RECORDING / MIXING/ MASTERING ENGINEER

to listen to examples of my work - go to my AUDIO EXAMPLES page.

My career as a professional recording engineer began in 1987. After leaving Berklee College of Music in 1984, I spent several years performing with local bands around the Boston area. During that time, I also built a small home studio in my basement, where I began developing my recording skills. By 1987, I made the decision to leave the small club and hotel touring circuit to focus fully on recording, opening my first commercial studio: Midi Plus Recording.

The studio originally operated with an analog 8-track reel-to-reel setup, but as my client base rapidly expanded, I upgraded to a 24-track analog system in 1990 to meet the growing demand and enhance production quality.

As my work and reputation continued to grow, I outgrew the original studio space and relocated to Rhode Island for several years. Eventually, the need for a larger, more advanced facility led me to rebrand as Digital Wave MULTIMEDIA and move operations to Fall River, Massachusetts. Embracing the rise of digital recording technology, I expanded both my capabilities and services. It was during this phase that I integrated photography, graphic design and video production into the studio’s offerings, broadening my creative reach and further supporting the evolving needs of my clients.

In late 2010, I moved to Cabo Verde and shifted my focus back to live performance, taking a break from studio work to reconnect with my roots as a musician. During this time, I had the opportunity to perform with many of the top artists in Cabo Verdean music and founded my own band, Banda XL. We toured extensively across the islands of Cabo Verde, bringing our sound to a wide range of audiences, and occasionally traveled to Europe to perform at festivals and concerts.

A few years later, I opened my own studio, XL Produções, in Praia, Cabo Verde. The studio quickly became a creative hub where I had the privilege of recording and producing music with many of the leading artists from both Cabo Verde and Portugal.

to see more of the MANY photos of clients in the studios, USA and (Cabo Verde) click here

I lived in Cabo Verde for 11 years, frequently traveling back to the United States to handle recording and mixing projects in various client studios. On January 24, 2020, I returned to the U.S. for a series of sessions, with plans to head back to Cabo Verde on March 24. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought global travel to a halt and effectively froze the music industry, both in Cabo Verde and worldwide. As the shutdown extended, I made the difficult decision to permanently close my studio in Cabo Verde and relocate back to the United States. 

Since then, I’ve been based in the Boston area, working out of several top-tier studios as well as my own home studio, where I continue to record, mix, and master. My busy touring schedule and live sound mixing commitments have led me to forgo opening a new commercial studio, as I now rely on a combination of high-quality partner studios and professional-grade portable gear that allows me to record virtually anywhere.

to listen to examples of my work - go to my AUDIO EXAMPLES page.

MY "SECRET WEAPON"

The Soundelux 251

As a recording engineer, I’ve worked with many exceptional microphones — but owning a Soundelux 251 is something truly special. I got mine in 2002… serial # 0188

This mic isn’t just gear; it’s a piece of audio history, designed by none other than David Bock, a master craftsman whose name is synonymous with high-end microphone design. In the '80s and '90s, Bock was the chief technical engineer at top-tier studios like Hyde Street, The Hit Factory, and Ocean Way. It was in those legendary rooms — surrounded by vintage mic collections — that he developed an intimate understanding of what made those classics so magical.

That deep expertise eventually led him into microphone design, where he began creating modern mics with the soul of vintage icons. While working at Soundelux Studios in Hollywood, Bock designed a number of now-legendary models, including the Soundelux 251, E47, and E49 — microphones that earned their place in countless world-class studios.

The Soundelux 251, later rebranded as the Bock 251, is David’s take on the revered vintage ELA M 251 — widely considered one of the greatest microphones ever made. But this isn’t a simple clone. What sets it apart is Bock’s meticulous attention to detail: modern build quality, tighter tolerances, and sonic consistency that vintage mics could never guarantee.

Eventually, David partnered with Universal Audio in 2020, continuing this legacy with the UA Bock 251 — an evolution of the same classic design I’m lucky to own in its original Soundelux form.

Whether on vocals, strings, or acoustic instruments, the Soundelux 251 delivers warmth, detail, and air — that elusive combination that just sits perfectly in a mix. To me, it’s more than a microphone. It’s a bridge between the golden age of recording and the precision of today’s workflows.

Want one?

Reach out to my friend Sami Ross-LaMotte at Sweetwater and tell her Rob Leonardo sent you! here is current version of the mic