Black Monolith Studio on SoundBetter

20 years working in audio from soundsystem engineering, production to mastering, my unique perspective of all sides of the audio process gives me an understanding of how music should sound, and it gives you years of sound experience dealing with YOUR music.

Black Monolith Studios is the studio of Steve Voidloss, a musician, producer and engineer with 20 years experience of working in sound and music, starting out running soundsystems in the infamous 90`s warehouse raves of the United Systems free party movement in London to running vinyl record labels, producing and performing music from techno to industrial to prog house, and setting up and running an independant (and all vegan) mastering studio in London, dealing with everything from the wildest experimental noise to documentary soundtracks. I`ve operated at all levels of music and audio and have a wide knowledge to apply to your audio.

I have operated in the Underground for my entire life in audio, always looking for the new and fresh underground that is emerging, and I cater my services towards underground artists, labels and music. I like the difficult and the experimental, hard jobs are more satisfying to work on. My prices reflect my grass roots, underground ethics, professional service for affordable rates.

I offer a very personalised audio mastering service with 2 main concerns: High audio fidelity and client happiness. Whatever your mastering needs I can make sure you end up satisfied with your service.

Mastering can be for Digital, Redbook Standard CD, or Vinyl Premasters ready to cut.

I also offer a mixing service with rates depending on the job.

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Credits

2 Reviews

Endorse Black Monolith Studio

by lee F.
Verified
Got back to me very quickly with good communication, finished the job quicker than expected and did an awesome job, really brought the mix alive, recommend his services, top Guy
by Drake D.
Verified
Got the initial master back, and it was perfect! High quality work, very transparent communication, fast turn around.

Interview with Black Monolith Studio

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Mastering Merzbow for vinyl. It was incredibly challenging noise music but the results were great and the label and artist were over the moon with the final results.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mixing an album for a well known techno artist and mastering some EP`s for vinyl.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, use the best tool most appropriate to the job at the time.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: The job is not done until it is done.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Independance, working with music, making people happy.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How long will this take? My answer is generally 3-14 days depending on workload.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: People think mastering is all about compression and limiting, it`s really all about EQ and being able to hear the balance.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are you looking to achieve? What sound are you aiming for?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Just contact me and start a conversation
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Akai MPC Live (providing the island has power) Shure SM58 BC Rich QUAD QSP GoldenEar Triton Reference
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Started in industrial bands, moved on to running soundsystems and illegal warehouse raves during the height of the warehouse rave scene in 90`s london, started a vinyl label with critical success, abandoned commercial success to go back underground with more experimental music, became obsessed with audio technique, learned and learned, started mastering more than mixing, started a mastering studio. Realistically all my life, professionally around 20 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Deep and emotional, full of contrasts.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Chris and Cosey, their creativity and experimentalism and passion is very much aligned with my own philosophy.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Close your eyes and listen.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Anything and everything, but I prefer the more creative, artistic side of music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Objective critical thinking, and calm reassuring nature.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: An objective view of the sonic impact and final audio fidelity. A lifelong passion and commitment to Sound. A drive to get the best possible results.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: It`s all about communication. Talk to the client, find what they want, schedule in time, provide the work, discuss the results, sort payment or retweak and talk again. Comfortable and personable business.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A Katz style mastering room centered around Goldenear Reference speakers, combining digital and analog to get the best of both. Production room is both DAW and Hardware based with some analog synths, a ton of weird stompboxes and fx, contact mics and experimental instruments.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: In a mastering context: Nilesh Patel (Nilz RIP) and Matt Colton Inspired by artists who remain pure to creativity without diluting for commercialisation. Surgeon, Regis, Inigo Kennedy, Neurosis, Sleep, Bjork, Justin Broadrick, Arvo Part, Thom Yorke, Burial, Chris and Cosey, Throbbing Gristle.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most commonly electronic music mastering for vinyl and digital.

Mastering EngineerAverage price - $30 per song
Mixing EngineerAverage price - $75 per song
RemixingAverage price - $100 per song
Programmed drumAverage price - $50 per song
EditingAverage price - $20 per track
Beat MakerAverage price - $100 per song
Sound DesignAverage price - $100 per minute

Generally you get 1 free revision on mastering, everything else we deal with in dialogue, it`s all about communication to make sure you are happy. Turnaround depends on workload.