Producer and recording eng.

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

A: Well recently I've finished a 15 songs album for Rómulo Castro y el Grupo Tuira which is a world music record. I was producer, arranger, recording engineer on the project. I'm also the musical director of the band and last month did the concert for this release with the whole band in a theatre where it was filmed by a professional filming company. The concert was also recorded and I had the responsibility of doing some overdubs, and produce the final mix and mastering with Jeison. Afterwards I had also the task of editing the concert (video) and pairing video and audio for Romulo. That's done. A lot of work there but very happy with the outcome.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working two salsa projects. One for a more traditional singer with very strong and complex arrangements and another with a young girl who I've recorded a couple of pop songs and we are doing a more modern salsa version of one of those songs. Also did the video for this song (filming, editing and post production)

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

A: Yes. One of my mixing and mastering engineers is here. His name is Jeison Noguera and he is top notch.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I do both. I don't record on tape anymore because here in Panama is difficult to get tech service for tape recorders, so in that sense, digital. But although I could do a hell of a job programming drums I rather use a real drummer and mic the whole thing. Sometimes we use amps for guitars and sometimes we use plugging . It depends on the artists.

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

A: You have my commitment and all of my staff expertise working toward the best results possible.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I enjoy recording, producing, coming up with ideas to help improve my clients songs. My goal is to do this full time... no more computer science. Music makes me happy and I enjoy every minute I spend in the studio with my clients or doing things for them.

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

A: Mostly beginners ask, How do we start this? I explain them that if we don't have anything to start workin with (a basic session) we have to start from scratch. Then I explain how. For instance I did a song with a client in which I made him sing me the song acapela so I could figure the tempo. Then I setup a click track and ask him to sing along to make sure he felt confortable with the tempo. Then I recorded him singing acapela with the clic track. And that's was it. I asked all these questions and afterwards I started arranging the song figuring out the chords based on his melody until I had a working demo. Then I called him to the studio and check with him if that suited his idea. We adjust a couple of ideas and then recoded his voice again so we had a better demo. After that I called the drummer, the basss played and started working our magic ... and so on until he came back and listen to the whole thing.

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

A: If I have a prospect that knows nothing about the production process, I always explain what are the stages of the process in a language they can understand, first to teach a little bit what is it to make music and second to avoid any misconceptions. What are the stages, who are involved in each stage, what are the responsibilities of everyone involved. Really, that helps them to be clear. I'm also a Project Manager so it's part of my escence to explain people how projects work.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is it that you wish to accomplish? Do you have a demo of your song or just an idea in your head? What style of music you would like make? and finally, what is the budget that you have for this project?

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

A: Let me know what you need and we'll get it done. The more details the better but if you only have an idea, we got you!

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

A: Hey the pandemic found me without any instrument or gear for almost 2 months because we were not allowed to go outside our homes. The first day they let me out for 3 hours y drove to my studio, grab my monitors, my audio interface, a keyboard, my acoustic guitar and a pair of headphones. There you go... almost a deserted island.

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

A: I started I around 1987 producing and composing my first band material in 4 tack Foster machine and haven't stop working in something related to music ever since. I am a computer science engineer by career and although I've have a 9 to 5 job doing computer stuff, I go later to my studio and do music or at home. Mostly self taught and learned from every engineer and with every project I did in the bigger studios in Panama, Spain and the US. It's been very entertaining.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Friendly and easy going. After I have a clear idea of what is it the the client wants to achieve, and what my role is, I'll try to get the best posible performance out of everybody. My goal is to do the job and that everybody enjoys the process. My studio has a very uncomplicated and relaxed ambiance and I try to make people have a good time while doing music.

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

A: Sting. I've been following his career for years and I think is one of the most complete artists still alive. Toto and Fito Páez would be other great options.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Have an open mind. Listen to everyone's opinion and finally use your best judgment. Also, the more music you hear though the course of your life the better, from all eras. This will broad your criteria.

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

A: Lately I've been involved in many salsa projects mainly because I own a 13 piece salsa orchestra, but also world music in which we have the opportunity to blend all sorts of genres, instruments and that have given me the chance to record songs with rock foundation but also with orchestral strings and also ethnic instruments. Also been doing some rock and pop recordings for different artists and bands

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Commitment, expertise, great editor skills not only in the audio field but also in video projects, but I think my strongest skill is common sense. This is important when you are the one in charge of the studio and the project, mostly when things don't flow as easy as it should. I'm also a troubleshooter since my early years so if a problem shows, we'll manage.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I consider my self a producer first and even if I'm only working as a recording engineer I will always try to contribute what is necessary for the success of the project if I'm allowed. My commitment to the project goes beyond the studio time and probably you'll get more than you paid for. We want our customers to be happy with our work and confident that they are in good hands.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For recordings I always setup everything at least an hour before the client session and if it's drums recording the night before so I have enough time to test everything. If there is a base session I ask the customer to send it a couple of days before so I can load everything into my DAW, setup tempo, clic track and have everything working. Run a headphone mix for the performer. As a producer I manage every aspect of the process as a project including cost management, hiring musicians, arrangers locally or abroad, depending on budget, genre and other variables. Mostly it will depend on what the artist needs and can cover with the budget assigned to te project.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My main DAW for recording is Pro Tools 2022 and Logic X for composing and arrangement. My interface is a Universal Audio Apollo 8P (running native plugging) linked to a Behringer Ultragain Pro-8 Digital expansion. I have among my Mics, Newmann U87, Senheizer 421, AKG C-3000, Audio Technica AT2020, Shure Beta 52A, SM 81, SM 57, SM 58, Newmann KM 84

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

A: Sting, Toto, Al Schmitt, Quincy Jones

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

A: Mostly recording all sort of instruments including drums, latin percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, brass sections, electric bass, baby bass, upright bass, string orchestal instruments. Also producing either singles or full albums depending on client preference. Composing and arranging songs for my bands or other artists. As a producer I have on my team mixing and mastering engineers and session musicians locally and in other countries.