Mixing | Mastering | Producer

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

A: I was hired by a North Yorkshire rapper when living down York to record vocals, edit vocals and produce his album, including several instrumental edits for his live performances. Very shortly after the album was complete a A&R representative from Warner Music heard the artists album and signed the artist to Warner Music (I can not name the rapper directly as a do not disclose agreement had to be signed by myself).

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

A: Not as yet but hope to start making connections and positive working relationships very soon!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Depends on the service.... For ghost production, composition and co-composition I primarily stay digital (unless otherwise agreed with the client) as digital is more accessible and cost effective for clients when sharing or providing project files. For mixing and mastering, effects/processing for individual stems/ audio channels digital as the difference between digital and analog on individual tracks is negatable and digital provides more flexibility with routing and number of units available, mixing down stems analog desk as the SSL desk adds a nice gentle saturation to the final mix and final output / processing hybrid as digital dose somethings analog can not and analog adds a small touch to the sound.

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

A: I will treat your project as if it was one of my own and try everything within my power to deliver a great experience and finished project to you.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to work with music and audio every day and the times when you see people and their projects become successful, what ever shape that looks like for them.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask what kind of sound, tone and qualities they are looking to achieve for their project and three reference tracks to help ensure I am working towards the clients vision.

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

A: Contact serval providers, I would say three is a good amount, discuss your project with the provider, the sound you are looking for, your expectations and any questions that you may have about the process or service and just make sure the provider is the right person for you and your project.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Do not do what most of us do when we first start, buy hundreds and hundreds of plugins, synthesisers and hardware units, buy one synthesiser and one reverb, compressor, equaliser, limited, saturator ect and learn these inside out. This will help you learn how each of these units work and how you can manipulate sound with them, this knowledge can then be transferred to other units as you progress. Knowledge is much more valuable than the latest plug in or effect unit.

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

A: I usually work on electric dance music (EDM), pop music and acoustic recordings but have worked on my fair share of orchestral music in the past.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As someone who producers their own tracks I understand how important and personal projects are to a client and will treat them how I would treat my own projects, with respect, my full attention and of course a fresh perspective.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: This varies depending on the work I am doing (mixing engineer, mastering engineer, ghost producer ect) but it always starts with a conversation with the client to find out what they are trying to achieve and what they are looking for and if I am the right fit for them and their project. If I am I then usually ask for the name of three reference tracks that have similar tone and qualities to what the client is trying to achieve with their project to help ensure I am working towards the clients vision. Then it would depend on the service I am providing for the client, if it is a mix or / and mastering service I would get the audio files sent over to me, loaded into the DAW and start working. If it is a ghost production or composition service I would then go in the studio and start developing ideas and sounds. If it was a production, co-production or tuition service I would discuss availability of all involved and agree dates and times for work. In all instances once the work is complete I would send the final product (WAV file, project file ect) over to the client for review and if the client was happy we would then sign the project off, if the client was not happy we would discuss why and revise until the client was happy with the final project.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio was custom designed, build and installed by the very best studio design team, who are based in the Netherlands and have created studios for some of the most recognised artists within EDM. The studio is designed throughout with acoustic properties in mind, using a mix of precisely placed sound diffusers and sound absorbers creating a space that provides a true sound. The studio furniture is designed with Hi-Mac material to help minimise sound reflections and sound vibrations to retain that true sound.

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

A: While my client work varies dramatically, I would say the most common type of work I do for clients is ghost production or production adviser (if that is a real term) which is basically offering guidance and advise as to how clients can develop or improve their tracks.