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Andrew Scheps

Andrew Scheps is an Grammy-winning mix engineer, recording engineer, , and owner, renowned for shaping the sound of albums by artists including the , , Metallica, , and . A native of , , Scheps began his musical journey playing trumpet before pursuing formal education at the , where he earned a in music with a minor in and studied recording engineering. His early career involved technical roles, including work as a field service technician and programmer for the at New England Digital, followed by positions as a keyboard technician for and live sound mixer for Michael Jackson's Dangerous and HIStory tours. Relocating to in the , Scheps established himself as a prominent figure in rock, pop, and production, collaborating with producers like and on projects such as Audioslave's self-titled debut album and Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight. His mixing style, often conducted entirely "in the box" using digital tools, emphasizes emotional impact and innovative techniques like and the Rear Bus method, which he has shared through masterclasses and plugin development with , including the Scheps 73 EQ and Scheps Parallel Particles. Scheps owns the independent label Tonequake Records and the analog-equipped studio Punkerpad West in , , though he now resides and works primarily in the . Scheps has earned widespread acclaim, including Grammy Awards for Album of the Year (Adele's 21, 2012), Best Rock Album (Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium, 2007), and Best Reggae Album (Ziggy Marley's Fly Rasta, 2015), along with a Brit Award for 21 and the UK's Music Producers Guild International Engineer of the Year honor. His discography spans over 100 million album sales and billions of streams, with recent highlights including mixing Hozier's Unheard EP track "Too Sweet," which surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams in 2024.

Early life and education

Childhood and musical beginnings

Andrew Scheps was born in November 1967 on , . Growing up on , Scheps developed a passion for from a young age, aspiring to join bands and perform. He began playing the trumpet, which became his primary instrument during his formative years. Scheps often gathered with friends to jam, but he quickly realized his greater interest lay in capturing their music rather than solely performing. As he recalled, "My buddies and I would get together and play, but I was always the one who was more interested in recording the band than playing in it." This hands-on involvement with basic recording setups during his youth ignited his curiosity about the technical side of music production. Although his ambitions as a player did not fully materialize, this early experimentation paved the way for his transition to studying audio .

Formal training

Andrew Scheps pursued formal training in music engineering at the University of Miami's , where he earned a degree with a minor in in 1989. Initially entering as a performance major focused on , Scheps quickly shifted his emphasis to recording engineering, completing a four-year program that integrated music studies with technical audio production. The curriculum emphasized foundational skills in techniques, including operations and processes, which were central to studio practices in the late . Key coursework also covered studio techniques such as acoustics, room design, and signal flow, alongside music production theory that explored , sound balance, and the physics of audio. These elements provided Scheps with a rigorous understanding of both the artistic and scientific aspects of sound engineering. During his studies, Scheps gained technical proficiency through hands-on projects in the school's facilities, including the , where students conducted live and sessions to apply theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios. This practical training, involving multitrack setups and basic mixing exercises, built his early expertise in audio capture and manipulation. His prior background as a player further informed his approach to these projects, bridging improvisational musicality with precision.

Career

Early professional work

After graduating from the University of Miami's Recording Engineering Program in 1989, Scheps began his professional career as a field service technician for New England Digital, the company behind the digital audio workstation and sampler. In this role, starting around the early , he serviced equipment in studios across and , assisting engineers and producers on sessions with various artists by troubleshooting and programming the for emerging digital production needs. In the early 1990s, during his time with New England Digital, Scheps worked in their office, where he serviced Synclaviers at major facilities like AIR Studios and contributed to engineering tasks on projects involving high-profile artists. During this period, he also toured as a keyboard technician for , handling live programming and setup for the artist's performances, and served as a live sound mixer for Michael Jackson's (1992–1993). These experiences led to studio work on Michael Jackson's 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, where Scheps engineered for approximately 1.5 years at in , including keyboard overdubs with and contributions to the album's complex production involving multiple studios. He described this as his first major full-scale recording project, marking a shift from technical support to hands-on engineering. Around 2000, Scheps relocated permanently to , where he joined the engineering team at and began freelancing on rock and pop sessions, building his reputation through collaborative work in the city's vibrant studio scene. This move positioned him for deeper involvement in album production, leveraging connections from his earlier tours and technical expertise.

Major collaborations

Scheps' breakthrough as a lead came with his work on the ' double album in 2006, where he mixed half of the 28 tracks, including hits like "" and "." This project, produced by at in Laurel Canyon, showcased Scheps' ability to handle complex, analog-taped rock recordings using API modules for enhanced clarity and dynamics. The album debuted at number one on the and earned a Grammy for Best Rock Album, solidifying Scheps' reputation for delivering polished, high-energy mixes in the rock genre. A pivotal shift into pop territory occurred with Scheps' contributions to Adele's 21 in 2011, where he mixed four tracks—"Don't You Remember," "He Won't Go," "One and Only," and "Lovesong"—in close collaboration with producer . Recorded primarily at Studios, these mixes emphasized Adele's raw vocal performances within lush pop arrangements, helping the album become the best-selling record of the with over 31 million copies sold worldwide. Scheps' involvement earned him a Grammy for , highlighting his versatility in blending emotional intimacy with broad commercial appeal. Throughout the 2010s, Scheps deepened his long-term partnerships with producers and on influential rock albums, applying his mixing expertise to maintain artistic integrity amid evolving production demands. With , he mixed Metallica's in 2008, refining the sound on tracks like "The Day That Never Comes" to balance aggression and clarity, which propelled the album to number one on the 200. For , Scheps mixed the single "" for their 2006 compilation 18 Singles, contributing to its chart success and later integrating similar techniques into select tracks from their 2010s output. Collaborating with Cavallo, Scheps handled mixing duties on Green Day's 2017 greatest hits collection God's Favorite Band, including new recordings like "Ordinary World," which captured the band's punk-rock essence in a polished, radio-friendly format. These projects underscored Scheps' role in bridging producer visions with artist-driven narratives, resulting in multi-platinum releases that defined rock's mainstream evolution during the decade.

Digital transition and studio ventures

In the mid-2010s, Andrew Scheps underwent a significant shift in his mixing workflow, fully transitioning to in-the-box (ITB) methods by 2014, which allowed him to abandon traditional analog consoles in favor of digital audio workstations for greater efficiency and portability. This move marked a departure from his earlier career reliance on hardware setups at major studios like Ocean Way and The Village, where analog gear had been central to his process. Scheps cited the advantages of ITB, including instant recall, flexibility in handling multiple projects, and the elimination of signal degradation from repeated analog-to-digital conversions, enabling him to mix from a laptop anywhere. By 2015, he confirmed mixing 100% ITB without outboard gear or external summing, a change that took nearly two years to fully implement. Parallel to his technical evolution, Scheps ventured into music entrepreneurship by founding Tonequake Records in 2010 as an independent label focused on artist development and releasing niche projects. The label's debut release, Audrye Sessions' An Otherwise Perfect Day, was produced, recorded, and mixed by Scheps himself, showcasing his commitment to nurturing emerging talent outside major label structures. Tonequake has since issued select albums, emphasizing creative control and direct involvement from Scheps in production. In 2016, Scheps established Punkerpad UK in partnership with Monnow Valley Studio, relocating his analog equipment from to create a dedicated creative space in the . In 2019, Scheps relocated permanently to the , further integrating his work at Punkerpad UK. By 2020, amid the , the studio evolved into a hub for remote collaborations, facilitating virtual production and mixing sessions with artists worldwide, as seen in his work completing Fellow Robot's album over two years through digital means. This adaptation underscored Punkerpad UK's role in sustaining industry workflows during global disruptions while leveraging Scheps' ITB expertise.

Mixing techniques and philosophy

Core approaches

Andrew Scheps' mixing philosophy emphasizes creating an immersive sound experience that prioritizes spatial depth and emotional engagement over conventional . Drawing inspiration from engineers like , Scheps focuses on crafting mixes that evoke vivid spatial sensations, such as a chorus that "smacks you in the face" or a bridge that feels like "diving into the air over a canyon," to heighten listener . This approach involves strategic use of panning, reverb, and delay to build three-dimensional depth, allowing elements to interact dynamically within field rather than adhering to rigid left-right boundaries. In addressing , Scheps employs a balanced strategy with and to preserve while achieving commercial volume levels. He relies heavily on techniques, such as the "rear bus" method, where non-drum elements are routed to a parallel bus with aggressive compression (e.g., using an 1176-style ) to glue the mix and boost overall energy without inflating transients. This allows the master bus to operate more gently, maintaining punch and natural dynamics rather than relying on heavy limiting that could flatten the sound. By increasing the mix's average level through , Scheps ensures without sacrificing the emotional peaks and valleys essential to the music's impact. For genre-specific challenges, particularly in metal production, Scheps adapts his techniques to combat sonic clutter in dense arrangements by strategically down individual elements. In contemporary metal mixes, where low-end frequencies from guitars, , and compete for limited space, he reduces the size and impact of the kick drum and to prioritize and clarity, allowing distorted guitars to dominate the bottom end for a sense of heaviness. This scaling prevents overcrowding, as seen in his work on tracks with palm-muted riffs and slower tempos that emphasize perceptual weight through controlled density rather than unchecked aggression. Scheps favors clarity and separation over excessive , using to add texture without exacerbating clutter.

Equipment preferences

Andrew Scheps maintains a fully in-the-box (ITB) mixing workflow, emphasizing digital tools that emulate analog warmth while prioritizing efficiency and precision. He relies on Pro Tools as his primary digital audio workstation (DAW), leveraging its robust routing, grouping, and automation features to structure complex sessions. Complementing this, Scheps favors vintage-inspired plugins, particularly Universal Audio (UAD) emulations, which provide high-fidelity recreations of classic hardware like the 1176LN Limiting Amplifier and SSL G Series Bus Compressor, allowing him to achieve analog-like saturation and dynamics without physical gear. These plugins are integral to his mix bus processing, where he applies subtle EQ, widening, and limiting to enhance spatial depth and glue. In recent recording setups, particularly those focused on immersive audio since 2020, Scheps has adopted Schoeps microphones for their exceptional clarity and consistency in capturing spatial environments. He praises the Schoeps modular system for its small size, low self-noise, and interchangeable capsules, which enable precise microphone arrays for techniques like or multichannel surround, ensuring immersive captures that translate seamlessly into object-based mixes. This preference stems from collaborations exploring the art and of spatial recording, where Schoeps' and phase accuracy support his goal of "sounding like you're in the room." Scheps released an updated mixing in September 2025 via Puremix, designed for and incorporating object-based routing to facilitate spatial mixes in formats like . The features pre-configured VCA groups, labeled track folders, and dual mix buses (one processed, one clean) to streamline workflows for immersive audio, with all plugins initially bypassed to encourage deliberate processing decisions. This evolution reflects his shift toward object-based approaches, as demonstrated in projects like Hozier's "," where individual elements are positioned in 3D space for enhanced listener engagement. By integrating these tools, Scheps balances creative flexibility with technical rigor, ensuring mixes serve the emotional core of the music.

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

Andrew Scheps has earned three for his engineering and mixing contributions, spanning rock, pop, and reggae genres, with additional nominations recognizing his work, including a 2015 nomination for and advancements in immersive audio during the . In 2007, Scheps won Best Rock Album for his recording and mixing on ' double album , a project that showcased his ability to capture the band's dynamic live energy in a studio setting and contributed to the album's commercial success, selling over 7 million copies worldwide. Scheps' second Grammy came in 2012 with for mixing Adele's 21, the best-selling album of the to date, where his clean, emotive mixes amplified the intimacy of Adele's vocals and helped the record win six Grammys overall, including and Song of the Year. His third win arrived in 2015 for Best Reggae Album on Ziggy Marley's Fly Rasta, where Scheps' mixing preserved the authentic roots sound while enhancing its global appeal, marking a significant of his versatility beyond mainstream rock and pop. He was also nominated for that year. In the , Scheps has been nominated for his advancements in immersive mixing, including a 2024 nod for Best Engineered Album, Classical on The Blue Hour by & A , an immersive project that explores multidimensional soundscapes in a classical context.

Industry awards

Andrew Scheps has received several accolades from professional audio organizations recognizing his engineering prowess outside of major music awards. In 2011, he was awarded the TEC Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Record Production Album for his mixing work on Adele's 21, highlighting his innovative approach to album engineering. In 2012, Scheps won the Music Producers Guild's International Engineer of the Year award, sponsored by , acknowledging his global impact on recording and mixing techniques. He was nominated again in 2025 for the MPG's Mix Engineer of the Year category, sponsored by , reflecting his continued influence in the field. In 2024, Scheps participated in presentations and discussions on immersive audio, including microphone techniques and object-based mixing, at the AES Show New York.

Honorary doctorates

In 2019, Andrew Scheps received an Honorary Doctorate from in recognition of his outstanding national and international career as a engineer, recording engineer, , and owner. The award highlighted his contributions to the music industry through innovative mixing techniques and collaborations with artists such as Metallica, , and . In 2022, Scheps was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the for his services to international music engineering and his role in advancing production practices. During the conferral ceremony in July 2022, he praised the university's educational approach, emphasizing in-depth study of production processes while enabling students to complete projects. Scheps reflected on the essence of music production, stating that "the only thing that matters is what comes out of the speakers," underscoring the listener's experience as the ultimate measure of success. He also offered advice to aspiring professionals to "always try to make great art and be a good person," linking his industry mentorship to broader educational impacts through his involvement in the university's Music and Audio Production research group.

Teaching and mentorship

Seminar series

Andrew Scheps has been a regular instructor at Mix with the Masters seminars held annually at Studios La Fabrique in , , since 2012, where he delivers week-long intensive workshops on mixing techniques, including his transition to in-the-box (ITB) workflows using digital audio workstations. These seminars, which began featuring Scheps prominently from 2012 onward, allow participants to observe and engage with his real-time mixing processes, emphasizing creative problem-solving and bold sonic decisions drawn from his professional experiences. In February 2025, Scheps conducted a five-day mixing masterclass in at Rue Boyer Studios, hosted by Mix with the Masters, focusing on advanced production strategies and interactive sessions for aspiring engineers. Later that year, on October 21, 2025, he presented a livestream masterclass through SonicScoop, exploring immersive audio techniques and object-based mixing, with practical demonstrations using tracks from artists such as and to illustrate translation across stereo and multi-speaker formats. Scheps has also contributed to a series of webinars on chains and philosophy, including a 2016 Mix with the Masters session detailing his mixing approach and a webinar deconstructing a full mix to reveal his layered processing strategies and artistic rationale. These online events, accessible to global audiences via platforms like and dedicated audio sites, have extended his educational reach beyond in-person gatherings, often incorporating live to address viewer-submitted questions on efficiency and creative intent. In 2025, Scheps participated in Sonic Summit mentorship retreats, including events in August at Sensei Media Studios and in October at La Finca Recording Studios in , where he provided individual guidance on participants' projects and collaborated on recording sessions.

Academic roles

In 2022, Andrew Scheps was appointed Visiting Professor at the , a position nominated by Dr. Mark Mynett in recognition of his professional expertise and collaborative contributions to music research. As part of this formal academic role, Scheps serves as a member of the university's Music and Audio (MAP) research group within the School of Computing and Engineering, where he provides advisory input on engineering curricula and delivers lectures to students on practical aspects of audio and mixing techniques. This appointment coincided with Scheps receiving an honorary doctorate from the university for his services to international music engineering, marking a post-2019 milestone that has directly shaped his engagements. Influenced by this recognition, Scheps has contributed to the evolution of modules at , particularly through his involvement in the Heaviness in Metal (HiMMP) research —the first academically funded on perceptual heaviness in metal , supported by £199,900 (approximately £200,000) from the UK's Arts and Humanities Council. His insights from industry experience have informed in areas such as immersive audio and spatial mixing, emphasizing real-world applications over theoretical abstraction. Further extending his advisory impact, Scheps' role facilitated the launch of the Andrew Scheps Music Scholarship in 2023, funding PhD research into spatial production and mixing techniques, thereby integrating cutting-edge production methodologies into frameworks. These contributions underscore Scheps' transition from studio practitioner to academic influencer, bridging professional engineering practices with pedagogical advancements in music technology.

Selected discography

Mixing credits

Andrew Scheps has mixed over 100 albums across his career, focusing primarily on rock and pop genres from the through the , often collaborating with high-profile producers like to achieve polished, dynamic sounds. One of his breakthrough projects was the ' double album (2006), where Scheps mixed half of the tracks, including the hit single "," contributing to the record's raw energy and commercial success, which topped charts in multiple countries and earned four . In pop, Scheps mixed four tracks on Adele's blockbuster 21 (2011), helping craft its intimate yet powerful vocal-driven sound that propelled the album to number-one status in over 20 countries, six Grammy wins, and global sales exceeding 30 million copies. More recently, Scheps handled mixing duties on the ' Aghori Mhori Mei (2024), blending tracks 1 through 9 to support the band's style on this digital-first release. His 2025 credits include mixing 11 tracks on Bartees Strange's album (4AD), enhancing its genre-blending intensity with precise spatial dynamics. In several instances, such as with the , Scheps' mixing roles overlapped with production contributions, allowing seamless integration of his engineering vision.

Production credits

Andrew Scheps has established himself as a through his label, Tonequake Records, which he founded in to support emerging rock and alternative acts during the . Under this imprint, he produced Audrye Sessions' EP An Otherwise Perfect Day (2010), capturing the band's introspective sound with a focus on raw emotional delivery. Similarly, Scheps handled production duties for Low Roar's self-titled debut album (), blending atmospheric and elements to create a haunting sonic landscape that resonated with international audiences. His work extended to other releases, including producing The Duke Spirit's Bruiser (), where he emphasized the band's energy and dynamic rhythms. Scheps also produced Favez's album En Garde! (), prioritizing authentic band performances to preserve their edge. Another notable effort was his full production of Gogol Bordello's Pura Vida Conspiracy (2013), recorded in , which infused the band's style with vibrant, live-wire intensity. In addition to Tonequake projects, Scheps collaborated closely with producer on high-profile rock albums during the , such as Black Sabbath's 13 (2013). These partnerships highlighted Scheps' ability to guide artistic development in major studio environments. More recently, Scheps has focused on productions for artists, incorporating experimental immersive audio formats. In , he led the production of a new single for a Brighton-based band during a at Abbey Road Institute, exploring spatial recording techniques to enhance live-band immersion. For Low Roar's House in the Woods (2025), released via Tonequake, Scheps co-produced with , finalizing tracks that pay tribute to late collaborator Ryan Karazija while integrating elements for multidimensional listening experiences. These efforts underscore his ongoing commitment to innovative production for underrepresented voices in contemporary .