Synergetic Mixes

14/04/2023

📣 For all of you indie artists and bands who said they were struggling with growing their fan base or increasing the number of streams 📣

Many artists rely on a “if you build it, they will come” approach to making music.
I spent the past few weeks putting together a free (but awesome) release checklist guide that will help all you indie artists and bands actually increase your fan base and your stream numbers, release after release!

https://synergeticmixes.com/artist-release-checklist

Let me know what you think about it!

10/02/2023

I keep talking about this with my clients - no matter how good your music is, you won’t succeed without a great release strategy.

And a good release strategy can be A LOT of work!!!

In 2023, in order to be able to keep up with the consistency of releases needed for algorithms to be favourable to you, you need a GREAT TEAM working off a GREAT STRATEGY. I always encourage my clients to focus on what matters, and build a really good team that can deliver consistent results.

I’ll be sharing something with you all really soon - a rough guide on preparing a new release. All the prep work, organising your assets for efficiency, and how to effectively create hype and build following ahead of each release.

Stay tuned, and feel free to DM me or book a free call!

13/12/2022

I’ve had indie artists asking me about growing their fan base because they struggle with increasing the number of streams.

This is something I’ve helped people with dozens of times. So I’m thinking of putting together a short and completely free pdf, with simple advice that any indie artist could start doing right now to increase their reach and grow their fan base.

Let me know if this would be of interest to you!
Comment or like this post, or reach out via private message.

Synergetic Mixes offers premium Mix and Master services - helping you the artist get your song ready for release and ensure it gets heard.

30/11/2022

This quote really hit home.
This is something I experience myself and see it on so many other talented musicians that I work with.

Always be kind to yourself.

14/04/2022

Thank you !!

Some of you might know I really really like Earthworks microphones in a number of applications. They’ve been on my radar since I’ve done high fidelity acoustic recordings for strings in lovely venues, but also when recording drums.

Well, sometimes things happen. I had a less than stellar DM20 on my mic locker and EarthworkAudio went and sorted me with a new mic.

Amazing mics AND great friendly customer support??? 😍

(I am not affiliated with EA in any way, I simply really like their products and now I really like their customer support too 👏)

02/01/2022

Thank you for the kind words David Eusébio!!

VIDEOSubscreve o meu can...

14/10/2021

When sticks finally give up on you.
I honestly can’t blame it for finally, giving up, can you?

Goodbye stick, we had an amazing run!!

07/10/2021

Everyone who knows me knows I love to teach, share knowledge and mentor. It's one of the most fulfilling activities I do as an engineer.

I've had the amazing opportunity to critique and help hundreds of people with their mixes, teach classes, come up with my own curriculums for modules in sound engineering degrees. Recently, I've opened up a few slots a month for dedicated students - drumming or audio engineering.

Receiving feedback like this makes me so happy and makes me want to improve myself and push myself to be better, and give 110% whenever I am teaching others.

04/10/2021

A few of my fav current mics for recording vocals. This is not an exhaustive list, only certain microphones that I like and trust - or that I like their topology enough to use clones and reissues:

Origin. The cheapest mic in this post and honestly, it gives some of the others a run for the money. As with all vocal mics, this one sometimes makes the pic despite having much more expensive mics in my collection. Proof you don't need to break the bank to get really good vocals tracked.

ML-1. Keep an eye for their discounts and you could get this microphone under £500. It's part of their virtual microphone collection product - not only it's a pretty clean and clear microphone, you can get some interesting colour using the VMR software (somewhat emulating U47, C12, C800 and other expensive and well sought after mics).

Aria. Despite boosting an edge terminated capsule (think AKG), it's actually quite dark. A brilliant mic for £1000.
berlin U47. Classic. Warm. Round. Detailed. Copied and cloned for a reason - it's a great mic to have in the arsenal that is a great alternative to the Slate, C12, or even some other Neumann microphones. When it fits the vocal, it fits like a glove!

C12. The original one. With the edge terminated capsule, and all the great, airy top end. Sometimes too much for certain singers, but it can definitely make vocals shine!

SM7b And now for something completely different. Sometimes there's other instruments in the room. Sometimes there's a massive dynamic range. Maybe the singer is a true belter. This microphone copes really well with more unusual vocal sessions, and it's still a favourite in my arsenal!

What are your favourites? Leave a comment below and share some of your favourite microphones.

29/09/2021

A mix can make a world of difference for your music. DM me or visit my website (link in bio) and let’s chat about your project.

These days, as more artists work in isolation, the mixing engineer can help you provide a direction, fresh perspective and a welcome break from your tracks.

I have a few free slots in October to make a few test/demo mixes for your projects. DM or email me via my website (link in bio) so we can discuss your project.

Looking forward to talk to you.

24/09/2021

Pinch me.
I still can’t believe I could chat with these two for a week. There are no words to describe the contagious energy of and the unparalleled knowledge and touch of

This goes straight to my book of very fond memories. I need to digest all the conversations and the golden advice that these two shared with me over the past week.

I’m am beyond grateful!

17/09/2021

Last night I lost my dear assistant mixing engineer and companion, Loki 😢

He spent so many hours by my side - he was my shadow. He’d happily sit there while I soldered a patch bay, mixed a track, or read a book.

Not only he was a fluffy beauty, with a meow to die for, he was the cleverest cat we’ve ever met. He knew how to open doors and cupboards, tell us off when we did something wrong, know if we were about to go away, etc.

Here’s him taking a coffee break w me, helping me cook some omelette, reading the kindle with me, and overseeing the temperature and water level of my bath.

Goodbye furry friend. Thank you for the 10 years of amazing company and cuddles.

You were taken from us too soon, but I hope you are not in pain anymore and found a new tree to sleep under.

❤️

14/07/2021

I love working with singer-songwriters. Moulding and shaping their creation into releases they are proud to show to the world.⠀
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I'm going to have a few examples of Will's working coming in the next few posts. His EP - Foxes - came out last year just as the world went into lockdown and he will be releasing a new EP very, very soon!⠀
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This was a really fun project where I got to lay drums, produce and mix the tracks. Mastered by the amazing

12/07/2021

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Drum Mics⠀
(LINK IN BIO)⠀
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I've recently written an article for on microphones for drum recording. Here's is a little snippet of some of my favourites for the snare drum.⠀
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I tend to go for what works and what closely relates to what the client has in mind. Time is money - especially in the studio - so instead, I go with microphones I know well and spend the rest of the time dialling in drum sounds with the drummer or giving the artist more time to get the right take.⠀

SR20LS or DM20. I was first turned on to the SR20LS by , as he uses them on virtually every video. I love earthworks as their microphones are incredibly high fidelity, so when I heard they were doing drum microphones, I couldn't be more stocked. These are clean, accurately capture the transient, and have an incredible spill rejection from other sources.

SM57/Beta57 are probably the most widely used snare microphone out there — a classic. Not only you cannot go wrong, but they are also cheap and will do the job. I prefer the sound of the SM57, but the beta57 has slightly better rejection and can help with spill when dealing with loud drummers.

i5 is also a classic in its own right, being adopted by metal engineers. It's an excellent mic for a well-balanced snare sound - good transient response, good frequency response, and a bit of colour and "thud" that goes nicely with modern snare sounds.
berlin Fet47. Now, this isn't a microphone for every drummer. But for the more subtle and articulate drummers out there, this can be an incredible mic. You'll get a full, open snare sound, excellent transient response and a slight saturation. This mic is for those drummers that have perfect control of dynamics.
berlin KM84 or KM184. This microphone, paired with an SM57, does a fantastic job at brightening up a snare drum and capture subtle articulations and more of the shell sound.

SM7B. For a full-bodied, "thud" snare. Or for a snare with a bit of "compressed" sound flavour to it. A great mic for a bit of an alternative sound for snare drums, especially as things like are trendy these days.

07/07/2021

During Lockdown 3 in the UK, I've recorded drums for David Eusébio upcoming solo album.
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It was a fun project, from light 2-4 pop songs to some shuffles, swing and even a full-on funk track.⠀
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These projects are so much fun to work with. We can do so much these days regardless of where we are or what is going on in the world.⠀
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Hit the contact button, DM me or visit my website for session drumming, sound engineering, if you want me to mix your next project, or if you'd like to have 1-1 lessons with me.

www.jplebre.com⠀
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05/07/2021

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Drum Mics⠀
https://www.drumeo.com/beat/the-ultimate-guide-to-buying-drum-mics/
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I've recently written an article for Drumeo on microphones for drum recording. Here's is a little snippet of some of my favourites for the kick drum.⠀
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I tend to go for what works and what closely relates to what the client has in mind. Time is money - especially in the studio - so instead, I go with microphones I know well and spend the rest of the time dialling in drum sounds with the drummer or giving the artist more time to get the right take.⠀
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I rarely use one microphone on the kick, so I'll always rely on a combination of these mics to get to the end sound I have in mind.⠀
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Shure Beta 52a - What can I say, just rules. For modern genres that require a full body but punchy kick, this guy ticks all the boxes for me as a kick out microphone.⠀
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Shure Beta92 - And another classic, this time for the kick in. Capture the attack of the sound accurately, plus the very welcome bonus of capturing the resonances of the drum's shell like only a condenser can. ⠀
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Solomon Microphones - You've probably seen Yamaha's SubKick on a lot of kick drums - both on stage and in the studio. Well, those are discontinued: but luckily, Solomon microphone is a much nicer alternative. It captures the low-end range of the kick drum with less spill than the Yamaha. ⠀
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Neumann FET 47 - I admit, not many people will have access to this. But if you do, try it. I have no words to describe how fantastic this mic is as a kick out microphone. Get some blankets if the drummer is hitting those cymbals hard!⠀
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Audix Microphones D6 - If you need a truly punch, insane attack out of your kick, this is the mic. It works great as a kick out microphone, but I find it truly shines as a kick in mic, placed close to where the be**er hits the batter head.⠀
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Electro-Voice RE20 - an excellent mic for kick out when you want a rounder and more open sound out of your kick drum. My favourite for drummers that play a bit lighter or kicks without a porthole or with a lot of resonance (and you wish to keep it that way).⠀
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01/07/2021

This is what I work for, every time.

Receiving kind words like these from the incredible Chrisy Lopez make my day and make me feel incredibly grateful to do the work I do.

Go check out Chrisy Lopez profile - as she's an incredible drummer in the studio and on stage, as well as a great MD and teacher.

Photo by the amazing .my.third.lens

29/06/2021

I LOVE compressors. I think it's the most fantastic bit of gear sound engineers have available to shape and colour sound.⠀
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But as I was compiling this list, I had to stop and ask myself - which compressors have I consistently been using throughout my career?⠀
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1176 (A, D and Anniversary Edition) - They are fast, can grab nearly everything and are incredible as a saturation box. You can beef up snares, vocals and BVs. You can give renewed energy to acoustic guitars and smash transients to bits. Go subtle, or go all buttons in for distortion land.⠀
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LA2A - I know, I know. I'm a walking cliche. But this truly is a "Leveling Amplifier". Use it on vocals, overheads, guitars, and you have instantly subtle tube saturation AND a more controlled dynamic range. Because of the slower attack time, transients become punchier as they poke through before the smooth compression characteristic of the optical cell kicks in.⠀
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TubeTech CL1B - The modern version of the LA2A - faster and cleaner. It can compress a lot more than the LA2A, and with variable ratio, attack and release controls, this is genuinely a modern workhorse compressor. It finds its way into my main vocals and even kicks, saxophones, etc.⠀
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SSL Bus Compressor - although I occasionally replace this with the PIE or ShadowHills emulation, the SSL makes its way to my mix bus more often than not. I grew very used to it using G and E consoles, and there's a reason why it's popular - it brings everything together nicely, but it's also able to get a mix pumping should you need to.⠀
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The Distressor - Great for vocal tracking, snare slamming, punchy kicks, tight basses or the ultimate tool for big drum rooms. I love everything from the opto setting (think LA3A or TubeTech) to the Nuke setting (think 1176) and anything else in between.⠀
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The SSL channel compressor - When I moved ITB, I quickly missed having this easy to use compressor available in every channel. It's incredibly flexible and a great tool to keep dynamics in check, but it truly shines when you use it in front of an EQ: driving specific frequencies into it can make a snare or acoustic guitar pop.

25/06/2021

Have you visited my new website yet?

I know time is precious, and in the music industry, even more so. That's why my first and foremost question to everyone I work with is, "What I do for you?" No matter what skills I have or how many clients I have, it's all for nothing if I can't apply them to serve your projects!

I organised my new website so you can quickly see all the services I offer:

- Sound Engineering: from recording your performances to mixing your raw multitracks. I've worked with musicians to help them improve their performances, arrangements and even help them develop release strategies to ensure their music is heard. I want every track I work on to be heard and the artist recognised for their work.

- Session Drumming: I've laid drums on singles, EPs, and LP projects in various genres. I'm not here to be flashy or to showcase what I can do. I'm here to help record the foundation of your tracks. Lay down grooves and accents when needed. Help build dynamics and transitions. Maybe explore new rhythmic ideas with you.

- Education/Mentoring: I can bring my experience from both sides of the glass to help you hone your skills to create the music you want. I work with beginners and intermediate drummers to help them achieve expressive freedom around the kit. I'm confident I can prepare you for life on the road or in the studio. I've also mentored music technology students from all experience levels and have a few incredible success cases.

09/06/2021

Taking the vintage for a ride.
This is seriously how it sounds out of the box, I just tuned it down a little.

Anyone else feels like playing Led Zep all day long?

08/06/2021

I’ve been a very proud owner of a vintage in beautiful slate red for a few weeks now and have been lucky enough to track a few EPs on it. German Sonor drums are something else - there will be a bit of love coming in the next few post for this kit 🤗

21/05/2021

It’s wardrobe day 😁

Honestly, I’m so proud to sport these. has built some of the nicest communities I know of, German are a thing of beauty, and been playing for as long as I can remember - the HHX and Artisan lines are just stunning...

The white hoodie holds a special place in my heart, as it was part of a nice Christmas care package from and the team at Drumeo

17/05/2021

Last year, at the end of the first lockdown, I had the pleasure to record a bunch of content in .studios SR1

Feels apt that I’m releasing this snippet as my latest article on official is out - a guide on choosing microphones to record your own drum kit (link in bio!!)

This is a track from and the play through is available at . These videos were taken in the context of another article I wrote - the ultimate guide to drum samples (link also in bio)

Enjoy! Cannot thank enough the support of everyone and every brand that is part of my life!

22/04/2021

Oh, what’s this???? 😍

(Thank you )