MIXING / MASTERING - 40$/TRACK

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Trying to build relationships with new artist so we can grab a grammy or two!

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

A: I have no idea.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid. I mostly use analog. Digital is great for some surgical moves, and tightening up some things you can't quite catch with analog.

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

A: To bring your track alive.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The final product! I love hearing a song come to life! The creativity, the workflow! It's all stimulating to me and I love to be the reason a song is breathing life!

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

A: Why does this mix sound off? - It's not done until I say It's done or your 100% happy with it. Do you offer mentoring? - Yes, generally to long standing customers I will keep a balanced friendship with them. We discuss ways to elevate their recording process to bring more out of their mix.

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

A: I suppose some of my friends and family think I just have a magic room that poofs out quality tunes at the touch of a button!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What gear was involved in this piece? What was your recording process?

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

A: To maximize your investment when hiring a premium hybrid-analog engineer, focus first on the engineer's ears and relevant genre experience, using commercial reference tracks to clearly communicate your desired sonic outcome and emotional vibe. Critically, ensure your files are properly prepared for the analog chain: submit stems peaking at -6 dBFS or lower, remove any master bus limiting or heavy compression, and clearly label all tracks. This preparation allows me to immediately engage the API 1608 Console and vintage outboard gear to achieve maximum punch, depth, and clarity, guaranteeing a competitive, radio-ready final master.

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

A: Neumann u67, Manley Voxbox, API 550 EQ, SSL FUSION and a Windows laptop.

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

A: This started off as a hobby for myself and the love of music. It has now became a passion to bring my ears to your music to showcase what I have learned over the last 15 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Laid back, Methodical.

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

A: Any artist that loves good music. At the end of the day I just want to bring your song to life. I am an engineer that is very meticulous in his work.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I like to think not crowding the frequencies. Make sure you share your space accordingly.

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

A: Rap/Hip-Hop/Country/R&B

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is delivering mixes with uncompromising, genre-specific analog punch and competitive clarity, a benefit derived from over 15 years of focused experience and my world-class hybrid studio setup. I specialize in sculpting a massive yet controlled low-end—essential for Rap/Hip-Hop/R&B—by leveraging the aggressive tone and depth of the API 1608 Console and premium outboard gear like the Pultec EQP-1A and Teletronix LA-2A. This process results in powerful, three-dimensional mixes where drums hit harder, the bass is articulate, and the lead vocal, treated with industry-standard tools like the Tube-Tech CL1B, cuts through effortlessly to deliver competitive, professional-grade masters that translate flawlessly across all streaming platforms.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: While my premium analog gear guarantees technical quality, what I truly bring to your song is 15 years of cultivated taste, genre expertise, and the absolute consistency required to compete at the highest level. 1. Genre-Specific Sonic Identity I don't apply a one-size-fits-all template. My experience means I understand the specific sonic expectations for your genre, whether it's the aggression of trap, the luxury of R&B, or the authenticity of country. The Hip-Hop/Rap "Punch": I specialize in creating controlled, articulate low-end that hits hard on every system—from club speakers to mobile phones. I ensure your vocals are aggressive and present without ever sounding harsh. The R&B "Lushness": I apply analog warmth and subtle dynamics to give R&B records a smooth, expensive, and emotionally immersive sound. 2. The Analog Warmth & Depth I bring the unmistakable sound of high-end analog gear to your track, providing sonic qualities that digital alone cannot replicate: Dimensionality: Utilizing the API 1608 for summing gives your mix superior depth, separation, and stereo width, making elements feel like they exist in three-dimensional space. Harmonic Richness: The subtle saturation and harmonic coloring from classic units like the LA-2A and Pultec adds musical glue and a professional "polish" that sounds effortless and expensive. 3. Consistency and Translation The biggest challenge in mixing is ensuring a song sounds great everywhere. I bring the technical discipline to solve this problem: Flawless Translation: My mixes are tested rigorously to ensure they translate consistently across all playback systems (earbuds, car stereo, studio monitors), giving you confidence in your final master. Industry Standards: I handle all technical complexities, ensuring your track is perfectly calibrated to meet current streaming LUFS targets (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music) so it sounds great next to commercial hits.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1. The Setup & Communication Phase Project Briefing: You send me your tracks (stems) and a reference track (a commercial song whose loudness, tone, or vibe you admire). We discuss your vision for the song and any specific concerns or requests. Technical Review: I perform a quick check of your submitted files to ensure phase coherence, proper gain staging, and file quality. I will flag any issues before starting. Deposit & Scheduling: Once files are approved, we confirm the scope and payment, and I lock in the delivery timeline (e.g., typically 3-5 business days). 2. The Analog Mixing & Mastering Phase Analog Summing & Processing: I begin by routing your tracks through the API 1608 Console to benefit from its superior summing, EQ, and dynamics. This is where the core punch and depth of the mix are established. Premium Outboard Implementation: Critical elements (like vocals, kick, and snare) are processed using high-end outboard gear such as the Tube-Tech CL1B, LA-2A, and Pultec EQP-1A to achieve professional warmth and control. Hybrid Finalization: I use my precise software toolkit (FabFilter, iZotope RX) for surgical fixes, automation, and the final mastering stage, ensuring the competitive loudness and clarity required by streaming services. 3. Review & Delivery First Mix Delivery: I send you the first mix revision for review. I encourage you to listen on multiple systems (headphones, car, studio monitors) and gather specific feedback. Revisions: Up to [Specify your number, e.g., 2] rounds of revisions are included in the price. I quickly address your notes to fine-tune the mix until you are 100% satisfied. Final Delivery: You receive the final, mastered files (typically 44.1kHz/24-bit WAV or high-resolution format) ready for distribution.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is built around the philosophy of combining the irreplaceable punch and warmth of classic analog gear with the precision and flexibility of the best modern digital tools. Your tracks benefit from a truly premium signal path, ensuring a sound that is both vintage-rich and competitively modern.

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

A: Jon Raney, Daniel shores.

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

A: Mixing / Mastering / Remastering