Mixing and Mastering

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, you can do so much more with digital then you can with analog and if you try something and it doesn't work you can undo it and try something different.

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

A: I promise that I will give my undivided attention to every job that I do for them, my phone gets turned off, all distractions are out of sight, it's only me and the music.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to work with music of all types from all parts of the world, you get to meet some really interesting people with interesting ideas.

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

A: I find the biggest misconception about mixing is that some people believe that it includes editing, time aligning, comping, tuning and all of those types of extras.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are you recording them yourself or in a studio? What are the 3 key elements you want to stand out the most? What bands are you wanting to sound similar to if any? Do you have specific tones for guitars you want to use or have replicated?

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

A: I would take my Sennheiser HD 650 Open headphones and Subpack, my computer so I have all the plug-ins and software, Zoom UAC-8 and Shure SM7B microphone.

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

A: I have always been part-time music, I have only been recording, mixing and mastering for three years with professional gear, prior to that I made demo's on a cheap 8 track for a few years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: It would be hard to describe my style because I like being fluid with the song, I want to give the song the best sound and most of the time that's not by sitting there doing the exact same thing over and over but by starting from scratch and making everything blend and work to make a perfect sound.

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

A: The two artist's I would love to work with that are tied at Foo Fighters and Chelsea Grin. Foo Fighters, I grew up listening to, they have an amazing style and I feel I could learn so much from working with them as well as achieve so much because of all the different elements they have. Chelsea Grin, Got me into the heavier genres, have amazing elements and are very technical and I have had the chance to mix one of their songs thanks to Nail The Mix and I would love to work on their music with them.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Trust your gut, over analysing a decision when it comes to mixing and mastering is where everything can and will go wrong.

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

A: I usually work on the heavier genres from Punk to Post-Hardcore, Hardcore, Metalcore, Deathcore, Death metal, etc.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creativity would have to be my strongest skill, I have been writing and playing music my entire life so whether it's classical or Deathcore I can bring the creative aspect of one to meet the other to find and bring out the best sound. Sometimes a song may have aspect's from a different genre which can make it shine more so than if it was written, mixed and mastered the same as everything else in that genre.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my own creative elements to a song, I can make it hard and heavy when it needs to be and soft and strong when it needs to be. having a background in multiple genres and styles as well as experience in a 7 years experience in bands, on my own projects and writing music and lyrics I have a lot that I can bring to the table when it comes to perspective and hearing what needs to be done to get the best end result.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Discuss with the band as to how they want it to sound, find out there idea's and there 3 key elements they want present. Mixing: Set up the Session, level, mix, reference, relevel and make changes if necessary and then send to the band for mix notes, get the notes, make the changes if any are needed and finalise the song. Mastering: Set up the session, master, reference, make changes if necessary and then send to the band for notes, get the notes, make the changes if any are needed and finalise the song.

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

A: To have an idea of what you are after and what bands you are wanting to sound similar to overall.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio set up, it's set up to be comfortable and allow my creativity to flow to allow the best results for anything that I am doing. I mix and master using Sennheiser HD 650 Open headphones and a subpack, I then reference the mix on Samsung Studio GT monitors, HP60 closed-back studio headphones and a home theatre system. My computer set up is a high-powered PC and high-powered laptop, a 40" monitor, a tonne of plug in's and access to some outboard gear.

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

A: Music wise: I am inspired by Nirvana, Chelsea Grin, Wage War, Architects, Thy Art Is Murder, Offspring, Eminem, Post Malone, Foo Fighters and alot more. Production wise: I am inspired by Joey Sturgis, Joel Wanasek, Eyal Levi, Brian Hood, Henrick Udd, Andrew Wade and Kane Churko.

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

A: The most common work I have done for clients is mixing and mastering services.