Recording | Mixing | Mastering

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

A: I am especially proud of a record from Maryland artist Kabir called "Favorite feat. MarleyIBe". It's amazing sounding and has really opened a lot of doors for the two artists, plus I helped in the writing and co-production aspect.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on mixing about 5 records any given week in the DC/MD/VA area and travelling as needed for my duties as a representative of AES (Audio Engineering Society) and the Recording Academy (Grammy's).

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

A: Everyone who works on major and indie projects of a high calibre I would recommend.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, hybrid is the way to go because 9 times out of 10 the records you love were done that way with some usage of both used during the process.

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

A: I will deliver to you the best sounding record possible as long as you give me the best musical arrangement you can deliver to me.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love being the middle guy between the birth of a new piece of music and its release. Mixing is that moment.

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

A: How much do you charge for mixing indie projects? I say, what is your budget as an indie artist? I can work with anyone as long as we have an open line of communication.

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

A: That because I am fast or because someone of lesser calibre did the same work that we mixing engineers are all the same.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the style your looking for and can you send me some references.

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

A: When choosing me just know you are picking an audio professional who has worked in and out of some of the best studio's in the world and can deliver to you a world class sound.

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

A: Antelope Audio Goliath, Kush Clariphonic, SSL Buss Compressor, SSL Fusion and Handsome Audio Zulu Tape Machine.

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

A: 17+ years and counting. I am currently the Vice Chair of AES DC Chapter and a member of the Recording Academy.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern meets soulful. I love giving life to records.

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

A: I just love working with an artist that has a vision and goal for themselves. There is nothing more satisfying than nailing a project!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Treat each process separately and give it your all. Do the best and get the best sound throughout each step and you'll always put out great records.

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

A: Urban, Gospel, Country and Pop

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Mixing records

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I help in both engineering as well as production when needed.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Recording setup, 2-5 days for mixing and 1-2 days for mastering

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Microphones: Slate Digital VMS (Models 18 High-End Tube Microphones with AMAZING accuracy) Sterling Audio ST77 Fet Condenser Studio Projects C1 Slate Digital ML-2 small diaphragm condenser microphone Preamp: Slate Digital VMS One Mic Preamp (Models 6 High-End Microphone Preamps) Focusrite Clarett 8 Pre w/Air transformers (8) Interface: Focusrite Clarett 8 Pre USB H2Designs Miyo Out Board Processors: Behringer Composer Pro-XL 2600 Stereo Compressor Solid State Logic Fusion Mixbus Processor Custom Analog Summing Mixer Designed by Vintage Maker Neumann DV1175 Discrete Transformer Makeup for Summing Mixer Behringer Power Play Pro-XL Headphone Amp (4) Kush Audio Clariphonic Parallel Equalizer Softube Console 1 (SSL 4000 & SSL 9000k) Drawmer MC3.1 Monitor Controller Furman M-8Lx Power Condition Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite (Octo) SSL G Buss Compressor (Audio-Scape) Monitors & Headphones: PreSonus Eris Es8 Monitor Speakers PreSonus Temblor T10 Subwoofer Monitor Speaker Audio Technica ATH-m50x Headphones (2) Apple iPod Earbud Headphones Beats By Dre Executive Headphones Midi/USB Keyboard: Novation 61SL MKll Keyboard Software: Pro Tools 12 HD Cockos Reaper 5 (DAW) Sonarworks Reference 4 (THE BEST) Universal Audio (3/4 of all their plugins) Waves (classic) Acustica Audio (amazing analog recreations) Air Plugins Air Windows Antares (Auto-Tune) AOM Factory Audified Blue Cat Audio Black Rooster Audio Celemony Melodyne DMG Audio Drumatom Eiosis Empirical Labs (wow to this compressor) Eventide Fabfilter (indispensable) Flux Goodhertz IK Multimedia Joey Sturgis Kazrog Klanghelm Kush Lexicon Lindell Magic A|B Mathew Lane DR.MS (m/s like no other) McDSP Melda Productions Metric Halo Native Instruments NYRV Systems Overloud Plugin Alliance (all-in-one) PSP Audio Relab SKnote Slate Digital (proud to be on the team) Sly-Fi Softube (console 1) Solid State Logic (proud to be on the team) Sound Theory SoundToys (every mix)

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

A: Jaycen Joshua, Leslie Brathwaite, Manny Marroquinn and Chris Lorde-Alge

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

A: I do recording, mixing and mastering work. I also teach my clients the music business.