“In Engineering, There Are No Rules” | Ricky St. Hilaire on Low-end Theory & More

In New York City’s prestigious Quad Recording Studios, Sweetwater studio scholar Mitch Gallagher caught up with Grammy Award–winning artist and engineer Ricky St. Hilaire. Known for his multi-decade tenure in the business, Ricky has worked alongside the likes of Alicia Keys, Damian Marley, A Tribe Called Quest, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more, in addition to scoring multiple independent films. Speaking with Mitch, Ricky recounts his experiences coming up in the world of hip-hop, R&B, and analog recording at NYC’s iconic studios, including Soundtrack, Electric Lady, and D&D, the last of which is renowned for its integral role in shaping and supporting the then-burgeoning movement of 1990s East Coast hip-hop. From tech talk and gear to the philosophy of recording and the ever-elusive art of engineering, Ricky and Mitch get at the heart of what it means to be an engineer and why your best work means all but “erasing” your presence. Check it out!  

00:00 — Introduction 00:39 — Ricky’s Journey at Quad Studios 01:06 — Transition into Engineering 02:20 — Trial By Fire at Soundcheck Studios 03:32 — Attending Engineering School 04:38 — Natural Talent and Musical Ear 05:21 — Ricky’s Approach to Engineering 07:54 — Setting the Vibe for Artists 08:59 — Artist Tips for a Good Take 11:17 — The Role of an Engineer  13:39 — Getting the Bottom Right 14:04 — Gain Staging and Headroom 16:07 — Ricky’s Approach to Mixing 17:30 — Future Plans and Content Creation 18:48 — What Makes a Great Artist 20:50 — Wrap-up 
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