Javier Ballesteros on SoundBetter

Hi! I'm Javier, a professional bassist from Caracas, Venezuela. I specialize in recording tight, energetic, and powerful basslines for rock music, from classic rock to alternative and hard rock.

Whether you need:

[+] A solid foundation for your power trio
[+] Driving eighth notes with punch
[+] Melodic bass lines that add character
[+] Dirty, gritty tones or clean low end

I'll make sure your track hits hard and grooves just right!

️ Gear I use:
[+] Epiphone Thunderbird IV (Korean)
[+] Fender Precision Bass 50th Anniversary
[+] Fender Jazz Bass Made in Mexico (5 strings)
[+] Fender Jazz Bass 40th Anniversary (4 strings)
[+] Utrera, custom made 5 strings Bass
[+] Kramer Fretless (4 strings)
[+] Gretsch Electromatic Junior Jet
[+] Ampeg BA-115 + a variety of pro mics
[+] Ampeg SGT-DI
[+] Line 6 Helix Native
[+] Neural DSP plugins

Delivered clean, parallel dirty FX with or without amp tone - your choice -

High-quality WAV files, locked to the grid or with human feel, depending on your vibe.

Just send me your track, tempo, and reference if any, and let's make it rock!

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

Credits

2 Reviews

by Saúl
Collaborating with this mixing and mastering engineer was a sheer pleasure. Their rapid response time and clear communication streamlined the process. What truly sets them apart is their unmatched ability to transform feedback into precise, professional modifications. From nuanced EQ adjustments to expert compression, each step was a testament to their technical prowess. The final mixes exceeded expectations, granting my songs a refined and captivating sound. Beyond technical excellence, their creative touch elevated the music, showcasing a unique artistic perspective. In essence, working with
by Elisa
Javier is incredible to work with, he is very professional and communication with him is great. Totally recommend him.

Interview with Javier Ballesteros

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: My band's first single!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I prefer Analog for recording, and Digital for mixing.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Louder is better.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Send me some references songs that have what YOU WANT for your own production, explain some details about the recording and production process.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be honest, try to explain everything about what YOU WANT, if it's possible with examples so we'll make the path to accomplish what you require.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My laptop, an interface, a pair of headphones and I'm done haha.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I move to Caracas when I was 19 years old and then start working with high quality musicians around the city. While I started only doing recordings, somehow I manage to start mixing what I was recording to my clients to I gain a lot of experience.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I like punchy drums, pokie bass, hard-hitting guitars and in your face vocals.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Arctic Monkeys, all of their albums are a joy to listen
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Taking care of details.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work at 3 studios: [+] Studio A: Universal Audio Apollo Twin X, Yamaha NS10M Studio [+] Studio B: PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL, M-Audio BX5 [+] Studio C: AVID Pro Tools HD system, KRK Rokit 8 I own an Avalon 373sp and a Manley Tube preamp Basses: [+] Epiphone Thunderbird [+] Fender Jazz Bass [+] LTD B-50 Precision Guitars: [+] Squier Telecaster [+] Fender Jaguar [+] Maestro by Gibson Les Paul
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Simple is better
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Any type of Rock, also some Venezuelan styles.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As a bassist what's best for the song, from groovy bass lines upto melodic bass lines. As a mixing engineer what does the song make me feel, that's the emotion I want to bring to the listener.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I have made my own version of the 'Brauerize' mixing method but it is nearly the same process as he uses.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Alex Turner, Rick Rubin, Matt Bellamy, James Ford
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mixing songs.