Mixed Machine

Composition & Recording

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1 Review
Mixed Machine on SoundBetter

Drama belongs in the film, not the process. I'm here to compose the right soundtrack for your project. I'm direct, communicative, and responsive. Multiple styles, voice overs, foley...you name it, I'll get it done for you.

I've been writing & recording for almost 30 years. In that time I've recorded a handful of albums, played a handful of shows, and have written music for a handful of independent features (both feature length and short film). I know that independent film producers don't want to have to worry about hassles with the soundtrack after dealing with all of the stress with making a film.

Guitar, bass, keyboards, synths, drums...whatever you want on the track, I can get you there.

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

1 Reviews

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  1. Review by Daniel Menahem, KR7 Productions
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    by Daniel Menahem, KR7 Productions

    Ben has worked on several of our KR7 Productions films, and the creative process with him has been a pleasure. Via his music, he was able to bring both a fresh look and news ideas to scenes as well as incorporate our ideas and (at times) crazy needs.

Interview with Mixed Machine

  1. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  2. A: A series of small instrumental sketches on Instagram.

  3. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  4. A: Digital for getting results. Analog for getting soul.

  5. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  6. A: Can you clearly describe your vision for the music you want to hear in the work? What sort of feeling do you want the viewer to experience?

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

  8. A: Look for someone who is straightforward and returns your emails quickly. Your time is valuable, and if a deadline is approaching you need to make sure that person is responsive.

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

  10. A: My Clapton strat, my V-Drums, my Jazz bass, my computer, and my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20.

  11. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  12. A: Keep recording. Don't wait for a gig to show up, just record stuff...anything. Even recording garbage can yield educational results. If you compose and record consistently, you benefit by streamlining your creative process so you're more agile and more capable of turning on a dime if the client makes a change.

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

  14. A: Instrumental soundtracks are usually what's requested of me, though I have had requests for a good ol' fashioned rock song with lyrics.

  15. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  16. A: Communication and creative problem solving are my strong points.

  17. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  18. A: Tenacity, professionalism, and a real drive for customer satisfaction with my work.

  19. Q: What's your typical work process?

  20. A: After an extensive discussion with the filmmaker/producer, a rough idea of the final product is agreed upon. Once a general idea is recorded, then it's sent to the filmmaker/producer to ensure that we're all on right track. If we're good, then I continue on fleshing out the idea into a fully-realized song.

  21. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  22. A: Single room, drum kit, guitars, synths. Using FL Studio with dozens of plugins, including the complete Abbey Road Drummer suite.

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

  24. A: John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, and Miles Davis are all major composition influences. Production-wise, Teo Macero and Zappa are both incredibly influential to me.

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

  26. A: I create instrumental soundtracks for my clients most frequently, usually to punctuate an important plot point in the film.

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