Platinum-Level Mixer

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

A: One project I’m especially proud of is “Paper” by Forever Mountain, which I mixed and mastered here at AC Realz Productions. The song had a powerful message and strong raw performances, and my goal was to preserve its emotion while giving it a clean, balanced, and impactful sound. I focused on tightening the low end, enhancing the vocal presence, and adding subtle depth through spatial effects so it felt both intimate and wide. Hearing the final version hit exactly the way the artist envisioned — and seeing their reaction — reminded me why I love what I do. “Paper” stands out as a project where technical precision and artistic emotion came together perfectly.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently working on my upcoming album “Fragments of the Soul” under my artist name AC Realz, as well as mixing and mastering tracks for several independent artists. These projects range from hard-hitting hip-hop to dark, atmospheric ballads, and I’m focused on making each one sound polished, emotional, and ready for release.

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

A: I don’t personally know anyone on SoundBetter. Every connection I make here is a fresh collaboration built on trust and the quality of the work.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I work primarily in digital because it gives me flexibility, precision, and recall — which means faster turnaround times and unlimited creative possibilities for my clients. That said, I draw inspiration from the warmth and character of analog gear, and I use high-quality plugins that emulate classic analog tones when I want that extra depth and richness. For me, it’s not about one being better than the other — it’s about choosing the right tools to serve the song.

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

A: My promise is to treat every project like it’s my own. I’ll bring technical precision, creative care, and honest communication to make sure your music sounds its absolute best. I won’t stop refining until the mix captures your vision, connects with listeners, and is ready to stand alongside professional releases. Your success is my success — and I’m committed to delivering a track you can be proud of.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I like most about my job is taking an artist’s raw idea and transforming it into a fully polished, release-ready track — without losing the emotion that made it special in the first place. There’s nothing better than hearing that final mix hit just right, knowing it’s going to connect with listeners, and seeing the artist’s reaction when their vision comes to life. That moment of “Yes, that’s it!” makes every late night in the studio worth it.

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

A: How much do you charge for mixing and mastering? How long will it take to finish my track? How many revisions are included? Can you make my song sound like [specific artist/reference track]? Do you also tune vocals or fix timing issues? Can you work with stems recorded in a home studio? Do you provide both mixing and mastering, or just one? What formats will I get when the project is done? Will my song be ready for Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms? Can you help with creative ideas or arrangement suggestions?

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

A: The biggest misconception about my work is that mixing and mastering is just turning up the volume or slapping on a preset. In reality, it’s a detailed, creative process that involves balancing every element, enhancing clarity, controlling dynamics, shaping tone, and making sure the track translates perfectly across all listening systems. It’s about bringing the song’s emotion and energy to life — not just making it louder.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What’s the overall vibe or emotion you want the track to have? Do you have reference songs or artists that capture the sound you’re going for? Who is your target audience for this song or project? Technical Details What’s the BPM and key of the song? Are your stems/vocals recorded and ready to mix, or do they need editing/tuning first? Do you want me to handle mastering as well, or just mixing? Expectations & Workflow What’s your deadline or release date? How many revisions do you expect to go through? Are you open to creative suggestions that might enhance your original vision? Final Delivery What file formats do you need for the final product (WAV, MP3, stems, etc.)? Are you releasing on streaming platforms, radio, or another medium?

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

A: Come with a clear vision, but keep an open mind.” The best results happen when you can share your goals, references, and creative direction — but also give me space to bring my own expertise to the table. Be prepared to communicate openly, provide quality stems or recordings, and trust the process. My job is to make your music sound its absolute best while staying true to who you are as an artist.

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

A: MacBook Pro with Logic Pro X – Your DAW is your creative brain; without it, you’re just clapping into the ocean. Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett or equivalent) – For clean, reliable recording anywhere. Studio Monitors or Reference Headphones – Because coconut shells don’t make good speakers. Shure SM7B Microphone – Durable, versatile, and perfect for both rap and melodic vocals. External Hard Drive – To keep your sessions safe… in case a seagull steals your laptop.

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

A: I built my career around music creation and production, starting with hands-on experience as an independent artist under AC Realz and expanding into professional services through AC Realz Productions. Your path has evolved from writing and recording your own music to offering mixing, mastering, graphic design, and artist development for other musicians. Along the way, you’ve collaborated with Grammy-winning engineers and drawn inspiration from industry legends, building a reputation for delivering polished, emotionally impactful tracks. Your long-term goal is to grow your client base, work with major artists like Eminem, and establish your production brand as a go-to name for high-quality, authentic music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style blends clarity, punch, and atmosphere. I focus on creating mixes that hit hard, feel immersive, and carry emotional weight. Whether it’s a dark, moody track or an energetic anthem, I keep the vocals upfront, the beat balanced, and the overall sound polished to industry standards — all while making sure the artist’s unique voice and vision shine through. It captures the dark/atmospheric edge you gravitate toward while also emphasizing your technical polish and emotional connection to the music.

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

A: I’d love to work with Eminem because his lyrical precision, emotional range, and ability to adapt across genres are unmatched. He’s a master storyteller who can make a track hit hard while still connecting deeply with listeners. I admire how he pushes creative boundaries and maintains authenticity, and I believe my ability to craft clean, balanced, and emotionally charged mixes could bring out new dimensions in his music. Collaborating with him would be both a creative challenge and a dream opportunity to merge my production style with one of the greatest lyricists of all time.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: “Don’t rush the mix — let the song tell you what it needs. Spend time listening on different speakers and headphones. If it still feels good everywhere, you know you’ve got it right.”

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

A: I typically work on hip-hop, pop, R&B, and dark atmospheric music, but I’m comfortable across a wide range of genres. Many of my projects have a cinematic, emotional edge — from hard-hitting rap anthems to moody, melodic ballads. My focus is always on delivering a polished, professional sound while keeping the unique character of the artist front and center.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Is taking a raw vocal and enhancing your beat and shaping it into a clean, balanced, and powerful mix that feels polished but still stays true to the artist’s original vibe. I have a sharp ear for detail and know how to make every element — from subtle background layers to the main vocal — sit perfectly in the mix, creating a track that hits hard and connects emotionally with listeners. I typically work on hip-hop, pop, R&B, and dark atmospheric music, but I’m comfortable across a wide range of genres. Many of my projects have a cinematic, emotional edge — from hard-hitting rap anthems to moody, melodic ballads. My focus is always on delivering a polished, professional sound while keeping the unique character of the artist front and center.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Clarity & Balance – Every element sits perfectly in the mix so nothing gets lost. Emotional Impact – I shape the sound to enhance the feeling you want listeners to experience. Industry-Standard Quality – Using professional plugins, monitoring, and mastering techniques so your music stands up against top-charting tracks. Creative Input – Offering arrangement suggestions, effect choices, and tonal adjustments that elevate the song beyond its demo stage. Personalized Approach – No “cookie-cutter” mixes — I adapt my process to match your unique style and vision

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My Work Process Consultation & Vision – We start by discussing your project goals, style, and references so I can fully understand your creative vision. File Review – I check all stems, vocals, and instrument tracks to make sure they’re ready for production, and I’ll let you know if anything needs re-recording or adjustment. Mixing – I balance levels, apply EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects to create a clean, dynamic, and professional mix that enhances the emotion of your track. Mastering – I finalize the track with mastering for loudness, clarity, and consistency across all playback systems (streaming, radio, etc.). Client Review – I send you a preview for feedback, and we go through revisions until you’re 100% satisfied. Final Delivery – You receive the mastered track in your requested formats, ready for release. My process is collaborative from start to finish, ensuring your music not only sounds industry-ready but also stays true to your artistic identity.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My Studio Setup i work from a professional home studio equipped with: Logic Pro X as my primary DAW for mixing and mastering A curated selection of industry-standard plugins (Waves, and more) Professional-grade Eris® E5 Studio Monitors and industry quality headphones for accurate sound reproduction A treated recording space for clean, balanced audio capture I use a mic shield and a pop filter for clarity High-quality ,Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen audio interface, and a audio technina for pristine vocal and for instrument recording my Shure SM7B Microphone

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

A: Music Engineers, Producers Dr. Dre – for his precision in mixing and mastering and ability to make tracks hit with both clarity and punch. Artist Eminem - for his word play and amazing lyrics and he is a inspiration to me and to others Skillet - for his passion for music and for his amazing vocal performance and skill on delivery Evanescence - for her wildly amazing vocals and clarity in performance Second Chaynce - for his country style rap and how he blends it so well as well as upchurch for his amazing voice and the way he delivers is insane

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

A: Mixing & Mastering — balancing vocals and instruments, applying EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects to create a polished, industry-ready sound. Vocal Enhancement — cleaning, tuning, and processing vocals to bring out clarity, warmth, and presence