Beyond Mixing & Mastering

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

A: I ghost produced a track that became a summertime anthem and a Beatport top 10.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An experimental electronic album that is helping me consider new methods of dynamic processing in the mixing stage.

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

A: Luca Pretolesi

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog for nostalgia and to get the imperfect warmth many pieces of hardware offer and adding character with ease. Analog also allows for a more music mixing process with tactile feedback that's unique to each piece of equipment. Digital for ease of recall when pulling back up a session. Digital also allows for super transparent processing allowing me to be more surgical when needed. Finally Digital allows for me to work on the road allowing me to mix and master from inspiring locations and spaces that feed into the personality of the mix adding life.

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

A: That the emotion of your track will be preserved and elevated.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working alongside talented artists.

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

A: Q: Why should I consider STEM Mastering? A: Stem mastering gives me more control than a traditional stereo master because I can make targeted adjustments to different elements of the mix. For example, if the vocal needs a little more space, the low end needs tightening, or the drums need to hit harder, I can address those areas without unnecessarily changing everything else. It’s especially useful when the mix is already close but a few elements need individual attention. That said, stem mastering isn’t always necessary. If the stereo mix is working well, a traditional master can often be the better and more efficient approach.

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

A: That mastering is just dropping a limiter on the master bus and looking at LFUS.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: To please share their demo mix before I approve the session.

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

A: Find an engineer that connects with your music. That inspiration will take them from being a mechanical mix by numbers engineer and inspire them to take artistic approaches with your work to elevate it.

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

A: MacBook Pro VSX Immersion One (headphones) Chord Mojo (headphone amp) Subpac (wearable tactile bass pack) CAD M179 (microphone)

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

A: I began DJing on vinyl at 14 years old in 2002. by 2006 I began producing and learning DAWs before going to school for music composition and finally graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production and Audio Engineering and graduating as Valedictorian in 2014. Immediatly after I moved to Ibiza Spain to work on the island before being lured to Las Vegas to work under legendary mix/mastering engineer Luca Pretolesi at Studio DMI. I then ran this music studio until Covid in 2020 and traveling the world full time getting re-inspired to work with music in a new way. I am now applying my world influences and matured taste for sound and music to work.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Classic dynamic mixing and mastering with the modern edge.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Kaskade for his tasteful arrangements and mixing. His diverse production styles showcase his masterful skills in the studio.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don’t chase LUFS. A great sounding master at −10 LUFS beats a crushed master at −7 every time.

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

A: House, techno, bass genres

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Working with my synesthesia creating space so nothing competes and giving your tracks clarity.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: fresh ears of a tastemaker, help shine instruments that might start as supporting elements and make a track energetically stand against industry standards.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Drop stems into one of my mixing templates and rework all channels with volume fader only before considering any treatment with post fx and processing.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have transitioned from a hybrid setup when I am in NYC to working completely in the box with a pair of VSX Immersion One headphones, VSX software, Subpac (body bass transducer) while

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

A: Luca Pretolesi (past mentor), Ryan Raddon "Kaskade", GREY, Sonny Moore "Skrillex" (past client), Just a Gent

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

A: Mixing and Stem Mastering.