Steve Pollhammer

Capture and manipulate Sound

Steve Pollhammer on SoundBetter

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

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

  2. 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.

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

  4. 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.

  5. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  6. A: a fusion jazz, electronic combo. It sounds strange but is very cool

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. 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.

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

  10. A: Do not pay until you are 100% happy with the final product

  11. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  12. A: Hearing all types of different music and helping to play a small part in the legacy that people are leaving behind.

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

  14. A: There is too much bass in my mix. Can you fix that? Yes I can

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

  16. 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.

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

  18. A: How long do I have to mix the song/songs?

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

  20. A: let me send a sample of their mixed song back to them to decide if they want to work with me.

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

  22. A: a solar generator, my laptop, Apollo twin, headphones, and a personal hotspot

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

  24. 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

  25. Q: How would you describe your style?

  26. A: its very organic

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

  28. A: Fugazi. The intensity in their music gets off. Who wouldn't want to work with a legend?

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

  30. A: Know your songs.

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

  32. A: It used to be mostly punk/alternative type music but lately I have been working on everything from R&B to jazz

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. 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.

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

  36. 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.

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

  38. A: Import the audio files, pull the faders down, get a rough mix, and let the song show me the direction.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: I have a mixing room set up in my house. Its comfortable and well treated

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

  42. A: I mostly mix and do live sound

Terms Of Service

4 revisions per song, I can mix 1-2 songs a day 50% deposit due at the beginning and the remaining 50% upon completion

Gear Highlights
  • AKG
  • Rode
  • Pro Tools
  • Focusrite
  • JBL
  • Presonus
  • Shure
  • Audio technica
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