Serban Ghenea - The one person I want to interview more than *anyone*.

[@rauld.echavarria8859]

Wow I'm not the only person in the world looking for some info from this guy

[@therosspalmer]

Definitely! Even in the highest circles no one wants to admit that he's the best... But if we're being honest... He's 100% the best haha.

[@julienmancilla5576]

I fucking found you guys..This is the niche of quality music. This guy is a damn genius. I can't believe there are so few videos about him. He's like the holy grail

[@hithere4289]

@@julienmancilla5576 I think this is what he wants! be under the radar and it has worked for him ever since hahahahahaa

[@RealHomeRecording]

There is a large thread over on gear space where Serban's assistant has answered a lot of questions over the past years.

[@danymalsound]

I felt similar about Randy Staub for a long time, but apparently he's now fully retired from audio :/

[@Abrams1stSon]

Serban is my homie and very down-to-earth. We worked together for years at Teddy Riley's Future Recording Studio where he was just learning to mix. He was so dedicated to his craft that he used to fall asleep under the SSL console while reading manuals. He always displayed a stroke of genius he created a bass guitar with retractable frets and had it patented way back in the 90s

[@therosspalmer]

Thanks for sharing and your insight, Tony. That's fantastic!

[@eAVnghelista]

I was listening to Miley Cyrus midnight sky and I was looking into the description and I saw the name Serban Ghenea. I immediately search him up on google because his name is romanian. Just to hear that the best mixing engineer rn is from my country. Ok sir we see you

[@therosspalmer]

Yeah! For more songs see my playlist on Spotify with a selection of his vast catalogue!

[@mattmullin33609]

He's not just the best right now, he has been the best for multiple decades, is the best there's ever been, and the entire musical industry knows it. He's the GOAT.

[@hayleycomet8029]

Agreed Serban is the man, the kick always hits, everything is always compressed tightly but still has snappy attack.. the dude is a sonic magician

[@AUDIOTAY]

Literally just discovered this man’s name and he’s mixed some of my favorite r&b songs from the 90s as well as a BUNCH of todays hits. His sound is so damn CLEAN and WIDE man. So crisp. Came to KZbin to find some interviews and found NOTHING

[@rohitRraina]

The reason for not having enough content on him anywhere is because, in my opinion, he isn't selling himself to companies like waves, izotope, uad to market their products. He is a genuine person with real talent.

[@therosspalmer]

Completely agree. When your skills are *THAT* good, you don't need those things. It's a rare thing but amazing to watch!

[@rohitRraina]

@@therosspalmer yeah 🙌🏼

[@jazjellykelly]

serban is so mysterious he has like no interviews fml

[@therosspalmer]

Yeah it's such an interesting story!

[@whitediamondsessions1286]

Amazing Serban is my mixing hero too

[@therosspalmer]

He's the greatest! Follow my playlist dedicated to him on Spotify :)

[@miguelpessanha]

John Hanes should be credited here too, cause most of the dirty work such as manual de-essing, fixing pops clicks, clean up vocals etc is probably done by him

[@therosspalmer]

I suspect you are right of course - if only we knew more about the inner workings of what goes on! But still, credit where credit is due, you're correct!

[@Andrew-vr9hr]

He's the best. NO question. I've figured out a lot of stuff just by listening carefully to his mixes. If you do get to interview him please ask about low-end

[@therosspalmer]

100%. Everything I know about what things should sound like comes from his work and from Bruce Swedien's, and if I do, I promise I will ask! :D

[@photicsonar]

Very very interesting and inspiring Video. Yeah, I guess you‘re right by saying that one CAN NOT learn to be so brilliant; you just have to BE brilliant...

[@therosspalmer]

Yeah, I think we can ALL improve up to a very high level, but some people are just gifted!!

[@andyhega]

Great video! I think he is one of a kind, like a "genius". It could be he was born with something in his ears... I do not know. He´s got a gift

[@therosspalmer]

I absolutely agree. He has something that no one else has, except the late great Bruce Swedien!

[@fishing4444able]

You are correct!!

[@charodharris4930]

I recently discovered that playlist...thank you!

[@therosspalmer]

My pleasure - it's a labor of love!

[@STBonaccorsi]

I totally agree with you. I recently purchased the new Gaslighter CD by the Dixie Chicks. I was so blown away by the quality of the mix that I wanted to see who did it. Turned out to be Serban Ghenea. The mix of the whole CD is beautiful but I particularly direct anyone, who wants to hear a good example of a nicely mixed song, to a song on the CD called "Everybody Loves You." So nicely done. Of course, credit should also be shared with the Producer, Jack Antonoff, and several other recording experts who are mentioned in the notes like Laura Sisk, Greg Eliason, Jon Sher, John Haines and of course the extremely talented Chicks. This, obviously, was a group effort by massively talented people. If you haven't listened to this CD, it is really worth a listen to for a great, clear, crisp mix.

[@therosspalmer]

Yes Steve! It's also in my Serban Ghenea playlist on Spotify, which I update frequently with new music. I definitely agree that it takes a team of people to make a great record, but Serban himself is a common thread between so many hits when others come and go, so I believe it's time he's recognized as an ARTIST and not just a technician.

[@lucasmirovski1003]

Thanks for the content, I hope you can make more videos about Serban in the future :)

[@lucasmirovski1003]

I also love your playlist btw thx for it as well

[@therosspalmer]

@@lucasmirovski1003 Thanks! I definitely will, he's a hero :D

[@MurphMagic1]

I discovered him through my fascination with N.E.R.D’s first album In search of…..the sonic quality of that album is unmatched in my opinion. When I looked in the CD booklet…..there was the name Serban Ghenea as mixing engineer for entire album.

[@therosspalmer]

Completely agree! He's been blowing minds forever!

[@peegh5766]

Serban is not mixing with his natural ears and i can boldly say that . He has compression on specific stuff, eqs and some other specific plugins. Cant give it out but you can actually hear the details when you take…👽

[@josicx2507]

He‘s got instagram and was already posting stuff about his studio where you see his speakers, DAW and that he‘s 100% ITB

[@therosspalmer]

Yes for sure! A few new details come out every now and again, but for a very long time it was complete radio silence!

[@miguelpessanha]

The only reason that he got into instagram is because he was receiving emails from unsatisfied clients that eh never worked with, that were sending bags of money to imposters posing as him.

[@cometlovejoy8274]

Just really started learning about Serban recently, and I couldn't believe how little info there was out there about him. I wish I could learn more about his techniques, but I respect him for keeping it close to his chest. I know his main EQ channel strip is the Metrics Halo, but I've heard others say you can learn about his production from his assistant John Hanes.

[@therosspalmer]

Completely agree with you!

[@cometlovejoy8274]

@@therosspalmer have you read the John Hanes Q and A on gear space? That's the best look into his process that I could find

[@therosspalmer]

@@cometlovejoy8274 Yes! I have and it's got some great insights, if only a few. It also has my favorite unintentional, low-key flex ever, someone asks how he gets his mixes to translate to all speakers and he says: "the listeners are going to modify their opinion of their playback equipment, and not modify their opinion of the quality of a good mix." Basically "if our mixes sound bad to you, your equipment is the issue, not our mix."

[@cometlovejoy8274]

@@therosspalmer haha love that. It's true tho!

[@nicolecaputo567]

love this video! i was just thinking about why i love the songs on the radio so much today. Like what about these songs makes them poppy and makes them so enjoyable time and time again. didn't' think it would be an individual person with the secret

[@therosspalmer]

Thank you! I really hope someday he gets the credit he deserves for his enormous contributions to music!

[@josephpatterson9993]

Nice Bro, I was checking out the production notes on Silk Sonic's Leave the door Open and saw this guys name. You really gave me an awesome review of his work. Thanks!

[@therosspalmer]

Thanks, Joseph, I appreciate it!

[@Momo-93]

Lol, I have been following your playlist on Spotify for years. Never thought I will see the face of the creator 😄

[@therosspalmer]

Haha that's excellent, hi 😂

[@michabischoff4446]

I think to be fair - without discrediting any of his incredible work - in his case, he is not really taking the Sound of a "Demo" to the Sound of the final Product. The Projects he receives will probably sound like fully mixed and finished Songs already (Mix Engineers like Michael Ilbert who engineers Stuff that comes from Max Martin etc. and later goes to Serban Ghenea have suggested that). He then takes those Songs that at this stage could probably already compete with many other Mix Engineers out there and "just" takes those to a completely other sonic level that apparently only he is able to achieve as of right now...

[@therosspalmer]

Hey Micha! I think this is a great observation. Obviously Max Martin is ALSO an alien (the subject of another video haha) and delivers near flawless work. But check out my playlist on Spotify for Serban. It's Serban's unbelievable consistency and quality through ALL the years that makes him what he is, IMO, but not trying to take ANYthing away from the field of talented mix engineers whom I admire and respect so deeply on a personal level!

[@Baiaaoo]

I dont think so. Its a fact that everything on high level is very good even in the production stage, but even with artists that I LOVE, Serban mixes hit different than others that mixed the same artists

[@itsroobeats]

It's fascinating that you mention all the artists at 2:16 that were largely produced a mix of Max Martin, Shellback and Dr. Luke. Those producers mixed with Serban (pun intended) seems to be the S tier for pop music.

[@therosspalmer]

Definitely! Max Martin is clearly one of the best songwriters/producers of a generation - it makes sense that he would choose to only work with the best mixer in the world as well. If you need a hit, you have to go with Serban.

[@yazaih8515]

AAAAAAH so its you who created that spotify playlist! 🙂

[@therosspalmer]

Bingo :D

[@pavelbuchko]

agreed to each word!

[@therosspalmer]

Thanks for watching Pavel :)

[@ZAY________]

I believe its pronounced Sher-ban Gah-NEA. but yes. a literal God. Best in the universe. IDK how he does it... I am surprised there's not even conversations ABOUT him in all the places you'd think there would be. Pensado's Place, Mix with the masters etc. I follow his son on IG and he also mixes artists right after getting signed to major labels. Man.. some peoples experience on earth are literally movies.

[@therosspalmer]

Completely agree... I think based on my experiences in LA that no one wants to acknowledge how good he is because they see themselves as competing with him, and they know they can't... So it's easier to ignore/talk bad about the elephant in the room than to acknowledge there's a reason he's taking all the big work.

[@RealHomeRecording]

What a lucky SOB

[@nileshnagare4429]

Mike Shipley , Max Martin , and serban my all thime favs

[@danielatoma3463]

In fact, Serban is not even from America. He is from Romania, but lives in America. Search for Romanian Music and you will find "a bit of his sound" in my country too! :)

[@therosspalmer]

Haha yes! I've actually noticed that he definitely has the Europe/Eastern Europe sound in the more dance/pop tracks he's done, like Favela by Ina Wroldsen, etc. Clearly he has heard this music a LOT before 😂

[@OscarSL80]

Shit I have been listening to the Spotify mixed by Serban list for a long time, now I come across to your video and find out you made it 😅, nice!

[@therosspalmer]

Thanks! I'm glad you've found it valuable :)

[@julytan223]

Romanian people are very talented in everything they do. I am not surprised he is the top in this. Enigma was also created by a Romanian and started a new type of music. The computer and cybernetics are staryed by a Romanian. Music industry has so many famous songs although not many ppl know they are Romanian e.g. alexandra stan and edward maya; Gheorghe Zamfir and Enigma.

[@visheshkumarsingh767]

That's so true he don't havs any interview

[@BeattapeFactory]

He is like Cubeatz

[@Dead.33338]

hes a genius

[@therosspalmer]

If we all only studied his work, audio engineering would improve, IMHO.

[@josiway]

He also mixes fully ITB.

[@therosspalmer]

This is one of his greatest lessons, IMO. There's really no excuse for anyone, it's all in the ears/brain!

[@alexandradun1953]

yeah

[@sandybeansconqueso]

RIP Bruce Swedien

[@tiggy307]

I thought he lives in Montreal? I guess I am mistaken

[@florinmusic]

The way you pronounce is Cherban (like the singer Cher and Ban as in Esteban) and Gainnean (like again without “a” and nean as in neanderthal)

[@therosspalmer]

This is very helpful--apologies for butchering the name!!

[@eacy32]

I like your presentation, but please go easy on the transitions! I’m dizzy 😵, so yeah, 🥴 slow it down. Also been really enjoying your UDEMY course on making a dj mix. I’d like more about Ableton hints and tips. I was hoping they’d been on here! 😉 hint.

[@therosspalmer]

Hey Eoghan! Thanks for signing up for my course and for watching/commenting here. Appreciate your comments and suggestions! -Ross

[@jesusphillips]

He went to my high school. "Ghenea" rhymes with "Kenya"

[@therosspalmer]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing and sorry for butchering the name :P

[@therosspalmer]

How do you pronounce his first name??

[@jesusphillips]

@@therosspalmer You're saying it right. Serban rhymes with "turban" Serban Ghenea = Turban Kenya Haha!

[@therosspalmer]

@@jesusphillips Thank you, for being such a big fan, I've got to get the name right :P 😂

[@Yuckadroni]

Serban mix a lot.

[@slowpokeproductions]

🤣😅😆😅🤣

[@gdansk12349]

He is so good. The only mix he has ruined is the Bee Gees remixes

[@escapeentropy]

and it's romanian, just saying...

[@yoelwww]

I think his last name is pronounced Gi-nay-uh

[@therosspalmer]

Every day I seem to find a new way to mispronounce it :P

[@Ifelovv]

$27k……….yeah……I’m a answering the question you almost asked.

[@therosspalmer]

100% worth it for the right people, IMO.

[@vfifty9182]

I think Mr. Ghenea has outstanding skillz in hearing frequencies from 0 to 25 kHz. And because of that extra ordinary skill he definitely need a super quiet an calm nature surrounding. Noise for him must be like stress-level infinity. Also most people are annoying af. I understand him, because its the same stress for me.

[@markgtownsend]

He strikes me as being someone who will go full bore "doing" and when he's happy with his output and ready to move on, then he will transition to "teaching". Who knows... Fantastic mixes though...

[@therosspalmer]

When you're the best in the world and you don't need to advertise? Why would you waste time selling yourself. His is a career so many people dream of having, but you need GOAT talent to pull off.

[@francescococo9745]

He’s obscenely good, but re not hearing imperfections, he distorts a lot of the time

[@therosspalmer]

Interesting observation. I've always felt that his strength was in the way he deliberately used distortion. He uses different types for the most musical effect, I've never seen this as a "mistake", but that's just me!

[@WillyJunior]

Is it pronounced Serban "Genn-ah?" I always thought it was "Gen-aya"

[@therosspalmer]

I think *technically* it would be sher-bahn genn-ee-a, where the "ee" is so fast/quiet that it almost sounds like genn-ah. But if we find the definitive answer, I'll make sure to pronounce it correctly in all future videos!

[@CatalinPop]

@@therosspalmer I'm a romanian and yes, the name is pronounced like "sher-bahn genn-ee-a" (written Șerban in romanian). Great video!

[@therosspalmer]

@@CatalinPop Thanks so much for this - I've been saying it wrong for so long, but not anymore!

[@bachelorgamer8001]

but why you think hes so good, what stands out to you?

[@therosspalmer]

I'm still as big of a fan today as I was when I made this. He's able to achieve a level of sonic perfection that literally no one else can, on shitty headphones, on festival stages, he never misses. Other mix engineers get things right from time to time, he's the only one who can't get it wrong! So clean, so loud, so wide-everything perfectly in its place to tell the story of the song.