Mobile Producer/Engineer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently in the process of booking all my artists for the upcoming season at various venues, festivals, and concerts.

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

A: I'm fairly new here, and I have only dealt with buyers, not service providers.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love both for different reasons. I am not a purist either way and I think that quality engineers know the sound of their gear, no matter what it is, and use it to mold the mixes into beautiful works of art. I frequently use both types of gear.

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

A: That I will not cut corners and I will not send out work that I am not proud of, even if that means I have to eat some cost.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to be my own boss and do what I love to do every day.

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

A: What is my rate? I tell them it is reasonable, and that every project requires something different. Recording studios sell time, so it always is directly related to how much your project needs.

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

A: The biggest misconception about producing music is that it can be done quicker than is actually possible.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask questions to help me understand the end goal for the project? For example, I might ask, "Who is your target audience and how will you be presenting the material to this audience?"

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

A: Most people offering services online can make themselves look like whatever they want you to think, so remember to use your ears to judge the quality of service, and get to know people on a personal level so the end product can be truly collaborative.

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

A: 2 Shure SM57's, my stereo Neve 1073, my '82 Telecaster, and a cooler full of water.

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

A: I have a degree in Music Education from Kennesaw State University and have worked in all the major recording studios in Atlanta as a contractor. I learned the ropes during an internship at a Rounder Records studio in Asheville, NC where I worked on several popular records on that label as an intern. When I moved back to Atlanta in 2005 I opened my own studio and have been doing that ever since. I also run a booking agency that promotes local Atlanta bands all over the Southeastern United States.

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

A: I have made the last 3 records for the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. I engineered and mixed on these albums. I had never recorded a full orchestra before this, and I challenged myself to do a great job, and the preparation and attention to detail paid off. The general manager of the orchestra, who never compliments anyone, couldn't stop talking about how it was the best recordings they've ever made.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Loud and in your face. I believe in making a big deal out of the important elements in any mix and making a lasting statement. I want my mixes to make an unmistakeable statement of power.

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

A: Paul McCartney. He is the epitome of professionalism and he is an all around fantastic musician.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The most important tip about music production I could give anyone is to take the entire process serious. Don't assume that just because you're having fun, that you're not also working to achieve a polished and energetic product.

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

A: I have worked on all genres of music, but because I live and work in Atlanta, I find myself working on hip-hop all the time.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I have a keen ear for detail and do not cut corners under any circumstance. I put out the same effort and quality of product on every project I touch.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have a diverse background in music in that I have worked as a professional player, producer of live and studio, teacher, entrepreneur, and engineer. This diversity gives me the ability to take a leadership role and deliver an industry appropriate mix in almost any genre.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to mix very lightly to maintain dynamics and the creative vibe of the artist. I believe in gentle nudges to achieve a collectively big sound. I approach every genre and mix individually so I don't really have a "typical" mix, although the one thing I can say about every mix I do is that I work fast and generally get a mix up that I like pretty quickly.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run a hybrid analog-digital studio with a high powered Mac Pro running Pro Tools 10 as the main engine. I then process everything through a plethora of analog gear as well as using various plugins to achieve the right sound, then I mix and sum the final print using a vintage Yamaha analog console.

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

A: I am constantly learning about new artists, which inspire me. I love to see someone getting into their art and, in turn, I find a new part of myself. As for music I've listened to over the years I have too many to name that have inspired me. If I had to give one artist and his producer here and now, I would choose Michael Jackson produced by Quincy Jones.

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

A: I have a variety of talented people at my disposal, so we are able to do a number of different things really well. I personally, as the owner of the company, do tracking in our state-of-the-art studio for local independent artists as well as mix and master projects via the internet.