
Grammy nominated, multi-platinum recording, mixing and mastering engineer, with 15+ years of music industry experience. Currently a Sr. Staff Engineer at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA, and previously Head Technician/Sr. Engineer at APG/Atlantic Records.
Unique, experienced top of line song mixing, mastering and recording production available. No matter if you're looking for a competitive Billboard Hot 100 mix, a lo-fi, psychedelic effects masterpiece, genre competitive master or analog sweetened stems for your own mix and production, I can help you realize your audio dreams. I've helped start and finish a multitude of successful records from a wide range of artists and bands, and I always enjoy working on new projects.
I have a wide array of old and new recording technology available for your project, so almost any aural aesthetic can be achieved. I also have the ability to transfer master multitrack recordings for various formats of tape machines, for archival or digital listening. Please feel free to contact me about specific formats or needs.
Tape formats: Ampex 350 Mono 1/4", 440A/B 1" 8trk, 1/2" 4trk, 1/4" 2trk, MM1100 2" 16trk, Teac 1/4" 2trk, ATR 102 1" 2trk
Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Credits
- "Fancy" - Iggy Azalea
- "Wobble" - Flo Rida
- "Just A Friend To You" - Meghan Trainor
- "Shoot Me Down" - David Guetta ft. Skylar Grey
- "Get On Your Knees" - Nicki Minaj
- "Sugar" - Maroon 5
- "Side FX" - Jason Derulo
- "Dark Necessities" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Turn Around Part 2" - Flo Rida & Pitbull
- "Wild Ones" - Flo Rida ft. Sia
- "We Turn Red" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Can't Believe It - Flo Rida & Pitbull
- "Stick Around" - Matoma ft. Akon
- "Want Some" - Akon ft. DJ Chose
- "Hypnotized" - Akon
- "Good Girls Lie" - Akon
- "The Definition Of..." - Fantasia
- "Heatwave" - Robin Schulz ft. Akon
- "The Get Down" Episodes 1-3 - Nas
- "Psycadelik Thoughtz" - B.o.B.
- "The Battle of Airstrip One" - The Small Hours
- "Play the Guitar" - B.o.B. ft. Andre 3000
- "Slumdon Bridge E.P." - Ed Sheeran/Yelawolf
- "Cola Song" - Inna ft. J Balvin
- "Coast is Clear" - Skrillex
- "Dangerous" - David Guetta ft. Sam Martin
- "Lovers On The Sun" - David Guetta ft. Sam Martin
- "Astroworld" - Travis Scott
- "Swimming" - Mac Miller
- "Man of the Woods" - Justin Timberlake
- "The Pinkprint" - Nicki Minaj
- "Assume Form" - James Blake
65 Reviews - 16 Repeat Clients
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I gave John a deadline of 2 days and he delivered a beautiful sounding mix and master to me in one day! It only took one revision but when when it was done, it was perfect. He even gave me tips along the way.
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Reliable and easy to work with
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John’s become my go to guy. He does whatever it takes to get your project completed exactly the way you want it to be.
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Wow. John is truly a professional and took my track to another level! Huge fan of all the projects he has worked on in the past. Would recommend him to anyone needing improvements with their songs.
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This man is a master at working with you to get the mix right. I am glad I found him. Oh, and I personally checked his credentials. He is legit.
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Fast and high class mastering service with attention to detail! I'm coming back. Thanks John.
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John is fantastic at hearing the best parts of each track and making the song pop with a great mix. Great to work with and fantastic mixes every time
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Super fast communication and nails exactly what you're looking for.
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Quality work and communication every time. Has become my go to to mixing & mastering.
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Outstanding job getting my mix to sit right. Good set of ears to have look at your music.
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John did an absolutely amazing job mixing my track. Excellent communication and brilliant work. I highly recommend John to anyone looking for mixing services.
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Thanks John for another clean mix. Very Professional!
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John explained in detail when answer any of my questions and professionally handled my lack of knowledge making working with them a breeze. The final product is exceptional and I'll be coming back to him again. Thanks again John.
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John doesn’t stop until he nails it. Thing is, he usually nails it right off the bat.
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Always makes sure you're happy with great quality results!
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John is best in class - the results speak for themselves. The frequency spectrum will feel well-crafted, everything in its right place once John is has worked his precise engineering ears! Highly recommend.
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Listened carefully to ideas and opinions and worked very fast! Very easy to work with.
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John does an amazing job at taking time to understand what you are looking for in a mix and makes changes requested the way you ask for them the first time around. If he mixes and masters your track, his workflow eliminates that jarring contrast you sometimes get from hearing your mix mastered. The end result simply sounds like the mix he already made 100% sure you are happy with but even better.
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10/10
John went above and beyond! The track came out sounding exactly how I wanted. John was timely in responding to the messages I sent and it was a seamless process. I will recommend his services to anybody looking for the best mix and or master and hope to work with him again! - check_circleVerified
Working with John was a pleasure, as always. He helped us realize our vision just as we wanted it, and we're so pleased with the result. Highly recommend!
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John did a fantastic job. The first mix we got back was nearly just as we wanted it, and he did an amazing job tailoring it to our preferences. Hope we get the chance to work with him again!
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Mr. Armstrong is very professional in his craft he exceeded my expiration by far.....
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Very dope to work with!
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Incredibly skilled and quick with mastering! Deserves a 6 star rating!
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John was a pleasure to work with. He turned around the mix quickly and followed my change comments to provide excellent results. He made the entire process as smooth as possible. I will absolutely use his services in the future.
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..... we're really happy to be working with John so far......great understanding about the artist's vision and friendly approach on whatever issues that needs do be revised fixed through the whole process, with a truly pro's input to achieve what we need on our music... .... results in every aspect we've got detailed regarding our sound reference .... there's absolutely no complains or cons, just pros.....
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Great ear, great communication. Really happy with my overall experience.
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Very patient and has a good ear, recommend!
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John works fast and gets the job done, and the result is WAY more than I expected so I'm very very happy that I worked with him.
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Always a great experience working with John!
Super professional, quick, and always is able to get exactly what I want! - check_circleVerified
super creative mixing. Sounds stellar with a bunch of cool, vintage fxs. Was very communicative and understanding with delays on my part. Huge recommend.
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John is a pleasure to work with. I hired John to master my album and bring it all together. After a few tracks, I knew I was in good hands. His ear is right on, I feel like I can trust him with my final sound. Look forward to working with him again.
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john did some mastering work on my track. fast contact and amazing result! impressed as always.
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John was extremely easy to work with, super attentive to us, and we came out with a great track. Highly recommend him.
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John's work is fantastic. Knocked it out of the park on the first go for a mastering project, and with a really quick turnaround too. Can't recommend him highly enough.
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John is super easy to work with and very talented. Had a good experience working with him and look forward to working again! Delivered a quality product with a quick turnaround. He also receives feedback and applies it to the song well!
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Third time hiring John as a Mastering Engineer. He got the exact concept I was talking about and worked super quick especially considering the state of the world. Great ear, and overall a great person!
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Really nice guy, professional and really brings your vision to life.
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John is dedicated and full of ressources, imI really recommend him.
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Flawless, flawless mixing. I've enlisted his prowess multiple times now, and it's always a satisfying and wonderful experience working with John.
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Super quick delivery, amazing quality, and an overall pleasant person to work with. FULL RECOMMENDATIONS for your next project
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John is such a pleasure to work! He delivered exactly what I wanted, and his mix is absolutely exquisite. I feel so lucky to have found him, and consider him a treasured member of my A team. Thank you John, for everything! You are a gem!!
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Amazing engineer and one of the best profesionals so far on Soundbetter. Working again together for sure!
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John has mixed three tracks for me and they all sound great! He is efficient, easy to work with, and communicative. I would definitely recommend him for production, mixing, and mastering!
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John is the ultimate professional. He totally understand my vision and over delivers.
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John works quickly, is great at taking direction, and is an excellent communicator! He wants his clients to be fully satisfied with his work. Loved working with him!
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John Armstrong over delivered a high quality mix and sound. And was very easy to worth with throughout the process he over communicated.
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excellent technician, quick turn around. would definitely recommend!
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easy to communicate with. great results.
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John is always aiming for the WIN! Even with most difficult mixes he somehow finds a way to make your music sound GREAT! Much respect :)
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What an experience and honor working with John was. His credits speak for themselves, but more than that, he was pleasant, patient, and meticulous. Easily keeping his mixing prowess in mind for all future projects.
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John is great as always!
I love working with such a high quality engineers where I give very little touches to the mix and trust John's vision and experience :) - check_circleVerified
Amazing mastering result as on the other parts of the Album.
Fast communication. - check_circleVerified
Working with John on a large project. Great results! He tries to achieve the exact sound you are looking for, on a very professional level.
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Great result, very experienced in his work and fast communication. Plan to work with him on every release now. I recommend John if you want to use the full potential of your music.
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Great working with John! CLEAR communication, FAST turnaround, and CREATIVE mixing that took my track to the next level.
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Once again john has did exactly what I requested and asked to be done. He has excellent communication skills and will work until your project meets your needs and standards and I highly recommend anyone who is serious about their music career and the sound quality of their music.
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Great guy and cool asf!!! Very responsive and understood everything I needed done and the project turned out amazing. We will be working again.
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such a pleasure to work with a professional!
John is very recommended
I had a specific task to stylize mix to a 90s russian pop music, which he fulfilled a 100%
Very good job John! - check_circleVerified
John is an excellent, compassionate sound engineer. He works all hours of the day and is always on top. He’ll work with you with his knowledge to get the output you desire of. 10/10
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Very professional, discusses what is needed prior to, and if anything needs fixing that is possible! Extremely talented and well worth the pick for this particular project.
John is an honest and caring person to do business with!
Hi my name is Pedro. I will like you to help me make my pitch sound more professional. My voice don’t sound very good in the songs a just recorded. I need help making them better
Hi my name is mark openshaw aka lost profit I'm a uk hip hop rapper I've not done my first album or single debut yet and I'm looking for a American producer where I can get some work done and hopefully get signed and move america if u could get back in touch that would be great thanks and then i can send of some demos to ure self much love
John's a pro! Worked with him at Conway Studios during Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds sessions, knows his stuff. 5 Stars would work with again.
Interview with John Armstrong
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been writing and recording since I was 14 years old, cassette tapes and 7" records then being the ultimate goal. I went to college and graduated with two degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics, while also being a program manager and DJ for the FM college radio station. After college, I worked in live sound for a year and then moved to LA and got a job at Paramount Recording Studios as a runner. From there, I've worked in LA as a session engineer for 12+ years, and have still managed to do live sound and performance for tours here and there.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Up to date old school
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Flaming Lips...love so many of their records and seems like it'd be a fun time!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Sometimes getting the idea or getting the melody down is more important than if it's the right mic or sounds correct, etc...quick decisions and improvised recording techniques can bring out creativeness in clients.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I have a nice credit list of things in the Pop/Rap/Dance world, but I usually gravitate to rock and band oriented stuff in my free time. As one of the main engineers at Conway, I get a healthy dose of awesome randomness from projects I wouldn't normally seek out.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My experience as a professional still alive and working in the music business! Haha...I've worked as a runner, 1st and 2nd engineer, label man, head tech, janitor, songwriter, producer, artist, you name it...been in the room when the big decisions were being made and have luckily seen how records, big and small, get finished and released. I like to believe that this gives me a unique insight to help guide sessions and projects to their ultimate goals.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: It'll vary depending on the role I'm playing in the project. If I'm a mixer, I'll give the best possible mix I can deliver. If I'm tracking, I'll give you the best sounding, most organized session I can, so that you can meet your production needs and easily sort thru the recorded material. If it's a studio setup, I try to give the max flexibility with the best sound and routing flow possible.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: It varies widely from project to project. Usually a lot goes into pre planning and organization so things can be as smooth as possible (from tracking to mixing).
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Currently running a 24 in/16 out hybrid analog/digital setup comprised of a custom built computer with Avid Pro Tools HD, UAD Apollo Quad, custom Digi 192's, Ampex Tape Machines (multi format), various vintage reverb and fx boxes, as well as an assortment of outboard gear from AML, Shadow Hills, Urei, Orban, API, Apogee, and Sony.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I've always gravitated to innovators like Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad, Husker Du, The Prodigy, Phil Spector, Butch Vig, RUN DMC, but also find inspiration in people like Al Schmitt who are still doing sessions into their late 80's
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Typically, it's workflow setup and signal flow routing so that they are in a completely hassle free zone to create and work. Regardless of if I'm in a world class studio or small project space, the clients usually have very specific needs, and I aim to be as efficient, creative and flexible as possible. This will include anything from multi instrument, multi player recording setups, digital/analog production techniques, vocal tracking and/or fully automated console mixing setups.

I was the Mastering Engineer in this production
- Saweetie - "My Type"
- The Small Hours - "Thought Crime"
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - "We Turn Red"
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $500 per song
- Mastering EngineerAverage price - $100 per song
- Recording StudioContact for pricing
- EditingAverage price - $150 per track
- RestorationContact for pricing
Multitrack mix - $350/song
Mix to Tape - $500/song
Mastering - $100/song
Tape Sweetened Stems - Contact for rates
Quick turnarounds, alt mixes & revisions included
- Avid Pro Tools HD
- Apogee Big Ben Clock
- UAD Apollo Quad
- Ampex Tape Machines
- Fairchild 658 Reverb
- Shadow Hills
- API
- AML
- Klemt Echolette
- Echoplex EP-2 Tube Tape Delay
- Korg Stage Echo
- Binson Echorec
- TC System 6000
- SPL
- Studio UpdatesNov 08, 2020
Helped James Blake records some strings for "Are You Even Real" as well as other vocals and miscellaneous things for his "Before" E.P.
- CoronavirusApr 03, 2020
Still able to do any and all remote work! Mixes, Masters, vocal tuning, editing & tape transfers! Special discounts and offers ... message me for details!
- Studio UpdatesApr 13, 2019
Helping mix music for Avatar and other things!
- Studio UpdatesMay 20, 2017
Always working on new projects...