Sam Wheat

Tuning - Mixing - Mastering

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205 Reviews (189 Verified)
Sam Wheat on SoundBetter

World-class mixing and production tips to make your writing/creative work shine. You know your song needs a special mix. Maybe you aren't sure if the production is quite done, or the timing and tuning need tightening. That's where I can help, honest feedback and advice, additional production tricks and a perfect mix to bring it all together

I was the head engineer at Metropolis Studios in London for 10 years, working on numerous no. 1, top 10, and platinum-selling records, including Grammy-winning 'Damn' by Kendrick Lamaar and Oscar-winning title song 'Glory' by Common and John Legend. Other credits include Pharrel, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Van Morrison, Noel Gallagher and many more across all genres.

I am the go-to mixer for The Rolling Stones with their legacy Live shows, I have done around 12 titles covering 4 decades of their career. I also revived the Live to Vinyl technique at Metropolis Studios where a band plays live, I mix live and a mastering engineer cuts live, direct to acetate disk. Credits include Nile Rogers, Moby, TLC, Public Enemy, Kelis and loads more, some for the 'Once in A Lifetime' show are available in the US on Netflix.

All of this has given me a sharp insight into how to grab the attention of whoever hears a song. We are working these days to attract listeners but also playlist curators, music supervisors and advertising executives to maximise revenue streams in this competitive space.

As you may be able to tell from the above I work across all genres and styles. Every song is a new puzzle to me, understanding the intention, presenting the ideas and getting into the ear of everyone who hears.

Hit the button and we can work out how to achieve the most for your music.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

205 Reviews - 41 Repeat Clients

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  1. Review by Jonathan P.
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    Sam was great to work with. He was really patient with while I reviewed and even re-tracked things. He helped find an awesome sound that fits the songs. Thanks Sam!

  2. Review by Kay L.
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    by Kay L.
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    Sam did an amazing job mixing and mastering my song, and tuning my vocals. The turnaround time was so fast. I highly recommend him, and I'll be working with him again in the future.

  3. Review by Nadim A.
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    Sam is great to work with. He's very patient and provides great results.

  4. Review by Vins Cenzo
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    Always beyond my expectations, Sam brings his magic touch again !

  5. Review by Moor R.
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    It was great working with Sam. Very communicative. I received mixing/mastering services and absolutely love the final masters he sent. I will %100 work with Sam again and highly recommend anyone looking to elevate their sound to work with him too. Thanks Sam! NIKIA SUNCHILD

  6. Review by manson8990
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    It's always a great pleasure working with Sam!

  7. Review by Omondi N.
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    Sam is so enjoyable to work with and instilled great confidence with his experience and impeccable mix which was very balanced.

  8. Review by Joey Collins
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    Sam is a true visionary when it comes to mixing. Gave my song the perfect mix and was patient with my revisions. Can't recommend him enough! I look forward to working again in the future.

  9. Review by Sean M.
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    The quality that sam delivers is crazy! He really put everything into it to give you the best!
    Def coming back

  10. Review by Octavian
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    Thank you again Sam for amazing work! I must say since I m working with you I get motivated and inspired to create and record more and more.

  11. Review by Lea Anderson
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    Very professional and proficient! It was nice to work with Sam!

  12. Review by Mattie Kole
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    Sam was great to work with and got back to me quickly. Very knowledgeable across the board.

  13. Review by Petter P.
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    Fantastic effort. Top pros are so efficient and have great workflow, things just happen and you don't have to wait forever for the right inspiration. Very skilled professional. I would definitely want to work with him again.

  14. Review by Octavian
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    One of the many great things about working with Sam, is that he listens deeply to the music and creates a thing that is alive and moves the spirit.

  15. Review by Jason C.
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    Sam was great to work with. He was very responsive and took my feedback and made adjustments that were spot on. I love how the song sounds after Sam mixed/mastered it.

  16. Review by Cenzo
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    by Cenzo
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    Magic! Very responsive and meticulous, it was a pleasure to work with Sam and a his true professionalism !

  17. Review by Octavian
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    Always a pleasure to return and work with Sam!
    Thank you for your work and talent.

  18. Review by Emily O.
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    Sam did an amazing job! The song always turns out better than i could have imagined. Highly recommend him!

  19. Review by Mike M.
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    Sam is a wizard. He intuitively understood what I was looking for and made the mix come to life in a way that exceeded my expectations. He was very easy to work with and was patient with minor adjustments I wanted to hear or try out. Highly recommend.

  20. Review by Niels P.
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    Very quick and responsive to feedback. Really enjoyed working with Sam.

Interview with Sam Wheat

  1. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  2. A: Layers of compression are nearly always more transparent than one compressor slamming away. Not uncommon for a lead vocal to see 4 compressors before it hits my mix bus. The first one on the channel with the most aggressive Attack and release settings (fast release is your secret weapon here), and then more gentle compressors doing less reduction as it goes through the bus's, blends with BV's, and off to the mix. That will make it more consistent to deal with and help you sit it in the right spot.

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

  4. A: If I was recording there is only 1 microphone for me U47. Gear wise... Distressor, Pultec eq, Fairchild! Neve console... Basically, everything that would die in 5 seconds of desert island heat

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

  6. A: Really it's all sorts. Usually a vocal as the centre piece, somewhere between pop, indy and EDM.

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

  8. A: All of the Live To Vinyl sessions. They were the biggest challenge for me. Having Nile Ridgers on the floor and counting down the clock till he played and I mixed as it was being cut to vinyl is a trip. Maximum preparation, maximum pressure, maximum satisfaction.

  9. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  10. A: I always ask for references to open the conversation of the sound we are going for. I find it's the best way to understand the thought process from the get-go. It helps me to lock into what they love about music and usually starts a conversation about the different elements. It's a crucial step for me and I love hearing what people come back with. Sometimes they apologise because it's 3 totally different tracks... The drums form this one, strings from this, and vocals from this... but I can totally get the picture from that. It nearly always makes sense because the music is the common language and you can piece together their process.

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

  12. A: Be self-critical of what you have done. It really is worth spending money on a great mix, it will multiply your hard work. But listen to other artists in your genre, have you put as much thought into the composition or sounds or playing as the people you admire. Is there any little trick they have done that is the icing on the cake?

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

  14. A: I worked in my first studio when I was 16, from small town to big city over 20 odd years, learning each one as I go.

  15. Q: How would you describe your style?

  16. A: Upfront and personal

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

  18. A: Beck I think, just an innovator and I love his take and style. One of the first artists I truly got into on my own.

  19. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  20. A: Both are essential for me. Analogue is how we get it in, digital is how we organise and make sure we get it out. It's perfect harmony. If we only had one or the other we would be poorer for it.

  21. Q: What's your typical work process?

  22. A: Varies a lot, but it usually starts with hearing the music in the state it exists at that moment, then getting into some philosophical questions about where it should go and what purpose it serves for the artists. Where the artist is at, where the song fits into that, how it should move forward. Then it is a matter of executing that, maybe adding some parts, maybe taking some away, or revisiting some. Then mix and work together to complete.

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

  24. A: I'll get it right for you! I love the collaboration and I want to know about your vision, I have loads of experience in what works and what doesn't, and I have the technical skills to make it sound amazing.

  25. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  26. A: I'm pretty good at getting to the bottom of a problem and handling it sensitively. Band or artist dynamics can be complicated and I think it is one of the roles producers have played throughout time. Mediating all the creative brains that exist in a production.

  27. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  28. A: Apart from experience mixing all sorts of music, an honest and informed perspective on what works and how to make the most of opportunities that exist out there.

  29. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  30. A: I was in the big studio system for a long time, working 80 channel consoles and sessions with 40 or 50 mics on the floor. It's really tiring coiling all those cables! haha, No I keep it simple for mixing. I have some choice bits of outboard gear that I run through or print back into ProTools. Urei compression, API EQ, some crazy Russian delays, filters and so on. I have some amazing v72 pres that I had wired into a box with some clever electronics so I can run anything through them. Sometimes stems or the whole mix,

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

  32. A: So many... I love big sounds with intimate performances, if that makes sense? Neon Bible by Arcade Fire is a favourite, produced by the band, working closely with engineer Marcus Strauss and then getting Nick Launey in at the later stages to sit in on sessions and mix the whole thing. Seems like a great inclusive approach using everyone's skills. The record sounds epic and intimate, and I think that was because there was such a deep understanding between everyone involved. I love it. Other producers I love are Daniel Lanois, Rick Rubin, the gods of the game, basically. Mix engineers, Tom Elmhurst has mixed so many of the records I love, Amy Winehouse, Bowie, Beck... Really great mixes of amazing songs... when the two collide, well, that's what we are aiming for. Artists right now, I'm a bit in love with Dua Lipa, I love her dark pop sound and kind of disinterested vocal, the productions are all so cool, either big and dark or really bouncy, but she ties it all together and it all fits. Also love Banks for taking pop to the outside, making weird ok. I could go on but you get the idea, I love it when everything works together, the results are magic

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

  34. A: Mostly I mix, sometimes I master if that works for the project, plus I quite often add programming and production to finish up songs. Lately, I have been collaborating a lot and co-writing as well, for artists to release but also for library and sync opportunities.

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'Crush' Great vocal work from Nardacss

I was the Mix engineer in this production


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    'Crush' Great vocal work from Nardacss
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    'Get on the Ride' Clean and Crisp from Glenn M
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    'The Beautiful Ones' Savagery from Kwun Pang
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    Powerful Song by Audrey English called 'Island'
Terms Of Service

I basically do unlimited revisions, no one goes away unhappy and the amount we will talk through the process should mean we are on the same page and working toward the same goal.

GenresSounds Like
  • Adele
  • Arcade Fire
  • Swedish House Mafia
Gear Highlights
  • Urei Compression
  • API EQ
  • V72 Pre amps
  • Vintage Valve Amps
  • Rhodes 73 mark I
  • PMC Monitors
  • UAD
  • Izotope
  • Fab Filter
  • Waves
  • Arturia
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More Samples
SoundBetter Deal

Deals available across multiple songs, lets talk about it

  • My latest secret weapon for mix gritJul 12, 2021

    Klevgrand Plugins!!!



    Really great... DAW Cassette for lofi vibes DAW LP for crackle and wobble Degrader for bit crush...



    And they have free-amp to try for free... go check it out

  • Leo Gretz BangerApr 15, 2021

    Looking forward at the party scene... Just mixed an EDM/Pop banger called 'Over You' by Leo Gretz, watch out for that as the sun starts shining!

  • Tommy Antonio's vocal arrangementsMar 29, 2021

    Just been mixing some amazing harmony vocal arrangements.  If you can tell the emotional story in the chords of the harmony then wow, so effective.

  • Lockdown musicMar 09, 2021

    Just finished up an amazing track with M-Carlos and Oum.  There take on lockdown and the mindsets that has created.  Sung in both Arabic and French with improvised sax and tech-house beat.  Very cool.  Look out for the release

  • NiTasha Jackson - More Than EnoughFeb 24, 2021

    Just finished 'More Than Enough' by NiTasha Jackson.  Love the song and her style of lush BV's under beautifully written melody's.

    Simple songs beautifully executed, go check her socials and Spotify

  • 2 versionsFeb 17, 2021

    Leopld recently came to me with a project that had a main, and a stripped-back version.  Some elements taken away for the stripped-back, and some added.  I thought it was a great way to get the most out of a track and expose it to more opportunities.


    It was great to work with both in mind and find ways to make them cohesive but also stand out as individually valid pieces of music.

  • Thank You'sFeb 08, 2021

    Thank you to NiTasha Jackson, RETNA and Leopld for allowing me to work on your music this week.  All totally different songs... A ballard, a banger and a beauty.  An honour to be trusted and help you guys with your tunes!

  • Finishing up Rolling Stones from Rio 2006Feb 03, 2021

    PRINTED TODAY! Rolling Stones live show on Copacabana Beach, Rio, 2006. Attended by 1.5 million people...


    Get in touch if you have a mixing project. I have my crowd size fader dialled in... You can sound like you're whispering in an ear, on the radio, in an arena, or now... on a Brazillian beach with 1.5 million people screaming!