7 Questions With Dan Korneff

7 Questions With Dan Korneff

Dan Korneff is a Producer, Mixer, Engineer that has an extensive discography including some of the biggest names in new rock (Pierce the Veil, Paramore, Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Sleeping With Sirens, My Chemical Romance). He’s been busy producing and mixing at his studio, Sonic Debris Recording Studio, in Long Island, NY.

If you can give one piece of advice for upcoming engineers what would it be?

Keep working hard and take your craft seriously. There aren’t any shortcuts to being a proper engineer. Sound is science. Learn what sound is and figure out creative ways to capture it.

What would you say is the one thing that has motivated you to keep going in your career?

Music is a very personal thing. People listen to music to experience a certain feeling. I’m driven by the fact that I can influence how someone feels by the way my records are recorded and presented.

Amps or sims?

Both. There’s something you can get from an amp that you just cant get from software, and there’s something you can get from software that you just cant get from an amp.

What record still mystifies you and why?

I keep going back to the Nickelback song “Something in your mouth”. Best rock mix I’ve ever heard. How does Randy Staub do that??

What are your top five go to pieces of gear and/or plug-ins?

1176 blue stripe
Soundtoys Devil loc
Engl powerball 2
sansamp bass driver
SSL G series console

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?

It’s a small business. Play nice.

If you could change anything about the world what would it be?

I sacrificed everything in my life to get where I’m at. One thing I would change is spending more time with my family. If this is a deeper question about the entire world, I’d have to go with ending world hunger. Its fucked up to think that if I get full at taco bell (is that food?) I just throw the rest out… but there are kids that regularly go for days/weeks without a bite to eat.


For more awesome tips on becoming a better producer, head on over to the URM Academy blog and subscribe to our podcast.

If you enjoyed 7 Questions With Dan Korneff, and want to learn more from Dan:

Listen to episode 8 of the URM Podcast with Dan Korneff HERE
Listen to Dan’s tips and tricks episode of the URM Podcast HERE

Nail The MixNail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Chelsea Grin, Machine Head and State Champs. Join now for instant access!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *