The Mastering Studio

My mastering studio is a very quiet, highly accurate listening room (rated NC20) in a century-old building, built so I hear your mix exactly as it is. The room and its acoustic treatment were designed by Ursula Minor, and it measures within ±3dB from 30Hz to 20kHz across the listening position. Everything is tied together with the Zaor Maestro 24 Classic Desk and custom HiFi Woodworks HF4 Speaker Stands, both chosen for their minimal acoustic footprint. The measurements are below. </nerd>

Frequency response across the listening position, within ±3dB from 30Hz to 20kHz30501002005001k2k5k10k20k−6−30+3+6±3 dBFrequency (Hz)dB Frequency response across the listening position, within ±3dB from 30Hz to 20kHz301001k10k−6−30+3+6±3 dBFrequency (Hz)dB
Measured at the listening position, 1/3-octave smoothing. Within ±3dB from 30Hz to 20kHz.
Professional audio mastering studio with PMC monitors, analog mastering console, and Wavelab 13 on the computer screen
My mastering console with Manley, Maselec, API and ITI Audio Gear
Close up of Mat Leffler-Schulman's mastering desk and hands
Professional audio mastering studio with PMC monitors, analog mastering console, and Wavelab 13 on the computer screen

  • Monitoring

    PMC Speakers IB1 Reference Monitors
    Nord Acoustics Purifi Eigentakt Mono Blocks (Weiss OP-2)
    Neumann NDH 20 Headphones
    AKG K240 MkII Headphones (1990s Made in Austria)
    Grace Design m900 Headphone DAC

  • Metering

    Ohr Labs Ohr-1 Acoustic SPL Reference Meter
    Dorrough Model 280-E Stereo Loudness Monitor
    JLM Audio Stereo VU Meter
    TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Loudness Meter

  • Equipment

    API 2500 Bus Compressor
    API 5500 Dual Equalizer (with input transformers)
    Big Crunch Box (Telefunken NFLÜ 325, UTC LS-140, & Neve/St. Ives VT-22543 Line Transformers)
    ITI Audio MEP-130 Dual Parametric Mastering Equalizer w/ original unpotted op/filter-amps (Unobtainium!)
    Kiiratronix CM-1 Transformer Box
    Manley Labs EQP-1A Stereo ‘Pultec’ Equalizer - Mastering Version
    Manley Labs Stereo Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor
    Maselec MEA-2 Precision Stereo Mastering Equalizer
    Maselec MLA-4 Stereo Triband Compressor / Expander

  • Transfer Path and Conversion

    Maselec MTC-1X Mastering Transfer Console
    Dutch Audio MSM1 Mid Side Machine
    Lynx Hilo 2 Reference Mastering AD/DA
    Benchmark DAC1 192kHz DAC
    Lavry Black AD10 ADC

  • Analog Tape

    Otari MTR-10B ¼” 2-track Production Tape Recorder (pulled from The Hit Factory)
    Otari MTR-10C ¼” 2-track Production Tape Recorder
    Nakamichi LX-3 cassette deck
    Tascam 130 cassette deck

  • Digital Machines

    Panasonic SV-3700 DAT
    HHB PDR-1000TC DAT
    Alesis ADAT-XT20 Type II
    Sony MDS-E12 MiniDisc

  • Acoustic Room Treatment

    Ursula Minor Acoustic & Room Design
    Martienne Acoustics 6” Bass Traps
    RealTraps 3 ¼” Wall Minitrap Absorbers
    RealTraps 2” RFZ Panel Clouds
    Mobtown 5” Bass Traps
    Bluetone Acoustics Poland QRD N7 Diffusers

  • Measurements

    Noise Floor NC20
    Frequency Response ±3dB, 30Hz to 20kHz
    Decay Time 0.24 seconds, 250Hz to 8kHz
    Speaker Alignment Level-matched, time-aligned within 0.02 ms
    Reference Level 83dB SPL (C-weighted), both speakers, at −20dBFS

  • Software & Plugins

    DAW: WaveLab Pro 13
    Plugins: Weiss, Softube, SoundTheory, iZotope, oeksound, Tone Projects, Naturl Audio, Pulsar Modular, Goodhertz, FLUX, Tokyo Dawn Labs

  • Power

    Furman P-2400 AR 20A Prestige Voltage Regulator / Power Conditioner
    Pangea Audio AC 9SE MKII Signature Power Cables

  • Speaker Cable

    Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8

  • Interconnects

    Custom made by Will Melones with Canare and Mogami wire, and Neutrik connectors. The wire is made from gold plated free-range dairy-free zinc oxide copper mined from Mars only when Mercury is in retrograde.

    If you made it this far, I salute you. 🤓