Spectrum Mastering & Vinyl

Mastering, Vinyl Cutting

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44 Reviews (37 Verified)
Spectrum Mastering & Vinyl on SoundBetter

Hi, I'm Francesco Brini and i run Spectrum Mastering & Vinyl a dedicated mastering studio based in the center of Bologna, Italy. i've been mastering full time since 2010 and my credits includes Cassius, Pharrell, Swayzak, Mathew Jonson, Apparat and Lo Stato Sociale among others.

The room has been designed for optimal acoustic performance, monitoring is provided by a wonderful pair of Dutch & Dutch 8c
The purest conversion is provided trough the industry standard Lynx Hilo, a Benchmark dac and a Cranesong Avocet, giving flawless integration with high end analog and digital gear.

Audio restoration from digital files, vinyl or tape is provided trough Izotope RX9

We're happy to work remotely as well as offering attended sessions at no cost difference.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

44 Reviews - 5 Repeat Clients

Endorse Spectrum Mastering & Vinyl
  1. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco always nails it! Super engineer with a great ear.

  2. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Another job nailed by Francesco. I keep sending him track after track because he always knows how to add just the right polish. Super mastering engineer, cannot recommend enough.

  3. Review by Tyler H.
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    Great communication, quick turnaround, and solid work.

  4. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Super work by Frank yet again. Love working with this guy!

  5. Review by Chris R.
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    Super friendly service and a really quick turnaround time. The master sounds fantastic. Highly recommended!

  6. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco never disappoints!

  7. Review by Hearts T.
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    Amazing results, super fast responses to messages, highly recommend Francesco for Mastering

  8. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Another great mastering job from Frank. I cannot recommend this guy enough!

  9. Review by Joseph R.
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    Francesco is a pro. Both listening closely to and analyzing the masters in Expose 2 - Dynamic range is maintained, LUFS (average loudness) are within the industry standard range, masters still sound like my mixes. There's no clipping, no distortion, no out of control peaks, no weird or exaggerated effect on the music. Patient, good communication, works fast. Even gave me some great mix notes. You really can't ask for much more here. 100% worth the investment!

  10. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco's ear never disappoints! He always masters the track by giving it exactly what it needs, I cannot recommend him enough.

  11. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco on mastering duties never disappoints, he always manages to find the right overall balance for my mixes and gives them the perfect finishing touch. I cannot recommend him enough.

  12. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco never disappoints - always able to balance out my mixes and give them that extra shine to my mixes. I cannot recommend him enough.

  13. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Amazing Francesco on mastering duties as usual, I cannot recommend him enough.

  14. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    I've been trusting Francesco with mastering duties on all of my tracks for a while now, and he just never disappoints. Always very responsive and accommodating. Totally recommend him.

  15. Review by Jay
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    by Jay
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    Very good and consistent engineer - I'm always very happy with his work.

  16. Review by Julius D.
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    The absolute best, my go to choice for a mastering engineer now! Great guy, amazing at what he does, super professional, super timely too!

  17. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco never disappoints - great mastering engineer, very dedicated and he knows what he's doing. I will keep going back to him. 5 stars.

  18. Review by Jay Z.
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    by Jay Z.
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    Francesco works very well and really knows how to make a mix shine through his mastering.

    I will definitely be going for his services again, and I couldn't recommend him enough.

  19. Review by Humberto A.
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    Quick and good! What more do you want

  20. Review by Julius D.
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    The only guy I work with now when it comes to mastering. So consistently great

Interview with Spectrum Mastering & Vinyl

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

  2. A: a fresh pair of hears, if the song list is good, if i like the music, and most people still want it as loud as possible. a lot of people want to use tape even when inappropriate.

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

  4. A: we will fix it in the mastering,

  5. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  6. A: What's the background of the project, who produced it, who mixed it, delivery format, what is the single and if there is one, if he is self financing or he is backed by a label, anything that can help technically

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

  8. A: Get in touch, let's talk about your project, i'm 100% confident we can nail it

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

  10. A: my 2 hears, electricity to run whatever setup i'll be able to assemble, sunglasses and sun cream

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

  12. A: i was born drummer, toured the world multiple times, i always been producing music, been it mine or other bands, made a couple of number 1 producing lo Stato Sociale here in Italy, one day i went to a master one of my album at the exchange with the great Mike Marsh, i had to go home and learn everything i coould about mastering, studied / practiced for 2 years, mastered friends music in my mixing room to the point i couldn't bare the limits of the room / setup anymore, i built my room and installed the setup 6 years ago and never looked back

  13. Q: How would you describe your style?

  14. A: Mastering and style in the same sentence sound odd to me, i can say that i'm really good at making a track dance.

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

  16. A: tough... Tony Allen? because he has the best groove ever!

  17. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  18. A: Keep it simple

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

  20. A: Any genere, but last year i made a lot of house and techno for vinyl

  21. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  22. A: listening

  23. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  24. A: In the Utopian scenario nothing, just quality control, in the reality of fact i make it sound as good as it can, trying to be truth to the artist/producer/mixer vision , i'll get technically right for the distribution format, being it vinyl, digital, stream, cassette or whatever else, and if requested i can add anything from vibe, warmth, sheen, dirt....

  25. Q: What's your typical work process?

  26. A: Every work is different, but like i told earlier i quite often run test masters before the session and eventually suggest mix adjustments that can make the track better. My setup is totally recall, so i can get the same exact scenario even one year later.

  27. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  28. A: It's a nice sounding room where the sound it's at the same time precise but musical, i love to listen to music there. The setup is a mix of top of the line analog hardware and the best plug-ins, i have some custom made hardware and i modified some too to my liking. Gears are essential but not as much as experience and a good listening environment that you know very very well. The Cutting lathe and the tape machine are bonus, sometimes you feel like a track will benefit from "the vinyl sound" even if it's only going to be distributed digital and i'm able to cut a vinyl and rerecord it for that Vinyl sound.

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

  30. A: to many, but i'm really impressed with the consistency of amazing music artist from detroit are putting out, Theo Parrish, Mike Huckaby, Rick Wade, you name it.... Really into Daptone records and this Funk / Soul revival.

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

  32. A: I like to get the best results possible, quite often i get sent the mixes before the session, run a test master and if needed i send a list of mix adjustment i feel the track will benefit from, i've client that really improved their mixing skills and as a results now the first file they send is the one to go!

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

  34. A: most times is a small name that just makes good music, i have to say that the house producers in my own town are really nailing it at the moment.

  35. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  36. A: just finished to master, a rmx for the new Cassius album

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

  38. A: i mostly use the platform to find a recording studio when i'm on the road, so my suggestion can only be geolocated

  39. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  40. A: both, because each does one thing the other can't

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

  42. A: i'll work my A@# to make it good

  43. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  44. A: Music

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I was the M in this production

GenresSounds Like
  • Cassius
  • J Dilla
  • Kink
Gear Highlights
  • Dutch & Dutch 8c
  • Cranesong Avocet
  • Lynx Hilo
  • Cranesong IBIS Eq (modified)
  • Pendulum OCL-2 (Modified)
  • Api 5500
  • A Design EM-EQ2
  • FCS PS3 class A
  • Dangerous BAX
  • Junger D02
  • Custom SSL Buss Compessor
  • Revox B77
  • Cutting LAthe
  • Sennehzier Hd 600
More Photos
SoundBetter Deal

10% discount for an ep, 20% discocount for an Album

  • New GearSep 30, 2018

    Cranesong avocet IIa, music sounds so much more detailed, the monitoring system finally reached full potential, the included dac is the best i've ever heard.
    Jünger D02, killer digital compressor, it does upward compression that keeps transient intact and rise the lower material instead,
    Hofa Acustic Diffusers, man, for the money those things are amazing.




  • I have the best job in the world, i spend most of my days listening to music all day long on a crazy good set of speakers!Mar 02, 2017

    This week i've mastered the live album of La Rappresentante Di Lista, an art band with an impressive live show, good fun!
    Spent quite some time making DDPs after masters where approved and cut some vinyl.
    isn't this a dream job?
    YES!

  • You gotta love vinylJan 25, 2017

    It's art.
    It takes a lot to do a good cut.
    And today i'm cutting all day long.
    Love

  • Deep Deep DeepJan 24, 2017

    I'm glad so much good Deep music is passing under my els.I Spent the mourning mastering Gabriele Farina's latest single, gonna take a brake and run a couple of remixes from Bart under my microscope.Life is sounding good!

  • Mastering, cutting, and a bit of mixing tooJan 19, 2017

    I'm Waiting for Simon we are going to "fix" his mix of his new single for Daphian Records before i'll master it. This morning i have run a test cut of Rigopolar new single that will be out on Swedish Tom Tom Disco and Mastered two tracks from UK's Aquaphonik. Life isgoodandbusy!

  • Put your dance shoes onJan 10, 2017

    What a day! mastering 90 Process from France, that will be released on Mattia Trani's Pushmasters discs and a new single from Malte, Techno, Breakbeat,Detroit and Disco!

  • Filo QDec 20, 2016

    Going to master a Rmx for the next Filo Q releases, cool Jazz going Deep Detroit House!

  • busyDec 15, 2016

    Busy busy! yesterday we went trough 2 tracks for an Italian Movie + a 7 track ep of bubbling techno for a new label based in Milan. i'm waiting Massimo who booked me trough soundbetter for a 14 tracks album right now!

  • KEATON'S DEBUT ALBUMDec 12, 2016

    Melodic Techno, huge bass, dynamic, good stuff, it's going to be a fun day!

  • Mattia TraniDec 07, 2016

    Today I had Mattia Trani and his girlfriend at the studio to master Paredolia's (Her label)  new release, great UK's electro from Dawl

  • Back on tracksDec 06, 2016

    Electro, Pop, Electronica, Reggae, you name it. Mastering the new album from Lo Stato Sociale, crazy good!

  • Monday back in the studioNov 07, 2016

    Love it! Today i  have been mastering Sprottendisco's second single and some deep deep techno curtesy of Ra-1. Olè!

  • Hard Rock & TechnoOct 09, 2016

    Crazy busy time lately!
    Been Mastering a Hard Rock album for Kantos, an ambient casette release for Random Numbers records including tracks from Voltaire, Paolo Iocca third ep with a monstrous Florian Kupfer rmx, and the new Single from Lo Stato Sociale. oh yeah!

  • To Much Good MusicSep 01, 2016

    It's never to much but this week i had the pleasure to work on tracks by BXP with a great rmx from D'Marc Cantu for thw awesome RA-1 label and a crazy acid disco monster from Sprottendisko. Life is good!

  • Busy weekJul 07, 2016

    This is a busy week, have been mastering and Ep for the punk rock band Amber, Funkabit's next single, a new single for Sorry For This records, an Ep with D'arabia and find the time to master my new ep with an awesome rmx from the Detroit legend Rick Wade