Rock, folk, and experimental mix and mastering engineer with 20 years of experience including work with Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Iron & Wine, Owen, Owls, Joan of Arc, Jeff Parker and Slow Mass, amongst others. Working across genres, I take a collaborative approach with artists to making sure a mix elevates a song to its maximum impact.
My name is Neil Strauch and I am a music producer and mix engineer based in Philadelphia, PA. Now 20 years in, I have worked out of Engine Music Studios, Soma EMS, Shirk Studios, and Audiotree Studios (amongst many others) with past collaborators including Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Iron & Wine, Owls, Owen, Joan of Arc, Slow Mass, The Good Life, Jeff Parker, and Counting Crows. While I do my recording work at various studios, I mix all of my projects from my own private mix room. The focus of my work is on expanding an artist's ideas, vision, and sonic palette through the mix process to achieve the highest level of fidelity while also creatively embellishing the recordings - expanding on the recorded material and exploring where it can be taken. Collaboration is key to this process - though I leave a sonic stamp on my projects, my job is to take an artist’s ideas and elevate a recording to be able to match what is envisioned. My specialty is working with artists who sit just a little outside of their genre and are looking for unique takes rather than sonic templates.
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Credits
Endorse Neil Strauch4 Reviews
Neil has been the record and mix engineer on three distinctly different bands I have been in across multiple recording sessions. He is a consummate professional keeping sessions efficient and on time while maintaining a relaxed feel. I recommend Neil's services regularly to other musicians and I plan to continue to work with Neil in the future.
I have worked with Neil on multiple recordings and he is incredibly professional and easy to work with. He helped us create amazing work by using his expertise in sound engineering, mixing, and a little bit of producing. I would recommend anyone to work with Neil on their future projects.
I've had the pleasure of working with Neil on multiple projects since his Engine Studios days. He's super efficient, professional and collects/curates incredible sounds. I've been thrilled with everything he's done for me and my projects - from tracking to overdubs to editing and mixdown. He creates timeless stuff.
I’m a drummer in a new indie/alternative rock band, and we sent Neil audio stems to mix and master for the band’s first single. Neil takes great care in pulling out the best of the music and responds very well to every note a band member desires to hear in the final product. I particularly loved how Neil added his own creative elements the band didn’t think of during the initial tracking for the single. These additions for the song were critical to glue the song together. Neil’s ears and intuition were necessary instruments for our song, and his work helped kickstart our band without a doubt.
Interview with Neil Strauch
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. There are so many strengths and weaknesses to both and it is important to pick and choose to create the best production process for a project. Digital allows for quick workflows and revisions while analog offers the saturated sound that is so pleasing to the ear. Digital also offers almost unlimited choices - high track and plug-in counts, while analog is by its nature limiting, whether it be track counts, limited units of gear, or editing possibilities. Blending the two approaches - instilling an analog discipline onto a digital production while also embracing the lack of limits inherent in the digital realm can really open up possibilities while maintaining a classic feel.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I like to have a mix be of the highest possibly fidelity while still being a little rough around the edges. Blending high-end recordings with lo-fi elements. Incorporating saturated sounds, distortions, and fuzzy elements into clean recordings.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: One artist who inspires my productions is Mark Linkous/Sparklehorse. His work blend lo-fi elements with hi-fi recordings in a delicate way, which is an approach I try to bring to my work - a feeling of distortions and fuzziness while maintaining the sound of a really high fidelity recording.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I most commonly work as a remote mix engineer for singles, EPs, and LPs, working across genres including rock, folk, punk, post-punk, post-hardcore, emo, and experimental rock.
I was the Recording + Mix Engineer in this production
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $300 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $50 per song
- Post MixingAverage price - $150 per minute
- Podcast Editing & MasteringAverage price - $200 per podcast
- EditingAverage price - $50 per track
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $50 per track
I work fully remote, with a turnaround time of one song per day, and can start on a project within 48 hours of receiving files once an agreement is made. My price includes 3 rounds of revisions.
- Owen
- Bonnie Prince Billy
- Owls
