Clarke Schleicher (Neil Young, Taylor Swift)
Mixing engineer and producer, Clarke Schleicher, has worked on more than twenty number-one singles and ten number-one albums spanning multiple genres. He’s won three Grammy Awards and been nominated for ACM engineer of the year two times. Schleicher’s discography includes Neil Young, Amy Grant, Joan Baez, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, The Band Perry, and Marie Osmond.
Having mixed and produced so many songs over the past few years, how do you stay fresh and excited about making music every day?
Working with talented artists always keeps the music exciting. I really enjoy helping artists develop their ideas and create new sounds.
Tell us about your current studio setup.
With the help of Graham Waks at Music City Acoustics, I’ve built an amazing home mixing studio. It’s one of the most accurate rooms I’ve ever mixed in. My room is mostly in the box and I mix in Pro Tools. I have a lot of outboard gear that I’ve collected over the years that I’ll incorporate when needed.
How do you typically approach a mix: what's your process for setting it up? How often are you making big editing decisions in your mixing?
I start by bringing all the faders up and getting an overall feel for the song. I play with panning and some initial verbs, but mostly concentrate on the vocal. Then I pull all the faders back down and really start digging into the individual tracks to see how I can fit them into a great-sounding mix.
How does the mixing work come to you these days?
I’ve been working with producer Paul Worley for many years. He keeps me pretty busy. Other than Paul, word of mouth is still the most prevalent way I get new clients. For young mixers, attending open events sponsored by professional organizations such as the AES and the Grammys is always a good start.
What's one piece of advice you can pass on to aspiring mixers and producers looking to get better at their craft?
Go to school! Whether it’s a four-year college degree or a four-month seminar-type school, learn the fundamentals of equalization, compression and recording techniques. Playing around on a laptop will only get you so far.