Grammy winning mixer

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

A: Working with Zoé “Aztlan” record which I had the privilege to be honored with the U.S Grammy in 2018. It was a real challenge during 7 months leading the technical aspects of the record with the biggest band from Mexico. It was the result of hard work and consistency and I’m proud of the result due to a true effort and talent.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: As I mentioned I: working on my studio helping and working together with artists that want to be listened and taking their ideas to the next level.

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

A: Not yet, looking forward to meet more professionals and artists.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: At this point, currently speaking on year 2022, I think that the subject is outdated. At the end of the day they are tools and is more about how everyone use them. The 2 worlds have strengths and applied in the correct way we achieve a lot of advantage.

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

A: I’m here to help them to achieve the result they want. For that I really point that have a healthy communication is extremely important.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I’m passionated about my job. I love music and live for it. I love the fact of helping the artist or the production team to get to a wanted and beautiful result with a piece of music.

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

A: The fee of my services. My answer depends on the kind of the job required.

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

A: People sometimes think I’m a DJ.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What’s the expected result that we are looking for to this project?

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

A: To be extremely honest and communicative. Communication is everything to get to the wanted result.

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

A: 1.- Speakers 2.- My Pro Tools rig 3.- My artist control can not mix without it hate the mouse 4.- Comfortable chair 5.- My UAD cards

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

A: I started 12 years ago, I went to audio school at SAE institute. After that I worked at Sonic Ranch recording studios, the largest residential recording studio, where I had the opportunity to work with some of the best equipment in the world and collaborators. After that I moved to Mexico City and worked at Topetitud studios where I worked with a lot of the independent scene in Mexico during 2 years. Later on I started working with Phil Vinall and Sergio Acosta, Zoe founder and guitar player composer and producer. I worked at the Panoram studios during years as a chief engineer and had the pleasure to work with some of the top bands world wide like Phoenix, Morrisey, etc. and won my first Grammy with Zoe’s album “Aztlan” in 2018. Today I’m working freelance and starting my new solo mixer career with a wide base of knowledge and experience.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I try to bring new sounds and discover new textures to enhance the power of the music As a hi fi lover I love big and defined low end with crispy top end and an amazing midrange tones.

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

A: I would love to work with Björk. I love the way she integrates technology and music to discover new sounds and go to unknown places.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If you want to get a nice low end clear midrange and crispy top end do not over compress and gain stage correctly. Do not monitor to loud towards the end of the session. The music has to perform in the reproduction system correctly.

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

A: I work on a lot of rock pop alternative and hip hop records also electronic and techno recordings. I have also worked on orquestal recordings and acoustic music. In the end I work on music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I’ve been spending the last 12 years of my career learning to understand the Artistic and the technical balance needed to work in the music industry. My best area I will say, is mixing and recording. Always getting the message to the listener as the artist is imagining it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I listen to the song and bring forward the elements to construct the perfect environment to get message to the listener. I’m only the messenger and I help the song shine with the needs of the technical aspect.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: After getting in contact with the potential client I send a file delivery guide to be 100% sure that I’m receiving the correct files from the production. After that process I set up my Pro Tools session and schedule the mixing session, then I get in contact with the artist. I work 100% on communication to achieve the wanted results. I don’t rush the process. But I also tend to work fast so I don’t loose focus on the music and the message.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is a hybrid system. For monitoring I have Dynaudio BM15A, lovely speakers, and Yamaha NS 10 & Auratone 5Cmix cube in mono. My converters are Apogee top of the line. I use a millennia NSEq 2 twin topology equalizer mastering standard. An Amek 9098 stereo compressor amazing and versatile. Also a matched pair of UREI LA4 from the late 80s lovely on bass guitars vocals and keyboards. I use a lot of external effects like a rare AKG ADR 68K lovely sounding reverb. Guitar pedals : WMD devices Geiger counter, EHX POLY PHASE VINTAGE, EHX MEL 9, EVENTIDE SPACE, DAN ELECTRO SPRING KING SPRING REVER. TC stereo delay vintage echo.

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

A: I believe that my musical influences or inspirations are quite extend. The Beatles, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Lee Scratch Perry, Blondie, LCD Soundsystem, Gorillaz, Depeche Mode, George Benson, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Bruce Swedien, Al Schmitt, Pat Dillet, David Bowie, Bob Clairmountain. Music First as Bruce Swedien will always say.

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

A: I domusic recording mixing and mastering depending on the needs of the project.