Mastering Services

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: One project I’m particularly proud of was mastering an electronic artist’s debut album that later gained significant recognition on streaming platforms. The challenge was to create a cohesive, dynamic sound across all tracks while maintaining individual character and impact. Through a carefully crafted mastering process, we achieved a rich, immersive sound that translated well across all systems. Seeing the artist’s reaction and the success of the album made it a truly rewarding experience.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now, I’m working on several mastering projects for artists in pop, electronic, and urban music. I’m also developing new educational content to help producers and engineers improve their workflow and achieve better-sounding mixes.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: I always recommend working with experienced professionals who understand both the technical and artistic aspects of production. If you’re looking for a great mixing engineer, producer, or session musician, I can help you find the right fit for your project.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I use a hybrid approach because it offers the best of both worlds. Analog gear provides warmth, depth, and character, while digital processing allows for precision, recallability, and transparency. Combining both ensures the highest quality result tailored to each track.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to respect and enhance your music, not change its essence. My goal is to deliver a polished, competitive, and emotionally engaging master that translates perfectly across all listening environments.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the transformation process—taking a well-mixed track and giving it the final polish that makes it shine and stand out professionally. The moment when an artist listens to their finished master and hears the impact is what drives me.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Q: Will mastering fix a bad mix? A: Mastering enhances a mix, but it doesn’t fix fundamental mix issues. A well-balanced mix is essential to achieving a great master. If a mix needs improvement, I always provide feedback before starting the mastering process.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: One of the biggest misconceptions about mastering is that it’s just about making a song louder. In reality, mastering is about refining the overall sound, balancing frequencies, enhancing dynamics, and ensuring translation across different playback systems. It’s a technical and artistic process that requires deep listening and attention to detail.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask a few key questions before starting a project: - What is your artistic vision for this track? - Are there any reference tracks you’d like me to consider? - Where will this track be primarily released (streaming, radio, club, vinyl)? - What aspects of your mix are you most satisfied with, and is there anything you’d like improved? These help me tailor the mastering process to fit the client’s goals and ensure the best possible result.

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

A: Look for someone who understands both the technical and artistic aspects of audio. Mastering isn’t just about making a track louder—it’s about enhancing clarity, balance, and depth while ensuring it translates across all listening environments. Also, make sure to hire someone who communicates well and understands your artistic vision.

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

A: I’ve been in the music industry for over a decade, specializing in mastering for artists and producers worldwide. My journey started with music production and mixing, but over time, I became fascinated with the final polish that mastering provides. This led me to refine my skills and establish Neun Studio, where I now focus on delivering high-quality masters that meet industry standards.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is clean, powerful, and emotionally engaging. I focus on preserving dynamics while achieving a polished, competitive sound. I aim for clarity, depth, and impact, making sure the final master translates well across all platforms without losing the essence of the mix.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A common mistake in mixing and mastering is over-processing—sometimes, less is more. Instead of stacking multiple EQs and compressors, focus on making intentional and precise adjustments that enhance the song without introducing unnecessary artifacts. For more in-depth production and mastering tips, check out my YouTube channel (Veko Swan) and Audiosmash Academy, where I share techniques and insights to help producers and engineers improve their sound.

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

A: I primarily work on pop, electronic, and urban music, but my mastering approach is adaptable to a wide range of genres. Whether it’s a club-ready electronic track, a polished pop production, or a hard-hitting urban mix, my goal is always to bring out the best in the music while keeping it sonically competitive.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my ability to balance technical precision with artistic intuition. I ensure that every track reaches its full sonic potential, enhancing clarity, dynamics, and overall impact while staying true to the artist’s vision. Additionally, we have a dedicated mixing department, allowing us to offer a seamless transition from mixing to mastering. This ensures that every project is handled with a cohesive, professional workflow, maximizing sonic quality at every stage.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity, depth, and balance, ensuring that the track sounds polished and professional while preserving its emotional impact. My focus is on enhancing the mix without altering its essence, making it sound great across all playback systems. With my experience in mastering, I refine every detail to achieve an industry-standard sound that competes on all platforms.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My mastering process is designed to bring clarity, depth, and impact to every track while preserving its dynamic integrity and artistic intent. 1. Critical Listening & Analysis I start by carefully listening to the mix in my Dutch & Dutch 8c monitoring system and analyzing the frequency balance, dynamics, stereo image, and transient response. This helps me identify what needs enhancement while respecting the original vision of the track. 2. Precision Processing Using a hybrid approach with both analog and digital tools, I apply EQ, compression, harmonic enhancement, and transparent limiting to refine the mix, enhance cohesion, and ensure a competitive yet natural loudness. My Merging Anubis Premium & Hapi M2 conversion system ensures pristine audio quality throughout the process. 3. Quality Control & Format Optimization Once the master is ready, I run multiple quality checks to ensure translation across different playback systems (streaming platforms, club systems, radio, and more). I also prepare the final deliverables in the required formats (WAV, MP3, DDP for CD, or vinyl pre-mastering). 4. Client Review & Final Adjustments I send the master to the client for review, and if needed, I provide revisions to ensure that the final version meets their expectations 100%. My goal is always to deliver a polished, professional, and emotionally engaging master that sounds great everywhere.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio, Neun Studio, is designed for precision mastering, ensuring every track is optimized for clarity, depth, and competitive loudness. I work in an acoustically treated environment, using high-resolution monitoring and state-of-the-art conversion to capture every sonic detail with absolute precision. Monitoring & Conversion: - Dutch & Dutch 8c monitoring system for unparalleled accuracy and sonic transparency. - Merging Anubis Premium & Hapi M2 AD/DA conversion for pristine audio quality and uncompromising detail. Mastering Chain: - A carefully curated selection of analog and digital processing tools for tone shaping, stereo imaging, and final polish. - A hybrid workflow combining transparent limiting, dynamic control, and harmonic enhancement to achieve a balanced, industry-ready sound. Optimized for Modern Formats Every master is tested across different playback systems to ensure consistency, whether for streaming, radio, vinyl, or club play. My focus is to enhance the musicality of each track while keeping it technically refined for today’s competitive market.

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

A: I’m inspired by mastering engineers who have shaped the industry with their sonic precision and artistic approach. Bob Katz, Chris Gehringer, and Maor Appelbaum are some of the professionals I admire for their ability to bring out the best in every track while maintaining clarity, depth, and emotion. I also draw inspiration from producers and artists pushing sonic boundaries, whether in electronic, pop, or urban music. Their attention to detail and creative vision drive me to refine my craft and ensure every master translates perfectly across all platforms.

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

A: Mastering Engineer – Delivering Professional, Competitive Sound The most common type of work I do is mastering for artists, producers, and labels who want their music to sound polished, balanced, and competitive across all platforms. My focus is on enhancing clarity, depth, and impact while preserving the dynamics and artistic intent of the track. I work with pop, electronic, and urban music, ensuring that every song translates well on all playback systems—from streaming platforms to clubs and radio. Every project I take on goes through a high-precision mastering process, where I optimize stereo width, tonal balance, and loudness levels to industry standards. My goal is to provide a final master that sounds professional, emotionally engaging, and ready for release.