Drum Editor

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

A: I usually work from start to finish on projects with bands. I have helped with creating budgets and hiring studio musicians all the way to mastering. I mostly work in music but I have some experience in voiceover and audio restoration as well.

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

A: I went to school to learn audio production. I did both live sound and studio internships supplementing my education until I was hired by The Blast House to work as an engineer. I have been working professionally for 8 years.

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

A: I will do my absolute best to make sure you are very happy with your project.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The main studio I work out of The Blast House in Madison WI. It is a beautiful professional studio with a nice sized live room connected to three isolation booths. I also work from a project studio from home for most editing/mixing needs.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to meet with a band ahead of time and listen to the music they enjoy while talking production goals. From that point the big decision is whether to track live or to build scratch tracks and edit individual tracks as we go. For mixing I like to work on the bulk of the mix alone and send the mixes to the band where they can email me revisions or meet in person to finish the song.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Dependability

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Try to make your demos they best they possibly can be. This really helps everyone understand your vision and it makes for a great springboard to the final work.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: As a producer I enjoy trying to bring out what is great that the artist is already trying to accomplish. I am sure some of my style is added during the process but I do not intentionally change their art to fit what I would do. I focus more on the technical execution of both the recording and the performance rather than the creative side of developing the song.

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

A: Do not be afraid to ask questions about the process. I work as an instructor for recording science so I LOVE talking and teaching audio.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your budget? Sometimes I feel people are nervous to share what their comfortable spending amount is. I firmly believe that just because a project was finished for a small budget does not mean it cannot be great art. I also think that to obtain a "radio sound" a larger budget is required. I can work within a clients goals more efficiently if I know what the budget is from the onset.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I am helping people create something they will have and can be proud of for the rest of their lives. I also love that this profession gives me something that I will always be able to work and improve on. I strive to be the best that I can and I want to make people happy doing it. When I remember those two things I am the most content.

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

A: I mostly work in rock

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I never record to tape but I enjoy nice hardware compressors and pres.

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

A: Landon Arkens for vocal tuning.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I just started pre production with a band called Mortality Play.

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

A: All of the Blizzard At Sea albums. I have been working with those guys since 2011 and its great to see how they have developed.