If you could only keep 3 pieces of outboard gear what would they be? Why?
That’s like asking a parent which kid is their favorite. Not cool. But backed into a corner I would say my Empirical Labs FATSO.
Ever since I bought this thing from my friend Bruce at Magneto Mastering, it’s been used on every mix I’ve done. The way it makes drums sound is so good and meaty, I love it.
I just recently bought a Retro Instruments 176 and it shot past most of my compressors as the new go to. That thing sounds amazing on pretty much anything I’ve tried it on. It shines on Vocals and makes them sit exactly where you want them to. I need another one!
Third would be a tie between my 2 Cranesong pieces. The STC 8 Compressor and the IBIS EQ. Those 2 strapped across my mix buss equals awesome. Period.
Thoughts on ITB vs OTB mixing?
Big fan of both worlds. I’m kind of a gear head so I use a lot of outboard gear for tonality, but the speed and ease of Pro Tools is where it’s at. I teach on large format consoles, but by no means do I think it’s at all necessary to need a console to achieve a good mix. That being said I use a summing mixer by SPL that gets me out of the box a bit and I like the sound of that box a lot.
Biggest mistake you see newcomers make?
Expecting things to be handed to them and when they don’t getting frustrated and giving up. There is no guarantee in this business. You’re gonna have to work your ass off and if and when you’re lucky enough to get any kind of break you need to know how to run with it.
Best piece of advice for up-and-coming engineers?
Work hard and be prepared to sacrifice. It takes a lot to get anywhere in this business but if you have the drive, dedication and the love for music, there’s no telling where that can take you. I live music, have from day one. It’s all I thought about and did when I was starting out.
I’ve learned to balance things out now that I’m established, finding time for family and rest, but it seriously still takes a ton of energy and if you don’t go at it full throttle someone else behind you will.
For more on Joe’s approach also check out his Artist’s House video interview.
In addition, here’s another video with Joe talking about the new POS record:
About The Hideaway Studio – Minneapolis, MN (pictured above). Nestled along the Mississippi in Northeast Minneapolis, The Hideaway Studio is one of the Twin Cities’ premier recording studios. The Hideaway was founded in 2004 by owner/engineer Joe Mabbott and quickly established itself as a home for local, national and international artists. Its comfortable yet professional environment has yielded hundreds of records from hip hop to punk rock to traditional Irish folk music and all points in between. With multiple tracking rooms, two control rooms, and a huge selection of the finest outboard gear, The Hideaway Studio is an extremely flexible recording facility that can meet most any budget.
About McNally Smith College of Music. McNally Smith College of Music premier music school in St. Paul, Minnesota. McNally Smith recognizes that music is a dynamic art form, and prepares students to engage, adapt, and thrive as leaders of change in music and society. The school offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degrees in all areas of music, including performance, music business, and composition. McNally Smith is one of the only schools in the country to offer a Diploma Program in Hip-Hop Studies. Visit the school’s website to learn more about a preparing for a life in music.
Dan Comerchero is the founder and editor of the ProAudioFiles.com, a community blog where audio professionals from around the world share pro audio related articles, techniques, and advice on recording, mixing, production and more.