Record Production for Independent Artists

You hear it.
I'll build it.

You have a clear vision for your music and the drive to make it real. I bring the analog gear, the ear, and the expertise to pull exactly what you're hearing out of your head and onto record.

↓ Scroll

The Philosophy

Most producers hear what's there.
I hear what's missing — the frequencies that haven't spoken yet, the space between notes where the real feeling lives. That's what I go looking for.

Alex Koch in his Sound Detective hat
47

Making music isn't just about the song — it's about the sounds that bring it to life.

Hey, I'm Alex Koch — your one and only Sound Detective. I'm the founder of Digital Dust, a studio born from a lifelong obsession with sound.

Here's the truth: a great song isn't enough if the sound doesn't move people. Most artists get stuck using the same tired presets and cookie-cutter production tricks, chasing a feeling that never quite lands.

At Digital Dust, I've built a space designed to uncover what your music really needs — from boutique analog gear and rare instruments, to custom signal chains and creative tools you won't find in typical setups. I craft sounds that breathe real life into your music — with tones and textures you haven't heard before, but always knew you were chasing.

I've gone through every corner of the audio world so you don't have to:

You bring the ideas. I'll bring the skills, gear, and experience to bring them to life.

Book a Call

Hear the work right now.

Two fast-moving reels spanning productions, arrangements, performances, mixes, and finished records from the Digital Dust casefiles.

Production Reel · Volume I

A cinematic cross-section of Alex's production work and sonic range.

Production Reel · Volume II

More records, textures, and performances built inside Digital Dust.

What artists say about the process.

★★★★★

"The sound selection The Detective comes up with is always next level."

My vocals always sound on point when I'm tracking at Digital Dust.

Fatlip of The Pharcyde

Fatlip from Pharcyde

Rapper / MC

★★★★★

"The finished product absolutely blows my mind every time, so far beyond anything I could have imagined without his help."

For me it's always fun — his sense of humor combined with an unbelievable work ethic and his desire to always be learning ways of developing more beautiful sounds makes working with him a joyous experience as well as a productive one.

Singer-songwriter Michael Riordan

Michael Riordan

Singer / Songwriter

★★★★★

"None have impressed me more than Alex from Digital Dust Studios!"

Alex is a producer every artist dreams of working with — he plays many instruments, offers a bunch of creative ideas from helping with song structure to creating elaborate arrangements.

Songwriter George Bell

George Bell

Songwriter

Letter of Recommendation

"I strongly believe in Alex's extraordinary ability as a composer, musician, technologist, and teacher."

I have produced several major recording projects with him. His work is always beyond my expectations, and I'm pleased to recommend him without any reservations.

Alex Koch with Robert Margouleff

Robert Margouleff

Grammy Award-Winning Producer

Read what artists say about working with Digital Dust

Unique analog sounds.
Recorded live.
Mixed with intent.

Every session combines a controlled recording environment with carefully chosen analog tools, real instruments, and decisions made for the song—not the gear list.

The result is music that sounds alive: breath, weight, presence, and a character that belongs to the artist.

This is where the texture comes from.

Six parts of the room, each chosen for a distinct job: shaping dynamics, adding color, creating space, and giving a performance its own fingerprint.

Compression & Dynamics

High-End Outboard

World-class compressors and EQs. The kind of gear that leaves a fingerprint on a record that no plugin can replicate.

Saturation & Color

Tape Saturators

Real tape saturation adds harmonic complexity and warmth that digital simply doesn't generate. It makes music feel lived-in.

Texture & Grit

Tone Boxes

Hand-selected units built for one thing: character. The right tone box in the right moment is the difference between a good sound and an unforgettable one.

Time & Space

Tape Delay

Analog tape echo — with all its beautiful imperfections. The modulation, the warmth, the subtle wow and flutter that make a delay feel like it's breathing.

Synthesis

Analog Synths

Vintage analog synthesis that no software instrument touches. From lush pad textures to bold leads — sounds with real physical weight behind them.

Amplification

Vintage Guitar Amps

The sound of real tubes, real speakers, real air moving. A vintage amp in the room is a different instrument entirely from a DI into a plugin.

Full production.
Or just the part you need.

Starting from a voice memo or have a demo that just needs mixing? I handle every stage of the process — and you can hire me for any single one of them.

01

Pre-Production

Structure your song before a single note is recorded. We map out your arrangement, sharpen the direction, and cut a rough demo — so production day has a clear blueprint to follow.

02

Production

Your sound, built from scratch. I play a wide range of instruments and pull from the full Digital Dust sound library to build a custom sonic world around your music.

03

Editing

A tight performance that still feels alive. We fix timing, clean noise, and smooth the flow — without losing the emotion and energy of the original take.

04

Sound Design & Treatments

The textures that make your track unforgettable. Analog gear and digital tools layered to add depth, atmosphere, and the sonic details that give your song its identity.

05

Mixing

Clarity, warmth, and soul — all in one mix. Your stems through a hybrid analog setup. The result isn't just balanced — it has weight, character, and feels like a real record.

06

Mastering

Release-ready on every system. Final loudness, clarity, and consistency — so your track translates on headphones, car speakers, and club rigs equally.

Tell me what your song needs
Electric and acoustic guitars available at Digital Dust Studio
Effects pedals used for custom guitar and sound-design chains

For artists who treat their music
like it matters.

If that's you — we should talk.

Alex Koch working in Digital Dust Studio

Records from the casefiles.

A wall of recent investigations. Click any cover to hear what we found — straight to Spotify.

April Embers cover artwork Thursday Blues cover artwork Brkynn cover artwork Lull cover artwork Drifter cover artwork Mirror Mirror cover artwork Ice Angel cover artwork Last Days cover artwork Burn the Bed cover artwork Austin Eyes cover artwork Fresh Coated Tech cover artwork Gal cover artwork Imori cover artwork Joe Rock — Say Cheese cover artwork Blame It on the 90s cover artwork Tim Hayn — Train to No cover artwork Tim Hayn — Autumn Leaves cover artwork Album cover Album cover Acacia Sears — Ghosts Bacon For Bacon Perry Pollaci — Do Work. Angelo Lavato The Sonics — Detective 47

More on Spotify

Featured On

For those who know.

Let's investigate your sound.

STEP 01

Trace the Blueprint

We kick things off with a call to dissect your song — talk goals, sketch direction, uncover what the music is actually reaching for. Nothing gets built until we know what we're building.

STEP 02

Collect the Evidence

The production phase. I perform and capture the parts the song needs — drawing on the full arsenal at Digital Dust as a multi-instrumentalist. Real amps, real synths, real performances, real takes.

STEP 03

Inspect and Enhance

Once the song is built, I send it your way. We go into the details together — fine-tuning every layer until the track fully captures your vision and we both know we've found something.

STEP 04

Crack the Code

I shape the final mix for tone, weight, and clarity, then master it to translate across headphones, cars, phones, and full-range systems. You leave with a finished record ready for release.

Before we talk.

What's the typical timeline for producing a finished song?

Every project is different and depends on the scope of work. Some songs come together in a couple of weeks, while others can take a few months — it really depends on the artist's vision, the number of layers or collaborators involved, and how dialed in the direction is from the start. I always keep communication open so timelines stay realistic and the process feels smooth.

How do you handle revisions?

During production, I work closely with the artist — going back and forth until we both feel the track is fully developed and everything sits right. Once the final hybrid mix is delivered, I include two mix revisions as part of the package. If more tweaks are needed beyond that, I charge an hourly rate.

What if I only need one part of the process — like just mixing?

Totally fine. I work with artists who may not need the full production service but just help with certain portions of the song — whether that's the mix, additional production, or something else entirely. I'm always open to talking through what services will work best to complete your project.

What type of artists do you normally work with?

I work with artists across a range of genres, but I often collaborate with indie singer-songwriters who want to bring their raw ideas to life as fully produced songs. Genres I've worked in include indie rock, indie pop, folk, soul, hip hop, trip hop, industrial, experimental, electronic, and psychedelic.

Why should I hire you — what makes you unique?

What sets me apart is this: I collect sounds. I'm obsessed with finding interesting, character-rich tones that make your music feel truly unique. Whether it's a rare synth, an unexpected guitar texture, or a custom signal chain that brings a part to life — I dig deep to give your record something fresh, emotional, and full of personality.

What do I need to have before hiring you?

All you really need is an idea for the song you're working on — we can start from there. Whether it's a voice memo, a rough demo, or just a chord progression and melody, we'll talk through it and find the right direction. The more you have prepared upfront (lyrics, reference tracks, structure ideas), the faster and smoother the process will be — but it's totally fine to start from scratch, too.

Why shouldn't I just do this myself?

You can make music on your own — but without the right sonic tools, taste, and experience, you'll keep hitting a ceiling. The sound palettes I create aren't something you'll find in a preset pack or a YouTube tutorial. They come from years of chasing tone, learning instruments, developing a signature style, and working with rare analog gear in a space built to pull emotion out of every frequency.

If you want your music to truly stand out — to feel like something special — you need more than just a good song. You need sound that tells the story. That's what I do best.

How do we get started?

Easy — just fill out the form at the bottom of this page to book a call. We'll talk about your project, where you're at creatively, and what you're hoping to achieve. From there, I'll put together a game plan that fits your goals and budget. Once we're aligned, we can dive in and start building your song.

Alex Koch playing guitar in a smoke-filled studio portrait

Let's find
your sound.

One conversation is all it takes to know if we're right for each other.

Got it — I'll be in touch within 48 hours.