David Castell

Producer, Mixer, Mastering

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22 Reviews (5 Verified)
David Castell on SoundBetter

It's all about the work! Your music has to compete on every level. Getting that last 5 to 10 percent out of your track is what I do! Produced, Engineered, Mixed and Mastered Gold and Platinum albums/singles Blue October "Foiled" Hit Singles "Into the Ocean" "Hate Me" Deep Blue Something "Home" Hit Single "Breakfast At Tiffany's"

*Mixing
*Mastering (Mastered For iTunes Provider)
*Vocal Editing (pitch and tightening)
*Drum Correction and Replacement

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for David Castell
  • Nite
  • Nite
  • Nite
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • His Kids United
  • Saliva
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Toadies
  • Esther Phillips
  • Smile Smile
  • Smile Smile
  • Smile Smile
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Blowing Trees
  • Toadies
  • Toadies
  • Toadies
  • Toadies
  • Toadies
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Bowling for Soup
  • Shock of Pleasure
  • Shock of Pleasure
  • Shock of Pleasure
  • Shock of Pleasure
  • Shock of Pleasure
  • Fever in the Funkhouse
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Burden Brothers
  • Burden Brothers
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • The Feds
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • South FM
  • Rhythm
  • Rhythm
  • Rhythm
  • Rhythm
  • Greatness In Tragedy
  • Greatness In Tragedy
  • Greatness In Tragedy
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zayra Alvarez
  • Zac Maloy
  • Zac Maloy
  • Burden Brothers
  • SouthFM
  • SouthFM
  • SouthFM
  • Space Cadet
  • Space Cadet
  • Space Cadet
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Blue October
  • Zac Maloy
  • Dead Sexy
  • Dead Sexy
  • Evamore
  • Evamore
  • Evamore
  • Evamore
  • Evamore
  • Evamore
  • Edie Brickell
  • Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
  • Cody Lee
  • The Charismatics
  • The Charismatics
  • The Charismatics
  • Birch County
  • Birch County
  • Ruthie Foster
  • The Grand Street Cryers
  • The Grand Street Cryers
  • Brave Combo
  • Stevie Salas
  • Stevie Salas
  • Stevie Salas
  • Cottonmouth, Texas
  • Cottonmouth, Texas
  • Green Romance Orchestra
  • Green Romance Orchestra
  • Green Romance Orchestra
  • Buck Jones
  • Buck Jones
  • Buck Jones
  • Buck Jones
  • Buck Jones
  • Billy Goat
  • Billy Goat
  • Billy Goat
  • Deep Blue Something
  • Deep Blue Something
  • Deep Blue Something
  • Deep Blue Something
  • Green Romance Orchestra
  • Frankly Scarlet
  • Frankly Scarlet
  • Frankly Scarlet
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Adam's Farm
  • Ten Hands
  • Ten Hands
  • Pop Poppins
  • Pop Poppins
  • Pop Poppins
  • Funland
  • Funland
  • The Buck Pets
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Course of Empire
  • Blue October
  • Chad Takatsugi
  • Jason Gay
  • Deep Blue Something
  • Ledward Kaapana
  • Ledward Kaapana
  • Ledward Kaapana
  • Mike Love
  • Rebel Souljahz
  • David Castell
  • David Castell
  • David Castell

22 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

Endorse David Castell
  1. Review by Eric J.
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    David mastered my most recent project and did a fantastic job. He took my references and influences and incorporated them into the overall sound of the record. He gave the tracks the polish needed to take them from a really good mix to a well mastered song. He also turned them around in a reasonable amount of time. I highly recommend.

  2. Review by Abbey K.
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    Exceeds expectations and is great to work with!

  3. Review by Jason O.
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    EP complete and sounds great! Thank you David! Will be in touch for the next one for sure!

  4. Review by Jason O.
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    Once again David has delivered a superior result for our project. Fast and communicative! Thank you for your patience!

  5. Review by Jason O.
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    Fast and professional! Thank you David everything sounds great!

  6. Review by Abbey K.
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    David does great work! Really nice and the quality that my song has now is incredible. I would highly recommend him to anyone!!

  7. Review by Kiran Kairab
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    by Kiran Kairab

    David has been mastering my stuff for years and it always sounds incredible. Only recently have we expanded our relationship into some production work and taking advantage of his mixing skills. I have been so impressed with the end results and can't wait to continue this working relationship. He has his clients back 100%. Kiran Kairab

  8. Review by Fabian Roque
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    by Fabian Roque

    David has been mastering my mixes for my clients for a couple years now. He always does a great job and on time. I will continue to bring him projects for mastering because, I always receive professional work from David.
    Thanks Castell.

  9. Review by burette douglas
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    by burette douglas

    David mixed an album for us about 20 years ago and it still sounds fresh today. We worked together again recently and he made our home recorded album sound like we recorded it in a big studio. He is a pleasure to work with and a great guy. You won't be dissapointed.

  10. Review by Josh Maple
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    by Josh Maple

    David did a fantastic job on mastering my client's EP. He worked to fit our schedule and he communicated better than any other mastering engineer I've used! Very personable guy that worked hard to make sure my client and I were completely pleased with the finished product. I'll be recommending him to every client that walks through my door!

  11. Review by David S.
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    I worked with 19 bands, several were signed by major labels. Castell consistently took a band's studio sound from flat and 2 dimensional to 3D psycho amazing. Often Castell's recordings were the first time a band sounded alive, colorful, beautiful, the way it felt at their best live performances with studio advantages. He is insanely talented!

  12. Review by Paul Demer
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    by Paul Demer

    I'm an independent artist from Dallas, TX. David has mastered several of my projects and I'm really grateful for his experienced ears, helpful mixing feedback, quick turnaround, and attention to detail. I always look forward to hearing David give a mix just what it needs.

  13. Review by ezra vancil
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    by ezra vancil

    David is an amazing talent. He is my go to for mixing and/or mastering. David is not a bag-of-tricks kinda audio pro, he really knows how to get what the song needs and what the artist wants. I rely heavily on him for his creative mind as well as his technical know how to put my songs above the rest.

  14. Review by Jim Linkner
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    by Jim Linkner

    I was introduced to David by a suggestion of a fellow engineer. I was working on a rap/hip hop project. In the past, I had used Bernie Grundman for mastering on at least 40 projects. I was hesitant, but tried David....to my delight. He really get has a pro interest in each different type of project I throw at him. I have used him since.

  15. Review by JCW
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    by JCW

    David has a fantastic ear! My experience working with him could not have been better. He listened and made the effort to understand what I was trying to achieve. Then he helped me see that there was more that could be accomplished, to go beyond my original vision. He is a true "Producer". If you need market quality, David is the man!

  16. Review by Robert M Romano
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    by Robert M Romano

    david is a consummate professional and the only source for 'international hit' league production in the metroplex. he took our songs and made them into nothing less than sonic magic! anyone who is lucky enough to work with him should jump at the opportunity.

  17. Review by NITE
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    by NITE

    I would highly suggest any artist of any genre to work with David. Not only did he send mixes and masters in a timely matter he also cared about what we as artists were trying to achieve. Overall David is extremely easy to work with and is very passionate about making your project great. We couldn't have made a better sounding album without David.

  18. Review by Dan Butterfield
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    by Dan Butterfield

    David is incredibly gifted whether mixing, mastering, vocal editing, and/or drum correcting. We've used him on two projects (in each of these aspects) and are always blown away with the results. We see David as another member of our band. Working with David is a great investment!

    Dan Butterfield

  19. Review by MC
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    by MC

    Dave's one of the few golden-ears, big-track-record pros available to us mere mortals. When it's time to leave amateur hour and get legit, he's the guy. He'll find the heart, soul (and balls!) of your music, and man - he's honest, hardworking, and won't rest until you're happy. First class, A+.

  20. Review by Robert Edwards
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    by Robert Edwards

    David is amazing. I've worked with him for 20 years and I have always been very pleased. David is a musical genius, an incredibly cool person, and an absolute pleasure to work with.
    Look no further. Anyone would be lucky to work with him.

    Peace.
    Robert Edwards

Interview with David Castell

  1. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  2. A: Communication - getting the best out of my clients songs and their performances. Seeing the big picture - as producer it is my job to keep an eye and ear out for the project as a whole. Song selection, players, arrangements, time, budgets are all very important to a successful project.

  3. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  4. A: This year I have been doing a lot of mixing and mastering. Making my clients happy has always been my top priority. Since many projects these days are hybrids i.e. big studio for drums and home studio for overdubs, many clients are new to the art of recording and production and they seek my advice on how to improve their recordings. I consider it an honor to pass on any knowledge that may help my customers make better records.

  5. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  6. A: Do you like their past work? Is it similar to your own music? *An amazing EDM producer/mixer might not know the first thing about recording or mixing rock drums.

  7. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  8. A: My MacBook Pro, UAD Apollo, stereo Royer, 421 and 2 57's

  9. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  10. A: Classical performance major in college. Started mixing live bands then recording and then producing and mixing. 30+ years

  11. Q: How would you describe your style?

  12. A: Hands-on

  13. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  14. A: Stevie Wonder

  15. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  16. A: If you're in a band...spend time listening and appreciating the parts you're band mates are playing and singing. It's not about you - it's about the song.

  17. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  18. A: Rock, Pop and Pop Rock

  19. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  20. A: Whether it's producing, mixing or mastering it's the anonymous listener's perspective.

  21. Q: What's your typical work process?

  22. A: Mastering: I always ask for reference tracks i.e. band name/song that the client would like his mastering to emulate. Mixing: See if anything needs tightening both pitch and rhythm with emphasis on the vocal track recording and performance (it is the most important thing, isn't it?)

  23. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  24. A: I have a mix and mastering room that I use for acoustic and vocal overdubs as well. I mix and master in-the-box using Pro Tools 12, Cubase 8 and Wavelab. I lean heavily on UAD2 with 12 processors (Quad and Octo) - I find their products to be superior in warmth and detail.

  25. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  26. A: Too many to list but: Sir George Martin, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Danger Mouse, Brandon O'Brien

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Scarlett Deering "Sun Kiss"

I was the Co-producer, Vocal Editing, Mixing, Mastering in this production

Terms Of Service

$500 mix includes vocal editing, mastering & 2 revisions
Mix 3-5 days
Mastering 1-3 days

Gear Highlights
  • API
  • Manley
  • Genelec
  • UAD2
  • Neuman
  • AKG
  • Grado
  • Yamaha
More Photos
SoundBetter Deal

Mastering is included on mixing services. No charge for CD sequencing and DDP when 8 or more songs are mastered.