Chris Steinmetz (born 1966) is a record producer and engineer living in Chicago. He is president of Stonecutter Records.
Chris Steinmetz was born in 1966 to Kenneth and Virginia Steinmetz in Barrington, Illinois. He began playing guitar at age 12 and played in bands throughout high school. It was during this time that Steinmetz first became interested in audio engineering. While playing a show one night, he was struck by the lower quality of his band's sound compared to the headliners. [1] Despite his newfound interest in audio, Steinmetz entered the University of Utah majoring in biomedical engineering upon graduating high school. However, the call to music proved too strong and a year later Steinmetz dropped out and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the recording industry.
Steinmetz career in LA took off quickly as he spent his first three sessions working with Paul Simon, John Denver, and David Lee Roth. [2] Within a year, engineer Michael Wagener took notice of Steinmetz and hired him to engineer many classic 80s hard rock albums for his label. During his time in LA, Steinmetz also did freelance work for many other bands as well as for some feature films.
In 1996, Steinmetz moved back to his native Chicago to be closer to family. He began freelancing at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago Trax, and Terry Fryer Music. Provided with access to Chicago's growing rap music scene, Steinmetz' normal clientele began to shift from hard rock to hip hop. Between 2004 and 2006 six alone, he received credits on albums by Kanye West, Twista, Lil Jon, Usher, E-dub, and Jin with all six going platinum or gold. [3] During this time, Steinmetz also helped to pioneer the field of music mixing in 5.1. [4]
Chris Steinmetz created his own label, Stonecutter Records, in 2006 out of the desire to "advance [artists] to the next level in their careers and get them the exposure they deserve." [5] The label's first project, Acoustic Chicago , is a compilation of 13 Chicago artists and features their music in an acoustic format to highlight songwriting ability.
In 2012, Steinmetz opened Stonecutter Recording Studios. Located in the south loop of Chicago, it is a recording facility providing recording, mixing, mastering, marketing and production.[ citation needed ]
Artist | Project | Year | Credit |
---|---|---|---|
Jealous Bone | Reason to Stay LP | 2020 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Alice Drinks the Kool Aid | Mojo | 2020 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Alice Drinks the Kool Aid | Stayin' Home | 2020 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Ego Mechanics | Moonlight Dies | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Radio Free Honduras | Suavecito | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Radio Free Honduras | Dulce y Delicada | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Bird Box | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Squidward Nose | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Whoregasm | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Straight Skinny | My Intentions | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Straight Skinny | Voodoo | 2019 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Exit | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Cartoons | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Enuff Z'Nuff | Metalheart | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Quiz | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Spoiled Milk Titties | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Jerason Dean | Only the Lonely | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
cupcakKe | Duck Duck Goose | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Manwolves | A Safety Meeting LP | 2018 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Kay Soul | As I Am | 2017 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Charli XCX, cupcakKe, Pabllo Vittar, Brooke Candy | I Got It | 2017 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Fools' Brew | Up in Flames | 2016 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Fools' Brew | God'll Cut It Down | 2016 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
The Ex Senators | Stay | 2012 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Brent Brown | Belladonna Lily | 2010 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Black Eyed Peas | Live: Staple Center | 2010 | Mixing |
Trio Globo | Steering by the Stars | 2010 | Engineer, Producer, Mixing, Mastering |
Lovehammers | Driving Blind | 2009 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Jen Porter | Discarded | 2009 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Jen Porter | Closer to the Surface | 2009 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Denise Brigham | Hotel Lafayette | 2009 | Engineer, Mixing, Orchestral Arrangements, Producer |
Howard Levy | Acoustic Chicago | 2008 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Rihanna | Disturbia | 2008 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Marty Casey, Lovehammers | Marty Casey & Lovehammers LP | 2008 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Donald Lawrence | Matthew 28 Greatest Hits | 2008 | Engineer |
Enuff Z'nuff | Greatest Hits(Deluxe Edition) | 2008 | Mixing |
KR Morales | Come Get It | 2008 | Mastering, Mixing |
David McMillan | Heartsteady | 2008 | Engineer |
Syleena Johnson | Chapter 4: Labor Pains | 2008 | Mixing |
Vince Agwada | Eyes of the City | 2008 | Mixing |
OneRepublic | Control Room | 2008 | Mixing |
Syleena Johnson | Chapter 4: Labor Pains | 2008 | Mixing |
Sarah Potenza | Acoustic Chicago | 2007 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering |
Rihanna | Good Girl Gone Bad | 2007 | Engineer |
Smashing Pumpkins | Control Room | 2007 | Mixing |
Kanye West | Alicia Keys Remix | 2007 | Engineer, Mixing |
Feist | Control Room | 2007 | Mixing |
Jay-Z | Control Room | 2007 | Mixing |
Heather Headley & Andrea Bocelli | Live in Italy | 2007 | Engineer |
John Cooper Jazz Orchestra | John Cooper Jazz Orchestra | 2007 | Engineer, Mixing |
Jimmy Buffett | Live | 2007 | Engineer |
Sones de Mexico | Esta Tierra Tuya | 2007 | Engineer, Mixing |
Queen Latifah | Hairspray | 2007 | Engineer, Mixing |
Fantasia | The Color Purple | 2007 | Engineer |
Various Artists | Acoustic Chicago | 2007 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing |
Styx | iTunes Live | 2006 | Engineer |
Jay-Z | Live Show | 2006 | Engineer |
Kanye West & Jamie Foxx | One Night Extravaganza | 2006 | Engineer |
Lovehammers | Marty Casey & Lovehammers | 2006 | Engineer, Mixing |
Twista | Kamikaze | 2004 | Engineer, Mixing |
Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz | Crunk Juice | 2004 | Engineer |
Usher | Confessions | 2004 | Engineer |
E-Dub | Prezident | 2004 | Engineer |
Enuff Z'Nuff | ? | 2004 | Mixing |
Rival | State of Mind | 2004 | Producer, Engineer |
Jin | The Rest is History | 2004 | Engineer |
Tori Amos | Mona Lisa Smile | 2003 | Engineer |
Ben Harper | Q101 Live | 2003 | Engineer |
Enuff Z'Nuff | Welcome To Blue Island | 2003 | Engineer, Mixing |
Disturbed | Live in London | 2003 | Engineer |
Mickey Hart | Best of Mickey Hart: Over the Edge | 2002 | Engineer |
Rod Stewart | It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook | 2002 | Engineer |
Common | Electric Circus | 2002 | Engineer, Assistant |
Kiss | Box Set: Special Edition | 2001 | Engineer |
Limp Bizkit | End of Days Soundtrack | Engineer, Mixing | |
Madonna | Ray of Light Live | Engineer, Mixing | |
Nas & R. Kelly | Street Dreams | Engineer, Mixing | |
Crucial Conflict | Good Side, Bad Side | Engineer | |
Kiss | Revenge | Engineer | |
Alice in Chains | Live Facelift | Engineer, Mixing | |
Suicidal Tendencies | Lights...Camera...Revolution! | Engineer | |
White Lion | Big Game | Engineer | |
B.B.King | King of Blues:1989 | Assistant Engineer | |
Faster Pussycat | Faster Pussycat | 1987 | Assistant Engineer |
Miles Davis | Music from Siesta | Assistant Engineer | |
Paul Simon | Graceland | Assistant |
Andrew Weiss is an American musician, composer, audio engineer and Grammy-winning record producer.
Chicago 16 is the thirteenth studio album by the American band Chicago, released on June 7, 1982. It is considered their "comeback" album because it was their first album to go platinum since 1978's Hot Streets, it made it into the top ten of the Billboard 200, and it produced their second number one single in the United States, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry." The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August, 1982, two months after its release, and platinum in December, 1982, six months after its release. The song, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Milton Tasker "Bill" Putnam was an American audio engineer, songwriter, producer, studio designer and businessman, who has been described as "the father of modern recording". He was the inventor of the modern recording console and is recognised as a key figure in the development of the postwar commercial recording industry.
Ken Scott is a British record producer and engineer known for being one of the five main engineers for the Beatles, as well as engineering Elton John, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Duran Duran, the Jeff Beck Group and many more.
Steve Albini is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman and Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He is the founder, owner and principal engineer of Electrical Audio, a recording studio complex in Chicago. In 2018, Albini estimated that he had worked on several thousand albums over his career. He has worked with acts such as Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, and former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Bill Porter was an American audio engineer who helped shape the Nashville sound and recorded stars such as Chet Atkins, Louis Armstrong, the Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Gladys Knight, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Skeeter Davis, Ike & Tina Turner, Sammy Davis Jr., and Roy Orbison from the late 1950s through the 1980s. In one week of 1960, his recordings accounted for 15 of Billboard magazine's Top 100, a feat none have matched. Porter's engineering career included over 7,000 recording sessions, 300 chart records, 49 Top 10, 11 Number Ones, and 37 gold records.
Chris Lord-Alge is an American mix engineer. He is the brother of both Tom Lord-Alge and Jeff Lord-Alge, both of whom are also audio engineers. Chris and Tom are known for their abundant use of dynamic compression for molding mixes that play well on small speakers and FM radio. Lord-Alge frequently collaborates with Howard Benson, who has produced the plurality of his mix discography.
Bruce Swedien was an American recording engineer, mixing engineer and record producer. He was widely known for his work with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand.
Merritt Gant is a guitarist most recognized for his association with the band Overkill.
Tom Lord-Alge is an American music engineer and mixer. He began his career at The Hit Factory in New York. Subsequently, he was the resident mixer at what used to be known as "South Beach Studios", located on the ground floor of the Marlin Hotel.
Lonnie Park is a 2022 Grammy Award winning producer, artist, musician, composer, and author.
An audio engineer helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, and reinforcement of sound. Audio engineers work on the "technical aspect of recording—the placing of microphones, pre-amp knobs, the setting of levels. The physical recording of any project is done by an engineer... the nuts and bolts."
Chris Dugan is an American Grammy-winning audio engineer, cinematographer, record producer, musician, and singer, best known as the drummer of the Effection and as an audio engineer for Green Day. In 2018, along with Green Day members Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, guitarist Jason White, and tour manager Bill Schneider (musician), he formed The Coverups, for which he plays drums.
Doug Fenske is an American record producer, recording engineer, mix engineer, and remixer from suburban Chicago, Illinois. He has worked in Los Angeles since 2005, and has been involved in several aspects of record production. Fenske has worked on a string of commercially and critically successful albums, including Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, Chris Brown's Exclusive [The FOREVER Edition], Jamie Foxx's Intuition, and Jordin Sparks' Jordin Sparks. His production experience includes collaborations with some of the music industry's most elite artists, writers, producers, and engineers.
Gene William Paul is an American audio recording / mixing / mastering engineer, producer and musician. He was an engineer at Atlantic Recording Studios during their famed 1960s–80s period and is currently the chief mastering engineer at G&J Audio, a mixing and mastering studio for major and independent labels focused on reissues and new recordings. He has worked on thousands of projects, and has engineered 9 Grammy Award-winning albums with 29 total nominations in 15 different categories. He has engineered many hit recordings, including 7 #1's on the Billboard Pop & Jazz charts, 6 more in the Pop Top 10, 10 more in the Jazz Top 10, and 5 in the R&B Top 20.
Jim Klein is a Los Angeles born, Philadelphia-based, Emmy Award-winning composer, music producer, recording engineer, and songwriter. Klein is best known as the producer and songwriter behind the influential freestyle group Pajama Party, whose albums produced several hit singles. He is also a published author.
Chad Blinman is an American recording engineer and mixer, music producer, and electronic musician. He has worked with such artists as Face to Face, The Get Up Kids, Saves the Day, Jackson United, Faith and the Muse, Monica Richards, Senses Fail, Moneen, The Deep Eynde and Jarboe, and is a member of the remix/mash-up team The Legion of Doom and recording projects Viva Death and Real Space Noise. He is also on the faculty of the Music Production and Engineering department at Berklee College of Music.
Eric Uglum is an American musician, vocalist, audio engineer and producer. He has had a very productive career in roots music performance and production and has toured world wide in the bluegrass and folk music genres as a solo artist and as a member of many bands. Uglum has been featured in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Bluegrass Today, Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Now magazine. He is owner-operator of New Wine Sound Studio and Mastering Lab in Southern California and has worked with many Grammy nominated artists including: Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins, Stuart Duncan, Ron Block, Rob Ickes, Neal Casal, Sierra Hull, The Black Market Trust and Gonzalo Bergara. In 2016 Eric and Bud Bierhaus were included on the Grammy Ballot for Best Bluegrass Album for their CD release entitled, Traveled. In addition to working independently through his New Wine Sound Studio and Mastering Lab, Uglum is also a staff engineer at Blue Night Records.
Siegfried Meier is a musician, record producer, and recording, mixing and mastering engineer. Meier is known for his work in the genres of rock, metal, pop, and punk, producing and engineering for groups such as Face to Face, Kittie, Sectorseven, and Baptized in Blood. In 2013, Meier won a Juno award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year producing and engineering Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light by Woods of Ypres. Meier is the owner of Ontario-based recording studio, Beach Road Studios.
Bobby Owsinski is an American audio engineer, producer, musician, and author based in Los Angeles.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Interview with music producer Chris Steinmetz