Mastering Engineer

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are you happy with your final mixes? I usually work under the assumption that the artist and everyone involved is happy and has approved the mix prior to mastering unless I know otherwise. Communication is always the key.

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

A: I am always a strong believer in hiring the best person for the job. Hire someone who specialises in each stage of the process and you will have valuable collaboration and the best results. Recording and mixing in a studio will always be how music is produced. Getting your music to a dedicated mastering studio will let the recording be heard in a different treated acoustic space with an experienced engineer which will let any potential monitoring or acoustical issues of the recording studio to be fixed prior to the release.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: If it was just me It would ned to be my 1995 Fender USA Jazz Bass and a Teenage Engineering OP1. If I was however able to master work for other people while on a desert island, my Buzz RE2.2 Mastering Equaliser, Thermionic Culture Phoenix Variable Mu Compressor and API5500 Bus Compressor would need to be there as well.

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

A: I started playing bass at 13 and have played and recorded in bands ever since. While recording one of our own records, the producer inspired me to have a go at recording and I bought a 16 track tape machine and never looked back. Initially recording my own bands, I was then asked to record for others and It naturally grew from there. After many years of recording I then followed my passion and went full time into mastering in 2009.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Upon receiving a track for mastering I will have a full detailed listen through the track and make my initial impressions and judgement of where I think the track is headed and what the intentions of the artist, producer and mixer were during the recording. I only get to hear a track fresh for the first time once and my initial reactions to the mix are often the most important in understanding the artist and the intention of the production. Tracks are then mastered while listening in real time and making adjustments. Mastering is never a linear process so every decision is revised throughout the master to ensure that the chain is working as one and optimised for the track as the master evolves. Tracks are also A/B'd against the original mix to ensure that master is on track from the original artist approved mix. When mastering more than a single track (EP, Album etc), each subsequent track is referenced against the previous masters to ensure consistency and often when and album has been mastered, I will go back through many of the individual track masters to ensure the context of the whole release is taken into account as well as each individual track.

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

A: Karnivool - Decade of Sound Awake. COVID caused many challenges to the music industry and this was a full production for Live Streaming during COVID and later releases on Blu-ray, Digital/Streaming and Vinyl. The sound of the release had to appreciate the tone and depth of the original Sound Awake album while giving the audience the experience of seeing the band live and meeting the evolved sound of the band ten years on from the original release.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Alternative/Indie Rock today, Acoustic Singer Songwriter tomorrow and Progressive metal on Friday!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both as they each have a lot to contribute in the mastering process, so most masters are a hybrid approach using the best of each as required.

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

A: To deliver the best master possible for a production while taking into account the artists creative vision for the release.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Every day is different and I get to work with great dedicated and passionate artists and industry professionals. I leant something new everyday.

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

A: How long does it take before I will have the masters back? We run our studio as a cue so we work through each master in the order that clients have booked in their sessions. The usual turnaround time for this is around 6-8 Days. We do also offer a rush service if your on a tight deadline.

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

A: That dedicated analog mastering is expensive. We've worked hard to remain accessible to all artists from all walks of life.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: A good master should help to develop the tone and depth of each part in an arrangement, so that each fills its individual role better within the context of the mix.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Radiohead - They are able to produce amazing albums that often span many genres while still sounding like themselves. For me each individual artist and collection of musicians is a unique sound which shouldn't be pre-defined by perceived genres.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get the sounds right at the source when you are recording and everything will flow through the production. This often involves making decisions early on but each subsequent decision is made in the context of the production as it evolves, which becomes more and more engaging to all involved as it takes shape.

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

A: I work on everything from Alternative Indie, Progressive Metal, Rock, EDM and Acoustic Singer Songwriter songs. Everyday in the mastering studio is different which is why I love what I do!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Open communication, often recording projects can have many different people providing opinions at different times. Open communication is the best way to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Passion, experience and open communication. Having been a recording musician, engineer/producer and now a mastering engineer, I have a good understanding of the artists needs and expectations.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: High-End Analog and Digital Mastering Studio with custom acoustics and full range monitoring.

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

A: Nigel Godrich, Alan Moulder, Steve Albini, Peter Katis

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

A: Mastering