Mixing Engineer

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

A: I worked as a freelance mixing engineer mixing festival sets for Apple Music US. I was tasked with the stereo mixes. Im proud of my work because I delivered results I was happy with and I can go back and listen to it on streaming platforms which is really cool.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Im working on my own album at the moment.

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

A: Idan Altman

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog has its inherent benefits but the ease and efficiency of digital makes it just as valuable.

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

A: I promise to deliver my best every time. To listen to your needs and make sure that my work reflects that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the puzzle aspect of mixing. You're given these tools and it's up to you to figure out how to use them in such a way as to achieve the desired result. Its different every time and that add variety and a challenge to each project.

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

A: I think the biggest misconception is that mixing doesn't have much of an impact on a song. Most people don't know what goes into a mix and how much of a difference it can make. It can be something small like reinforcing the message of a song but it can also be bigger like creating new genres of music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What sort of style are you looking for? What message does your song convey? What elements are important to you?

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

A: Make sure you have a clear brief. A good mix reflects the tone and theme of a song so understanding what that is already gets you 50% of the way there.

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

A: I would take my laptop, a Studer tape machine, a mini SSL, an 1176 and lexicon.

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

A: I began by studying Forensic Science, however upon obtaining my degree I switched paths. Music had already been an important factor in my life and I was producing and mixing a lot myself during that time but upon finishing my degree, I decided to properly pursue it. Ive been at it now for almost 10 years. 5 of those self taught and the latter 5 professionally.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: It depends on the genre, however in general I like to be detailed with my mixes. Dynamics are very important and take precedent over perceived loudness (unless specific to a genre or style), I think a dynamic mix has way more impact. I think breathing life into a mix is also very much my thing. Ensuring it sounds organic and reactive.

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

A: I would love to work with Deadmau5. His DIY approach inspired me to start myself and taught me that with enough perseverance and patience I could achieve the same level of quality as him.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Compress with care, dynamics add depth.

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

A: I usually work on electronic music, namely House, Drum and Bass, Trance, Synthwave, Synthpop, DreamPop. However with a clear brief I am able to adapt and work on a broad range of genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is mixing. I am proud of the level of work I can produce. More specifically I excel in compression. It's an easy overused tool however the used sparingly and correctly can make all the difference in a mix.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a forensic level of care and attention to detail. I also special in making sure that electronic mixes sound alive and organic with elements reacting to one another through careful use of compression and saturation. With my understanding of analog hardware I am able to mix with purpose and ensure my mixes excite and captivate.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by organising my projects so I have a clear overview. This includes labelling, routing and grouping tracks. Once everything is organised I begin my mix. My approach here depends on what I'm mixing. If it's electronic music I usually start by creating a foundation mix with the kick and bass and then adding elements in order of priority to build the song. This approach helps me be more surgical and precise and make sure the music moves and reacts in an organic way from the very foundation. I achieve this through a process of general cleanup eq followed by colouring with saturation and distortion, adding reverb and then compressing. This may very though depending on the context of the mix. Once the song is mixed some grouping processing is applied and larger bocks are mixed together to create a cohesive sound. This may include room verbs and parallel compression. My mix is finished when I'm happy with the end result and the mix is at its desired level, ready to be mastered.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a simple setup with Apollo and DT990s. My monitors are Rokit5s however most of my work is done through headphones. Thanks to the open back design I have an accurate soundstage to work with. I use FabFilter, SoundToys, UAD, Unfiltered Audio, and Plugin Alliance plugins. I also have Melodyne for tuning.

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

A: I have been inspired for a long time by the likes of Andrew Scheps, Deadmau5, C418, and Home.

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

A: The most common type of work I do is mixing multitracks. This may or may not include editing, cleanup, and some sound design depending on the requirements and state of the mix. The work is always done as per the request of the client.