Audio Mastering Explained

The art of Audio Mastering is a fine polish meant to give you a shine after you have mixed your project. Contrary to popular belief, a mastering engineer cannot and should not attempt to repair a poor mix. If you have a poor mix a master will also sound poor. It takes years of experience and critical listening to fully understand and become a Jedi in this discipline. While a lot of people will tell you that they can master audio, everyone who masters or claims to isn't a mastering engineer. Setting your final levels, eq and compression is a delicate task.

Our member's disciplines vary widely as do skill sets and experience. Anyone can list on the site and we do not judge someone's abilities as a qualifier for being listed. If you're hiring someone you should ask for a work sample or to hear a demo reel.

Audio For The Arts

Audio For The Arts is a full-service recording and audio production company offering audio expertise and friendly, professional services to a wide variety of clients. They are a fully functional world class facility. Audio For The Arts is located at 7 S Blair Street, Madison, WI 53703. You can reach them on the web at audioforthearts.com. You can reach them by phone at (608) 255-0511 and by email at audrey@audioforthearts.com. Audio For The Arts has one of the best resumes in the country and they're very experienced in the world of classical, orchestral, jazz and traditional recordings. Their areas or expertise are as follows:  

  • Recording and Mixing Services  
  • Mastering Services  
  • Music Production

Clutch Sound was founded in 2013 by Brian Liston at the former Smart Studios location. Clutch works in a wide variety of recording including Music, Film, Advertising, Voice Over, Location and Video. The Studio is located at 2987 Yarmouth Greenway Dr. in Madison, WI. You can reach Brian by cell at (608) 334-5737,  by email at brian@clutchsound.com or through his website clutchsound.com. Brian has strength in the areas of Film Scoring, Rock, Hip Hop and Techno. His areas of expertise are: 

  • Recording and Mixing 
  • Mastering Services 
  • Field Production 
  • Video Post 
  • Music Production

The Chair for AES Wisconsin is currently Dustin Boyle. Dustin operates Detune Audio out of Madison, Wi. and has professional experience in a huge range of media disciplines. He can be reached via web at www.detuneaudio.com by phone at (608) 772-6767 and by email at dustin.boyle@detuneaudio.com. For AES specific inquiries, Dustin can be reached by email at chair@wisconsinaudioengineering.com Dustin's areas of expertise are as follows:  

  • Commercial Audio Video & Control Design  
  • Recording and Mixing   
  • Mastering Services   
  • Live Sound Services   
  • Field Production Services   
  • Video Post Production   
  • Music Production   
  • AV Repair Services   
  • Live Sound Lessons   
  • Commercial AV Sales

MusicMann Studios operates out of Milwaukee, WI and is operated by Michael Mann. Mike is an accomplished guitar instructor and musician with a killer ear and a lifetime of experience in the business. He can be reached on his website at www.musicmannstudios.com by email at musicmannstudios@gmail.com and by phone at (414) 403-8219. Mike's areas of expertise are as follows:

  • Recording and Mixing
  • Mastering Services
  • Live Sound Services
  • Music Production
  • Lessons
  • Sales

Mystery Room Mastering

Mystery Room Mastering is owned and operated by Justin Perkins out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Justin is a dedicated mastering engineer with years of experience in the art form. You can contact Justin on his website www.mysteryroommastering.com by phone at (920) 428-0320 or email at mysteryroommastering@gmail.com Justin's areas of expertise include:

  • Mastering Services
  • Video Post Production