Dave Klein on SoundBetter

Music Production and Audio Engineering in the Washington, DC area.

I'm Dave Klein, a producer, audio engineer, and multi-instrumentalist in the Washington, DC area. As the owner and manager of Indie Label & Music Publisher "Baffin Records," I know what it takes to get your song to a commercial level.

Services offered through SoundBetter include:

- Production. I will help you transform your musical idea, lyric, riff, or demo song into a fully arranged, great sounding track. This will be a collaborative process, where we discuss your vision for the song and listen to reference tracks. I like to pay close attention to how the energy level of the song flows through the arrangement in order to keep the listener engaged with your music.

- Mixing & Mastering. I will mix and master your track or album in my home studio using high quality digital and analog emulation plugins. I work 100% in the box because it gives me the most control over every parameter, the ability to quickly A/B choices, and allows me to work efficiently to get your project done faster.

- Audio Enhancement. I can help give your instrument track, vocal, or audio file some love if needed. Analog-style EQ, compression, vocal tuning, timing fixes, re-amping guitars, and pedal simulation are a few of the things I can take care of pretty quick.

- Have a different request? Let me know!

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

12 Reviews

Endorse Dave Klein

10 months ago by Andrei Sora
Verified (Client)
Another fantastic collaboration with Dave! He has a knack for finding amazing artists, and his productions practically mix themselves. Looking forward to future projects!
about a year ago by Matt Dougherty
Verified (Client)
Always a pleasure working together, good times!
2 years ago by Brian Squillace
Verified (Client)
I love working with Dave! Always a pleasure.
2 years ago by Brian Squillace
Verified (Client)
Dave is great! He's got a great roster of artists and working with him is always a breeze.
2 years ago by Romano Erafficci
Verified (Client)
Outstanding experience as always!
3 years ago by Andrei Sora
Verified (Client)
I had an amazing time working on our first project! Talented and unique writer, singer - what more can a producer hope for? And communication has been stellar throughout, which made the experience even more memorable. Looking forward to future collaborations!
3 years ago by Brian Squillace
Verified (Client)
Working with Dave is great. He's always working with a lot of talent and bringing fun projects to the table. Always a pleasure.
3 years ago by Romano Erafficci
Verified (Client)
Outstanding experience!
3 years ago by Matt Dougherty
Verified (Client)
Stoked I got the chance to work with Dave and the boys!!!! Really great band making great music, and very professional and easy to deal with! Excited to see it come out :)
3 years ago by Brian Squillace
Verified (Client)
Dave is awesome to work with! Great communication, and always a fun project.
3 years ago by Romano Erafficci
Verified (Client)
Outstanding experience!
3 years ago by Matt Dougherty
Verified (Client)
Great time working with Dave and the boys, looking forward to more in the very near future!

Interview with Dave Klein

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: New single by Marian Hunter!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Brain Squillace is an amazing producer and engineer. He has mixed several of my label artists and always does amazing work.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital all the way. At this point, analog emulation software is 99% there for a fraction of the price. You can A/B choices instantly, save presets for later, adjust tons different settings quickly, and ultimately work much faster in the box.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Saturation is the secret sauce that makes every instrument sound better (and more analog) instantly
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Indie pop/rock, but I also make/compose electronic and trance music. Basically anything that evokes emotion!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Using arrangement to create emotional peaks and valleys and keep the song interesting to the listener
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I've been running Baffin Records since 2020 and have released several tracks and albums on the label. I've also had success in music publishing with a track placement on a TV show. Because of this experience, I know instantly if a song has commercial potential and if it doesn't, what it needs to get it there.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'll start with Kick/Snare and Bass. Once those two elements are grooving and punching, I'll bring in guitars and vocals. The tracks I love have really strong/upfront vocals, so I'll spend time getting them right. I'll also carve out space for each element using subtle EQ that gives everything it's own spot in the mix.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I set up my studio at home piece by piece--I have everything I need to record and engineer a track from start to finish. My studio has a lot of open space that lets me sit/stand/wander around as needed. Lots of windows and plants help me feel like I'm connected with nature even when I'm locked in on the computer!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I get inspired everywhere--when I hear a song with a great production style or element, I'll dive in and figure out how to do it myself. I love turning knobs and experimenting with different effects, but I'm still grounded in the basics of EQ and compression techniques for a solid base to work from.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mixing and Mastering; taking raw multitracks and creating a big, commercial sound ready for release.

Mixing EngineerAverage price - $50 per song
Mastering EngineerAverage price - $30 per song
Vocal TuningAverage price - $20 per track
ProducerAverage price - $150 per song
Time alignment - QuantizingAverage price - $20 per track
Vocal compingAverage price - $40 per track

I’m still building my portfolio, so my prices are low! Based on demand, I'll increase prices as needed. I'm happy to make adjustments till it’s right! One project at a time for me.