Iago Blanco(Drum&Roll Studios) on SoundBetter

Hello, my name is Iago Blanco. I opened Drum&Roll Studios back in 2010 before years of freelance working in many studios and projects. Here is where I've been working as producer and mixer since, discovering great bands and helping them to find an own sound that defines them, wich makes me get fully involved on each project I work on.

I mainly work as producer and mixer, and that's what I set up the studio for. As everybody else, I started working with local bands, trying to know me, my gear, and building a personal style and philosophy that bands could trust. And it worked! Many of the bands I worked with started to get some recognition all over Spain, touring and even winning awards.

I worked with different kind of projects, from heavy metal to pop, but even being a "rock guy" for many years, I'm finding a lot of connection with songwriters as they seem to like very much my style and way of working. In less than a year, I triplicated the songs I'm producing.

I love making music, meeting musicians and learn from them, from the begining of the process to the end. That's what I think made me grow all this years and keep musicians trusting my work from one album to the next one.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

4 Reviews

Endorse Iago Blanco(Drum&Roll Studios)

by Alejandro S.
I've been recording bass guitar with Iago since at least 2013 and it is always a great experience. Bass always sound great and present without overpowering the other instruments.
He's really helpful and insightful when you have doubts about your sound. He's not scared to suggest you a change or an idea also if he thinks it'll make the song greater. He's also always improving his equipment. Almost everytime I go record he's presenting me his new gadgets!
My lasts recording with him have been "Mar de Fondo - Pulsaciones" or "King of Nothing - The Eyes of the Buttefly"
by Eduardo M.
I've worked with Iago on the two albums I've released with my project, Prexton: "42" and "How The Universe Works". He is the producer of both records, he also mixed them and played the drums.

Working with Iago at Drum&Roll Studios was a great experience because he always have great ideas for the songs and he is really focused on making everything work and sound better. I couldn't be happier with the way my records sound and the vibe they have.

You can check his work on my last album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0lMvs6je26lozkJ3RRdM0t?si=J41uelchRIeemw_tp5wqvw
by David G.
Working with Iago at Drum&Roll Studios is definitely the best recording experience I've ever had in my musical career. I've recorded in 5 different professional studios so far and I can tell without a doubt that the best one has been with him.
His professionalism, involvement in everything related to sounds and arrangements make the results of every recording enormously satisfactory. I have recorded with him songs for two different projects (DAVE ROCK and KING OF NOTHING) and I will certainly continue to trust him for my next recordings
https://daverock.bandcamp.com/
by Iago G.
Great experience to work with Iago Blanco. He really gets involved with the songs, usually coming with new ideas, and he racks his brain to refine even the smallest details. Also it's great that he spends all the time needed to get the expected result.

Check some of his work with my band here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2IepGHLJ2yhfQUCeP2sKeU

Interview with Iago Blanco(Drum&Roll Studios)

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Different toys that give you different options. Sometimes you are trying to get a sound that can only be done using 3 or 4 plugins and other times you want a sound that you KNOW that a certain piece of gear can give you. It's all about being focused on what you want, and if something gives it to you...who cares if it's digital, analog, cheap or expensive? People are not going to judge that, they are going to judge if the song's sound tells the story its supposed to.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I use to listen to some demos of the tracks when it's possible and make my notes about ideas that come to my mind, what works better, what makes the song stronger... From that I try to be in contact with the artist as much as possible and if there are any changes I would like to add to the song, discuss them with him, play the song with that changes or try different ones till they feel comfortable with what they are going to record. Once that's done I just let fun happen on the studio, trying to record any idea that comes around just in case it works at anytime. I like to review the song one or two days before tracking, just to see if I miss something or if everything sounds good to me. Then I try to give me almost a two days break before mixing the song. It helps me to hear the song with fresh ears again and change my mood from producer to mixer. Once I feel happy with my mix I call the artist, we make the revisions and...done!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My setup is mainly used for mixing an producing. I like to move fast on studio to capture ideas as they go on, so everything is ready to fire at anytime inspiration hits. I have the typical Pro Tools HD2 rig with outboard preamps (1072, UA610, Focusrite...) that give me all kind of flavours. As I own all UA plugins (and a bunch of Waves, Slate Digital... ones too) I can mix ITB having almost infinite options to fit each song sound. That doesn't mean I dont use any outboard fear, like my dbx160 compressor. Next step will be adding an analog summing mixer to my rig.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Names are ok, having good gear is ok... But make sure you are not just a number or a chance to add some money to someone else count. Look for someone who cares about you and your music, that's the one that will give you a song you will be proud of.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Anyone who is passionate about his music. Those are the ones you can always learn more and the ones with the biggest smile once they hear the final result.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: An external point of view. Sometimes when we write a song we are "too in love" to see if something is not really working of if we are not giving the right role to a certain thing. It's difficult to give a bad word about a son, right? So I try to give a humble, non-destructive oppinion and focus the effors of everyone in the project to get to the same point. I put all my knowledge on the table, to get the smallest idea as big as possible both sound and arrangement, but I like to be someone that count +1 into the project. No matter what my preferences are, it's not my song nor my story, so I always propose things, but the artist takes the final decision.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Music production and mixing. Usually start working time before tracking, to find the right direction for the project wich everybody will feel happy with.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Understanding each artist. Getting to think like him to bring the song the feeling he is trying to tell the world.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Michael Brauer, Eddie Kramer, Andy Wallace... Just to say some... As musicians, Queen opened the door to a whole new world for me when I was a kid. They are the perfect example of how a band can play all kind of stuff without losing their identity.