Over 20 years experience, from the biggest 3 labels to undiscovered independent artists, combining deep respect for history, with the latest non-public DSP innovations from the best minds in audio. REAL mastering, with no cookies to cut, and no automated processes/methods. I work for people, not upload forms, so let's begin our journey together!
Offering world class top shelf mastering. My background is over 20 years of mastering, and over 20 years of working in broadcast audio processing for radio and television. I co-founded what was the #1 (Ando/Arbitron) internet radio network in the world for over 4 years running, radioio. I mix live sound sometimes at Live Nation festivals and local venues. I am also a musician, have toured, recorded, run a label, distributor, booking, etc, so I'm comfortable working with anyone and everyone.
Also now offering Podcast and DJ Mix audio processing, using the top of the line #1 audio processor in radio right now... the Omnia.9 which I helped create. There is nobody on Earth that can help your show get that finished professional polish better than I can.
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Interview with Masterful Audio
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: 20 years ago.... the first project I was offered money to master, after spending 3 years learning. I will not stop learning and experiencing. I will never be afraid of saying "I don't know" and "let's try it!"
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Long term projects... my next broadcast audio processor hardware, 5 years into that so far.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Sure.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: This actually is a stupid question. If it sounds good, it is good.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: promises are pointless. if it's business related, get it in writing. period.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: helping bring enjoyment to other people
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How much headroom, peak levels, etc to have with the mixes, and formats. Headroom and peak level don't matter if it's not clipping. Don't have any extra compression, limiting, etc on the master mix bus (not just because it's usually a bad idea to mix into that). Render your mix at the same sample rate that it was mixed at, in at least 24bit int sample bit depth, but I can also accept 32bit int, 32bit float, and 64bit float. If it's analog that you are digitizing, please capture it in the highest possible quality that your analog to digital converter is capable of. If you're sending me analog, then obviously I can deal with that myself.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That mastering means "making it louder". Even other top MEs (based on credits) have "master class" that only promotes loudness. This is ludicrous even before the loudness-normalized listening a majority of people experience now. Not only have they forgot what it's like to REALLY make something sound better, but they are raising up an entire generation of engineers that can be replaced by a 1-knob VST plugin. That's not what I'm trying to do, even though I know how to (and have the custom private gear to) get louder & cleaner than anyone. That shouldn't be anyone's goal. If it is, then don't waste your time with ANY mastering engineer (no matter how legitimate or not).... just get a free VST brick-wall peak limiter, and let yourself believe you're doing the right thing for your project.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: In general I am expected to have the answers. One of the only questions I've ever asked is if I can get a remix, if there is a problem I haven't figured out how to deal with yet (to the same degree of outcome) which is an ever-shrinking list. That being said, I am not afraid of you, or your record label, unlike most mastering engineers.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't keep looking because you found me. :) (is this question supposed to sound this pointless?)
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A satellite phone, solar panels, batteries, giant tank of water, shipping container filled with non-perishable food. That should keep me alive and get me back to civilization pretty quickly so that I can finish your project ... after I explain how I ended up on a desert island in the middle of working on it.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 20 years experience, background in live sound, recording, touring musician, live video, db/code optimization for financial and real-estate industries, pro gaming, television editing and voice-overs, broadcast audio processing consulting, and co-founded a #1 radio network (radioio) and co-founded a large digital ad agency (Space150).
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: According to a bio someone once wrote... I'm a combination of Weird Al and John Wayne.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Leonardo Da Vinci, because it would be amazing to invent some new beautiful things together, and it would also mean there's life after death.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: learn to compose music first, even if you're only trying to be a mix engineer. nobody cares how great something sounds if they don't like the music.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: good music, when i have the luxury of turning something down
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: i haven't forget where we came from
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: perception
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: make magic happen
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: computers and high end monitoring
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: my friends who are all at the top of the field with me
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: audio mastering and broadcast audio processing consulting
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- RestorationContact for pricing
- Production Sound MixerAverage price - $650 per day
- Podcast Editing & MasteringAverage price - $100 per podcast
Mastering is flat rate $100 per track, project planners rejoice! 30 day payment terms, with delivery after payment. One revision included. / Podcast and DJ Mix processing flat rate $100 per file.
- A combination of analog that's been hand-selected for me by the creators
- and private DSP created by myself and a few other top designers with #1 selling gear respectively to their fields.
