Transcript of a recent interview I did with SoundBetter.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't ever be afraid to try something new!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I think that the most common one is that people think that they can give me bad sounds (or a bad vocal performance) assuming that I can just 'fix it' or 'make it sound good'. Obviously with todays technology this can be done, to a certain extent, but nothing beats a great song, performed well and sung beautifully - and in tune!
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't pay any attention to what gear the provider has. Any experienced engineer will get good results no matter what he has at his disposal. Remember that some of the greatest sounding albums were recorded outside of conventional recording studios ... long before Pro Tools. What is going to matter most, is how well you work with that person, and how well they interpret and execute your instructions. That will get you results that you are not only happy with, but that you also felt you contributed too.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q: Can you tune my vocals? A: Yes, but can we try another take first?
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd love to record Damien Rice. I love the rawness and honesty of his songs.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I am multifaceted. I have a broad skill set, both as an engineer and producer. I'm also a multi-instrumentalist, so I'm able to see what is needed, no matter what side of the studio glass I happen to be on! I'm never short of ideas.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Every job for me is new and different, so I don't really have a fixed way of doing things.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I've been mixing ITB (in the box) in Pro Tools since 2006, and I love the ease of working with digital. Having said that, I'm a fan of both! I love analog sound, but love the ease of digital for editing and total recall of mixes when the client wants to change something the day after the mix was done (that never happens!) Also, the more time that passes, the closer these 2 formats seem to get to each other. Perhaps one day we will not be able to tell the difference!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I always do the best possible work that I can. I never take shortcuts! I respect every client (and project) that I have ever done work for. In other words, I take my job seriously.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I like the fact that it is a multifaceted engagement that allows for both a creative and a technical use of the brain. This type of work can be emotive, whilst being simultaneously nerdy! As someone once said, "A great sound / song can make you cry".
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been recording in one form or another for almost 30 years. I started out on tape, then moved to HD recorders, and then on to computers. Working with sound has occurred simultaneously whilst working as a musician. This has enabled me to feed my desire to work on both sides of the glass for many years. This cross section of skills has helped me immensely. And as a musician, it helps to understand recording techniques and vice-versa.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I'm a sucker for guitar driven rock. I like music that moves air! That said, I can also enjoy simple melodies over a nice sounding acoustic guitar or piano. After all, a good song is a good song!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Fresh unbiased ears, objectivity and a bucket full of ideas and skills needed to execute them.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm a natural problem solver. So if there is an issue with a mix or a session, I'll usually have several 'fixes' to suggest and implement, regardless of whether it is sound related or performance based.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A whole pile of gear, all centred around a Pro Tools Rig. I've got new stuff, old stuff! I have no rules, what ever works for the song and the sound is the right thing to use at the time. The rule is - there are no rules!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Regarding Engineers. Anyone that thinks outside the box, and I don't mean the computer. Sylvia Massey comes to mind. I love her quirky approach to recording and mixing. I like people that try new things, different things. These are the types of people that excite me. Regarding musicians. I'm inspired by many different players and many different instruments. I particularly like originality, and different (and new) approaches to old ways of doing things.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: The most common thing that I do is mix songs for clients. I also do a lot of post editing. I'm meticulous and fast. I also do session work for clients, predominantly drums, but I play other instruments as well.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Project Bodhi was an idea that I conceived a few years ago. The plan was to recored 100 of my own songs, release them online and donate all proceeds to children's charities in Australia. I wrote all the songs and played all the instruments. Iengineered, edited, mixed and mastered the project. The project took 5 months to complete ... http://www.projectbodhi.com.au
A: Don't ever be afraid to try something new!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I think that the most common one is that people think that they can give me bad sounds (or a bad vocal performance) assuming that I can just 'fix it' or 'make it sound good'. Obviously with todays technology this can be done, to a certain extent, but nothing beats a great song, performed well and sung beautifully - and in tune!
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't pay any attention to what gear the provider has. Any experienced engineer will get good results no matter what he has at his disposal. Remember that some of the greatest sounding albums were recorded outside of conventional recording studios ... long before Pro Tools. What is going to matter most, is how well you work with that person, and how well they interpret and execute your instructions. That will get you results that you are not only happy with, but that you also felt you contributed too.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q: Can you tune my vocals? A: Yes, but can we try another take first?
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd love to record Damien Rice. I love the rawness and honesty of his songs.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I am multifaceted. I have a broad skill set, both as an engineer and producer. I'm also a multi-instrumentalist, so I'm able to see what is needed, no matter what side of the studio glass I happen to be on! I'm never short of ideas.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Every job for me is new and different, so I don't really have a fixed way of doing things.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I've been mixing ITB (in the box) in Pro Tools since 2006, and I love the ease of working with digital. Having said that, I'm a fan of both! I love analog sound, but love the ease of digital for editing and total recall of mixes when the client wants to change something the day after the mix was done (that never happens!) Also, the more time that passes, the closer these 2 formats seem to get to each other. Perhaps one day we will not be able to tell the difference!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I always do the best possible work that I can. I never take shortcuts! I respect every client (and project) that I have ever done work for. In other words, I take my job seriously.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I like the fact that it is a multifaceted engagement that allows for both a creative and a technical use of the brain. This type of work can be emotive, whilst being simultaneously nerdy! As someone once said, "A great sound / song can make you cry".
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been recording in one form or another for almost 30 years. I started out on tape, then moved to HD recorders, and then on to computers. Working with sound has occurred simultaneously whilst working as a musician. This has enabled me to feed my desire to work on both sides of the glass for many years. This cross section of skills has helped me immensely. And as a musician, it helps to understand recording techniques and vice-versa.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I'm a sucker for guitar driven rock. I like music that moves air! That said, I can also enjoy simple melodies over a nice sounding acoustic guitar or piano. After all, a good song is a good song!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Fresh unbiased ears, objectivity and a bucket full of ideas and skills needed to execute them.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm a natural problem solver. So if there is an issue with a mix or a session, I'll usually have several 'fixes' to suggest and implement, regardless of whether it is sound related or performance based.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A whole pile of gear, all centred around a Pro Tools Rig. I've got new stuff, old stuff! I have no rules, what ever works for the song and the sound is the right thing to use at the time. The rule is - there are no rules!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Regarding Engineers. Anyone that thinks outside the box, and I don't mean the computer. Sylvia Massey comes to mind. I love her quirky approach to recording and mixing. I like people that try new things, different things. These are the types of people that excite me. Regarding musicians. I'm inspired by many different players and many different instruments. I particularly like originality, and different (and new) approaches to old ways of doing things.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: The most common thing that I do is mix songs for clients. I also do a lot of post editing. I'm meticulous and fast. I also do session work for clients, predominantly drums, but I play other instruments as well.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Project Bodhi was an idea that I conceived a few years ago. The plan was to recored 100 of my own songs, release them online and donate all proceeds to children's charities in Australia. I wrote all the songs and played all the instruments. Iengineered, edited, mixed and mastered the project. The project took 5 months to complete ... http://www.projectbodhi.com.au
