Guitar - Keys - Bass - Produce

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

A: I'm really proud of the records I've produced with my wife, Bri Murphy.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am getting ready to record the third record for my solo project, Virgo Rising, while I am off the road for a little bit!

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

A: I often get asked what signal path and instrument I used to get a certain tone. I'm always honest - I don't keep secrets!

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

A: A lot of guitarists are using modelers and direct recording. While I do take advantage of that technology in some capacity, I almost always track my real amps with a real speaker and real microphones.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your influences, and can I hear some of your previous work? What have you liked and not liked about previous providers you've worked with? If you have any reference tracks, what about them is exciting to you?

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

A: My Collings OM2H, a good Telecaster, 1973 Deluxe Reverb, a guitar cable, and a really big battery.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Vintage and tasteful, but seasoned with the best of the modern trends.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: We've all heard it before, but getting things right at the source is truly SO important, and it makes things easier for whoever else is working on the track down the road. For electric guitars, using a 3-band parametric EQ before the amp can really help the tone sit perfectly in the mix.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think that my strongest skill is

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I try and set up my room and session file the night before I record. I'm often moving sound baffles around, plugging in different amplifiers, effect pedals, and microphones, and making sure my guitars are set up for great intonation and tones. I generally try and record to a click track. When I go to record, I like to take my time and make sure the tones and parts are great before I lock in and capture the perfect recording. I usually stack more parts than needed, and eventually comb through and get rid of what is unnecessary. I will sometimes go through and slip edit my final takes, depending on the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm running everything off of a powerful Mac Mini. The studio is setup with Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, and my favorite plugins from Spectrasonics, Fabfilter, Plugin Alliance, Soundtoys, Sound Theory, and others. My electric guitars are always tracked through my live cabinet, which I keep in an isolation closet. I'm always testing out new microphones and preamps, but right now, I love a vintage Shure 548 Unidyne IV and my modded Yamaha PM1000 preamps. I love to track acoustic guitars as well, and switch my room around to get a tight room sound. Currently, I'm loving my 251-style microphone from Golden Age Premier, along with the sE VR 2 and sE8's. The 251 and VR2 capture my acoustics really well. The most up to date info on my gear is on my website!

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

A: Kyle May and Reed Pittman are absolutely amazing at their instruments! Drums and keys. Both great producers as well.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Digital has gotten so amazing, specifically in the world of guitar amp simulation and effect pedals. The convenience is unparalleled, but I do prefer all the old gear.

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

A: You will be happy and the instruments will sound amazing.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I've always known I want to be a musician. I love collaboration, playing music, listening to music, thinking about music. Best job in the world!

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

A: I try to over-communicate, and I find that it helps a lot with remote work. I'm happy to jump on a phone call or Facetime if needed. I love it when my clients also prioritize communication. If we were working together in the studio, feedback would be instantaneous. Let's try and honor that.

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

A: Songwriter-driven music! But I love progressive instrumental music, jazz, and classical music, too.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring musicianship and experience playing some of the best songs in the world with some of the best singers in the world. I hope to channel their sensitivities and what they loved to hear into the parts I play, along with what I know I do best.

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

A: I'm a longtime fan of Dominic Miller, Eric Johnson, and John Mayer. Those three really set the whole thing off for me. More recently, I've been digging on Eric Valentine, Brandi Carlile, Tom Bukovac, Brandon Flowers, Brian Eno, and Daniel Lanois.

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

A: I add instruments to tracks...acoustic and electric guitars, piano and keyboards, and even bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, and others! Sometimes I am involved in developing the song from the ground up, and other times the song and parts are already determined, and I perform and record them with an amazing collection of instruments and equipment.