Mixing and Mastering Engineer

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

A: I am currently working on an animated television series called The Great Adventures of Kounterclockwise for Deacon Burns and Kaya Rogue of Kounterclockwise. We finished the opening pilot episode and it took us 8 months to complete and it was an absolute struggle, but it was an amazing experience, I learned a whole lot. And from all the pain and arduous labors, we managed to win multiple film festivals and winning various prizes including a distribution deal and letters of recommendations from hollywoods award winning directors and filmmakers. The victory was sweet as ever! My role started out as a voice over actor, then it grew much bigger, I then started to hire actors and even work along side them, then it was recording and mixing, and mastering! and I ultimately was hired to be a creative producer for the company Crazy Cat Lady Films. I loved every minute of it and I am proud to still be working on it today. Dreams come true in all shapes and sizes and I am glad I stuck with it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on an animated television series called The Great Adventures of Kounterclockwise for Deacon Burns and Kaya Rogue of Kounterclockwise. Also I am working on an album for my good friend Weapon-X called The Side Effect Of Hunger.

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

A: No I do not, I recommend me!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love both, because I like options!

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

A: My promise that I tell my clients is that I will do my absolute best to make sure their dream song or project is perfect and that they will leave confident in their product.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love being able to make my clients happy.

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

A: Customers usually ask me "Do you work late hours." and my answer is "YES I DO!"

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

A: Appreciation... I feel that Audio Engineers are the most unappreciated in their field in what they do, aside from animators, and Veterans.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals and what do you hope to achieve, and how do you plan to achieve it?

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

A: Know what you want, and be honest, and do not hesitate to dream big!

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

A: If I were on a desert island I would take my Akai advance 49, my Focal Alpha 65's, computer, mic, and my Fireface 802 RMC. =]

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

A: My career path was ultimately being an Artist, whether I am doing it through music, as producer, or as an engineer, I have been doing this for nearly a decade. I love being an audio engineer, it has been a dream of mine for years and It feels like I have been doing it my whole life.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is unorthodox

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

A: I would like to work with the RZA from Wu Tang Clan, he has been a major influence on me since I was young. His music been a major part of my upbringing and I wish to learn and apprentice under him one day.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: My tip for you is, what ever you are feeling in that moment, or in that time, put it down, whether it is in words, or in the strings, or on the keys, it is the job as a an artist, producer and an engineer, to bring life to the silence of space. If you have trouble starting, just listen to your heart openly. The pages of your inner self will open and you will finally see what you have been missing all along.

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

A: Mostly I work in Hip Hop, and Television, although I would leap at the opportunity to work in all genres of music. I do not discriminate in any genre. Music is my passion and it will always be, but I am open to new passions as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Comfort... that is my strongest skill. The moment the artist(s) arrive they are greeted with a smile and an expert to ensure their dreams come to life. The comfort in knowing that they can show up, and feel free to express their art, with who they are as a person, and as a human being.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring nostalgia, as well as something like a particular element that has been missing to the client and which they did not know they were even missing in the first place. The best way to explain it is if I show you and work with you. I bring my own style to your art, but also I bring an open mind and an open canvas for myself and for the artist(s) to work with and openly shine.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depending on the job, mostly I record, track, and mix vocals, as for the meat and potatoes of it all, I will sit down with a client or have a conference call, telling them what I do, what the process will be, and how we can ensure the best possible sound. I will generally ask what the artists influences are and basically get to know the artist(s) finding out the best scope to use to ensure maximum quality performance and a product worthy to the artist(s) specifications.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio set up is pretty simple, I use an RMC 802 FireFace recording interface to track all my vocals and instruments. As well as a KSM 32 Shure Microphone to record them with and my Focal Alpha 65 studio monitors to mix and master with. I use Abelton live 9 to edit and mix and master, using Izotope, Slate Digital, Waves and ect. for in the box mixing and mastering.

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

A: The Artists and Producers who inspire me to do what I do, are Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Eminem, Dr Dre, Elton John, Prince, Lynard Skynard, DJ Premier, RZA, Sean Price, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, and Nas. These are just to name a few, all these artists and producers are some of my most influenced. Dave Pensado and Bob Horn are audio Engineers who I look up to a lot, they are well established heavy hitters in their own right.

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

A: The most common type of work I do for my clients, is recording hip hop artists. Mixing and Mastering, is major one as well. All my clients rely on me to make sure their music has that industry shine they desire.