Top Mastering Facilities

[Will Herrmann]

I'm trying to dig up some research on what would be considered some of the top (say top 25 in the US), mastering facilities today. I know this is a subjective category, but if some of the more knowledgable folks could drop some names of the facilities they feel are the best, I'd definitely appreciate it!

Many thanks.

[white swan]

Gateway (Bob Ludwig) in Portland Maine would have to be in anyone's top 5, I would think.

[Michael Fossenkemper]

It's not so much the facility as the individual. There are many great mastering engineers. But you can take a look at the records you like and gather names.

[duxsmer]

holy crap!

john golden mastering!
john golden mastering!
john golden mastering!

[e-cue]

Bernie Grundman and Oasis Mastering are my 2 fav.

[stewie]

alan douches at west west side..

[Thomas W. Bethel]

Just for the record here are some more top mastering engineers from all over the world....

Bob Katz (he wrote the book on mastering - literally)
Bob Ludwig
Glenn Meadows
Bob Olhsson
Ronny Morris
Bill Park
Dave Collins
Jay Frigoletto
K.K. Profit
Dave Martin
Greg Reierson
Brad Blackwood
Goran Finnberg
Clete Baker
Lynn Fuston
Paul Gold
Dave Davis
Andrew Hamilton
Ted Jensen
Christ Athens
Greg Calbi
Tom Coyne
Chris Gehringer
Geroge Marino
Doug Sax
Bobby Owsinski
Steve Hall
Stephen Marcussen
Bernie Grundman

The list is much longer than just these names off the top of my head. I have probably left off 10 times as many names as I have listed but the good ones are out there. The trick is to find a good mastering engineer, one you can afford and who will relate to your music and then cultivate a good working relationship with him or her. It could be a lifetime working relationship so cultivate it well.

The best way to find a really good local mastering engineer is to ask people you know and trust for a recommendation.

You can also look on the back of your favorite CDs for the mastering engineer and book a session with that person.

The one problem with trying to book your sessions with a really big mastering house is that you may not be able to afford the really big engieers.

The other problem is that people who book mastering sessions with big mastering houses think they will be getting Ted Jensen or Bob Ludwig doing their mastering. It is only after they have arrived, that they find out they are getting a lesser known but very qualified indivdual doing their session(s) because the big guys have bigger clients to service.

Hope this helps...

[ November 30, 2003, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: Thomas W. Bethel ]