Career Profile: Audio Mixer/Engineer MIke Fraser: Livin' the Rock 'n' Roll Dream

In order for most music fans to meet their idols face-to-face, they would have to wait in line for hours during meet-and-greet sessions, or win a backstage pass from a radio show. But renowned audio mixer and engineer Mike Fraser lives that dream everyday, without the crowds, lines and burly backstage security guards.

Throughout his years in the music industry, the Vancouver-based audio tech has worked with legends like Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Van Halen, and helped scores of emerging talent, such as the Fast Romantics and The Dudes, burst onto the scene. Fraser’s latest and greatest accomplishment is mixing AC/DC’s latest album, Black Ice.

Even with his hectic schedule, Fraser was kind enough to take some time to catch up by email to share some insight about his exciting career.

YT: What drew you to your career as an audio engineer/mixer/producer?
MF: I played guitar in a band in high school. I always loved music – bands like Aerosmith, Black Sabbath and Zeppelin. After I left school, I went to work with my dad driving trucks and heavy equipment. When I was laid off one winter, I decided to pursue music. I knew I wasn’t a good enough guitar player to make a living at it, so I went and looked for a behind-the-scenes studio job and ended up applying at Little Mountain Sound.

YT: You started out as a runner at Little Mountain Sound. Is getting your foot in the door like that still a feasible way of getting into the industry with all the programs now available?
MF: Yes for sure. Usually you start out volunteering, then slowly work your way to assisting for a producer, engineer or mixer. If you work hard enough at it, you’ll eventually go off on your own career as one or a combination of the above – a producer, engineer or mixer.

YT: How competitive is it to get into this field?
MF: Extremely competitive. I’m not sure how many kids graduate from recording schools each year, but in Vancouver alone it has to be a few hundred. There are only MAYBE a half a dozen real jobs available a year in studios, so it’s a pretty small percentage that gets through. Plus, there are people from all over the world who contact me daily that want to come to Vancouver to work. So competitive is an understatement.

YT: In your opinion, what sort of education would be the most beneficial?
MF: I am a believer in the school of “hard-knocks.” Working your way up, learning from the person before you – a real hands-on approach. Some studios like students who come from the schools as it ensures they have a basic knowledge of things. I like seeing each person get real hands-on experience, as I think the education sticks with them better over time.

YT: What kind of opportunities can this job lead to?
MF: It’s a pretty niche business – but you can take recording/mixing skills and work in television, movies, video games, and live sound. Pay depends on your skill level and how in demand you are.

YT: What has been the most challenging part of your job?
MF: The lifestyle. I’ve worked many a Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, all of my kids’ and wife’s birthdays. Keeping family life and friendships are the biggest challenge.

YT: What’s the most enjoyable aspect of your career?
MF: Sitting listening to music all day and being paid for it is pretty cool. Working for myself is really rewarding rather than working for someone else. There are a lot of other perks as well – travelling, concerts, meeting cool and interesting people.

YT: How do you judge your level of success after finishing a song or an album?
MF: If everyone involved is screaming happy – the artist or band, the label and the management. That’s what I’m after.

YT: When you’re working in the studio with a band like AC/DC, do you ever just shake your head and wonder what a teenaged you would think?
MF: Forget the teenager. I called my manager the first day of Black Ice and said, “Holy $^%$, this is *$% awesome, I have the best job in the world!” I still find it exciting even after doing four records with them. They blow my mind each and every time.

YT: After working with the likes of Aerosmith and AC/DC and having such a successful career, where do you see yourself going in the industry?
MF: It’s all downhill from here, isn’t it? Ha ha! Seriously, I’m doing what I love – just mixed records for Franz Ferdinand, Sam Roberts and Matt Mays. I also enjoy working on up-and-coming bands like State of Shock, The Dudes, Fast Romantics and illScarlett.

YT: What do you love about music?
MF: I love the feeling you had when you were 15 and listening to your favourite band. It overtakes you and all is right with the world. That’s exactly what I feel when I am working on something great. It doesn’t change. If it’s dancey, me and my assistant, Eric Mosher are dancing. If it’s guitar heavy – there’s a lot of air guitar going on, ha ha. Music is meant to be fun and felt, and that’s exactly what I love.

YT: What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
MF: Well, working with the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith Van Halen and Zeppelin. As I said before, these were all artists I loved growing up – so what a thrill to work with them. But I really don’t think I have one particular highlight, more like a series of highlights throughout the years – from watching Joe Perry and Steven Tyler rock in the studio to producing Jimmy Page. It’s been an amazing ride… so far.