Ambient Mixing & Mastering

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

A: Each year for quite a while now I have put together experimental drone compilations called Droneuary. Sequencing them & adjusting the volumes & dynamics of different pieces by different artists is a fun & rewarding challenge.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mixing & recording a project that is starting with ambient minimalist drum loops building into experimental post punk as long distance collaboration.

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

A: New to this community, but I like Brian McKenzie though we work in totally different ways.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: For editing digital. Doing it analog is time consuming and cost prohibitive for most clients. For synths & drums i like both. For guitars I like the physicality of equipment.

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

A: To not waste their time or my time.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making something sound better in a way people can't quite describe.

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

A: "What's your most important piece of equipment?" The answer is my ears.

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

A: That I can make someone not ready to record in the first place sound commercial radio ready.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals for the next five years? What are your goals for this project?

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

A: Have a conversation. If you can't communicate with someone, you shouldn't work with them.

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

A: Some type of loop pedal (probably a DL4), a Rat Deucetone, a guitar, a bit crusher, & one of those portable 8 track recorders. For software I would bring Sound Forge, Acid, Little Drummer Boy, Tap Tempo, & Grainstorm.

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

A: I started recording my own projects in 1993 & fell into doing more serious engineering on my own in 1998 because I couldn't find any collaborators that understood my goals.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Respectful. I try to bring things to a better place without transforming it into something new. Though i can do that on request.

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

A: Iggy Pop. He has done a lot of fairly out music for decades & I would love to hear his take in genres he has yet to go deeply into.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen. Listen to the music. Listen to the artist.

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

A: Ambient, experimental, post punk, & somehow singer-songwriter & lo-fi pop. Also podcasts.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Willingness to experiment. For example on a recent remix I flipped a guitar hook to play in reverse dueling with the original track.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My ears & fingerprints.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My work process generally starts with a conversation with an artist about their goals over the next few years as well as the specifics of a current project.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: These days I work all in the box. My belief is ears & experience are better than expensive equipment.

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

A: Anyone who has a real passion & excitement for their work gets me excited too.

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

A: Mixing, mastering, minor editing.