Travelling with my beautiful wife, Music, Datsun Z cars, playing hockey, Apple computers, practicing Ninjutsu and other martial arts, movies, poker, good food, good drinks, good friends...
Music producer/engineer with 18 years experience in world class recording studios. Currently working with unsigned acts to promote and empower and eventually distribute to major/indie labels for recording contracts.
I am a music producer/audio engineer and live mixer with 21 years experience in world class recording studios and live audio. Currently working with up-and-coming bands and always looking for new artists.
I have produced and engineered for artists like Bile, Pro-Pain, Peter Gabriel, Helmet, Public Enemy, Alphaville, Pet Shop Boys, Tramping Ground, Bluish, Woodfish, Charles Norkus (Jaco Pastorius), Mackie from Bad Brains, Hot Action Cop, Push Play, the Reserve, Ronan Tynan and Ryan Star among others.
Check out some of the artists I have recently
produced & engineered by clicking here.
I get lots of emails from up-and-coming youngsters asking about the gear and techniques I use in the studio. I like these questions as I am passionate about what I do and the tools I use to do it. So, here's a few tidbits: (BTW, unless noted, all items are exclusive.)
*I mix on SSL (preferably G or G+ series) consoles.
*For live mixing I specify Digidesign Venue consoles of any model (D-Show, Profile or SC48.)
*I record on Neve or API consoles.
*I use ProTools (sometimes Digtal Performer) on Apple computers.
*I tend to use German/Austrian mics such as: Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser etc.
*For live audio my favorite speakers are d&b line arrays with lots of aux-driven subs.
*I DO NOT use plug-ins as a crutch to compensate for a lack of talent ie: Auto-Tune to correct bad vocals. If you suck so badly that you need that kind of help you should not be signed or wasting a professional's time.
*I use ProTools as the world's most advanced tape recorder...put the band in the room (after many rehearsals), mic 'em up, hit 'record.' If the take isn't right, DO MORE takes until it is. I don't get hired to sit in front of a monitor for hours editing your band until you sound good, you should be good in the first place.
I was brought up in an old-school 48-track analog, Neve equipped recording studio (Cove City Sound, Glen Cove, NY) run by guys who knew how to use a studio as an art form. No "in the box" mixing...it was all fingers and ears. Working in a place like that taught me about mic technique, song arrangement, the artistry of production and the subtleties of engineering. In my humble opinion (shared by many of the REAL producers and engineers) the art of record production and recording is being decimated by tone-deaf sonic assailants with cracked plug-ins galore on their hard-drives. Mark "Spike" Stent sums it up quite nicely:
"I think that the art of recording in general is getting lost with everybody learning their techniques in home studios instead of commercial studios."
When people ask my advice as to what recording school I think is the best (Full Sail, IAR etc.) I tell them the best recording school is the nearest recording studio. The best teacher is an older engineer that knows how to work in one. Save all the money of an expensive and drawn out education and get an internship at the nearest studio. The money you save you will have to live off of since it's likely you will not be paid from the start. Read every book and internet forum on recording and production. BUY A MAC! Parents insisting you go to college? Go for a music major, much more useful in the studio than how to program a beat in Reason (I have to say I LOVE Reason.) Besides, many colleges these days have some kind of audio-related program so that in conjunction with music can be very rewarding. Be advised: no matter what you do, be prepared to start at the bottom, even if you do have a diploma from an accredited school. That's one thing they don't tell you...you graduate from a school with a degree in audio engineering/production thinking you are now an engineer/producer, you knock on the door of your local studio looking for work as such and they tell you: "We have an opening for an intern. Can you clean the toilets and make coffee?" Take that internship. Trust me, that's the best thing you could do to begin learning studio recording and production techniques. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. I had to learn that the hard way but I'm the better for it now.
BTW, a HUGE pet peeve of mine is people abbreviating the word "microphone" with "mike" or anything except the proper abbreviation, which is of course "mic."
Who I'd like to meet: Cool musicians & bands, John Taylor, Wayne Gretzky, Gillian Anderson, Juliya (Mistress of Metal)...
Dude it's been a while. Hope all has been well. We have a new line up (the best yet). Just thought you might be curious. Check out our new singer when you get time. Luke de. on our profile.
VOID! Aha, I haven't talked to you in such a long time. Probably like.. the summer. Which is a really long time. I miss you at Push Play shows! It sucks that you're not working with them anymore. But it's awesome that you're working with The Reserve, because they're amazing too. So if I'm at a show of their's, I really hope I see ya there.
If the spirit moves you, please check out our debut singles, "Eat" and "Sail." We're an alternative soul band coming out of Oakland, CA, and we'd love to have your support.
You're on fire (in a good way)! Sup Buddy! You must be sooooooo busy! I always knew you were a great engineer and producer, and finally your getting the rest of the world to listen!!
Hey Rob How is everything?? I see push play has been doing well!! I am happy for them!! Anyway i was on and I saw your profile so I wanted to say whats up ... Whats up?? Sportime Hockey has been changing and now they want to group teams into ranks and skill levels ... its getting serious HAHAHAA
Have just put up a new track on my profile for You to enjoy :) Its called "Sitar Falling" and is a nice relaxing kind of ambient fusion track for a change ,-)
"TighT" is also happy to have contributed the opening track for the newest "50 Full Moons" Psytrance Compilation wich can be downloaded for Free in full CD quality... just click on pic below.
yea acually im goin to my first major concert nov.30 its goin to be sick. lamb of god, killswitch engage and i think devildriver and soil work is playing.....also mudvayne will be touring when there new albums out that would be a sick concert.
Thanks for becoming a friend. I hope you will try attending one of my music industry meetings called The Circle. It's a great way to promote yourself and make contacts.
The next meeting is Tuesday, October 23. Details are at www.RPDieguez.com/circle_manhattan.html
In the meantime, good luck with everything! If you ever need legal help, feel free to contact me. Keep in touch.
Richard P. Dieguez Entertainment Attorney RPDieguez@yahoo.com
