Mixing Engineer ITB

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

A: A project that holds a special place for me is a music production of my own. After a challenging year, I felt the need to convey the emotions that had built up over time through music. This led me to produce ambient, cinematic, and orchestral tracks. This music will be a lifelong memory for me.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment, I am consistently working for an independent label (Ionian Sound Records) and independent artists.

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

A: I can recommend my Italian colleagues. We have, I believe, the most refined musical taste in the world.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: In my experience, the future of the audio world will involve the integration of digital technology into the analog domain. Analog machines capable of instant total recall will be built (although they already exist).

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

A: Working with me will be a great experience, and you will be pleased with the final result.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I love most about my job is that it's never boring. There's always something new to learn and improve upon over time.

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

A: The question I am most frequently asked is: "What is the actual cost of my project?" My response is: To determine the final cost of your project, simply send me the stems of the song and the essential information. This way, I will thoroughly analyze the track and be able to provide you with the final price.

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

A: A common misconception in this field is thinking that the mix engineer can completely transform a musical track. Unfortunately, we mix engineers are limited to making the best out of what we are given.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask for the key and BPM (beats per minute) of the song.

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

A: The best advice I can give to a client is to focus extensively on production, recording, and editing. These three processes are crucial for achieving a high-quality mix and mastering.

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

A: I would bring a computer, a pair of headphones, a mono speaker, a high-quality audio interface with good converters, and my preferred DAW... Pro Tools.

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

A: My musical career began as a self-taught drummer and guitarist. Later, I started studying classical piano at the Conservatory of Cosenza, completing the pre-academic years and receiving several accolades. In the meantime, I discovered the world of production and sound engineering, which captivated me entirely. About five years ago, I started this profession working for others, and now I am about to graduate as a Sound Technician from the Conservatory of Cosenza.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style revolves around amplifying that of the artist/producer. I believe that only by doing so can a song reach the pinnacle of its expression and quality.

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

A: The artist I would love to work with is Hans Zimmer. I admire his music and the mood it consistently conveys.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A trick I always use is that, in addition to activating the mastering chain from the beginning, I love putting a nice equalizer on the mix bus (usually the Maag EQ 4 from Plugin Alliance) to give the entire song a clear lift. This way, I musically equalize the track, avoiding the need for numerous equalizers on each individual track, which could alter their sound.

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

A: I have worked on the following music genres: Pop, pop-rock, hip-hop, jazz, classical, ambient, orchestral, cinematic, and trap. As you can see, I love mixing various musical genres. I do this to keep my work from becoming monotonous.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I believe my strongest skill is consistently reaching the final product, regardless of the situation.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: In addition to enhancing the listening quality, I strive to amplify the emotion that the artist/producer aimed to convey.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The strength of my creative process lies in mixing within the mastering chain. This way, I know how the mix will sound at its maximum volume, thus avoiding any potential inconsistencies between the mix and the final mastering.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup is very straightforward. My listening system consists of studio monitors and headphones. The mix process takes place about 90% on headphones. Occasionally, I switch to monitors to ensure I am heading in the right direction. Finally, I listen on other systems like a surround 5.1, car, and a mono speaker to understand if the product is ready for the mastering phase.

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

A: The artists who have had the most significant impact on my musical career include Queen, Pink Floyd, Zimmer, Giuseppe Verdi, Venditti, Ultimo, Calcutta, and Geolier. The mix engineers who have influenced my approach to work are Gigi Barocco, Andrea Suriani, Francesco Marzona, Gianni Bini, Greg Wells, and Irko

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

A: My job involves working on tracks sent by artists, producers, or labels to create a high-quality product that is competitive in today's music market.