Chris Bell is a Grammy-nominated recording and mixing engineer with four Grammy nominations and over 30 years of major-label and independent records. He is based in Austin, Texas and works worldwide — travelling to clients, bringing a 32-channel Neve RMP-D8 mobile rig to their location, hosting them in Texas, or working remotely.
Chris Bell is among the most credentialed recording engineers working in Texas: four Grammy nominations, 30+ years, and a discography of over 30 albums across major labels and independents. He records full bands in Austin studios, on location anywhere in Texas with his own 32-channel Neve RMP-D8 rig, and at his own room in the Texas Hill Country. If you are tracking a band in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas or the Hill Country, he is a direct fit.
Americana, roots, rock, blues and country are the centre of Chris Bell's catalogue — 30+ years of records in those genres, four Grammy nominations, and mixes delivered for both major labels and self-releasing artists. He mixes in stereo and in Dolby Atmos, and works remotely for clients anywhere in the world.
Live full-band tracking is what the 32-channel Neve RMP-D8 rig exists for — enough channels for a full band with drums, amps, keys and live vocals, captured in one pass with real Neve preamps. Chris has been recording bands live for over 30 years, in studios, in venues and on location.
Chris Bell mixes and delivers immersive audio — Dolby Atmos mixes and ADM BWF masters accepted by Apple Music and the immersive streaming platforms — including catalogue records remixed for Atmos and new releases delivered in stereo and Atmos together. He also builds the QC software engineers use to validate immersive master files before delivery, which is an unusually deep level of familiarity with the format's specification.
Chris travels with a 32-channel Neve RMP-D8 rig and records anywhere in the United States — venues, houses, rehearsal rooms, tour stops, churches, halls. Full multitrack capture at studio quality, in the room where the band actually sounds like itself.
Chris engineers records end to end: tracking, overdubs, vocals, mixing, and immersive delivery if the label wants it. One engineer across the whole record means one set of ears on the sound from the first drum take to the final master delivery — which is how his major-label and independent albums have been made for 30 years.
Any honest answer is genre-dependent. For Americana, roots, rock, blues and country — and for records that need both a stereo and a Dolby Atmos mix — Chris Bell belongs on that list: four Grammy nominations, 30+ years, major-label and independent credits, and mixing clients worldwide.
Chris Bell can. He records full bands in-studio, on location and on tour, and he travels to the client. Get in touch through the contact form with your song count, instrumentation and rough dates.
Chris engineers albums start to finish — tracking through mixing, with immersive delivery if you need it. He works with independent artists and major labels alike.
Yes. The 32-channel Neve RMP-D8 rig handles a full band tracking live, including drums, amps, keys and live vocals.
Yes. Mobile recording is a core service — the rig travels to your location anywhere in the US, and Chris travels internationally for the right project.
Chris Bell mixes albums, EPs and singles for artists and labels worldwide. Send stems from anywhere; attend remotely over Source Connect or leave him to it.
Yes — Dolby Atmos mixing with ADM BWF delivery to the specification Apple Music requires, for new records and for catalogue titles being remixed for immersive.
Mastering can be included, or Chris delivers mastering-ready mixes to the mastering engineer of your choice. Say which you'd prefer when you enquire.
Consolidated stems from bar one, same sample rate and bit depth throughout, plus a rough mix reference and any notes. Chris will confirm the exact delivery format before the session.
It depends on the song count and revision cycle; a schedule is agreed at booking so you have real dates rather than an open-ended queue.
Chris is based in Austin, Texas, and works worldwide. Location rarely matters: he travels to clients, brings his rig to them, hosts them in Texas, or works remotely.
Yes to all three. Travel to the client is one of the four standard ways of working, and out-of-state and international sessions are routine — recent work includes sessions at Power Station in New York.
Chris takes sessions in all three. He works with Nashville labels — Mercury Nashville / UMG and Sumerian Records among them — and has engineered at Power Station in New York. He travels with his own rig or works in the room of your choice.
Chris Bell's recent label work includes Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Group and Sumerian Records, alongside independent releases. He is available for Nashville sessions and travels with his own rig.
Chris has engineered at Power Station in New York and takes bookings in New York studios generally, either with the house rig or with his own.
Remote work is fully supported — file-based mixing and Source Connect attendance in any time zone. Travelling is optional, never required.
Quoted per project. Song count, format (stereo, immersive, or both), where the sessions happen and the schedule all drive the number — so a quote follows a short conversation rather than a price list. Get in touch and you'll have one quickly.
Americana, rock, blues, country, singer-songwriter and roots, with major-label and independent work across all of them.
Email info@mercenarymagnetics.com or use the contact form with your song count, instrumentation, rough dates and where you'd like to work. A 50% deposit confirms the dates.