Need to record a demo?
I encourage anyone who wants or needs to be recorded to embrace the DIY ethic. If you've got a rehearsal space, some mics, and a recording deck or phone, that's enough to get started. If you find your results unsatisfactory, your gear choices too restrictive, or both, a well-equipped project studio is a logical (and affordable) next step. Bouncing ideas off of someone else can be a good thing. So can leaving the mechanics of recording to an experienced engineer, so you can concentrate on the arrangement and its performance. Having a decent sounding demo can get your foot in the door, or give you the upper hand over your competition for getting gigs. Post your demo online to help your band build a following, distribute it to industry contacts, do whatever you want. The better it sounds, the more listeners it will attract, and the longer they are likely to listen.
Need a mobile recording of a live performance?
I can provide up to 16 simultaneous tracks of digital recording with my remote rig. Given adequate space, I can provide external monitoring for playback of those recordings, too. Whatever you need, let's talk about it. There's probably a way to make it a reality.
Have existing tracks that require mixing?
If they're WAV files, we can import them into Reaper and create multiple mixes, if you need more than one. Stereo and/or mono. If they're some other type of audio file, we can probably work with them, but if they only exist in some lossy format like mp3, the fidelity of the finished product will positively suffer for it.I'm a big fan of multichannel audio and am hoping to offer 5.1 mixes in the near future.
I already do quite a bit of audio restoration work, so if you're agonizing over whether you need to redo an entire project because there's one shaky sounding track in it, bring it over and let's see if we can rescue it first. Or we can record a replacement track and substitute it for the bad track in a new mix. Even if your separate trcks only exist some form of analog tape, we can still get them imported into the digital realm, which unlocks the whole world of plugins to help resolve audio issues. Let me know what you've got and where you want to get to. If I can't do it, I probably know someone who can.
Need to record a voiceover demo?
Do some online research, find the stopwatch app on your phone, and write a script that shows off how engaging your voice can be. Practice, refine, and time yourself until you can do it in your sleep in 1-2 minutes...90 seconds makes a fine target. Bring your script, your voice, and $20 and I'll send you out the door with a mono voiceover demo in one or more audio formats, usually in 60-90 minutes. Maybe you're just curious about how the rest of the world hears your voice, or perhaps you'd like to work on your inflection. This is an affordable way to do that.
Own vinyl records, shellac 78s, or tapes you want digitized?
Want to, but don't think they're in good enough shape?
Got a favorite old vinyl LP of a band that apparently only you liked, since no label has stepped up to release it in digital form? Fear not, I'm pretty much the poster boy for that scenario. I've been doing digital transfers of vinyl, cassettes, reels and DATs for myself for years. A coworkers's desire to hear her deceased family members on an old 3" reel is what prompted me to open up my process to others. I've dealt with enough raggedy old reels and scratchy Goodwill LPs that I'm fairly experienced in the occasionally dark arts of audio restoration. While there's nothing wrong with converting your own vinyl to mp3 with an Ion turntable, that's not going to provide the greatest fidelity, it's not going to allow you to output in any audio format you'd like, and most importantly, it's not going to remove the clicks and pops or repair the skips. When I agree to take on your record transfer, I clean and vacuum it first. Once dried, I capture it in real time as a 32/96 WAV file on whichever turntable/stylus combo matches up best with its genre and physical condition. That original capture is archived, and I apply appropriate restoration tools to a separate digital copy. Separate tracks are then generated in whatever audio format(s) you desire. All tracks are normalized to your specs.
My primary local competition charges a minimum of $30 per LP or tape, and mine sound better because I don't rely on how many of these projects I complete to pay the rent for my nonexistent storefront. The biggest difference between us, other than cost, is that he'll guarantee you that he'll finish it inside of two weeks. I can't offer that due to the limitations imposed by my full time job, but I'm usually good for 3 weeks, and let's face it, you've probably had it sitting in a drawer for the past 20+ years... Do you want it done fast or do your want it done with care?
There is a very important legal condition involved here. I respect copyrights, I respect the rights of artists, and I fear the lawyers that represent labels. I will research anything you give me first to make sure that there are no legitimate releases of it already available in digital format. As long as that comes back clean, we're probably fine.
Need an audio guy for your ghosthunting endeavor?
If you'r'e in need of an audio specialist for your ghosthunt, I'd love to participate. I've only got two conditions, but I make no exceptions for either one.
First, you must have legal permission to investigate that specific location.
HINT: If you didn't have to sign an injury waiver agreement, you (and, by extension, we) are probably not authorized.
Second, you must be respectful towards the spirits you're investigating. I don't suffer antagonists well, so if that's your style, please find someone else.