Music Production/Engineering

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

A: We’ve loved working with our debut artist NAVI. She came up through our youth development program HYPE, which uses music to help young people explore career paths in the industry. From the start, NAVI stood out with her talent, work ethic, and creative energy. What began as mentorship through HYPE has grown into a true artist-producer partnership — and now, a developing artist-label relationship that we’re proud to continue building together.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: We're currently working on our first artist release on our record label "All'It Music", while building our label awareness both locally and nationally.

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

A: Not yet, we've just discovered it.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. We use the best of each world. Analog gear gives warmth, depth, and character — that raw feel you can’t fake. Digital tools bring precision, flexibility, and speed, letting us experiment, edit, and deliver efficiently. Together, they give us a clean, modern sound with that classic hip hop soul underneath.

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

A: We promise to treat every job like it matters — because it does. You’ll get honesty, attention to detail, and a commitment to making your music sound its best. We bring creative partnership, not just production, and we won’t stop until your record feels right. Every project gets the same energy, care, and precision we’d put into our own.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: We love to be creative and make art. We love the feeling we get when we hit play on a finished song to send back to a soon-to-satisfied customer.

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

A: Most clients ask about pricing and turnaround time. We understand that — everyone wants to know what to expect before jumping in. Our rates are flexible depending on the scope of work (production, recording, mixing, or mastering), and we always provide clear quotes upfront. We also build realistic timetables based on your project goals, so you know exactly when to expect drafts, revisions, and final delivery. Our goal is to keep the process transparent, efficient, and stress-free from start to finish.

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

A: We're not just beat-makers - we're producers and songwriters as well.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: We first ask about their budget. We then ask about their vision, vibe, and goals — what emotion they want to create, who inspires your sound, and how they plan to use the song. We also cover what stage they're at (beat, recording, mix, or full production) so we can lock in the right approach and make every session count.

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

A: When you hire us, you’re getting more than a beat or an engineer — you’re getting a creative partner. We’ll meet you where you are and help you take your sound further than you thought possible. Come ready to collaborate, communicate, and create something timeless together.

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

A: MPCX, Nord Stage 4, Neumann U87, Mac Studio, Focal 6BE Speakers.

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

A: CJ: At 13 I started in a rap group signed to Def Jam, then became a DJ/producer and a music promoter, then built my first studio when I was 16. Opened multiple studios on Long Island, Florida, North Carolina, and Buffalo. I've been working in music for 39 years. Nic: I graduated from Ithaca College in 2024 with a degree in Sound Recording Technology, and since then I have worked as a production staff member at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, as well as a lead producer/engineer at All'it Studios here in Buffalo, NY. I've been working in music for 5 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Versatile - we pride ourselves being well-rounded and open to working any genre of music. Communication and honesty is key in building great relationships with our artists.

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

A: I'd love the opportunity to work with Jay-Z - his mind for both the creation and distribution/business involved in the music industry is inspiring.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Great producers/engineers don’t just add — they subtract with purpose.

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

A: Mainly Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop music, but we have worked outside of these genres as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating industry-ready music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: At All It Music we bring a soulful, sample-driven sound rooted in hip hop tradition with modern polish. Every song is crafted to feel alive — blending emotion, groove, and storytelling. We're not just beat-makers; we're creative partners who help artists bring their full vision to life — from idea to final master.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Music Production: Share your vision – Tell us your genre, vibe, and references. Production process – We craft the beat, add instrumentation, and arrange the track. Review & refine – You provide feedback, and we tweak until it feels right. Delivery – Final files provided as WAV/MP3, stems available upon request. Mixing: Send your stems – Upload via Google Drive/Dropbox/WeTransfer. Mix engineering – We organize, edit, and mix using Logic Pro / Pro Tools and advanced plugins. Review & revise – You provide notes; we make one revision pass. Delivery – Final mix files sent and ready for mastering (or we can master in-house). Mastering: Send your final mix – WAV/AIFF, 24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz Critical listening – We analyze across multiple playback systems Analog + digital chain – EQ, compression, limiting, stereo imaging applied with precision Delivery – Masters returned in formats ready for streaming, radio, or physical distribution

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Our recording studio is built with industry-standard systems like Pro Tools HDX and Logic, paired with Yamaha NS10s, Yamaha 8s, and a custom AV loudspeaker reference setup, the space ensures precision and clarity at every stage of production. Artists step into a professional environment featuring an Avid digital Pro Tools controller, a Behringer 48-channel analog console, and legendary microphones including the Neumann U87 and TLM103. Vocals and instruments are captured in a custom-built booth designed for natural, realistic sound, with pristine processing powered by the Avalon 737 and cutting-edge plugin suites from Universal Audio, Waves, FabFilter, and more. Whether creating urban, pop, country, gospel, or any genre in between, the studio provides a comfortable, inspiring, and drug-free environment where artists can feel at home while producing music that meets the highest professional standards.

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

A: We love to work on music inspired by artists Jadakiss, Nas, Biggie, Jay-Z, Drake, Tate McRae, etc. Some producers we're inspired by include Eric Sermon, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Kanye West.

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

A: Music Production: At All It Music, production is the heart of what we do. Our team brings years of experience crafting original beats and full songs across hip hop, R&B, and urban genres. Whether you need a custom instrumental, help finishing an idea, or complete track production, we’ll shape your sound into something unique, professional, and release-ready. Mixing: We mix in Logic Pro and Pro Tools using a comprehensive suite of advanced plugins to deliver a polished, release-ready sound tailored to your vision. Songwriting: We also love to help artists realize their song's potential by helping with songwriting.