Matthew Faulkner on SoundBetter

My mission is to empower artists by elevating their recordings to the next level. Whether you're seeking expert consultation to refine your project or need hands-on expertise, I'm here to be of service every step of the way.

Clients choose to work with me because I truly care about them and their music. Over the years I've developed an intuition for what might come next or what an artist may need in a specific moment. I'm dedicated to my craft and would love to bring my wealth of experience to help serve your next project.

I'm a lifelong musician and recording engineer, born and raised in LA. From a young age I began writing, performing and touring nationally. In college I pursued studies in Recording Technology and Music Theory. Post-graduation, I had the privilege of apprenticing under engineers Laura Sisk (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey), John Hill (Phantogram, Wavves, Rihanna), and Matt Hyde (Deftones, No Doubt, Slayer).

In 2014, I took on the role of senior engineer & head of production at Sonora Recorders, where I contributed to producing and mixing 100’s of songs. In 2018, I embarked on a new chapter by opening BetaWave Studios, a haven for creatives like myself. Here, I've curated my studio with boutique hardware and state-of-the-art mixing equipment. Today, I remain dedicated to my craft, continuing to write, produce, and mix albums for a diverse and vibrant community. (Linked below)

I'm friendly, so don't be afraid to send me a message. I'm here to be of service.

https://bit.ly/3PHNEMH

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

3 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Matthew Faulkner

by Dev S.
Verified
Matthew provided excellent vocal tuning and quantizing. He even provided a rough mix for a preview of future work on the track. Highly recommend. He is a true professional with immense talent!
by James M.
Verified
Matthew was fast and easy to work with! I hope to work with Matthew again in future.
by Eric B.
Matthew did an incredible job producing, engineering & mixing my full length record "Gaunt." He gave me a hell of deal, since it was our first time working together and stuck by me every step of the way. He even lent his bass playing skills last minute, when my session player flaked on me. I couldn't be happier with how the record turned out. All I can say is, hire this man! You wont regret it.

Interview with Matthew Faulkner

Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Roll out the low end where you don't need it. You'd be surprised at how much sonic space is freed up when you EQ out pointless low frequency rumble on your track.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Anything that inspires me. I've been playing and creating music professionally for 20+ years. During that time, I've worked on a wide variety of projects. I'm careful to give each project special attention and stay away from standardized templates or settings. In the past, most of my projects have been rock, indie, electronic, disco, pop, hip hop & country.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Sonic branding. I love discussing what the vision of a project is with each artist. Does it need to sound clean or dirty? In your face or spiraling off into the distance. Analog or digital? Having these sonic markers and limitations, allows us to hyper focus on the overall vision and your brand.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: If it's at the conceptual phase, I can assist with lyrics, melodies, arrangement, key & tempo to get the most out of the song. I'm a highly skilled tracking engineer, so I can help get the appropriate sonic soundscape for the artists vision. If it's a project that has already been recorded, I can add additional production, editing, mixing & mastering to help take your song to the next level.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I always start by talking to the artist about their vision for the project. Together, we'll lay out our plan of action and deadlines, then move on from there.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work out of Sonora Recorders in Los Angeles. My room runs on PT HD10, racks filled with Class A outboard gear and is acoustically treated for sonic accuracy. The live room sounds great for tracking drums, guitars and bass (or anything loud.) The vocal booth is connected to the control room and has a window for easy communication during vocal production.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I listen to a wide variety of music. What captures me first is great songwriting. As for the technical side, I look up to anyone who's taking risks and and pushing sonic boundaries. I've had the honor of working alongside incredibly talented producers, mixers and musicians (John Hill, Matt Hyde, Laura Sisk to name a few) that have helped grow my skill set and continue to inspire me everyday.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I work on everything from songwriting, tracking, vocal production to editing, mixing and mastering. Sometimes I'm involved in the whole vision of the project, from conception to finished master. Other times, I'm involved with just on aspect like tracking or mixing.