Interview with Tommy Hansen !!!
Thursday, 22 April 2010
We recentlly contacted respected Producer Tommy Hansen (Mixer of Helloween, Jørn Lande, Circus Maximus, etc.) for and interview, here it is!:
1.- Wat's the first thing you consider when mixing a band?
The sound design is the first decision. Should the drums be wet or dry?
Back in the eighties the drums used to be very wet - now a days they are normally a lot dryer.
Next decision - should the guitars be loud? (Yes - always) If there is a lot of keyboards going on,
maybe the guitars will come down a bit.
Next decision - Will I need to re-amp the bass?
Very often it brings out the bass better, if it gets distorted. However, the bass will always suffer from
the loud guitars, so you may not hear the bass very clear and loud, but you'll miss it if it went out completely.
Next decision - Vocal sound. Should it be wet or dry? I always use some delay and reverb and harmonizer to get a great
vocal sound. The question is more like how much effect should be added. The eq and compression is very important too.
Getting those right, brings out the magic of the vocal performance.
Finally the master eq/compression shall be set. These days everybody expect loud records, so the only way to get that loud,
is by use of limiter and booster. I use several of them to get there, rather than using one unit a lot, I tend to use more units with less effect.
2.- How can you make every instrument fits into place in every mix?
It first of all depends on the production - how the songmateriel is arranged.
Don't forget that the recorded tracks are what makes the sound in the end.
If you put a lot of things on top of each other, and can be difficult to hear what's going on in detail.
Think of ACDC - this is a classic example of "less is more".
However - normally I get a lot of Prog-bands, with a great musical potential, and they cannot leave it with just drums, bass, two guitars and vocal.
They often use a lot of layers to add depth to their music. In order to get everything as clear as possible, I work a lot on the different eq's - separat
for each instrument. Normally the drums and rythm guitars are the loudest in the mix, so they work always pretty good. I do have to use some sampled
sounds for the kick and snare to bring them out and give the right character to them.
Working with the keys, I normally add Hall of some long lengths to make the mix more three dimentional. And often make the keys more "bright" by adding eq's.
3.-At what moment of the production process you realize that the band you're working with is out of normal?
When you have a special talent at your hands, it is more by a feeling that you notice this difference.
You simply get exited by listening to the band. This is also a talent that I have noticed over the years, that I possess, the ability to get the magic happening.
A great metal record is a bunch of energi that get's your adrenalin pumping when it's good and working at it's best.
Just think of Helloween - They were blowing you away with energi.
4.-Why? and How do you begin in this bussiness and in the metal genre?
I could have gone in any direction in the musicbusiness, but chose the metal because of circumstances.
Before starting producing I was also musician. My band was playing a very powerfull kind of music,
mostly inspired by bands like Deep Purple, Santana and Emerson,Lake and Palmer.
In 1979 I was contacted be a newcommer band called Pretty Maids, and from that moment on I was in the heavy business.
My work with Pretty Maids let me to Germany and Helloween, which until today is the biggest succes I have ever been involved in.
5.-How big do you see the metal (as a global genre) market worldwide, and how has been growing through the years?
Honestly I haven't got a clue - I just contribute with my work and that's it. But I notice that the metal genre seems to have a solid grip.
Even though other music forms disappers and dies out, the metal lives on and stays on the scene. Pretty impressive.
6.-Do you know the good metal made in Mexico? (name one or two bands please)
I am really sorry - but no I don't. I am totally open to work with Mexican acts, so if any out there want's my help I am ready!
7.-What do you can recommend to people who's studying or working professionally
I guess you mean in order to get into producing metal. I don't know of any great school or so. I think it is a matter of wanting something
so much, that it will drive you to a point where you start to succeed. You also need some luck, like being at the right place at the right time.
If you want to do this line of living, then go for it - give it all you've got. That's the best advice I can come up with. Remember the rule is -
"Break the rule" ......................
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Luis Salinas
Audio Engineering & Music Production
facebook.com/lukwaveform
myspace.com/salinasprog
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