Creative Mixing Engineer

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

A: This answer would reflect the the question above. DuÆL DyNASTY and REV METER both albums have some of the best talent I ever worked with involved which really pushed me to step up my game, I am singing on both albums on the DuÆL DyNASTY project I have another great sing and we are doing a cool dual vocal thing on a lot of the track, I played all the guitars and bass on it and we got guest such Chris Emery from American Head Charge on drums for a few tracks, Jame Knoerl how is the sickest up and coming drummer I have heard and Randy Cooper from Texas Hippy Coalition working on some guitars, metal man and more. On the Rev Metal album same thing lots great talent, I am singing everything on that one and I played all the bass and a few guitar solos and my good friend Bob The Legros Show wrote and performed all the rhythm guitars.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am knee deep in 2 amazing hard rock projects of my own that I have been working on over the last 2 years around all the projects I get from my clients. Both of these albums with be complete this summer and am excited to drop them on the world. DuÆL DyNASTY hard metal with some amazing guests and REV METER hard rock classic rock also featuring some amazing guests appearances.

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

A: I am new here but really look forward to meeting some new folks to share some tips and tricks with!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: A bit of both, I like running into box through some analog up front and then mixing in the box, todays plugins are mind blowing but there is an undeniable warmth and thickness you get some analog gear too!

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

A: 100% customer satisfaction! I am here to serve their mix and their tasted not my own even they are going to get my style and flavour in there too. I always work as closely as I can through out the process with my clients to make I am heading in the of their vision!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I really enjoy making customers and clients happy and being able to offer an affordable service to them, I also really enjoy hearing different styles of music and being able to dig in and bring tracks to a new level. It is around the 80% mark when I got a track really dialled in and am just starting to add a bit of spice and volume automation here and that I enjoy most about the mixing process!

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

A: Can you mix this genre or that genre? I say yes I can mix any genre of music, yes I have mixed more rock than any other genre but everything I have learned from mixing all that rock will help me when mixing your track no matter what genre your track it, a good sounding well balanced mix is a good well balance sounding mix no matter genre it is!

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

A: A lot of people think us mixers are miracle workers, so this kind of overlaps on of the previous questions, and yes we can fix your timing issues and your pitch issues but a better more human sound sound finished product try to get your performance right in the recording stage!

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

A: If you are looking for some mixing and mastering, make sure your tracks are ready for that, I get a lot of folk give my half cooked tracks thinking that the mix and or master with save them or fix their issues but really it is best to get it right in the recording stage, I am referring to timing issues, pitch issues and what not. If you a will to spend money on a mix you should also be will to spend time to get thing right on your end before you do so. If you are looking to hire me for my vocals be sure to listen to my previous work and style and sound to make sure I am a good match for your track first.

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

A: My acoustic guitar, a bongo, a tambourine a pad of paper and a pen and my zoom H4N field mic so I ever did get rescued I would a least come out the experience with with new tracks to fully produce when I got back to the studio.

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

A: I was put on this earth to record and have been doing this since I was a kid with cheep cassette decks recording when I was about 17 I got my first 4 track! And when I was about 24 I got my first computer and DAW, N-Track and recorded about 5 albums using that for my bands and friends and over the last 5 years I have invested all my time and money into better gear and constinly writing and recording for my own 3 bands and and at the same time working as a free lancer of other folks tracks sing and playing a bit session guitar here and there and mixing and mastering on a regular basis to the point where over the last year has become a full time gig.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: When it comes to mixing and would say I am very diverse and let the style of song direct me even though my signature mixing style will find is way in usually with out me even being aware of it. When it come to vocals I have experimented with all genres and styles but when it is a good straight up hard rock track with a small metal injection I feel at home and things usually turn out great!

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

A: I would love the chance to work with Zakk Wylde on a track just because he is so bad ass but also remains so humble!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep it fun!

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

A: I have mixed, written and performed on over 300 hundred rock, hard rock and metal tracks so that is my main things but in the last few years I have really enjoyed branching out working on hip hop, R and B, Soul and other genres and also found bringing what I have learned from my years of rock experience into these genres has worked really well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Well I am definitely a hack of all kind of guy which comes in handy when producing having years of experience playing guitar and singing. But mixing and singing hard rock vocals are what other folks praise me the most for and are the 2 things I invested the most time in over the last few years but I don't like to brag so.... next question.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: When mixing I try to bring a lot of punch and crunch! I like the kick and snare to hit hard I also really like to make the vocals shine and make sure there is a good balance of everything else in the track!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I keep things fun but I also stay focussed and keep things moving. When I am mixing for clients I get a good well balanced mix happening usually with in a few hours and then get them a mix of that to offer feed back on, I find this is the next best thing to do when we cant be in the same room together. I then take their notes and continue working on the mix and get them another mix and then come back a day later with fresh ears and perspective to make any final tweaks, I give the mix a listen through my different studio monitors and head phones and will usually make a few more tweaks after that and start the mastering process.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home bases studio running the latest version of pro tools with to many plugins to list from Waves, Slate, Massey and more, I've been using the Slate Raven MTi for the last year and have been digging its features for a more hands on approach. My vocal recording chain is Sterling ST59 from my Vocal booth into my Warm Audio TB12 pre amp running through a Mind Print Tube compressor into my Fast Track Ultra 8R M-Audio interface into Pro Tools. I also using my vocal booth as an ISO booth for tracking guitars at loud volumes.

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

A: I am huge fan of Andrew Scheps and am blown away by his work all his mixes but really impressed with his mixes on the DeathMagnetic Album and The New Black Sabbath Album 13 and his admire his humble attitude. I am also a big fan Warren Huart and Chris Lord Alge and love the fact they are so sharing with their mixing and mastering tips and tricks. For musicians I have to many to list but with mention Zakk Wylde, his work ethic is off the charts!

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

A: Mixing and Mastering is has been my biggest gig over the last few years, mixing lots of Hard Rock and Lots of Hip Hop and bit of everything else here and there in between, R and B, Soul, Meditational tracks and what not. Singing Hard Rock Vocals has been my next biggest gig singing on over 100 tracks in the last year alone.