Recording Engineer, Mixer

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

A: Patrick Ryan Heaney taught me just about everything I know.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: ProTools is probably the most efficient way to get make sounding records. I love the digital medium because it allows many of us to express ourselves in ways previously unavailable. There are make tools and tricks to avoid a digital recording that sounds too, well, digital. these tricks are what i base my production style around.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to spend my time working on music!

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

A: Sometimes I talk with people who think life in the studio is basically a non-stop drug party. But, as anyone who has done this for a considerable length of time can tell you, this line of work requires an eye for detail and consistent dedication that many folks wouldn't expect.

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

A: My silvertone amp, heil pr30 mic, spitfire labs plugins, neve preamp/ eq, my grandma's old krakauer piano

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

A: Music has been an obsession since i started out on guitar at 12. Over the years I found that the production side of things was just as compelling to me as the musicianship/songwriting side. I got my start working out of Phaser Control studio in San Diego and have not looked back since.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I like each song to have at least one element that is unique to it. I find that one of the best ways to accomplish this is by using the sound of the room you're recording in. Capturing just one unique sonic detail, the breath of a singer, a scrape of a guitar string, a cable being stepped on, and incorporating it into the song really helps your music stand out from things that are overly digital and edited to death.

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

A: Rock n roll music with experimental tendencies is probably my favorite. But I am a fan of many styles and love branching out into new areas.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to approach the sonics of a song the way a lyricist approaches hooks. In other words, I try to give parts a tonality or a texture that immediately grabs the listener. Doing this in a way that reinforces the meaning or emotional affect of the music is endlessly interesting to me.

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

A: Some of my production heroes include Lee "Scratch" Perry, Tchad Blake, John Congleton, Annie Clark, EL-P, Andrew Weatherall, Brian Eno, Tony Visconti, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Josh Homme, Jimmy Page, George Clinton, Outkast, The Bomb Squad, Jimmy Lavalle and Jack White to name a few.