SOUND GUY: Juno Award-winning sound engineer Vic Florencia recorded singles on the High School Musical album. He says he loves to be creative and collaborate with the artists and producers. (Francis Crescia/Vaughan Today)
“It took me many years to admit I didn’t want to be a guitar player,” Vic Florencia says over coffee last week. “I wanted to twiddle around in the studio.”
While the Juno Award-winning sound engineer and mixer played the guitar for years, even at one point teaching his favourite instrument, Florencia found his true calling when it came to working behind the scenes in the music industry.
The Thornhill father of two has worked with many stars during his 21-year career, including Nelly Furtado, Olivia Newton-John and most recently American band, Five for Fighting.
He is currently mixing records for Toronto indie singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka and San Francisco-based alternative band, The Limousines.
“I got that bug,” Florencia says. “I was intrigued by mixes and sculpting sounds.”
Florencia won the Juno for Best Engineer of the Year for his work on Esthero’s Wikked Lil’ Grrrls album.
And Florencia won his kids’ approval when he recorded singles on the High School Musical album.
Put simply, Florencia loves music.
“There’s nothing like hearing a song and seeing the finishing line with it,” he says. “I miss the days of playing live once in awhile, but I have no regrets.”
Florencia says he likes that sound engineering and mixing allow him to be creative while working with some of the latest technologies in the business.
Whether he’s mixing a rock or jazz track, Florencia enjoys collaborating with the artist and producer.
He enjoys being able to take one song in multiple directions, whether he’s bringing out the verse or removing excess instruments.
The industry has changed drastically thanks to new technologies he uses to mix records, Florencia says.
Financially, the industry has been affected by the recession, and many sound engineers like Florencia have opened home studios to survive.
Florencia opened his own five years ago, and admits working from home has its benefits.
A home studio means less time constraints on projects since he doesn’t have to rent out a specific amount of time at a studio.
“Seventy-five percent of what I do is at my own home, and again it’s all budget dependent,” Florencia says. “If there’s a little bit of a healthier budget I can spend more time at a full-blown studio.”
He mainly records vocals and smaller instruments in his studio, leaving the bigger projects — orchestras, for example — to be recorded in larger spaces.
Florencia says the key to recording is making the musicians and singer/songwriters feel as comfortable as possible.
“(When they’re comfortable) they’ll feel that much better, and be much more creative,” Florencia says.
He achieves this by providing the musicians with the right instruments and tools, and maintaining a relaxed atmosphere in the studio.
