Derek Ali

Derek Ali, popularly known as MixedbyAli, is a Grammy Award-winning mix engineer.[1] His career began in Los Angeles in the late 2000s recording and mixing for Top Dawg Entertainment artists Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, SZA and more recently Bas, Nipsey Hussle, Snoop Dogg and many others.[2][3]

Derek Ali
Background information
Born (1989-11-01) November 1, 1989
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s)Mix engineer
Years active2010s-present
Associated acts
Websitewww.enginears.org

In 2018, he invented an online mixing program and community for mixing engineers called EngineEars which is aimed at teaching upcoming engineers techniques that will improve the quality of mixes they create and provide a world class mixing access to artists remotely.[4][5]

Technique

Ali mixes "in the box" (without the use of analog gear) when working with certain audio effects, such as vocals. However, he credits a mixing console for his "crispiness". About using hardware, Ali says: "If you have the gear, I suggest you use it. How I look at this way of mixing is I feel like you're inside the computer."[6]

About 80% of his mixes are done in mono, which is a method he learned from Dr. Dre.[7]

Awards

Ali has been nominated for the Grammys 6 times and has won three awards.[8]

Discography

2018 Black Panther: The Album [Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture] - Kendrick Lamar Mixing

2018 Invasion of Privacy - Cardi B Mixing

2018 Milky Way - Bas Mixing

2018 Platinum Fire - Arin Ray Mixing

2018 Redemption - Jay Rock Mixing

2018 Victory Lap - Nipsey Hussle Mixing

2017 DAMN. - Kendrick Lamar Mixing

2017 CTRL. - SZA Mixing

Mentors

Though Ali was introduced to mixing DAWs like Pro Tools by Punch and Dave Free, his most notable professional teacher is Dr. Dre whom he served under as an intern.

References
  1. "18 Questions With 30 Under 30 Audio Engineer MixedByAli". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  2. "DEREK ALI, THE MAN BEHIND KENDRICK'S SOUND". OZY. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  3. "Inside Track: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  4. "How Top Dawg Entertainment's MixedByAli Is Transitioning From Audio Engineer To Entrepreneur". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  5. "Audio Engineering Pro Tips with Derek 'MixedByAli' Ali". NAMM. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  6. Mixing Vocals - MixedByAli, retrieved 2019-10-12
  7. "Inside Track: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  8. "Past Winners Search". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  • on Discogs
  • on AllMusic
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