Ben Soleim [Recording Engineer]

Ben Soleim - Recording Engineer
I have been recording engineering since around 1999. Graduated with an associates of recording arts in 2001 and since have risen to freelance engineering.
In 2001 I started work at Clava Music Studios on the south side of Chicago assisting and performing studio maintenance. After training with some well known engineers/producers from chicago (Brian Deck - Modest Mouse, Califone, fruitbats, red red meat) I was ready to take on my own sessions. It wasn't long before I had a list of my own clients and had a need to move on.
In 2002 I was hired as an "In House" Engineer by Engine Music Studios located in the Bucktown area of Chicago, IL. It was here that I gained most of my current skills and album credits. Engine is known for such artists as, Alkaline Trio, Verve Pipe, Modest Mouse, Macabre, Fruitbats and many more.
In late 2002, I had several sessions with Grammy producer Neil Kernon who is best known for his work with Hall and Oats, Queensryche, judas priest, Cannible Corpse and others. I feel very fortunate to work with such a talented great person. Working together with him had really tuned my skills as an engineer and helped develop my ears and basic studio professionalism. I learned from an old school analog perspective how to apply it to the skills I already obtained through my life with computers.
After about a year and half of Engine I was let go do to the state of the industry. I didn't deal well with the unspoken politics of the "Big Studio" given my young age and lack of experience, so I needed to give myself a fresh start. My next plan was to jump into multimedia(websites, cd-rom, audio, video, programming).
Right at the end of 2002 I had found the place that fit my new direction. The Sterling Group is a multimedia company located in New Lenox, IL. I have been very happy and successful working there where I can explore new creative experiences and still do what I love. Since my departure with Engine Music Studios, my free lance recording jobs have picked up and they are helping me afford to work with musicians on almost a daily basis.
Engine Music Studios
The Sterling Group, Inc. - Multimedia Productions