I have a broad palette of top-shelf instruments, microphones, preamps, and compressors to dial in exactly the tone we want whether it be modern or vintage, hi-fi or lo-fi.
With years of experience making albums, I can help you plan, organize, and run your session. I typically take a producer role in projects by offering feedback and direction on song structure, arrangement, parts, tone, performances, etc. But I’m content to just engineer if you already know exactly what you’re going for.
Recording sessions are by invitation and referral only. Feel free to reach out for mixing and/or mastering.
The goal at the mixing stage is to balance the elements of a song and give the song the best sonic space in which to tell its story. All of the tracks should combine in a coherent, compelling way that enables the listener to be completely immersed in the song without any elements of the mix poking out at them. Sometimes that means enhancing tracks with processing like EQ, compression, reverb, delay, imaging, modulation, etc. Sometimes it means leaving a track well alone because it’s already perfect. Knowing when and how to enhance a track in the overall context of a mix is the key.
I have experience mixing in a variety of genres from pop, to folk, indie, rock, EDM, R&B, Hip-Hop, blues, and funk.
I can go experimental, add interesting textures, and make a mix sound larger than life, or I can get a song to sound as natural and organic as possible.
In addition to the extensive Logic Pro stock plugin and sample libraries, I have access to and experience with a whole host of third-party plugins and software instruments from Soundtoys, Softube, Output, Waves, Elysia, ValhallaDSP, Thephonoloop, Soniccouture, and Circles Drum Samples. I often patch in outboard gear or re-amp guitars for a more “realistic” sounding character.
Mastering is the last step in the production process. Mastering brings balance between songs within an album to give the album a coherent sonic character. The goal is for the listener to experience seamless transitions between songs, not be distracted by pronounced disparities in tone, volume, and dynamics.
Mastering also brings balance between the album and the rest of the world of music that already exists so that the album can be enjoyed alongside other albums in the same genre or playlist. Mastering gets the song sounding great in every playback environment.
One component of mastering is loudness. My goal is to strike the balance between loudness and dynamics that the client desires. I am mindful of the loudness war and the loudness normalization processes implemented by the various streaming services and can guide the client in crafting the most compelling and musical balance. If the client wants it loud, I have the tools and experience to deliver loud masters in the most dynamic and transparent way possible.
For recording and mixing, my hourly rate is $60/hr., with a 2-hour minimum. My day rate for an 8-hour day (excluding meal breaks) is $420.
For mastering, I charge $50 per song for albums with 5 or more songs, $75 per song for albums with less than 5 songs, and $100 for singles.
I’m David Lipps. I started playing percussion in the 6th-grade school band. I was classically trained and have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of music theory. I’ve played drum set for a number of bands in a variety of genres including indie, folk, rock, blues, and funk. I appreciate all genres of music with a leaning toward indie folk.
I’ve been recording, mixing, and mastering music since 2002. I have a passion for music and building community in the music scene.
A previous client described me in his album credits as the “doula” of his album. I think this is a powerful metaphor because birthing one’s creative ideas into the world can be a difficult but rewarding process. I love to support artists through that process.
I am fully engaged with each project and am kind, caring, empathetic, a clear communicator, direct but diplomatic, patient, and laid back. I have meticulous attention to detail (some might say OCD), a finely tuned ear, and the dedication and focus to bring a project to completion.
On an emotional level, my goal is to provide a welcoming, safe, positive container for my clients to fully express themselves through music. On a technical level, I want my clients to feel inspired by the sound that’s coming through their headphones so they can deliver the most genuine performance of their art. And then, after the song is mixed and mastered, I want my clients to feel like the final product is exactly what they had in mind, if not infinitely better.
Mics
Preamps
Dynamics
EQ
Conversion / Recorders
Monitors
Instruments
Guitar & Bass Amps
Guitar Pedals
