I am a certified audio engineer from Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts and owner/operator of Le Freak Studios.
Music is what I love and I put all of myself into the mixes and recording sessions I work on.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Interview with Steve Pollhammer
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Mike Sapone. I was listening to a Daytrader album and was just amazed by the album sonically. I had to know who worked on this album, so I looked it up on AllMusic and then learned that he has played a major role with some of my favorite bands (Brand New and Taking Back Sunday). And Steve Albini. Not only am I a fan of the records that he has worked on I like his outlook on the recording/producing process of a record. Its your music and should be played the way you want it.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Working with Kenny Reid from Baltimore Md. We recorded 6 songs in 4 hours. He knew his songs inside and out, the performance was on point making things very easy in post.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: a fusion jazz, electronic combo. It sounds strange but is very cool
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: digital for now. At this early stage in my career it doesn't make much sense to spend thousands on classic analog gear. You need to master the essentials first.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Do not pay until you are 100% happy with the final product
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Hearing all types of different music and helping to play a small part in the legacy that people are leaving behind.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: There is too much bass in my mix. Can you fix that? Yes I can
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it isn't that hard and not worth the money to have a professional work on it. Most home studios aren't properly treated for mix.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: How long do I have to mix the song/songs?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: let me send a sample of their mixed song back to them to decide if they want to work with me.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: a solar generator, my laptop, Apollo twin, headphones, and a personal hotspot
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have been mixing, recording, and doing live sound for about two and a half years. I would love to be working with music full time but being relatively new to the business my name isn't big enough. I have been saving my money and buying gear and I am planning on starting a studio in the fall of 2017
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: its very organic
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Fugazi. The intensity in their music gets off. Who wouldn't want to work with a legend?
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Know your songs.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: It used to be mostly punk/alternative type music but lately I have been working on everything from R&B to jazz
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Listening. I'll listen to past works of a client and then the song they would like me to work on to capture the feeling of it.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As generic as it may be I approach each song with a fresh set of ears. I pull all the faders down, set a rough mix, and then the song will just inspire me. Automate the pan here, throw some reverb on this. It is a very organic process.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Import the audio files, pull the faders down, get a rough mix, and let the song show me the direction.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a mixing room set up in my house. Its comfortable and well treated
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I mostly mix and do live sound
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $50 per song
- Recording StudioAverage price - $300 per day
- RemixingAverage price - $50 per song
- Boom OperatorAverage price - $150 per day
4 revisions per song, I can mix 1-2 songs a day 50% deposit due at the beginning and the remaining 50% upon completion
- AKG
- Rode
- Pro Tools
- Focusrite
- JBL
- Presonus
- Shure
- Audio technica