Stereophonic Mastering

07/14/2023

When I first moved to Portland in '98 I picked up this Yamaha 01V digital mixer with ADAT i/o from Apple Music. It was used for all digital recording and mixing in conjunction with my Alesis ADAT and Sony DAT. Ten channels of digital I/O mixing. Pretty amazing for the time and money.
During the 2000's console-mixed a dozen or two albums through it at my studio. Later it found a new use as a side-chain EQ to my Pendulum compressor while mastering. This was done by taking the side-chain signal out of the Pendulum, and going into the 01V to apply EQ changes. It's a way to tailor the response and sound of the compressor beyond the standard controls on the front. I still do this, just with a smaller EQ that takes up a lot less room.

Unfortunately no museum wants this 01V 😭so it's going to be for sale at our yard sale this sunday. DM for more!
-
-
-
-

04/01/2023

Nearly peed my pants when FedEx dropped this off! I got a Gold Record with my name on it!
It was a huge honor to have mastered this song (and album) a few years back. Congratulations to the , and all those involved.

10/14/2022

One of the most powerful tools I have in my arsenal is my Crookwood Audio Router, which is flushmount in the center of my desk.   It allows me to rapidly patch in and out any analog processors (compressors / eq's etc), in any order I want, both in series and parallel mode.   This means I can quickly flip between different gear combinations to find the right fit, for whatever song or style the music is.   It makes my somewhat minimal setup unlimited in range of sounds, gear combinations and feels. 
In this particular instance the song is being processed with four pieces of gear split on two parallel paths.  The A path is a Hi-Frequency Limiter fed into an EQ.  And on the B (parallel) path there's a compressor fed into an Mid/Side EQ at -13.5dB relative to the A path.  (both EQ's are passive :)    There's more that happens digitally but in general this is an example of how I get my mojo dialed in!
 

05/30/2022

Oatlie is a high energy, 50 pound powerhouse! and the sweetest running companion. 

🐾  

05/05/2022

I recently found this gem of me drumming in my parents basement circa '89/90.. Bad music, big hair!

03/08/2022

Obsessed and will never stop reaching for the best!  DAVE + M-scaler @ 768kHz = mystical experience :) 

 

02/10/2022

I love it when a surprise package full of recently mastered vinyls arrive!

01/07/2022

The studio saw a number of gadget upgrades in 2021. The #1 stand out for the year only cost $30 on sale! It's the Bettermaker EQ232D plug-in by Plugin Alliance. It's a funny looking equalizer but has a very sweet sound. It's not surgical (like countless other EQs), but is flavorful and works well in broad strokes. The low end is clean and punchy, the mids are lush, and the top end is smooth. I find it very useful when I want to open up the tone while adding a touch of magic. It's a must have!

01/05/2022

Here is an end of year playlist with some of our favorite songs I mastered in 2021!
I also want to give a special shout out to Brittany for her loving support personally, and professionally for her excellent organizational skills! The studio saw its busiest year to date, which would not have happened without her help. She creates an environment for me to do the best work I possibly can do in the studio.
http://www.tinyurl.com/PlaySpotifyPlay2021 And don't shuffle - B curated it!

01/05/2022

Here is an end of year playlist with some of our favorite songs I mastered in 2021!
I also want to give a special shout out to Brittany for her loving support personally, and professionally for her excellent organizational skills! The studio saw its busiest year to date, which would not have happened without her help. She creates an environment for me to do the best work I possibly can do in the studio.
http://www.tinyurl.com/PlaySpotifyPlay2021 And don't shuffle - B curated it!

12/08/2021

My niece found this nearly 30yo picture of my recording / mixing rig setup in my parents basement where I had my zen-zone.   Front and center is a Tascam 688 multitrack recorder.  It recorded 8 tracks onto a cassette tape -mixdown onto DAT. 
Back then I offered mobile recording /mixing to local Waukesha bands where I would pack up all my gear and go to their rehearsal space to record them. I found recording bands in their rehearsal space produced solid performances, and the bands sorta 'self mixed' being in their own space.  Plus I didn't have the space to host live bands so it all worked out!   haha..

  -A7 

09/22/2021

This was an especially fun album to master. "Happy Birthday, Kenny: A Tribute to Kenny Rogers" is a compilation performed by some of the greats in indie music. I grew up listening to cassettes of Kenny on camping trips with my family. Hearing these renditions really took me back to playing cards with everyone at night around a Coleman lantern while Kenny serenaded us from a boombox. There's a comfort and love in there that I tried to capture with this master.

The audio clips in the post are "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In" performed by Doug Tuttle, "Lady" performed by Jesse Woods and "You Decorated My Life" performed by Little Wings.
You can hear the whole thing on Bandacmp. https://perpetualdoom.bandcamp.com/album/happy-birthday-kenny-a-tribute-to-kenny-rogers
Big thanks to and Graves for the connection.
Produced and released by
Art & Design by @ travel_blind

Much love to .yuma

09/01/2021

In 1992 using my wages from Wendy's I made my first big gear purchase, which included this Sony DTC-A7 DAT machine. While all the other gear has long since been parted with, the A7 has stayed with me this entire time. It still gets used a few times a year to digitally transfer old mixes for mastering. Today I was able to transfer more than an hour of old recordings without a single glitch or hiccup. It's amazing how reliable this vintage format is. I'm proud of this little beast!
-A7

07/17/2021

I recently added a fully loaded AnaMod ATS-1 tape machine simulator to my mastering rig. It's a real stunner! I can now "print" any of my masters to tape selecting from four machine types and four tape formulas. It perfectly captures the sound and feel of working with tape (sans the regular maintenance and calibration) and does so 100% in the analog domain. It's an analog-computer and has no digital processing.

The technology in this thing is mind boggling. Everything about the ATS-1 sounds natural and 'sings' even in extreme settings. It doesn't work with all mixes but is a real delight to try out on everything I receive. The ability to adjust the bias, low and hi eq along with the tape speed opens up an endless combination of options. It's been a long time since I've added a new analog processor to my mastering studio and I'm really diggin what the ATS-1 offers.

06/28/2021

Outside proofing a hi-res master at 96kHz 24bit :)

05/16/2021

Newly Mastered, Hot off the Press 💥

I'm beyond thrilled to have mastered my new summer favorites starting with the incredible LP "Voyager" by Current Joys.
Roll down the windows and turn it up!

Released by
Mixed by
Artwork by

John Andrews and The Yawns new album "Cookbook" has been on heavy rotation here. It's like floating in a bubble bath. So pleasant!
Released by
Album art by

It was a real delight mastering Savila's new EP "Mayahuel" I can't help but dance to this one. Released by
Mixed by
Cover design: .joan.dixon

I love mastering Nick Shoulders. His newest album "Home On the Rage" showcases what a uniquely talented singer / songwriter he is.

Released by
Recorded and Mixed by Eric Witthans

And I'm real excited for the upcoming album by .nyc Be sure to check out their single and video "Ride On" on Youtube.

05/02/2021

One of the many (many) reasons I've mastered in 's Samplitude and Sequoia for twenty years is for the sexy visual graphics! This view shows the audio waveform in both Comparisonics and Spectrogram mode. The feathery swoops is a synth sound rising up. The vertical splats are an open hi-hat.. so cool!

04/22/2021

Newly Mastered, Hot off the Press 💥 March 2021 Releases

Captain Boy's newest EP "Música de Meias"

Mia Day's new single "Appointments"
Mixed by

Teddy and the Rough Riders new LP "Don't Say Sorry"
Mixed by

Forty Feet Tall's LP "A Good Distraction"
Produced by
Released on Artwork by

Wave Chase Band's newest single "Sit by the Sea"
Mixed by

Pelican Ossman's spankin new LP "Drum Machine"

Yoji Minor's "Ellis House"

Thanks to Brittany for the video animations.

CRAANK!

03/19/2021

Here are a few new enchanting records I am proud to be part of!

Dove Armitage's new LP "Pegasus"
Produced by:
Released by:
Cover photo by:

Erotic Market "Boredoms & Heartstrings"
Recorded and mix by:
Produced by:

Last but not least the great experimental jazz release from Danny Lubin Laden "Through Our Time" which was featured on 's best jazz playlist for Feb 2021 👏👏
Produced by: Ari Chersky
Mixed by: Released by: Album Design by:

03/10/2021

Here are a few new releases I had a lot of fun mastering starting with the excellent:

Painted Shrines LP "Heaven and Holy".

Released by
Art by

Sahel Sounds hit a home run with their new LP by Wau Wau Collectif's "Yaral Sa Doom"
Released by

And an infectious new single by Dorio "Robot Friends", which is what I happen to call my Roomba and dishwasher!

02/28/2021

Got something extra amazing in the pipeline!

02/18/2021

Got a few new releases I had fun mastering that'll help warm up these wintry days!

LP "Kissing Rosy in the Rain" by Mason Lindhal. on

Meril Wubslin's LP "Alors Quoi" Released by

Doris Day's "Send Me No Flowers" by Elymie. Produced by: Cover Art by: Photo by: .saye

Michael Mott new single "the one that I choose" Music and lyrics by: Produced, recorded and mixed by:

Yacht's EP "Sub Versions" comprised of 8 covers, recorded & released during the first 3 months of the pandemic

01/16/2021

Thanks Brittany for capturing me in my natural habitat! ⁠
⁠
📸

01/02/2021

Silver lining during the whacked year 2020 was being a part of some excellent releases. I just posted a playlist of some of my favorite tunes I mastered this past year. Thanks to everyone for entrusting me with your music and art during this challenging time. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0kUYBSsdGqrZ1D7dd9nHIr?si=Wt4kDYQqQ-2_Ii3ABH4XtQ

12/30/2020

Sometimes it sounds like this

12/24/2020

I had the jolly pleasure mastering new Christmas tunes for two of my favorites!

"Christmas Alone" by YACHT is donating all proceeds to the Los Angeles Food Bank from the sale of this single. Spread the love by checking out the Yacht Christmas Alone Go Fund Me page or visiting their Bandcamp.⁠
⁠
charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/yacht-christmas-alone⁠
⁠
Recorded, performed, produced, and mixed by ⁠
Artwork by ⁠
⁠
Also a new holiday classic by Matt Dorrien called "My Christmas Plea" ⁠
⁠
⁠
Released by ⁠
⁠
Recorded & Mixed by ⁠
Cover Photo by ⁠
Art design by ⁠
⁠
⁠


12/21/2020

A couple of vinyl releases to share!⁠
⁠
You can now order this Peel Dream Magazine EP "Moral Panics" on VINYL from Slumberland Records. It was such a fun record to master⁠
@ peeldreammagazine⁠
⁠
⁠
Out today is this 7 inch release from The Seeds put out by Hypnotic Bridge! I always love mastering the psych rock that Hypnotic Bridge finds.⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠

12/12/2020

Here's some new music I had the pleasure mastering:⁠
Pancho Morris sure knows how to write a catchy tune! There's a number of gems on his newest album "Wokey Dokey" ⁠
produced by: ⁠
mixed by: ⁠
engineered by: ⁠
album art by ⁠
⁠
Hypnotic Bridge does it again with a new 7 inch from Simian Life. ⁠
⁠
Released by: ⁠
⁠
And last but not least there's a great new jazz album from Richard Sears called "Disquiet"⁠ears⁠
Engineered and co-produced by Shahzad Ismaily⁠
Produced by Richard Sears⁠
Mixed by Ari Chersky⁠
Album Art by ⁠
Cover Design by ⁠
⁠

12/10/2020

Need a stocking stuffer? I recommend the Sony SRS-XB01 bluetooth speaker. ($25) I've always liked the "pluck" of a passive radiator speaker and this little guy has got that sound. It does not put out much volume or bass but it has a punchy mid-range voice that sparkles and growls in all the right spots. ⁠
⁠
Earlier this year I bought half a dozen bluetooth speakers ranging from $20 to $150 and sent them all back except for this one. To my ears the others hyped the sound too much giving everything an unnatural and bloated effect. Not this dude, it pleasantly "sings" and it doesn't try to be anything it's not!

11/25/2020

I love old soul music so it's a great honor to have restored and mastered the now 6th(!) Soul Compilation for Cairo / Mississippi records. Each one of these comps is a snapshot into some of the greatest soul music ever created. Highly recommended- you can find it at Mississippi Records here in Portland⁠
"Do You Believe It?: American Soul Music 1960-1972"⁠⁠⁠
Bongo Joe does it again with this infectious release from Baby's Berserk. (Just try not to dance!)⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠.⁠⁠⁠
I first worked with Zac more than a decade ago on Slender Means Society's releases like PWRFL PWR and Idol Fodder. I'm super happy to have mastered Zac's new release from Popular Music⁠: "Popular Music Plays In Darkness" ⁠
⁠
Arranged, recorded, performed and produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

10/30/2020

I got to master these new albums by a few of my favorite artists on three of my favorite labels!⁠
⁠
Skyway Man's "The World Only Ends When You Die" ⁠
⁠
Released by: ⁠
Mixed by: ⁠
Art by: ⁠
⁠
⁠
Out Today from Smokescreens, the new LP "A Strange Dream" ⁠
⁠
Released by: ⁠
Produced by: David Kilgour⁠
Recorded by: ⁠
Artwork by: David Kilgour⁠
⁠
⁠
Another one OUT TODAY: Sam Burton's "I Can Go With You"⁠ ⁠
⁠
Produced by: ⁠
Released by: ⁠
⁠.

⁠
⁠

10/26/2020

I was a fan of sound artist long before I met him. I remember being excited (and scared) to try the HEY MENCHE! dish served at Satyricon a million years ago. It was a heaping pile of beans and hot sauce and became an instant favorite. I eventually met him in '98 and have been mastering for him ever since. His latest creation was inspired by the devastating fires and smoke that choked the west coast.⁠
⁠
danielmenche.bandcamp.com/album/smoke⁠
⁠
⁠
Mississippi Records is another cornerstone I've had the pleasure to master and restore hundreds of albums for. Their newest release, and one of my all time favorites, is music from Honolulu by Mike Hanapi and Kalama’s Quartet. Sweet lullabies that will wash it all away! Highly recommended. ⁠
⁠
Album co-released by and Mississippi Records⁠
⁠
Compilation produced by: Les Cook , ⁠ and ⁠
⁠
Available on vinyl and Bandcamp: ⁠
mississippirecords.bandcamp.com/album/mike-hanapi-with-kalamas-quartet

10/02/2020

    I'm super excited to have mastered another Woods album.  It's a collection of unreleased early recordings dating from 2009-2013.  It's one of my favorites to date.   Golden From The Get Go also released a couple singles that will make you want to get down and boogie..   The times are strange but at least the music is great!

09/18/2020

I've been sealed up mastering non stop trying not to breathe the air outside. During the worst of it I'd wear a mask, hold my breath and imagine I was as I shuffled back and forth between the house and the studio. Today there is reason to celebrate with fresh rain, cleaner air and lots of new music released!
Starting with the big honor of mastering the new LP "Trouble" by Rev. John Wilkins. Produced by my man Amos Harvey and mixed by the great out now on !

has a soaring new single "Release The Light" that will launch you back to your favorite part of the 80s https://daveheatwave.bandcamp.com/releases

The first international release by the Azerbaijanian guitar legend Rüstəm Quliyev of out now on https://rustemquliyev.bandcamp.com/album/azerbaijani-gitara

has released a number of singles recently with there most recent "Outta Reach" out now! Mixed by woolenmen.bandcamp.com/track/outta-reach

turns up the heat with a spicy EP - called "Pickled Heat" Mixed by out now on https://mbrc.fanlink.to/pickledheat


Beautiful new acoustic album from Mikey Inderikey "Bird Feed" https://mikeyinderikey.bandcamp.com/album/bird-feed

Lucius vibes of OAE III. https://oaesound.bandcamp.com/


And last but not least the first solo release by Nima Kazerouni from called "Go To Sleep"

I hope everyone is doing well during these trying times.

07/24/2020

Two newly mastered albums out today that will definitely make your summer better! “Endless Space (Between You & I)” by Winter and "CHUVA" by Secret Drum Band. !

07/12/2020

Add me to the camp of happy NOB CONTROL users. After sitting in customs for three weeks it finally arrived. The setup was simple and the results are great. I *love* using it to finely adjust the volume of Objects in Sequoia, among other things. And because I'm not actively clicking, holding and moving my mouse / keyboard while listening closely I am able to free up my nervous system and by doing so I can hear more subtleties in what I'm doing. (a little out there but agrees with the yogi in me:) A+

05/28/2020

Delightful

04/15/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUZhtQheELg&t=21s

John Darko is becoming one of my favorite sources for gear reviews. Here's a wonderful video where he speaks to anyone interested in hi-fidelity and details a few things you *should not* worry about as a budding audiophile. Towards the end of the video he earned a ton of my respect by listing the 'mastering quality' as one of the three main factors you *should* consider as an audiophile. The other two are room acoustics and speaker placement. He certainly knows what he's talking about.

...and 3 things to pay attention to. Camera: João Comazzi | Editor: John Darko Seen in this video... Hi-fi Racks Podium XL: https://www.hifiracks.co.uk/colle...

03/28/2020

If you've ever wanted to create and or edit a DDP master then here is your chance. Sonoris is offering fully functional, 90 day free trial on all their software including DDP Creator. Get it while it's hot! https://www.sonorissoftware.com/index.php/activation/?mc_cid=4bde8aa1b2&mc_eid=abee3f4d1e

This page helps you to activate Sonoris software. The activation process is the same for the standalone software as well as the plugins. To activate the software you need the Sonoris License Activator…

02/02/2020

15+ years and my Tube-Tech SMC-2b has a million miles on it and going strong despite having almost all markings rubbed off. Once upon a time the k***s in the three rows were labeled: Threshold / Ratio / Attack / Release / Gain.