The Mastering ROOM

My NC20-rated mastering studio is a highly accurate listening environment, acoustically tuned and phase & time aligned. Housed in a century old building, the space was purpose-built with meticulous attention to detail. The room geometry was optimized to minimize sonic distortions, resulting in acoustic precision from 26Hz - 22kHz with a narrow variation of ±3 dB (6 dB peak to peak). The room is tied together with the Zaor Maestro 24 Classic Desk & the custom HiFI Woodworks HF4 Speaker Stands, which both yield a minimal acoustic footprint.

mastering studio with mastering console, PMC mastering speakers, and computer monitor, alongside shelves with books and decor.
My mastering console with Manley, Maselec, API and ITI Audio Gear
Close up of Mat Leffler-Schulman's mastering desk and hands
Mat Leffler-Schulman's mastering studio and desk with two PMC IB1s speakers.

  • Transfer Path and ConverSIon

    Maselec MTC-1X Mastering Transfer Console
    Lynx Hilo Reference Mastering AD/DA
    Benchmark DAC1 192kHz DAC
    Lavry Black AD10 ADC

  • Monitoring

    PMC Speakers IB-1s Reference Monitors
    VTV Amplifier Hypex NC1200 Dual Mono
    Neumann NDH 20 Headphones
    Grace Design m900 Headphone DAC

  • 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

  • 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

  • Acoustic Room Treatment

    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

  • Plugins

    Weiss, Softube, SoundTheory, iZotope, oeksound, Tone Projects, Naturl Audio, Pulsar Modular, Goodhertz, FLUX, Tokyo Dawn Labs

  • Speaker Cable

    Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8

  • Power

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

  • 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. 🤓