Paul Boutin (sound engineer)


Paul Boutin is a French-born American music mixer, audio engineer and a long-time collaborator with producer/songwriter/artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
Over the last 20 years, Paul Boutin contributed to more than 60 gold or platinum records as engineer/mixer of songs performed by famous artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, John Mellencamp, Lionel Richie, Toni Braxton, Alicia Keys, Usher, Pink, Jamie Foxx, Ariana Grande, TLC, Boyz II Men and Fall Out Boy among others.
As engineer, Paul Boutin won a Grammy Award in 2015 for recording and mixing Love, Marriage & Divorce by Toni Braxton & Babyface. His work is also credited on several other Grammy nominated albums and singles since 1995 including two personal nominations in 1999 and 2018.

Early career

Paul Boutin studied biological engineering in France before moving to the United States in 1991. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he specialized in music production and sound engineering.
In 1995, Paul Boutin went to Los Angeles and worked as assistant engineer at Paramount and Sound Chambers Studios. He was finally hired at Record Plant Studios and became assistant of confirmed engineers Humberto Gatica and Brad Gilderman.
At Record Plant, Paul Boutin was involved in recording/mixing sessions for Liza Minnelli then Celine Dion and Babyface, more specifically for the album Falling Into You, the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack and Babyface’s solo record The Day.
In 1996, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds opened his own private studio “Brandon’s Way Recording” in Los Angeles where Paul Boutin joined him.

Selected discography: 1990s and 2000s

Albums and singles

At Brandon’s Way, Paul Boutin worked on major projects that earned multiple RIAA certifications and Grammy nominations. Among those certified/nominated projects, here is a selection of records with significant involvement by Paul Boutin :
Otherwise, between 1996 and 2007, Paul Boutin engineered or co-engineered all the albums recorded by Babyface as solo artist. Those records are including Christmas with Babyface, Face2Face, Grown & Sexy and Playlist.

Movies and television soundtracks

After being credited for his work as assistant on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, Paul Boutin worked on several original soundtracks between 1995 and 2005. On the R&B side, he co-engineered most of the Soul Food soundtrack in 1997 including work on the gold singles "I Care 'bout You" and "We're Not Making Love No More". On the Pop/Rock side, Paul Boutin brought an important contribution to the recording of the Josie and The Pussycats soundtrack in 2001. Those two major projects were helmed by Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
Paul Boutin recorded the Grammy nominated song "When You Believe" performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in 1998 for the Prince of Egypt soundtrack as well as "How Can I Not Love You" performed by Joy Enriquez in 1999 for the Anna and The King soundtrack. This song was nominated in 2000 for a Golden Globe Award.
He also contributed to television projects including the engineering of the song "The Way Love Goes". The song was nominated in 2001 for an Emmy Award.

Special projects and production

In 2004, Paul Boutin engineered the cover version of "Wake Up Everybody". Produced by Babyface, the song urged young Americans to vote and was performed by a supergroup including numerous R&B/Hip-Hop singers and rappers such as Brandy, Missy Elliott, Monica, Akon, Fabolous, Eve, Jaheim, Wyclef Jean, Jadakiss and Musiq among others.
During summer 2008, Paul Boutin flew across the United States as engineer/mixer of "Just Stand Up". Produced by Babyface and LA Reid, this song was performed by an all-star charity group including R&B, Pop, Rock and Country singers such as Beyoncé, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, LeAnn Rimes, Fergie, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Leona Lewis, Rihanna and Natasha Bedingfield among others. Certified double platinum, the song was performed live during the first Telethon Stand Up To Cancer in September 2008.
In addition to his work as sound engineer, Paul Boutin produced the whole album One Less Dream by Morris Brothers. He also played piano, keyboards and percussions on this record.

Recent discography: 2010s

From the end of the 2000s, Paul Boutin has been more focused on mixing. He’s still working closely with Babyface as well as producers Antonio Dixon and The Rascals.
As engineer/mixer, Paul Boutin won a Grammy Award with artists Toni Braxton and Babyface for his work on Love, Marriage & Divorce.
Furthermore, he contributed to two other Grammy nominated albums in 2015 with Partners by Barbra Streisand and Forever Yours by Smokie Norful.
In 2018, Paul Boutin is credited as vocal producer, engineer and mixer of Sex and Cigarettes, the eighth studio album by Toni Braxton. This record was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Here is a selection of recent records including songs recorded and/or mixed by Paul Boutin.