We begin every project with a pre-production session. The first part of pre-production consists of a casual meeting to discuss the overall direction of your project. Before we can understand the type of record that you want to make, we need to learn your musical journey. What inspired you to become an artist? What impact do you want to make with your music? Most importantly, what do you want this record to say to its listeners? Once we know you as an artist, we can understand the record that you want to make.

Once we have the songs selected, we begin developing the blueprint for the production process. In this stage of pre-production we review the basic arrangement of the song, instrumentation, tempo, groove, melody, lyrics, etc. Some artists have many of these elements worked out ahead of time. Others ask for our guidance and assistance with these aspects. Our approach is entirely dependent upon what the songs call for and what the artist desires. Either way, this process is an essential aspect of ensuring that we take the proper approach in the production process. At the end of these sessions we want to be able to hear what the record should sound like before we step into the tracking room.

This is where our preparation during pre-production really pays off. Every great recording has one thing in common. It captures a moment in time where inspiration, creativity, and musicianship find a perfect balance of emotional expression and precision.

During the tracking sessions, we take the time to get it right. From the placement of each microphone to the performance of each part, every aspect is meticulously crafted to follow the blueprint that we laid out during pre-production. Sometimes that magic take happens on the first couple passes. Other times, it takes hours of patient repetition to capture the right feel. Either way, we will keep rolling until we have captured the moment where everything comes together just right. Our goal is to get every aspect perfect during tracking. We never rely on “fixing it in the mix.”

In preparation for the vocal sessions we complete extensive editing, arrangement, and balancing to make sure that the track is inspiring to perform with. Next, we test the artists voice on a variety of microphones to find the one that best suits their tone. Once we have selected the best mic, we then compare which pre-amp and compressor combination responds best to the performance. Every part of the chain, from the artist’s voice to DAW, provides its own unique color. Therefore, we take the time to find the proper combination that will provide the best sonic response.

Now that we have all of the technical details in place, it’s time to cut the vocal! Our main focus during these sessions is to capture the raw emotion that inspired the song. Every artist has his or her own approach. Some songs call for different methods, but once the vocal is complete we want it to embody an experience that the will capture the listener. Sometimes we run the song down top to bottom until we have the desired performance. In other cases, we will focus on the song in sections, recording multiple takes of the same part and then “comping” the best pieces into one final vocal. Regardless of the method, we work to make sure that every note, word, and breathe fall naturally and precisely in place. If that takes 30 minutes or all day, we will work it out together until we have a performance that authentically represents the track.

Once the recording is complete and approved by the artist, we begin the mixing and mastering process. In these stages we reference our initial pre-production discussions to develop the overall sonic approach. In the mixing process, we utilize a variety of classic analog equipment and the latest in digital audio technology to achieve the desired balance. We prefer for the artist to be involved in each stage of the mixing process to ensure that we are achieving the sonic direction that they envision.

We begin with an initial mix to balance out the elements and enhance the track. Once we have the mix to a point where we feel it is sitting right, we have the artist review the mix and provide feedback. We then go back to make additional adjustments until we feel the mix is complete. At that point, we have the artist review the mix again, and continue to make adjustments until everyone is satisfied with the track.

Upon approval of the mixes, we begin the mastering process. In this stage we rely on the trusted ears of the mastering engineer to glue the mix altogether and raise it to commercial volume.