSX) with 7 of my own speaker presets; 6th is a level ducker with presets set at -8, -16, -24, and -32 dB; 7th is my own custom made car test plugin; then (after a graphic eq with a preset of my personal preference setting) there's a convolution reverb with my own presets for a nightclub, outdoor pa system, living room, boom box, and phone.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When I'm doing a mix, I typically bring all the tracks into reaper, listen and gain stage everything at @ -15.5db while checking for things that need editing and for phase issues. Then I route everything to the aux fx and busses. Then I start processing the master channel then mix the drums then the rest of the instruments and then the vocals, adding insert fx where I need them and setting levels and panning. Lastly I process the aux fx and busses.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog! Because of its warmth and depth and sound.

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

A: My promise to my clients is to do everything in my power to make their product the best it can be.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Just listening and working with music and the whole process of creating a song.

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

A: For me, some people knew me as a dj way back in the day. So when I mention the word 'mixing', they think I'm talking about djing.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is it that they are trying to accomplish with whatever song?

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

A: For a song to be mastered, make sure that the song is not over compressed and leave @ -6 dB of headroom. Mastering can't fix a bad mix.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Protect your ears, listen at moderate levels especially when mixing and mastering on headphones.

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

A: Hip Hop and R&B

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Mixing and Mastering

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my knowledge of different ways how to use the tools that I have to get whatever outcome I need to get for whatever song I'm working on.

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

A: The Engineers that inspire me. are Bruce Swedien, Bob Powers, Chris Lorde-Alge, Jimmy Douglass, Young Guru, Leslie Brathwaite, Jason Joshua, Ali, Bernie Grundman, and Brian "Big Bass" Gardner. The Producers that inspire me are Dr Dre, J Dilla, Pete Rock, Pharrell, Zaytoven, and Hit Boy.