High-End Mixing and Mastering

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A music documentary for the BBC.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both together. Each format has its own strengths and weaknesses. Having access to both yields the best, most personalized results.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: As cheesy as it sounds: Bringing music to life. There is something incredibly gratifying about taking individual elements, and carefully putting them together to get something larger than the sum of its parts.

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

A: Laptop, AT 4047 multipattern condenser microphone, SM57 instrument microphone, Apollo X8P interface, Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel.

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

A: I've been doing this for over 20 years. I've worked on sound for music, feature films, and everything in between. I also teach audio at an Ontario college and make audio plugins for audio engineers.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The ear and brain are very adaptive. Make sure to rely on your first instincts and feelings. If something didn't sound right at first but on a 3rd listen seems fine, it's probably not fine. The same is true in reverse: If an element sounded good on the first 5 listens but sticks out on the 6th, it's probably where it should be.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Listening.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: In addition to Engineering and Production, I am also a multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer, lyricist, and arranger. These skills help me see the song from a different, more flexible perspective and deliver unique results.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Each song is approached a little differently, depending on what the music needs. Typically tracks are cleaned of any noise and imperfections, edited / tuned (if needed), then routed both internally and to outboard gear. Once prep is done, I use a Slate Raven multitouch console, supported by a powerful computer to work on the music with my hands. This way I am not constricted to doing the work one mouse click at a time. Finally, I make sure to listen on many speakers and in many listening environments to make sure the final mix/master sounds good everywhere, and not just in the studio.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For mixes and masters I usually work out of my own facility in Toronto. Universal Audio and Focusrite pre amps and I/O with Dynaudio and Auratone monitors. I work on a Mac running Pro Tools Ultimate with UAD, McDSP, Slate Digital, Waves, and Brainworx plugins to name a few. A large selection of virtual instruments are also available in-house. The studio is also equipped with a Yamaha DTX 950 electric drum kit for drum programming and performing.

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

A: Steven Wilson, Imogen Heap, Michael Brauer, John Bailey, Timbaland, The Mars Volta, Daft Punk, Tool.

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

A: I most commonly mix, produce, and play / record / program drums.

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

A: I've got two: 1) I will give you world-class results. 2) I am not happy until you are happy.

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

A: Communicate what you want and need. If you are unsure of what you want and need, just let me know and I will help you figure it out.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I serve the song before I serve my style. So I can't really say "big punchy drums" because that isn't always true. My style is making things feel right.

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

A: Present or past? Imogen Heap, Pure Reason Revolution, The Beatles, Porcupine Tree, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Opeth, Tool. I love what these artists do / did and think I can help push things even further in those directions.

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

A: Rock, pop, electronic, metal, world, hip hop. Most contemporary genres.