Mixing

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

A: I've been mixing for 8 years, but I work with music since I was a kid. My father had a small studio, and I had the opportunity to grow up in a musical environment. At the age of 12, I started to play guitar, and then I went to music college to study music composing and regency. In the college, I enrolled to a music production course and the teacher called me to be his assistant, recording classical music. I assisted him for two years, and then I started producing, recording and mixing bands and artists. After a short time, I found out that mixing is what I really love, so I ended up working only with mixing, and studying a LOT! :) I went to MIx With The Masters with Manny Marroquin four years ago, and yes, that changed my life! Mixing is my everyday thing... Luckily, I've been booked a lot, doing what I love!

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

A: Communication is everything! Your feedback is always important, so don't be afraid of making requests (before and after the mix! :)

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

A: Yes! Carlos Freitas, from Classic Master. He is a great mastering engineer, who I've been working with since when I started mixing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! They both sound different and great! Each piece of gear and each plugin has a unique sound, so what I'm going to use really depends on the music. My place is not really big, but I have everything I need (all the sound samples were mixed here). If you're looking for a big studio, with an analog console, I have some great options too!

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

A: I'll work hard to make you 100% satisfied! I want you to love the mix, to love your song, and, if you're not satisfied, I'll give your money back!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to meet great and talented musicians, learn from them, and to contribute with their music! And even better when I see that they are loving the mix.

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

A: A laptop, an Apollo Interface fulfilled with UAD-DSP processing power and plugins, my NS-10s, my Sub-Woofer, and a good headphone! Can I take my Bricasti M7 too?

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get involved in every step of the production. It's important to be happy with everything, from the pre-production to the final master! This will guarantee that you will be satisfied and confident about your music, and you will be able to convince anyone about how good your music is, because you're best seller of yourself!

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

A: Pop, Rock, RnB. But I love working with any kind of music. I love the challenge of understanding and mixing different genres, from a smooth RnB to a heavy metal track, from a local folk, to world music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think I know how to listen to my client, and to my client's music. It's not only about techniques and gear... actually, it's all about music!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Emotion! I want to create a mix that brings out the emotion, dynamics, space and intensity of a song. I want to make the particularities, the imprint that the song already have even stronger, so it will have a big impact for my client and the audience!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First, I will talk to my client to understand his music, his/her career, what he/she is expecting from the mix... I truly feel the need of understanding my client's world and what kind of sound we are going for. Sometimes the smallest detail will change everything. Then I'll download the sessions, listen to references and rough mixes, and then I'll start working on the mix. Once I'm confident about the first song's mix, I'll send it to my client and check if we're going on the right direction. If ok, I'll move to the next song, and so on. If not, I'll work on the first song until my client is 100% happy and confident! And then, we move to the revisions.

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

A: I'm truly inspired by Manny Marroquin. I was lucky to meet him in a mixing seminar, and not only his sound, but his passion about mixing and music inspires me!

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

A: I'm all about mixing! Singles, EPs, Albums, DVDs, Live...