Tracking • Editing • Mixing • Mastering • Pre-production • Production • Digital • Pro Tools • Analog

Since 1992, I have worked at many studios in and around Chicago, including Chicago Recording Company, Studiomedia Recording Company, Shantyville Recording Studio, Gravity Studios, Studiochicago, Chicago Trax and Star Trax Recording.

I am available to work at any studio you wish. We can work together in deciding which studio best suits your needs and budget.

STUDIOMEDIA RECORDING COMPANY

Located in downtown Evanston, Studiomedia has been a favorite of musicians (especially jazz artists) since it opened in 1980. With two performance spaces and a drum booth, it offers great flexibility for tracking.

Studiomedia has a Yamaha C7 grand piano, a Baldwin SF10 grand piano, and a Gretsch drum set. Control Room A has a Trident 80B console and Pro Tools HD. The microphone selection is solid; vintage and current Neumann, Coles, AKG, Sennheiser, EV, Shure. The control room is well equipped, comfortable, and sounds great.

SHANTYVILLE RECORDING STUDIO

In 2003, I helped design and build a dual-purpose recording studio for musician Jim Landeck. It functions as a private recording studio for Jim's many musical ventures, and a place where I can bring my clients for very affordable rates.

Shantyville's great-sounding live room is 25' x 15', plus iso booth. The studio runs a Pro Tools TDM system. Available are microphones by Neumann, Microtech Gefell, Royer, AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Beyer, Electro-Voice and Audix. Microphone preamps are API. The studio is located on private property in the Homewood / Flossmoor area, not far from the 'First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre' (aka 'Tweeter' aka 'World Music'). The setting is comfortable with an atmosphere of creativity.

CHICAGO RECORDING COMPANY

CRC is Chicago's world famous "big studio". CRC offers the choice of a Neve VR console (Studio 4), SSL console (Studio 5), or Digidesign Pro Control (Studio 10), a large collection of mics including vintage Neumann and AKG tube designs, Pro Tools HD and 24 track 2" analog tape. Instruments include Steinway and Bosendorfer grand pianos and a Hammond B3. The live room design offers a wide array of options and acoustic spaces. The facility is located at 232 E. Ohio in downtown Chicago.

WHAT IS A "FREELANCE ENGINEER"?

When you call a recording facility, you may book a session and work with the staff engineer scheduled for your day - perhaps having never spoken before. When you work with me, you book your time through me, and I take care of studio arrangements. This means we can discuss - via phone, email or in person - your recording; your music, instruments, visions, goals, requirements and budget. It also means we are not committed to one studio or way of working. The cost is usually about the same as working with the studio's staff "first chair" engineers. We can make use of several studios, if necessary, to get the best possible results. I can see your project through to the end; including mastering and CD design.

TRACKING

The key to tracking is to capture the best balance between vibe and perfection, between feel and technical quality, between performance and production. This balance, and the best way to achieve it, is different for every artist. In addition to the many studios in which we can work, there are many options for the tracking process. You may wish to record "live", with all musicians playing simultaneously (sometimes considered a "lost art" - both in musicianship and engineering). Alternately, you may track each instrument individually, for complete control and editing capability. Often, the process falls somewhere in between. I have experience in all variations. We can discuss and experiment to find the setup for your music that makes magic.

MIXING

The mixdown process takes the individual tracks and blends them back into music. Our options are open ; we can mix at any studio, or I can mix your songs with my personal setup and mail your mixes to you, making adjustments as necessary to your satisfaction. Most of the albums and projects with which I am involved, I work from beginning to end; pre-production, tracking, editing, mixing and mastering. I am also available to mix tracks recorded by musicians 'at home', or recorded by other engineers at other facilities.

MASTERING

I offer CD mastering using my personal Pro Tools setup. I am hired to master the majority of projects that I track and mix, as well as albums recorded by other engineers. If I'm recording and mixing your album, I can also arrange for it to be mastered by a top mastering engineer, if your budget allows.

PRODUCTION

I am available for hire as a producer. I work with the artist to help them achieve their artistic and aesthetic goals. I use my experience working with a diverse selection of artists, along with an appreciation for a wide range of music, to guide the project towards maximum impact. I am happy to take as much control as you wish - complete control, like a traditional producer, or using a light touch, offering suggestions and guidance. We can also schedule pre-production meetings, to help insure the best possible results from any recording project.

MY PHILOSOPHY

I believe in the art of music, and in the people who create it. I believe in the art of audio, and my ability to use that art to achieve the musicians’ vision. I believe that when these two arts are at their best, they work together to deliver remarkable results.

I believe in the recording process as documentation of a performance, and as a creative process in itself, able to accomplish things beyond the scope of an acoustic event. I believe that both approaches, and anything in between, are legitimate and important to the art.

I believe there are many great albums to be made.