Mixing & Mastering

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

A: A song named superhuman for young stitch. (Its on my soundcloud) I was such a huge fan and he picked a beat and let me mix the song. I pulled my hair out to make sure that song was perfect haha. We still work together allot.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now im working on a beat tape im finishing up. I got some tracks in the works with artists. Also im working on a full length album produced and mixed by me for a great artist out of Canada named tempomental.

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

A: Unfortunately i don't know anybody. Im new here. Id love to work with some of the other people though. Well see how it goes!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Id say digital. Analog is just a pain. Anyone who has had to recall a mix on a analog board will tell you that haha. besides is there much of a argument anymore? Some of these hardware emulation plugins are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Although, Turning real nobs and pushing real faders is a great experience. Clicking gets a bit repetitive.

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

A: I will work with you till its right.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: When i give the record back and they love it. Thats the most rewarding feeling in the world.

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

A: You can just use the same presets for every mix. Man, This is a big one. I think everybody goes threw it though. I use to buy high end plugins just to use the presets. You gotta learn how to use eq and compression first. Presets only work sometimes.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What songs do you really like the sound of? and "Do you have the stems?" Hahaha

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

A: Please try to get the stems. Also make sure you know how to properly record. Its more then just standing in front of a mic.Ultimately if you made sure you did these 2 simple things your mixes will come out 100 times better. So often i get distorted vocals over a 2 track instrumental beat. It just really puts a limited on what we can do.

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

A: Hmm. My maschine, Laptop, Pro Tools. & 2 iloks haha.

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

A: 10 years. Since 2007. I started just mixing my friends songs in cool edit pro. I had no idea what i was doing hahaha. id just Youtube "Cool Edit Pro Vocal presets". Then i read somewhere that to make a song sound even better you had to have the stems. (Tracked out beat files) But i was like 12 and couldn't afford beats so i started making them. Hahaha, The rest is history.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Funk! I draw so much inspiration from the west coast. as well as some of the dudes who were heavy in the funk on the east to, like redman. The crazy effects they would use. and the super clean big sounding mixes. Next level. Not to mention the production...sheesh.

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

A: Well i could be here all day to hahaha. But if i could only pick one id have to say D'angelo. That voodoo album is crazy! All the loose production and crazy arrangements his voice is incredible too. But my taste changes every 2 weeks. aha

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I kind of mentioned this earlier. But reductive eq is arguably more powerful the additive eq. Sometimes removing a frequency is all you need. And ultimately clears up more space for other elements to come threw. Separation is so important.

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

A: Hip hop and r&b. Thats home. But i have done a bit of everything. Im pretty well rounded.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Punchy Drums! Haha man, I work hours making sure the drums are right. That and also making sure the vocals aren't swallowed up by the beat and sit right on top.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Whatever the client needs. Im confident in my ability to get the song to where the artist hears it in there head. As long as the communication is right and everyones open to new ideas well be good!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start with the drums! Hahaha Outside of the vocals the drums are the most important in a hip hop song. But i usually start by getting a basic level using a reference track i really like the mix on, or one that my client provided. Then i start trying to fit everything together make sure the separation on all the tracks is good usually will reductive eq. Then I just get creative.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Its pretty basic. Nothing to over the top. I have a mix of a analog and a digital setup. But most of the power is in my pro tools rig. I have a bunch of plugins. Slate digital, Waves, I zotope. To Many to list. Hahaha

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

A: On the mixing side. Dre Dre, Young Guru, Bob Power. And whoever mixed B.I.G's Life After Death album. Hahaha that album is incredible sonically. Production wise, J dilla, Dr dre, Pete Rock, Easy Mo Bee, Dj Quik. He is a super dope mix engineer too. But i could be here all day.

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

A: I mostly make beats for my clients. But i make it a point to mix each song i produce to get my sound right. I have been mixing records longer then i have been making beats.