Music Production Services
Making commercial recordings is not as easy as it seems.
There are many approaches, so how do you know what is right for you?
A professional music producer has spent years honing their craft, and knows what it takes to make great records. Moreover, they are your best guide and supporter throughout the process.
Read on for more about specific services I provide, or even better, get in touch now and let’s set up an informal chat.
Songwriting / Composition
Creating unique music for your message is perhaps the most powerful way to engage with your audience.
I have written with notable composers such as Grammy award-winner Rob Davis and Simon Rhodes (Senior Recording Engineer at Abbey Road Studios), and collaborated with independent artists co-writing and enhancing their compositions, for example, Charlie Turner and Charlotte Campbell’s recent work. I’ve also worked with organisations and brands composing theme tunes and charity singles that have reached audiences of millions worldwide, most notably ‘I Miss You’ for the Missing People Choir, as seen on Britain’s Got Talent. I’ve also been known to be an expert voice on songwriting and composition for Channel 5 music documentaries.
Pre-Production
Pre-production is the secret ingredient for great projects.
Time spent listening, discussing and planning the production of your music can be an enlightening and efficient stage of the process.
Making demos, working up song arrangements, holding rehearsals and developing song form is a wise investment of your time and budget, before jumping in. Contact me to set up a meeting.
Arrangements
This is the most expensive part of music production. And yet, undoubtedly, it’ll be the best money spent.
Casting session musicians to perform string parts, choral, brass etc. will take your song to another level.
There’s nothing better than real humans playing real instruments.
I am frequently engaged as an arranger and have contributed vocal, choral, instrumental and orchestral arrangements to multiple no.1 records. I’m particularly renowned for my expertise in vocal arranging and I have a professional network of high-level session musicians. Please get in touch to discuss your needs.
Instrumentation
I’m a multi-instrumentalist and arranger: a classically trained pianist, whose studied jazz piano for ten years under Shan Verma. I also play bass guitar, drums, and sing. I am an experienced choral director and conductor, with a vast experienced of studio recording.
Recording
I’m a recording engineer and ProTools specialist. Experienced at recording on location and in my own studio, I regularly also work with top engineers in the big studios in the UK and abroad.
At my Kingston recording studio and production suite, I offer multi-track recording for small groups or overdubs for larger projects.
I also partner exclusively with Oast View, a larger residential studio in Kent.
When recording choirs or big groups, I source an appropriate venue to run recording sessions, including providing a mobile rig, mics and headphones for up to 60 singers.
For example, I recently recorded a 24-piece string ensemble at the Menuhin Hall in Surrey for the forthcoming Future Talent 20th anniversary album.
Editing
The final stages of production comprise editing and final enhancements (the bells and whistles). This is often where critical decisions are made, performances are tightened and polished, vocals are treated and the overall production is prepared for mixing.
Best practice is to leave no stone unturned, or in other words, aim for perfection.
I’m a bit of a ProTools ninja. I work fast and efficiently and can solve what may seem like unsolvable problems with audio.
Mixing
Mixing is an art form, in just the same way songwriting is. It can make the difference between someone switching off after 20 seconds or listening through your entire piece.
Mixing is when creativity returns to the project, after stages when practical and technical tasks are completed, and offers you an opportunity to refresh your creative vision, and present or frame your song in a way that’s compelling to your listener.
Get this right and the sky’s the limit.
I’m a trusted and accomplished mix engineer. My work spans anything from hip hop, to classical, to rock bands, to audio books!
If I have taken your song through various stages of production, I will have a thorough understanding and vision for your mix. However, if your budget allows, it can also be advantageous to cast another mix engineer, who has fresh ears, on the project. You can consider this choice at any point.
Similarly, I often mix engineers for other people’s recording projects, such as Polly Paulusma, Synthonic, The Greensands or All The Villains.
See my online mixing service optionsMastering
Mastering is a must. It finalises your production with a broadcast-ready finish, and prepares your work for all platform distribution. I outsource to various mastering houses, where I’ve a good working relationship with the mastering engineers, including Mike Hinton of MSTRD mastering service.