This is really where the tires hit the road in the record making process. It's your chance to capture the best performance of the songs you've been been putting your blood, sweat, and tears into. You want that captured in a way that matches your vision.

My goal is to use my recording tools and experience to commit to the sound you are after. I don't just throw up any old mic in any old spot and hit record. I always have a reason for picking a particular mic on a particular source and in choosing where to place it and I listen carefully to how it's sounding and working within your production. I prefer to move a mic or tweak a guitar amp to get things right at the source. And you'll often find me "baking in" tone from equalizers, compressors, and other tools to inspire the musicians and make it sound like a record from the beginning. It's important to remember that every overdub is also affected by the sound of the elements already recorded. So working this way from the beginning sets you up to make better choices along the process and provides whomever is mixing the song (myself included!) a clear path to take. 

For those who care about gear and are as enthralled with it as I, I'll give you the highlights. I record on a 32 channel Neve Genesys console and I mostly use the preamps in the desk. Each one is a 1073 mic pre with the famous Neve transformer and mojo. A 1084 style eq is available on most channels (others use a variant from Neve's 88 series). If required, outboard equalization might come in the form of a Pultec, API, Trident, or several other flavors. Compression options are abound and include many technical methodologies (VCA, Opto, Vari-Mu, Diode-bridge, etc.). 

Most conversion is handled by my Apogee AD-16X units which while a bit older now still sound amazing to my ears. However, a Burl B2 Bomber is also available if you only need 1 or 2 channels. 

Everything is fed back via Apogee DA-16X converters to the desk.

Whether mixing something recorded here, another studio, or a home recording, I strive to bring out the best in your songs.

Just like with tracking my goal is to use my tools and experience to bring the song to a place that matches your vision. I am not satisfied with the mix until you are!

I strive to take the listener on a journey through your song with dynamic shifts as appropriate. I try to give every part of the arrangement the space it needs and highlight different elements along the way. By the end, the story, vibe, and emotion of the song should all join to create a cohesive piece of audible art.

The excellent monitoring environment at Rarefied really allows me to sculpt the low end of the mix which is crucial for giving your song the impact it deserves. It also means the mix should translate well from system to system.

I take a true hybrid approach to mixing. While I do use Pro Tools and all of the plug-ins and automation options that come with it, your audio will also go through the Neve Genesys mixing console and may very likely hit some real analog hardware along the way. I'm often making use of outboard reverbs and delays as well, including an actual plate reverb and a killer analog delay from Moog. The entire mix usually gets glued together with some light compression and EQ before being captured back into Pro Tools via a Burl B2 Bomber converter. After that, some magical plug-ins are used to enhance things even further.

Thanks to the total recall feature of the Genesys and my meticulous note-taking, I can actually recall the mix very accurately for further revisions, eliminating the compromise of working from stems. 

When it comes to mastering I take a fundamentally different approach from mixing. Over the years I've found particular plug-ins that allow me to enhance and sculpt a stereo mix to my liking. Some of them are emulations of classic analog equipment. Others are new technologies that have never been available in a real piece of hardware. This custom chain is unique to me and has nothing to do with the "mastering plug-in suites" you might have seen. 

My number one rule in mastering is to "do no harm". Unless specifically asked to, I don't want to upset the balances and overall vibe of the mix. But I do want to add clarity, lift the sonic experience out of the speakers, and correct any deficiencies I perceive. Once again, the exceptional room design and speaker options at Rarefied give me a clear view of what is truly happening with your recording, especially in the ever-difficult low end.

The biggest tools at my disposal, however, are my ears. I constantly go back and forth between the mix and the master in progress (at the same volume) to make sure everything I'm doing is truly improving the sound of the recording. While I can make the master as loud as you want, my preference is to keep some dynamics in the mix. I'm not a fan of aggressively limited masters which, in my opinion, are fatiguing to listen to. In my mind it's better for the end result to maintain a natural ebb and flow in volume so that the song still lifts up and drops down where it should and doesn't just sound like one constant assault on your ears. 

I offer many other services for your audio needs. Below is a list of some of the additional possibilities at the studio many of which can be done remotely. I can even share a full quality audio stream with you for real time tweaking.

• Audio editing– music and voice can be carefully edited to your specifications. Drums can be put on the grid and maximally in phase, vocal parts can be perfectly aligned, podcasts/audio books/voice overs can be perfected, etc.

• Audio clean up– noise of all sorts can be removed with little to no impact to the audio itself (in most cases). Examples of noises that can be removed: constant hum/buzz/hiss, clicks/pops, mouth smacks/plosives/sibilance, digital or analog distortion, cell phone interference, and many others.

• Tuning of vocals or instruments- Even polyphonic instruments can be tuned. Tuning can be transparent or obviously auto-tuned if that’s what you want!

• Reamping of guitars or basses- Choose from one of my lovely guitar or bass amps. See the gear list for details. You can also add pedals of your choosing into the chain. Various mics or mic combos can be placed on the cabinet and a variety of mic pre’s can be used as well.

• Running signal through outboard gear- Want your mix sent through a pair of Pultec equalizers? Or an SSL bus compressor clone? What about a Neve 33609? Tons of great options. Make your custom chain.

• Running signals through the Pluto Plate reverb- Nothing beats a real plate reverb. Rarefied also has many other great reverbs including a Bricasti M7, Eventide H3000, and several spring reverbs.

• Running signals on and off the MCI JH16 2″ 16 track tape machine- Forget emulations! Get the real thing. The JH16 is loaded with transformers and magic.

• Analog summing through the Neve Genesys console- Signals can either be sent through the normal DAW return path which provides a fairly uncolored result or through the 1073 mic pre’s for tons of mojo added. Mixes will be captured back to digital through your choice of Burl or Apogee conversion. Mix bus processing can also be added if you’d like.

• Podcasting/Audio Books/Voice Overs- Rarefied is a great place to record your podcast, audio book, or voice over. The environment is extremely comfortable and inspiring. 

• One on one training- I thoroughly enjoy teaching others about recording, mixing, and mastering. We can do remote or onsite lessons tailored to what you want to learn.

• Consultation- Are you setting up a home studio and need help picking out gear or optimizing your setup acoustically? I can help. I've been through many iterations of setups over the years and keep up on the latest gear out there. I can also help you hook things up and give you training on how to use your equipment.

• Assistant engineering- Are you an engineer eager to work in a studio like Rarefied, but uncertain about jumping into a new situation? Or are you a producer who knows what they want, but could really use an extra set of hands/ears so you can focus on the music? I'd be happy to fall back to an assistant roll and get you going over here.

• Video/Photo shoots- Rarefied makes for a wonderful spot to shoot a music video, sit-down interview, commercial or take some still photos. Many clients have already done so, even some big names like Disney and LG. I can connect you with a videographer or photographer if you need. And yes, it is possible to film your tracking sessions for an authentic "making of" music video or documentary. 

• Digitizing cassette tapes/vinyl or other audio format conversions- If you’ve got some old cassette tapes or some vinyl records you want to digitize, I’ve got you! I can also help you convert your CD collection to digital files or do any type of conversion from one type of digital audio file to another. I also have access to DAT and ADAT players if you need those transferred.

• Microphone or other rental- If you are in the San Diego area and need to rent a mic or other piece of recording/musical gear I may be able to help you out. If I don't need it here on a particular day I'd be happy to rent it to you! Check the studio's gear list to see what I have.