DNAcoustics offers engineering, production, mixing and mastering. We work on pop, rock, r&b, classical, jazz, choral, hip-hop, edm, you name it! We take a seasoned experimental approach using the best analog gear in the digital world! If you like your music to be dynamic and true to your vision, hit us up!
Based in Tucson, AZ, DNAcoustics has been providing critical music production and acoustical consulting services to musicians, studios and performing artists since 1999.
We specialize in tracking, mixing and mastering all styles of ambitious music, and have worked with many amazing artists, including, True Conchord Voices and Orchestra (3 times Grammy nominated), Harvey Brooks (Bob Dylan, Miles Davis), Jon Spencer, Samuel Torres, Built to Spill, Jon Convertino (Calexico).. and many many more.
We have a huge collection of vintage guitars, synths, drums, e pianos, a Leslie modded Hammond M2 and an 1887 Steinway. We have dozens of great mics by Neumann, Schoeppes, Earthworks, AKG, and the list goes on!
We love to help your vision become a sonic reality!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Interview with DNAcoustics
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Dynamics are crucial in musicality. Create dynamic music!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Is there electricity? My Steinway piano. My Guild f40, sound devices mx10, pair of earthworks QTC 1’s. Is that 5?
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I’ve been recording music for over 25 years and been a performing artist for 40 years. I earned a degree in sound design for theatre and spent many years (1995-2005) at the helm of both the monitor and FOH console mixing live acts, including Wycliffe Jean, booker T. And the mgs, Jon Bob Jovi, Flogging Molly, Harry Bellefonte, George Carlin, and the list goes on.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: In 2001, I created a band called The Solace Brothers. I wrote and recorded songs. We went on the road with Built to Spill in 2003 and 2004 and received high accolades from music writers around the world. I was the primary songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist, producer, arranger, band leader, manager, tour manager, etc, Total indie.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mastering a record for Nashville singer songwriter, guitar guru, Brent Moyer.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both because they love each other.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I don’t make promises.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I enjoy the variety of artists and accounts I’ve encounteted. It’s the people!
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q:Where the bathroom? A: Over there.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it’s not voodoo
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Have you ever been in a Turkish bath?
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Bob Dylan Why? Goes without saying.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Average
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I spend equal amounts of time between experimental singer songwriter and classical music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I am a generalist in music production. My strongest skill is moving stumbling blocks out of the way for an artist to achieve his/her/its goal.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My experience in music is broad and includes collaborations of all types. From dynamics and sonics to arranging and wordsmithing. I have also spent many years as a band leader (Solace Brothers) writing, recording and touring.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Track through vintage transformer coupled high headroom mic pres to digital. Mix stems out through analog console to tape and back into digital.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My setup: the JapaNeve! 1977 32 ch. Yamaha PM 2000. 8 channels of Quad Eight Mm310b, MAC Pro w Apollo 2 (tons of plugs)Apogee Ensemble. Outboard EQs by Quad Eight, 4 channels Valley People Dynamite, Eventide H910, Interspound Spring Reverb. Otari MN55 2track master tape machine.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am fortunate to have been mentored by historic innovators including Abe Jacob (Jimi Hendrix) Lee Furr (Buck Owens) and Jim Waters (Sonic Youth).
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I am most often asked to track and mix a recording. Mastering requests are also common.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Casual, professional, dynamic,
We want all our clients to reach their goals and will continue work on your project until your satisfaction. Typical turn around is 4 days. Tasks beyond the initial request are billed separately.
- Bob Dylan
- Lambchop & Hands Off Cuba/Lambchop
- Kanye West
- Lots of vintage mic amps and EQ’s including 8 channels of Quad Eight mm310b (1971 Deane Jensen designed)
