Mixing, Reamping, Editing

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

A: Mostly, I get something sent to mix from a band that has recorded everything themselves. My job then is to get the best out of the tracks that I possibly can when I mix it. This includes (but is not limited to) reamping DI tracks, editing, tuning, post-production, and sometimes even suggesting small alterations if I firmly believe that the song can be improved through that.

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

A: Make sure that you have done all that you can to get the best recording possible. While a mixing engineer can do a lot to make a song shine, it's not a magic trick. The better the recording, the better the mix!

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

A: I started programming MIDI arrangements and recording my own guitar playing when I got my first audio interface 11 years ago. In 2011 I went to school where I started doing full band productions in a studio, and it really picked up from there. In early 2015 I started working as a live sound engineer at a venue and have been doing so since that time while doing studio productions as well.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Write really good songs! No mix can rescue a bad song, but a great song is still good if the mix isn't the best.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm good at making drums sound punchy and clear, and making guitars sound heavy but balanced.

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

A: I'd love to work with Issues. Their album Headspace is pure genius in my opinion - it's a really cool mix of pop elements that I always loved, and progressive rock/metal. Working on one of their songs/records would be amazing.

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

A: I usually work on rock and metal.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I love productions that sound modern but organic. I can make a song sound balanced, full, and punchy without taking the life and vibe out of it in the process.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: If I'm getting a song to mix, I make sure that I have all the tracks, and that everything is in order. After that, I do any necessary edits and mix the song to the point where it sounds like a song. I then send the track back to the client, asking for feedback to make sure that what I've done so far matches their expectations. I then make the revisions necessary and send the finished track to the client.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup is very simple! My audio interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, and I monitor through my trusty JBL LSR305 and my AKG K240 MKII. I mix completely in the box with plugins that I know and love. For reamping purposes I have been using an Axe Fx 2 for over two years.

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

A: Lately I've been really inspired by Periphery. Not only because the band consists of exceptional musicians and producers who, in my opinion, bring something new to the table, but also because of their entrepreneurial mindset. On the production side, I've been a big fan of Jacob Hansen's work since my teenage years.