TEAM

Innovative. Experienced. Professional

Founder/Owner

Jerry " Wonda" Duplessis

Platinum Sound Recording Studios was founded in 2000 by Jerry ‘Wonda’ Duplessis, multi-platinum Grammy Award winning producer and Wyclef Jean of The Fugees. The two came together with the goal of giving artists an unparalleled studio experience. By focusing on sound quality, productivity, and privacy, they have created a truly world-class space where artists instantly feel right at home and able to get into their creative flow and record the next big hit. Since its establishment, Platinum Sound Recording Studios has been the birthplace for countless Grammy Award-winning records and albums, receiving a collective 12 Grammy nominations in 2010 alone. Everyone from Justin Bieber to Kanye West has come through our doors, seeking our production and engineering expertise. We house multiple recording studios stacked with state-of-the-art equipment inside acoustic rooms tuned to perfection. Our custom Augspurger monitors combined with dual 18-inch subwoofers make us the loudest yet cleanest sounding studio in the city. Racks full of the best vintage and modern analog and digital equipment feed directly into our Pro Tools HDX System, for artists who want nothing more then the most pristine sound quality available. Platinum Sound is staffed by a team of dedicated and passionate professionals, equipped with over 50 years of international experience. They work with a diverse range of artists from many different genres, nations and cultures. They are able to instantly recognize an artist’s greatest strengths, and utilize their refined musical taste to bring out the best in every track. We believe that nothing is more important than keeping the flow going. We know from experience that “Vibe” is all about spur of the moment, and being ready when it happens. That’s why Platinum Sound is open 24/7, available for recording and mixing sessions, pre and post production, photoshoots, interviews, live music recordings, voiceover, private functions, and full studio bookings

Management

General Manager

Lisa Hershfield

Manager

Jasmine Hunt

Booking Manager

Spice

CFO Manager

Gary Valentino

Engineers

Serge "Sergical" Tsai

Serge “Surgical” Tsai is a Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum and gold certified recording and mix engineer. He began his career working as a live sound engineer in Suriname for a local band, ‘South, South West’. In 1989, he moved to New York City in pursuit of furthering his career in Audio and attended the Institute of Audio Research (IAR). In 1996, while working as a recording and mixing engineer at Funky Slice Studios in Brooklyn, New York, he met Jerry Wonda and was invited to the Booga Basement Studio in NJ where he recorded City High, Product G&B, and other notable artists. In 2001, Jerry and Wyclef Jean, collaborated to build Platinum Sound Recording Studio. Serge worked his way up and has held the position as Chief Engineer where he continues to prepare the next generation of engineers, artists, and musicians to discover and develop their sound. Serge has amassed a world of credits in his 20 plus years of recording and mixing. Whether he's working on a blockbuster film soundtrack, live sound, or a chart-topping single, Surgical's “Sonic Air Bending”® techniques shine in every project he undertakes. Serge has worked on multiple Grammy award winning and nominated records as well as an Oscar Nomination for the “Hotel Rwanda” Soundtrack. He has Multi-platinum certified records and billions of streams worldwide. Some of his hit records include “Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, “Justin Bieber – You Smile”, “Kanye West ft. Estelle – American Boy” and many more. Serge has worked with some of the greatest musicians and artists in the world. Some of which include Swizz Beats,The Fugees, Quincy Jones, Dj Mustard, T.I. ,Nas, Lil Wayne, Bad Bunny, Mali Music, Aretha Franklin, Gucci Mane, Carlos Santana, Bono, Tom Jones, Beyonce, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Red One, Lil Kim, Run DMC, Chris Brown, The Migos, Gloria Gaynor, Kylie Minogue, Lauren Hill, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Miguel, French Montana, Akon, Machel Montano, Sam Smith, Mick Jagger, Lupe Fiasco, Joey Bada$$, Nelly, Coi Leray, B-Lovee, Ice Spice, Jennifer Hudson, Raekwon, Cam’ron, Gyptian and many more.

Rene "DeZ BuDdha" Desrivieres

Rene “Dez Buddha” Desrivieres is a world class recording and mixing engineer born in Brooklyn, New York. He started his career back in 2012 following his graduation from The School of Audio Engineering (SAE). He joined Platinum Sound Recording Studios in 2015 shortly after being introduced to Jerry Wonda, He was quickly brought on board as one of Platinum’s in house recording and mixing engineer. He continued working closely with Jerry Wonda and Serge Tsai. Rene has developed a reputation for outstanding quality and understanding the vision that artists have for their songs. Rene is also focused on helping to develop the next generation of audio engineers. As one of Platinum Sound’s head engineer’s he is often tasked with shaping and molding the next group of audio interns. And although his position often requires that he teach, he is still student himself. Rene continues to learn new techniques, and processes in audio. Most recently he has began diving into the world of Dolby Atmos Surround Sound. And in a matter of months, has already began piling up credits from working with the likes of French Montana on his latest Coke Boyz 6 release in Dolby Atmos and many additional releases. His credits include but are by no means limited to; Wyclef Jean, Papoose, Capella Gray, KRS-ONE, Dionne Warwick, B-Lovee, Dougie B, Young Thug, French Montana, Akon, Miguel, Melissa Etheridge, Mary J Blidge, Ro James, Rich The Kid, Famous Dex, Jay Critch, Joey Badass, Kent Jones, Cyhi Da Prince, Smookie Margiela and many, many more.

Devonne "Knice" Knights

DeVonne “Knice” Knights is a Recording and Immersive Mixing engineer from Brooklyn, New York. Knice graduated from SAE with a 4.0 and went on to work up the ranks at Platinum Sound Studios as a recording engineer, ultimately joining the Senior Engineer Staff. Knice has Worked with French Montana, Brandy, Miguel, EST Gee, Lola Brooke, Desiigner, Rich The Kid, and many more label and local artists.

Zel Omar Campbell

Zel Omar is a multi platinum award winning recording engineer. Born in the bronx and growing up in New York, he was immersed in a world-class music culture from an early age. At the age of 13 he began writing and learning to record songs under the guidance of Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice. After years of honing his skills he graduated from Full Sail University with a bachelor’s in recording arts. In 2017 he began working professionally as an audio engineer at Platinum Sound and has since amassed quite the discography working with artists such as Rich The Kid, Dave East, Famous Dex, Akon, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, Jay Critch, Jadakiss, Cyndi Lauper, NLE Choppa, Kranium, G Eazy, Mariah Carey, Fat Joe, Desiigner, DJ Clue, Smoove L, Dipset & many more

Ernest "MixedByNess" Butler

Ernest “MixedByNess”. Butler is a Recording/Mixing Engineer located in the heart of New York. Ernest prides himself on being more than an engineer but a vocal producer who demands the best out of those he works with. Ernest started on his journey shortly after graduating from York College, as an intern at Platinum Sounds. His hard work and dedication allowed him to grow as a professional and work with some great talents. Today Ernest is one of our Senior Engineers and has worked with names such as Wyclef, Rich The Kid, Offset, and Brandy.

Julian "Finesse" Wright

Julian "Finesse" Wright is a music producer and recording engineer with Platinum Sound Recording Studios. He grew up in a musical household with his father being a saxophonist and his mother, a jazz vocalist. He is a college graduate from SUNY Purchase College. Upon graduation, he began working in live sound providing sound for concerts, press conferences, parades, and even outdoor drive-in movies. He decided to further his education in audio and enrolled into the School for Audio Engineering (SAE NY). Prior to graduation he was given the opportunity to learn and work with Platinum Sound. He quickly developed a name for himself and coined the name "plugin-man" for his sheer love and joy for audio plugins. He has had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest artists in the music industry including Wyclef Jean, KRS-ONE, B-Lovee, Stacy Barthe, Jerry Wonda, Capella Gray, Young Guru, Dionne Warwick, Mike Knox, Benny The Butcher and a plethora of other recording artists, label executives, engineers and music producers. Finesse, or as others refer to him, "Plugin-Man" is not only recognized for his skills, nor his ever growing collection of new plugins, but he has an apparent love for what he does. He believes the recording process to be more about the sonic experience of creating and capturing. Also his musical abilities aid in his recording and mixing processes.

Chris "Apex" Valerio

Deron “Strandz” Legette

Deron “Strandz” Legette is a free-spirited Audio Engineer & Recording Artist originally from South Jersey. Immediately following his graduation from Full Sail University Strandz found himself interning at Platinum Sound Recording Studio where he’s now considered a Senior Audio Engineer. Throughout Deron’s career at Platinum Sound he has had the opportunity to work for some of the biggest stars in the music business such as Lil Kim, Fivio Foreign, Offset, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Dave East, and a plethora of various additional creatives.

Darren "The Clinic" Blanckensee

Darren "The Clinic" Blanckensee, an exceptional recording engineer hailing from the vibrant music scene of South Africa. With a specialization in hip hop, R&B, vocal production, full band recordings, and atmos mixing, Darren's expertise lies in crafting unique sound experiences that resonate with artists and listeners. Known for his speed and smoothness in the studio, and his intuitive understanding of the artist's needs he ensures that your unique artistic vision is preserved in every recording. With a keen ear for detail and a deep appreciation for the nuances of each genre, Darren's work brings out the best in every artist he collaborates with. With a Masters in Music Tech from NYU and having honed his skills at NYU's James L Dolan studio and Platinum Sound, Darren has also made a significant impact on the South African music scene. His work includes producing standout tracks for prominent South African R&B artists like Leon John and Langa Mavuso, showcasing his ability to elevate their sound to new heights. Beyond his impressive tracking abilities, Darren is a qualified Tonmeister and possesses extensive experience in Dolby Atmos recording and mixing. His expertise in creating immersive soundscapes adds an extra layer of depth and richness to his productions, captivating listeners and providing a truly captivating experience.