I can guarantee you a commercial record with a clean low end and pristine high-end with upfront vocals, a bouncy 808/bass and textures that you will not find anywhere else.
I joined SoundBetter to help other artists regain that special feeling music used to have before the trending loudness wars. I specialize in producing music, mixing and mastering. I find it important to understand and balance a song properly prior to diving into the use of any processing. I use compression in a minimal manner and at best where I feel it is required.
The weapons I employ when mixing vocals and/or a beat are the use saturation without creating unwanted artifacts within a song and I aim not to change the tonal qualities of a song while closely referencing the original unmixed version I receive from my clients.
I mix music with the goal of retaining my clients vision and I personally feel, my client's vision is the most important part of putting a great sounding mix and master together.
With regards to producing music, mixing and mastering I specialize in Hip Hop, Trap and RnB/Soul. I understand the space in music and lean towards not jacking up limiters in order to get volume but rather making sounds jump out of the speaker at a decent and commercially viable level.
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Credits
Interview with Ikutaro Tarentiino
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I worked on BLKK's "I'm A Star" as a mix and mastering engineer. I love how the song translates on different types of speakers. I managed to capture the vibe that BLKK was going for through the way, I mixed the vocals and the way in which I create a coherent relationship between the 808 and the thumping kick.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am currently doing some production, mixing and mastering on 3 EPs. The links will be made available upon their release.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital, I haven't had experience with the analog realm of mixing and mastering yet.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I guarantee you what you asked for and I will not ask for you to pay me until you are satisfied.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to mix and master different voices and different sounding beats. It honestly gets exciting for me every time anyone asks me to mix for them.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you make this song as loud as so and so's song? My answer's usually, I can make it loud but if you want to go crazy loud, you will have to sacrifice your low end.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I mix with my TV volume on and apparently you can't multi-task as a human being but I produce my mixes in their intended and requested quality.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: It's essentially weird and child-like duo to the fact that I have cartoons on in the background while I mix. It's clean but it also teases a twisted romance with distortion without the obvious presence of distortion.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd like to work with Young Thug, the energy he puts on a beat is just phenomenal. I feel like no one on Earth has that much charisma right now but Thugger.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Side-chaining a kick to a bass is not necessary. Reverse the polarity of the kick, create a proper balance between your kick and bass. From there, the two will not clash.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on Hip Hop and Trap
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I balance mixes out well in a short space of time.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring the openness in a song and the ever wanted bass that does not overshadow elements in a song.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I usually begin my mixing process by balancing and basic EQ. I also mix with the TV volume slightly audible regardless of the channel the TV will be on because I find it essential for a mix I do to have something that draws a listener's attention.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I currently mix on 2 Samson RESOLVE SE monitors and I mix through an Avid Fast Track Duo audio interface. I mix and master music on Pro Tools 12.6.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: 21 Savage, Young Thug, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Kanye West serve as musicians that inspire me for the most. With regard to music production professionals Alex Tumay, Mike Dean, Quincy Jones, Travi$ Scott and Metro Boomin to mention a few inspire me.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I usually mix, master, writing hooks for songs and produce beats.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's your vision for this song? Where do you picture this song being played? What emotions are you trying to convey? Do you have an artist you would like me to reference as I mix your vocals or beat?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: I am open to your vision, I will not judge no matter how absurd anyone may feel about the ideas you might have for a song. I believe in having a respectful and understanding relationship with my customer. The money is the least of my problems getting my client a great sounding mix and master is my biggest priority, so, don't over think things just send me your stems in an orderly way accompanied with an unmixed reference and let's work.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: SSL Channel, Virtual Mix Rack, FG-X, Virtual Tape Machine and PuigChild. These would be very important to have on an island, lol.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My career path was producing. I've been producing since 2013 (4 years) and mixing and mastering since 2015 (3 years).
- EditingAverage price - $50 per track
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $150 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $175 per song
- Beat MakerAverage price - $150 per song
- ProducerAverage price - $150 per song
- Full instrumental productionAverage price - $250 per song
I do at most 5 revisions for my clients until they are satisfied with the quality of the music. Upon receiving stems for a song or beat, clients receive the mixed/mastered version after 2 days.
- Virtual Tape Machine
- Abbey Road Vinyl
- SSL Channel
- Q10
$25 off for clients who need an EP or album mixed.
