Experienced Audio Engineer

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

A: The Banff Mountain Film Festival Intro was one of the hardest yet most satisfying projects. Working for 5 days against the clock leading the Sound Design team and then mixing it was awesome. The audience's reaction during the first screening is one of those things I will never forget.

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

A: "Jack of all trades, master of none." Thanks to my diverse experience, I can use techniques from Post and apply them to Music, or use a Classical approach in a Jazz project. The only thing I've done by branching out is getting more and more tools. And it's fantastic!

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

A: Make sure you work well together. Communication is essential. If your provider doesn't listen to your opinion, you will get "some" result but it will not be your own art. My job is just to make your art happen, if only because I can understand what you want and will achieve it faster and better.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't touch the Solo button! I've gotten used to mixing with all the faders up and fixing what I feel should be changed. The final result is something much fresher than using the laboratory approach of doing one track at a time.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For new clients, I like doing free sample tests. First, I'll get a song the producer thinks is representative of the project. After discussing with them what kind of sound they expect and asking for audio references, I will send them back part of that test song/file with most of the process I would do. That way they know what to expect before hiring me. Afterward, I'll send the songs or audio files as I work on them. That way, they can let me know if I'm on the right track or if their vision is different and we can adjust as we go. I'll repeat the process until they client is fully satisfied.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently main Sound Engineer at MusicHall in Dubai, and I've only recently started freelancing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I don't care. Make me feel.

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

A: I'll do my best. Regardless of the price, whether you're a Class A artist or just started recording in your closet or basement with your phone, I'll always give you my best. I've been sometimes offered not to have my name included on an album (with very inexperienced bands who recognized they weren't meeting expectations). I've always refused. My name should be there, if only so they know I also feel responsible for the final product and will try to get the best out of them.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Finding old projects I've worked on and remembering the artists and the work we did. It feels like being there again. Every. Single. Time.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: - Do you know what kind of sound you're looking for? - Do you have any references of how you would like this to sound? - What's the final destination of your product? (iTunes, Spotify, CD, Vinyl, YouTube...) - Do yo have any questions?

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

A: I started studying Sound Engineering when I was 15. It was half of my high-school courses. Twelve years later, I'm still madly in love with it and have experience working with music, audio for video, live music, and I'm currently getting into game audio. I can't choose just one!