Dan Ponich on SoundBetter

Hey I'm here to help you stop sounding like everyone else and to encourage you to have a unique sound!

I'm here to mix your new song for you! I work out of my own studio in North Vancouver, BC called Park Sound Studio. I have a passion for alt-rock or anything that would make your grandparents cry but I also have a soft spot for folk music and mellower stuff as well. I have a killer outboard chain that includes gear from Kush Audio, Neve, Warm Audio and all my songs get "baked" together through a beautiful Burl B32 Vancouver summing mixer to give your tracks that subtle saturated tape sound.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

19 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

Endorse Dan Ponich

by Jeremy W.
Verified
Dan is awesome to work with! He mixed my track Glamour & Clout to a tee and really helped me nail my vision for the song by being responsive and accurate to my feedback. Each mix revision improved by leaps and bounds and I was stoked to get to the final mix in just 4 revisions, which is a testament to Dan's skill and production acumen. Would definitely recommend and will be going back for more in future!
by Kumar K.
Verified
My third mastering job with Dan and will continue to work with him as very happy with results, turnaround time and communication : )

Kumar
by Kumar K.
Verified
Third song I've had mixed and a pleasure to work with Dan again. Quick and able to achieve the sound I'm looking for, will continue to work with him!
by Kumar K.
Verified
Dan nailed this master as usual, will be working with him on a regular basis from now on!
by Michal Z.
Verified
Again, good work!
by Kumar K.
Verified
My second time working with Dan and I will absolutely continue to do so as he's very accommodating, has a great ear for what I'm looking for and the finished product is sick.
by Michal Z.
Verified
Working with Dan is always good experience. He have so much sense, that we were able do things that are very hard to say and to explain and despite english is not my native language. He is also patient and dependable. In terms of mixing - mix is professional and radio quality.
by Kumar K.
Verified
Dan Ponich has been an absolute pleasure to work with, delivering exactly what I wanted and more.

Dan mixed from scratch guitar stems and drum samples of mine and has been incredibly accommodating to my tastes and the sound I was looking to achieve with quick turnarounds and clear communication at every step. Couldn't ask for more : )

Hope to work Dan again!
by Michal Z.
Verified
It's second time we are working with Dan and as it was in previous job - communication was very good and results are very satisfying.
by Dylan F.
Verified
Dan is very helpful and knowledgeable. He is great to work with, is very attentive, and is always open to suggestions during the mixing process. It is clear that his main goal is to make the track the best it can be, and as close as possible to what the artist envisions. 10/10 would use again
by Michal Z.
Verified
Begining was hard, but later we've found common language and direction. Dan is responsive and even timezone diffrence was not a problem for us.
by Pacific T.
Working with Dan was an total breeze! He was super interested in the project and had a ton of ideas but still respected our own creativity. Dan added a ton of personality into our mix and even gave us more ideas of how the end result should sound. Absolutely one of the best engineers you'll find on this site no doubt!
by Josiah T
Happy to say I have had the pleasure of working with Dan over the years in several studio settings. Dan is a skilled musician with natural talent that has been honed over years of experience. His background in music makes him an industry unicorn as an audio engineer. able to approach projects as both an engineer and an artist himself. If you haven't already decided who to work with stop looking and work with Dan. I look forward to working with Dan more in the future!
by Mike J.
Dan mixed a series of web videos for us this past summer, and he nailed it. Delivered exactly what we asked to meet our tight deadline. We were all highly impressed with Dan's work.
by Andy Schichter
Dan is a fantastic mixing engineer that pays great attention to detail and always works in a timely fashion. His musical tastes and willingness to take risks in the studio is why I love listening to his mixes. Total mensch!
by Paul Kinman
Dan is a total pro! He has a great ear, and an easy going demeanour that allows him to get the most out of performers by making them feel at home. I would highly recommend working with Dan, your project will be the better for it!
by James
There's a reason they call him "Dan the Man". Dan is absolutely the man!! Great, consistent work delivered in a timely manor always.
by Michael B.
I've worked with Dan on various tracks and he is always able to capture exactly what I'm looking for every time. Couldn't recommend him more.
by Xander W.
Dan is a true professional. Definitely hire him if you get the chance!

Interview with Dan Ponich

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The Dead Zones - Lie Detector. Love the vibe, the intensity. Producer, Engineer, Mixing & Mastering.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Josh Homme. Love his guitar work.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't be afraid to start over.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Colouring outside the lines, being open minded.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A hip-hop EP, a classic rock sounding G'n'R full record and an Iron and Wine type record.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Lonny Eagleton and Pual Kinman for guitars!!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: NO COMMENT.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I'm not happy until you're happy. If not, then what's the point?
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Being creative every day. Meeting new people, working my brain.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: How much time a mix can take.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's your dead line? Do you want any creative input? Am I mixing with more of a creative mindset or technical mindset? In regards to mastering, are you into the loudness war or do you want more dynamics?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Listen to my previous work, send me an email so we can get to know each other and then let's take it from there. I have such a massive musical pallet that I love any and all kinds of music.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Acoustic Guitar, Apogee 1, Macbook Pro, Telefunken m80, Audio Technica ath-m50x
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Grew up playing jazz and rock. Moved to Vancouver in 2011, played in a folk band for a year before starting my own rock and roll band which I played in for 3 years. Have been producing since those days but I went to school for engineering in 2015 and have been working steady since.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Alternative and open minded. I like to bend the rules when I can.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, Pop, Folk, Soul, Hip-hop
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As a longtime musician myself, I bring a fresh set of ears not only as a player but as a listener and I always leave myself open to the emotion and pull of a song. I leave the creativity to the artist, where it belongs, but if needed I am happy to provide suggestion. I also like to bend the rules regarding production.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: See my studio website! www.parksoundstudio.com
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Eric Valentine, Dave Sardy,
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mixing and mastering.