I'm Dave Blackman and I own and run Hiltongrove Mastering, a dedicated mastering facility based in the Essex countryside. We're an Apple approved MFiT provider, and I've been a mastering engineer since 1996 - I'd like to think I know what I'm doing by now! Past clients include Coldplay, Keane, Killing Joke, and Echo and the Bunnymen.
We are Hi-End mastering facility offering the best of both analogue and digital processing. Monitoring is provided by B&W 801 Nautilus monitors and a Crane Song Avocet monitor controller, in a room designed and built specifically from the ground up as a mastering studio. Outboard is by Barry Porter, Prism Sound, Thermionic Culture, SSL, Bettermaker, IGS, DAV Electronics and TC Electronic, all feeding a SADiE workstation.
Also available are Cedar processors, Cedar ReTouch software and Izotope RX. We also offer digital audio watermarking.
The studio has been approved by Apple to provide hi-res audio files that meet its Mastered For iTunes specifications (MFiT). Once the mastering is complete, We can supply you with WAVs for digital distribution and streaming, DDP file-sets for physical replication, vinyl cutting masters, or what-ever physical parts you require.
We're happy to work with you remotely as well as offering attended sessions.
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
290 Reviews - 76 Repeat Clients
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check_circleVerifiedProfessional and fast! Thanks Dave!
check_circleVerifiedDave was awesome to work with! His mastering enhanced my track while preserving the integrity and vibe of the song. He was able to do the job promptly and with great results. Thanks!
check_circleVerifiedDave was quick, extremely easy to communicate with and his results were top notch. A wonderful feeling master right across the entire spectrum. Looking forward to working with him more!
check_circleVerifiedDave is great to work with and nails it every time!
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Dave was consistent and professional throughout the entire process!
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Dave worked quickly and communicated effectively, making the entire process smooth and efficient!
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Another fantastic master, Dave really brings the best out in my music, it sounds totally transformed. I will definitely be back again and would highly recommend. Thanks again Dave!
check_circleVerifiedDave did an amazing job on our LP. He was incredibly fast, without compromising quality (you can tell the guy definitely knows what he's doing) and the masters sounded phenomenal! I would personally recommend Hiltongrove Mastering to anyone in need of mastering services.
check_circleVerifiedFourth time (I think?) employing Dave's services and once again, not disappointed. Highly recommended.
check_circleVerifiedPerfect experience! All went super smooth. Perfect sound, perfect turn around time, perfect nice guy! Highly recommended!
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Great, high quality work with the right vibe and very, very easy to work with!
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We have engaged Hiltongrove Mastering twice, and they have mastered over an hour of some of the most challenging recordings - classical full orchestra and string orchestra. If you are looking for a reliable, attentive, helpful, patient, flexible, quality mastering engineer, then we recommend Dave at Hiltongrove Mastering.
check_circleVerifiedDave gave my track that final oomph it needed and did so quickly and professionally! Will definitely be back soon to take advantage of Dave's secret sauce.
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I received a great sounding master. Interaction with Hiltongrove was responsive and timely. Will definitely hire again for my next master.
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Great experience, fast and friendly communication, and even more important: great result exactly on the spot!! Absolutely recommendable, and surely worth another job. Thanks!!
check_circleVerifiedDave did an awesome job and delivered the mastered track in no time! Super happy with the result! Thank you!
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I've used a lot of Mastering Engineers over the years but was honestly blown away with the track I got back from Hiltongrove. Dave really brought the song to life bringing out every element of the mix in the best way possible. I will definitely be back again soon with my next release. Thanks again Dave!
check_circleVerifiedIt was the first time with Dave. Easy communication, quick response and great result!
check_circleVerifiedAmazing quality! Thank you Dave!
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Dave at Hiltongrove did a great job mastering a song for me. I like to listen to a master on multiple speakers/systems of varying quality so that I know if it will work for all the different ways people listen to music. I got COVID when he sent me his first draft of the song, so I only got to hear it on headphones. Dave was super patient and gave me several days to recuperate and listen on all the systems I wanted to. I asked for a minor revision and a day later got a perfect final version
Interview with Hiltongrove Mastering
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Billy Joel - simply because I'm a massive, massive fan. (I'm a piano player in my spare time!)
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My room has been designed and built from the ground up for mastering. Its a classic room-in-a-room design, floated on rubber and isolated from the surrounding building in order to prevent sound transference. The audio response is very flat at the monitoring position, and translates very well to the outside world. Monitoring is handled by a pair of B&W 801 Nautilus monitors which have been with me for over 10 years. These are fed by a Cranesong Avocet monitor controller, providing and extremely clean signal path. The Avocet also makes level matched A/Bing as simple as a button press. The equipment here is all chosen to do a specific job. I have both clean and vibey EQs and compressors, both analogue and digital, and everything is mounted into the desk in front of me, meaning I never have to move from the monitoring position while applying processing. Capture, editing, PQ list-building and parts generation is handled by my SADiE digital audio workstation.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: We do mastering here, and just mastering - all day everyday. This involves chatting to my client about the sound they're trying to achieve, and what the aims of the project are, and then applying any relevant processing that may be required. We have several really nice pieces of equipment available here, and we'll use whatever is necessary to get where my client wants to go. Once approved we run out the parts and files required for distribution and replication.
I was the Mastering Engineer in this production
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $90 per song
- RestorationAverage price - $150 per hour
First revision free. Then billed at hourly rate.
- Prism Sound MLA-2
- Barry Porter custom EQ
- Thermionic Culture Phoenix Mastering Plus
- Bettermaker Mastering EQ and Mastering Compressor
- B&W 801 Nautilus monitors
- Crane Song Avocet monitor controller
