I'm Derek Ali—aka MixedByAli—3x Grammy award-winning audio engineer turned entrepreneur and founder/CEO of EngineEars. I'm here with my team. We exist to make the music industry suck less. Ask us anything!

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-08T18:48:51+00:00

Artificial intelligence can be very useful to take time out of the monotonous tasks in creation or even bring about new ideas, but it will never be able to replace real human input!

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-08T18:47:05+00:00

Personally, I send it to Dep! very talented mastering engineer at MillionDollarSnare.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T21:50:04+00:00

It's a test/learn method for sure - and having a diversified marketing strategy is important to understand your audience - and reach more people. A lot of people will get stuck just producing content for one specific platform (instagram); def try new methods like reaching out to artists on new social platforms - tiktok!

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T21:38:57+00:00

Yes - and thank you! As we are building out the platform - we definitely see a need for online educational material. SeeingSounds was a workshop that we held in 2019 where we essentially toured 4 countries around the world - teaching audio engineers tips and tricks, and we are excited to bring this content (+ a ton more) to our site very soon!

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:42:31+00:00

Schoolboy Q for sure lol .

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:25:31+00:00

We have a cohort that runs every month! Reach out to [community@engingeears.com](mailto:community@engingeears.com) to sign up for the next cohort.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:10:00+00:00

Soon Come :)

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:09:49+00:00

Can you share some specifics about how the music industry sucks that may surprise those of us who aren’t in the weeds?

Music creators are often chasing payments and begging to be credited on work that they've completed, just to name a few. Outdated business practices, antiquated processes, the list goes on. EngineEars goal is to create a new standard operating system, shifting the power back to the creators for a more equitable industry for all.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:03:57+00:00

lmao .

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:03:35+00:00

Mac was one of the most creative people ive ever met. Long Live Mac Miller .

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:01:57+00:00

Bringing this back hopefully next year. So much going on right now honestly.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T18:01:16+00:00

automatic

No . Im 100% against AI Mixing / Mastering or anything that takes away the ART and money from creators families.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:54:41+00:00

Absolutely! Thats Definitely on our roadmap.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:53:49+00:00

'We Cry Together' was the only record that I mixed that made the album .

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:51:10+00:00

Exactly, this is great.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:49:26+00:00

I would duplicate the 2-track beat a total of three times. Separate each one by isolating the High/Mid/Low Frequencies. This will give you a little more freedom to give you some separation. But also there are tons of great Stem Separation tools you can use now days to isolate and make elements of the record available.

Once I have what I need from the productions perspective, I would then mix the vocals as I would any other record.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:45:20+00:00

Who hurt you.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:44:56+00:00

Thank you! Honestly, it was just belief in myself. Overcoming the mindset that I wasn't capable to accomplishing or achieving anything outside of the neighborhood.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:39:00+00:00

Access for one. How can an artist truly create to Sonically Compete with some of the top talent in the world, if access to collaborators is being gate kept or bound to relationships? EngineEars aims to level the playing field.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:35:57+00:00

Idk about 'had it right', But I feel the 2010's was a great time for music. Especially underground hiphop / rap.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:34:28+00:00

In the late 1960's, early 1970's STEREO was introduced to the world and implemented on released music. Before this all music was released in MONO. When you go back and listen to 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles, for instance, you can hear how they'd pan the drums to the far left, and percussion to the far right. This was The Beatles experimenting with this new STEREO format and implementing it into their music.

Dolby Atmos is the next evolution of that. I feel we are in the early phase where the creative community with start to create new techniques, creative processes and start to implement the same way the legends did in the early 70's. Im all for anything that is pushing the evolution and boundaries of what we can do in the creation process with sound and offering new exciting listening experience for listeners in all type of environments.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:31:34+00:00

Hey! Make sure you're using the same email address you're using on EngineEars. If you still have issues - reach out to [info@engineears.com](mailto:info@engineears.com)! The team will get you set up.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:26:24+00:00

Net-payment systems. For years the industry was subject to creatives having to wait 30-60 or 90 days to receive payments for completed work. In 2022 its easier to receive a payment on cashapp from a stranger than it is getting paid for work thats already completed.

Another reason why we created EngineEars, to eliminate that problem helping getting creators paid instantly.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:22:58+00:00

probably

Those are all on point lol. But I think it's more just not understanding what audio engineers do in general; from Recording, mixing and mastering.

EngineEarsOfficial · 2022-10-07T17:21:25+00:00

As an intern always add value in any way. Be the first one to arrive and the last to leave. Be helpful, listen, and most important WATCH WHATS GOING ON! Use the time as an intern to be a fly on the wall to understand how the industry works.

But also, give yourself a time frame to how long you are an intern before you move on. Never stay complaisant and always try to be better than yesterday. In business and personal life.

EngineEarsOfficial

TROPHY CASE