The Mastering Studio

Winter 2012 NAMM Show

2012-01-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

Gavin Lurssen took part in a panel discussion with fellow mastering engineers Bernie Grundman, Stephen Marsh & Doug Sax on "Optimized Mastering For Multiple Formats" - hosted by Mr. Bonzai - at this Winter's NAMM H.O.T. Zone event, January 20th.

Reuben Cohen and Gavin Lurssen with drummer/percussionist Leon Mobley at NAMM.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2012-01-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Out Like Pluto, the female-fronted five-piece from Seattle, WA combines the energetic pop-punk stylings of Paramore and Blink-182 with the melodic nostalgia of 90s alternative rock. Their debut album, "Take Cover" is released January 10 and will be available on amazonMP3, amazon.com, & iTunes. The album was recorded, mixed, and produced by Andy Tyra. To get their latest free music downloads and tour dates go to www.outlikepluto.com/music. “Take Cover’s” first single and music video, "Bridge," is attracting a lot of interest on YouTube.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Useful Links

2012-01-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

We'd like to thank all of our clients for their support in 2011 and we wish everyone a successful 2012.

LINKS
Tips on Writing an Effective Artist Biography
Mathematicians Discover A Secret Formula For Writing A Hit Song
Mobile Marketing For Independent Artists
What Publicists Need From Musicians
Five Top Music-making Apps For The iPhone
Six Tips To Selling And Promoting Your Music On Facebook

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Grammy Nominatons

2011-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Grammy nominations are out and we are pleased to announce the nominated music mastered at Lurssen Mastering. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards take place on Feb. 12, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Gregg Allman's album Low Country Blues, nominated for Best Blues Album.

Steve Earle's album I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, nominated for Best Folk Album.

Tangled, nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media.
I See the Light from the Tangled Soundtrack, and So Long from the Winnie The Pooh Soundtrack, nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

2011-11-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Join in the spirit! It's the season for giving. Bid on a session with award-winning engineers, producers and musicians for a worthy cause. Lurssen Mastering has donated two mastering sessions - one with Gavin Lurssen and one with Reuben Cohen - to help raise funds for Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. The foundation helps to keep music alive in our schools and communities by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs, giving youngsters the many benefits of a music education, helping them to be better students and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client News

2011-11-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

R&B singer, rapper and actor, Tyrese, has a new album, Open Invitation, which was released today. It also features artists such as Ludacris, Rick Ross and R. Kelly. The album was mixed by Richard Furch and mastered at Lurssen Mastering by Reuben Cohen. After releasing several albums, Tyrese moved into films, with lead roles in several big-budget Hollywood movies including "Fast Five" and ‘Transformers: Dark Of The Moon." And now he is making music again. Reuben and Tyrese are pictured below at the album release party.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2011-10-12T09:57:00.001-07:00

Chris Pierce, who has opened for such artists as Seal, B.B. King, Al Green, Toots and the Maytals, and Colbie Caillat, has just released his new album, I Can Hear You. The album was co-produced with Seth Atkins Horan and mastered at Lurssen Mastering. The album showcases Chris' musical dexterity for jazz, pop and soul.

"Pierce, whose work has been compared to that of musical elder tribesmen Van Morrison, Jimmy Cliff, Bill Withers and Otis Redding - engages his audiences with his rich vocals and heartfelt tunes," said LATimes.com, which included Pierce on its list of "homegrown artists you ought to know."

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2011-10-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Kail Baxley is releasing a double EP with a mix of rock, southern swagger, folk and cool urban beats. Mixed and produced by Eric Corne.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Latin Grammy Nominees

2011-09-17T10:23:00.001-07:00

Lurssen Mastering congratulates three of our clients who were nominated for a 2011 Latin Grammy:

Merche - Best Female Pop Vocal Album for "Acordes De Mi Diario". Mixed and produced by Sebastian Krys.

Cristian Castro - Best Male Pop Vocal Album for "Viva el Principe." Produced by Rafael Perez Botija, and mixed by Javier Garza.

Ricardo Arjona - Best Singer-Songwriter Album for "Poquita Ropa." Producers were Dan Warner/Ricardo Arjona, mixed by Sebastian Krys.

The 12th Latin Grammy ceremony will be held at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas on November 10.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2011-08-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Lurssen Mastering completed work this week on the David Lynch Foundation compilation which includes artists like Arrested Development, Dave Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Moby, Ben Folds, Peter Gabriel, and Tom Waits.

DLF Music is the David Lynch Foundation’s newest venture - an online charity music label where music fans can download for good. The foundation brings you exclusive, never-before-heard tracks donated by top artists, offering music as a reward for contributing to a great cause.

The foundation funds the implementation of scientifically proven stress-reducing modalities for at-risk populations such as underserved inner-city students; veterans with PTSD and their families; American Indians suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high suicide rates; homeless men participating in reentry programs striving to overcome addictions; and incarcerated juveniles and adults.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2011-07-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, singers/guitarists of The Milk Carton Kids. Their debut folk album, Prologue, is on the Top 10 iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts. They are offering a free download of the album on their web site at themilkcartonkids.com where they also list their Prologue tour schedule.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

In The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2011-07-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

The Simpkin Project, based in Huntington Beach, California, is a unique roots reggae band with its own version of Jamaica's most culturally celebrated music.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? reissue with new tracks

2011-06-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

A New Look - And A Service For Indie Musicians

2011-05-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Fashions change - even with social media - and with this in mind, we decided to go for a whole new look to our online presence. Lurssen Mastering just launched its new website which is designed to be very user friendly and easy to navigate. We have added a page dedicated to resources for independent artists - an extension of our service and support over the years for this growing industry. We will post regular updates with current news articles and useful information and links. This is where you will find all the information you need to record and market your music. It includes articles and videos featuring well-known professionals in the music industry advising on how to succeed in your field. We'd love you to pay us a visit and tell us what you think.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

News Links From the Mastering Studio

2011-04-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Three music veterans have teamed up to release music apps for Apple and Android tablets under the name ROBA Interactive, including high-end audio and video, interviews, text, photos, musical scores, and more.

The Recording Academy continues evolution of Grammy awards process. Restructuring of Categories across all genres brings total number of categories to be recognized at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012 to 78. Minimum number of entries per category will now be 40, up from 25.

Why cloud storage is the future of music. Amazon this week became the first big internet company to offer something called "cloud music."

Leading the world in song - virtually.

Leon Russell inducted into Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

2011-03-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Legendary piano man Elton John introduced the former Tulsa resident and Lawton native with a poignant dedication. They worked together on the album "The Union," which was mastered in our studio. The Grammy-nominated song "If It Wasn't For Bad" is on this album.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Music News

2011-03-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Music is thriving, but the business is dying. Who can make it pay again?
An industry in turmoil as pop stars and indie bands alike cope with a digital revolution.

Grammy awards provide big boost for indie music
Arcade Fire’s album-of-the-year Grammy award was a win for the grassroots community of independent musicians and record companies to which Arcade Fire and its label, Merge Records, belong.

Vinyl makes a comeback at the music store
In an age when music is just the click of a mouse away, an old-time favorite is making a comeback.

Apple in talks to improve sound quality of downloads
Apple and other digital music retailers are in discussions with record labels to improve the quality of the song files they sell.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Grammy Wins for Our Artists

2011-02-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Congrats to our artists on their Grammy wins:
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Motion Picture- - Crazy Heart.
Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

New Music Seminar

2011-02-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

The New Music Seminar coming up from February 14-16 gives musicians a chance to connect with industry leaders as they offer insight into upcoming changes within the music industry. Gavin Lurssen will be speaking February 15th on key strategies for establishing a presence in the music business through online outlets and across developing platforms. He will be joined by Grammy-winning Bassy Bob Brockmann, Scott Jacoby, and Rodney Jerkins. The New Music Seminar will take place at the Sheraton in Universal City. There is a Special 2-for-1 discount that may be used for registration at the New Music Seminar website (click on the registration tab and then "partner discount code" and enter code NMSLACDBY2396).

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Free NAMM Classes

2011-01-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is all about upgrading your skills and staying on top of your game. This year NAMM's H.O.T. (Hands-On Training) Zone will offer attendees free one-hour classes on more than 75 educational topics over four days, including topics such as, Introduction to Live Mixing, New Techniques for DJs, The Future of Music, Pro Tools 101, Preparing Your Music for Mastering - all available in one place for four days from January 13-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA. Gavin Lurssen will be speaking at the January 15 class on Preparing your Music for Mastering at 3:30pm in room 204C. Click on the link above for more details on the classes.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Grammy Nominations Mastered at Lurssen Mastering

2010-12-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Grammy nominations are out and we are pleased to announce the nominated music mastered at our facility:

If It Wasn't For Bad, single by Elton John & Leon Russell, nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

Nothin On You, single by Bruno Mars feat. B.o.B., nominated for Record Of The Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Best Rap Song.

The Weary Kind from the Crazy Heart Soundtrack, nominated for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Run Back To Your Side, single from Eric Clapton's album, nominated for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.

Ricardo Arjona's album Poquita Ropa, nominated for Best Latin Pop Album.

Willie Nelson's album Country Music, nominated for Best Americana Album.

Charlie Musselwhite's album The Well, nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Crazy Heart Soundtrack was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Education Through Music Auction

2010-11-23T11:35:00.001-08:00

As part of the Lurssen Mastering "give back" program we are donating two mastering sessions for an auction benefiting Education Through Music, an independent organization that provides and promotes the integration of music into the curricula of disadvantaged schools in order to enhance students' academic performance and creative and general development.

Checkout the auction at Bidding For Good. A winning bid will not only benefit you but also help disadvantaged students. We believe this program needs as much support as possible.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Latin Grammy Win

2010-11-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce that Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen each won a Latin Grammy for their work on Diego Torres' album Distinto, which was nominated for Best Engineered Album in the 11th Latin Grammy Awards held in Las Vegas on November 11. Pictured backstage after the event are from left, Dan Warner, Lee Levin, Gavin Lurssen, and Reuben Cohen.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Elektra Records Founder on YouTube, Blogs and the Future of Music

2010-10-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Always a proponent of new technology, Jac Holzman says the music business has undergone more fundamental changes than any other facet of entertainment over the past hundred years or so.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Latin Grammy Nominations

2010-09-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen have been nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category, Best Engineered Album, for their mastering of Diego Torres's album Distinto. Diego is one of the most recognized Latin artists whose 18-year career is filled with countless accolades. Distinto is his eighth album.
Congratulations also to engineer Gabriel Wallach for mastering Los Claxons' self-titled album which has been nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category, Best Pop Album By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-08-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Zapf Dinbats' 2010 self-titled release has been nominated for Best Blues Album by the San Diego Music Foundation. Drawing on influences such as Jelly Roll Morton, Bob Wills, Louis Armstrong, and the black string bands from the South (Mississippi Sheiks, Charlie McCoy), the Zapf Dingbats deliver a unique arrangements of traditional jazz, blues, and folk tunes.

The band’s melting-pot of musical influences is the source of it’s unique sound. Leader David Bandrowski (guitar) sets the tone of the band with his amazing musical vocabulary and background of Early Jazz, Second-Line and Traditional music. Chris Clarke (mandolin) is steeped in Old Time, Folk & Country-Blues traditions. Doug Walker (bass) is a master of Contemporary and Progressive Jazz. Dane Terry (harmonicas) adds a little soul from Gospel and the Blues. The four combine to make a rich, spicy, savory, and altogether original recipe based on a broad (and deep!) variety of American traditional influences. Available on iTunes.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-07-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Got A Gun won the Sonicbids-powered Universal Pictures contest called Indie Rock vs. the World in the DVD release. The contest was a nationwide Internet based battle of the bands with over 1,000 entrants. Gorgeous Got a Gun was selected for the top eight bands to compete in the battle of bands. They had to shoot a music video to go along with the movie. Fans voted their favorite video to go into the next round. Week after week Gorgeous Got a Gun stood their ground, rallied their support and came out the winner with an opportunity to play at Comic Con on July 23 and 24 in San Diego, CA and have their music video in the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World DVD.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

2010 Audiobook of the Year - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folk Tales

2010-06-29T13:13:00.001-07:00

As the eyes of the world were on South Africa’s soccer fields, the prestigious Audiobook of the Year award was presented to Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales which was mastered in our studio. Featuring a diverse, international cast of stars, the charitable endeavor took home the industry’s top honor from the Audio Publishers Association at a gala Audie Awards ceremony held at the Museum of the City of New York. Proceeds from the audiobook provide support for children in South Africa orphaned and impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Founder of CD Baby Advises Indie Artists

2010-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, explains how important the power of words are when describing your music.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

How Artists Can Build a Sustainable Career

2010-06-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, shares his thoughts on what artists need to concentrate on in order to build a career for the long run, rather than fading quickly into obscurity.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-05-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Australian Scott Spark recently shot a video with about 100 children from the Robertson State School's Cantabile Choir in Brisbane, Australia. The song, Eat Your Heart Out, is on his album, Fail Like You Mean It, mastered by us and available mid year.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-04-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

Bruno Mars' Nothin' On You - mastered in our studios by Reuben Cohen - is now the number one downloaded song on iTunes. B.o.B. and Bruno Mars shot their highly anticipated video for Nothin’ On You in Los Angeles recently. This is behind the scenes footage of them as they made the video.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Oscar Night

2010-03-08T20:40:00.001-08:00

At the Oscars on March 8 the following music nominees - whose music was mastered in our studio - were recipients of Oscars. We congratulate the winners and are proud to have been a part of their projects.

Best Music (Original Score)
Up - Michael Giacchino

Best Music (Original Song)
Crazy Heart - "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"
Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Music News From Around The Web

2010-02-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, Is That Your Song?
"As a creator or artist, you may be thrilled by this exposure; but as someone trying to make a living from your music, you have very real questions and concerns."

Pandora rises out of the streaming music rubble
"In an online world saturated by struggling streaming music services, Internet radio site Pandora appears to be making all the right moves."

Digital music: The battle rages on
"Squabbles over the rates and rights online radio should pay highlights a fundamental problem."

Native Instruments Introduces Abbey Road 60s Drums
"Native Instruments today introduced Abbey Road 60s Drums, the first instrument created in its collaboration with the iconic British recording studios."

Audiolife Tells Indie Music Artists to 'Wave Goodbye to The Post Office'
"Using their free account, artists will now have the option to use the Audiolife platform for all fulfillment and warehousing needs."

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Grammy Winners

2010-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce that we mastered the work of the following artists/sound tracks that received Grammys at the awards ceremony Sunday night.

Best Bluegrass Album: The Crow/New Songs For The Five-String Banjo - Steve Martin
Best Traditional Blues Album: A Stranger Here - Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media: Slumdog Millionaire / Various Artists
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media: Jai Ho (From Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media: Up / Michael Giacchino, composer
Best Instrumental Composition: Married Life (From Up)

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-01-13T14:22:00.001-08:00

Steve Martin's The Crow logs a 28th week at number 1 on Top Bluegrass Albums, the third longest No. 1 run since the chart launched in July 2002. Steve is Billboard's top bluegrass artist for 2009, while The Crow led the year-end bluegrass albums roundup.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-01-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

Bigbang's new album Edendale will be in the US January 19th. Edendale has strong ties to Bigbang’s adopted home in California. Front man and founder Øystein Greni explains: “The area of Los Angeles today known as Echo Park/Silverlake used to be called Edendale around the time when the silent movie industry took off. Charlie Chaplin’s studio -now a storage place - is on my block, and Walt Disney’s first film studio was across the street from the local Trader Joes."

Bigbang has been dubbed Norway’s Greatest Live Band, and has been a major force in the Norwegian music scene for over a decade. The US debut From Acid to Zen, a compilation of songs from previously released albums, was very well received and resulted in great reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine’s Editor David Fricke. They will be performing at Cafe Du Nord, Sunday, January 24, 2010, 8pm - 12am. Age 21 plus, $10 at door.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010-01-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Natasha James releases a new single, If You Think This Is Love, January 4, 2010 on the Highway One Records indie label. Music News Nashville called If You Think This Is Love a “downright Bonnie Raitt blues-y performance…one of (James’) best.” The song is “a twangy hip shaker guaranteed to grab you by your feet and throw you in a dancing mood. In addition to winning “Country Album Of The Year” for her ’09 release, Tequila Time at the recent 19th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, James is nominated in five categories for the 2009 New Music Weekly Awards. She was chosen a “Hot 100 Artist For 2009” by Music Connection; is nominated for “2010 Female Artist of the Year” by online music magazine, Rockwired; and saw Tequila Time selected as a “Best Of the 2000’s/End Of Decade” choice by Live 365/Womens Radio, where it is presently being featured.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

From The Mastering Studio

2009-12-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

To all our friends and clients, we hope 2010 will bring you much success in your musical ventures.

News From The Mastering Studio

2009-12-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Grammy nominations are out and we are proud to announce that we worked on the following nominated albums or soundtracks.

Best Americana Album: Little Honey - Lucinda Williams
Best Bluegrass Album: The Crow/New Songs For The Five-String Banjo - Steve Martin
Best Traditional Blues Album: A Stranger Here - Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Best Contemporary Blues Album: The Truth According to Ruthie Foster - Ruthie Foster
Best Contemporary Folk Album: Secret, Profane & Sugarcane - Elvis Costello
Best Spoken Word Album: For Children Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales - various artists
Best Comedy Album: Back From The Dead - Spinal Tap
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album: For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media, Slumdog Millionaire - various artists
Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media: Up - Michael Giacchino, composer
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media: Jai Ho (from Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Instrumental Composition: Married Life (from Up)
Best Instrumental Arrangement: Up With End Credits (from Up)
Best Recording Package: Back From the Dead - Spinal Tap

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

Over two years in the making, Hyperstory’s debut record brings together a wide range of elements to make an album in the old school style; one that was created not only as a collection of individual songs, but also to be listened to as a whole.

Hyperstory (a.k.a. los angeles based musician Scott Blevins) enlists contributions from a range of brilliant musicians including Brooklyn-based musician and vocalist Julian Cassia, Deron Johnson (Seal, Miles Davis), Joey Waronker (Beck, Ima Robot), Chris Chaney (Janes Addiction), as well as a host of others.

Currently Hyperstory is sitting at #6 in Amazon Electronica category - been climbing in the top 100 for 3 days. It also continues to climb in alternative rock, currently sitting at #57.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

iPhone App From Magnatune Record Label

2009-11-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

"Magnatune, a small and eclectic online record label, just released its first iPhone app. As far as we know, this is the first time that a record label has released an iPhone app that allows its users to play every song of every artist on its label for free and as often as they want. The only restriction is that every song is followed by a short announcement with the name of the artist and title of the song."
[Excerpt from article on Read Right Web. Click on link for full article.]

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

The Song Decoders

2009-10-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

Pandora, an internet radio service, has come up with a unique system to deliver what they say is "a great radio experience to each and every listener" through their Music Genome Project. The project represents over eight years of analysis by a trained team of musicologists, and spans everything from new releases to Classical music. Each song in the Music Genome Project is analyzed using up to 400 distinct musical characteristics by the music analysts. Pandora believes that these attributes capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also the many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of listeners. They were featured recently in a New York Times article, The Song Decoders. An intriguing idea that one day soon - maybe - we will be able to tune in to music that appeals only to us.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Four Masters on Mastering - Interview

2009-10-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

"Music Connection is proud of its reputation for helping artists and musicians gain a greater understanding of the more intimidating areas of the music business and music-making process. Mastering is a perfect example – it’s as essential as it is mystifying. As we do each year, MC again presents a series of revealing, down-to-earth conversations with acclaimed mastering engineers. While each has his own approach, all share a common interest in educating musicians to be more informed and successful clients."

What’s your proudest achievement as an engineer?
It’s the scope of the work that makes me proud. A seasoned engineer said to me once in the early days, “The key to your success is to work on a lot of records over a long period of time.” It’s best to get your rhythm going and get your chops so that the service you provide becomes the thing you’re proud of. But my proudest achievements are when people come in and somehow or another I’ve contributed to their educational growth.
[Excerpt from article and interview with Gavin Lurssen. Full interview. ]

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-10-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Indie-pop artist Ingrid Michaelson, an entrepreneur and talented musician, released her first album, Girls and Boys, on her own Cabinet 24 Records. Her career hit the fast track when the song Breakable was used on the TV show, "Grey's Anatomy." After a second song appeared on "Grey's Anatomy" Ingrid's music began climbing the iTunes pop chart. Two more songs were used by the show, resulting in her album reaching the top 100 on iTunes pop chart. Ingrid's song, The Way I Am, was featured in Old Navy's fall commercial ad campaing for their "Fair Isle" sweaters. The first single from Ingrid's upcoming second album, Everybody is now available at iTunes! Tickets for Ingrid's 46-date North American "Everybody" tour are on sale now. View the complete itinerary in Shows.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-09-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

American Express has partnered with NBC Universal to provide a forum for thousands of people who are inspired by small businesses to share a story and Shine A Light on those businesses. The nominations are in and we are thrilled that our client, The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, is one of the nominees that received more than 50 endorsements and is under review by the judges - who will select three finalists. The Songwriting School of Los Angeles™ offers private and small group lessons, on-site and on-line, in many facets of contemporary song making, from creating to performing to recording. The winning small business will receive $100,000 in grant and marketing support. Voting for the finalists will take place September 24th at ShineALight

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-09-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hearty congratulations to client Natasha James. Her song Get Out Of My Way has been nominated in the "Country Single of the Year" category for the 19th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, which take place Thursday, November 12, at the Avalon in Hollywood (formerly the Palace), across from Capitol Records. This prolific troubadours’ title track from recently-released CD Tequila Time (Highway One Records) is climbing rapidly up the Mainstream, Hot 100, College, Hot AC, Country, and Top 40 Radio Charts. Her music and vocals have been described as country steeped in blues and tex-mex with a nod to Janis Joplin and Emmy Lou Harris.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

The Beatles: Rock Band

2009-08-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

The Beatles are positioning themselves to once again play a significant role in the evolution of popular music — this time by embracing interactivity. "Playing music games requires an intense focus on the separate elements of a song, which leads to a greater intuitive knowledge of musical composition. When you need to move your body in synchrony with the music in specific ways, it connects you with the music in a deeper way than when you are just listening to it.”

[Excerpt from New York Times story, While My Guitar Gently Beeps.]

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

For Independent Musicians - Sites To Sell Your Music

2009-08-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Mastering Studio has compiled this list of online retail sites where independent musicians can sell their music. For quick reference, we have also made a permanent list of all the "Indie Resources" from past blogs and listed them in the column on the right. While we cannot take responsibility for the effectiveness of these links, we hope they may be of use to you.

CD Baby: According to their website they are “the oldest, biggest and most-trusted online independent music store and distributor”. They offer to sell your CDs worldwide, and according to their site they do digital distributions to iTunes, Amazon, and other stores, CD distribution to 2,400 stores, enable credit card sales at gigs, enable you to sell customized download cards at gigs, and access promotional resources to help sell your music. Instead of a flat fee they have a pricing structure for each service.

SongCast: Sells your music on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster and Emusic for a fee of $5.99 per month! They have a onetime setup fee of $19.99 per album or $9.99 per single. Includes a free UPC Barcode for every release. You can track your sales throughout the world. Artists and labels maintain 100% of all royalties.

audiolife.com: Free to setup account. Flat fee taken on sales. See pricing structure. They provide free tools to custom design your merchandise, CDs, ringtones and downloads. Post your store to any website, blog or social network. They manufacture and distribute all of your products when they're purchased.

rmusic.com: Sells downloads of your music. Their site states they are "dedicated to unsigned musicians, artists, and bands." They pay 70c per download to musicians. Accounts appear to be free.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-08-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Carney
Our next LA show will be held at The Roxy on August, 20th and it's going to be sponsored by KROQ Locals Only! We're really excited about getting to play in Los Angeles after so many months on the road, and we can't wait to see you all there!

We've gone from opening for the Veronicas, to playing at 10,000 Lakes/DFest, to headlining our own little club tour, to joining a production of Grease in Jamaica, to finishing it all up in Chicago by performing at Lollapalooza - and all in a matter of about 3 months! It's been quite the summer and in some ways it's just getting started which is why I'm writing this little ditty. We have a release date for our debut album and we'll be unveiling that date at our gig on August, 20th.

Here are the details and we can't wait to perform for you:
KROQ Locals Only Presents:CARNEY (w/Caitlin Crosby and End Roulette)The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood - Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 8:30p.m.$12 at door - ALL AGES - Call (310) 278-9457 or click here.

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Playing For Change

2009-08-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Playing for Change was the brainchild of Mark Johnson - who was recently featured as "person of the week" on ABC news. He united musicians around the world to form one global chorus for peace. Mark founded the Playing for Change foundation which funds music schools throughout the world. The Foundation has opened its first school, the Ntonga Music School, in Gugulethu, South Africa. The school will provide children with valuable skills and mentorship designed to instill self-esteem and confidence. Checkout playingforchange.com for more info. The CD is available at amazon.com, Starbucks, and at Playing For Change.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-07-28T14:49:00.001-07:00

Alyson's new single "Sticky Sticky" just hit # 1 on the Hot 100 Radio Chart in New Music Weekly Magazine! "Sticky Sticky" is also # 2 on the Top 40 Radio Chart in New Music Weekly! Now available on iTunes, Napster, Amazon and CD Baby .

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Staffer Gabriel Wallach's Interview On Restoration In The Digital Age

2009-07-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

"Hailing from the vibrant musical streets of Uruguay, Gabriel Wallach has made his impact felt with credits like Motley Crue, Yung Berg, Reik, Dave Koz, and most recently Jorge Celedón's Latin Grammy winning album "Son... Para El Mundo." Mastering engineer and restoration specialist at the prestigious Lurssen Mastering, Wallach sat down with iZotope to discuss restoration in the digital age and how RX has fit into his daily audio routine."
[Introduction to the interview. Read the full interview at iZotope.]

Please join us on facebook for bulletins from The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-07-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

Our band Kingsize is playing at Good Hurt Club at 10pm sharp on August 1st. The club is located at 12249 Venice Blvd, between Ocean View Ave. and Grand View Blvd. You can be on our free guest list! Just email us with your name and email. If you invite friends we need their info too(We can’t do plus one, etc. We need actual e-mails per head. Club policy). The following Kingsize albums are available on iTunes store: Good Fight, EPMiss, AmericaBad, NightRabbits.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Webcasters Agree To Pay Music Royalties

2009-07-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

According to a story on CNN.com, commerical webcasters have agreed to pay royalties for music they stream online. The royalties will be paid through SoundExchange - a not-for-profit organization that collects and distributes digital music royalties. "This is an agreement we are proud of because it shows that both sides can address the business concerns of the webcasters while giving artists and copyright holders the potential to share in the reveue growth of websasters," said John Simson, executive director of SoundExchage. Read the full story at CNN.com

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Having Fun With Spinal Tap

2009-07-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Having a bit of fun in the Mastering Studio with Spinal Tap during the mastering session for their latest album, Back From The Dead.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Nelson Mandela's Audio Book

2009-07-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

Lurssen Mastering donated its services to record part of and master the audio book, Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales, produced by Artist's for a New South Africa (ANSA). Well-known performers such as Samuel L. Jackson, Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing and many others donated their talents to the charitable endeavor by voicing stories. Samuel L. Jackson commented, “I’ve traveled with ANSA to rural villages and met children whose lives will be changed by this audiobook. This is our way of honoring Mr. Mandela, by assisting children who are the future of his nation and our world.” The audio book is available on amazon and will be available in bookstores around the world.

ANSA is a nonprofit organization working in South Africa and the U.S. to combat HIV/AIDS, assist children orphaned by the disease, educate and empower youth, advance human rights, and build bonds between our nations through arts, culture, and the shared pursuit of social justice.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-06-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Carney
Our first single Love Me Chase Me came out three days ago on iTunes! It's been such an exciting time - opening for the Veronicas. We've been selling about $400 in merchandise per night, getting 3-4 pages of mailing list signups each show, and getting such passionate responses. Even more exciting is that Love Me Chase Me is now on the front page of iTunes in the "What's Hot" section!

Pretend I'm Fur
Hey folks, I'm heading to San Francisco for a show with my friends, Brown Shoe, Wednesday, July 1st at 8pm at Hotel Utah. Click here to buy tickets. Also, if you happen to be in the Ventura area, put July 25th on the calendar - we'll be playing at Zoey's.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Stylus Symphony

2009-06-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA, was debating some years ago whether to include “scratching” to the curriculum. They asked my opinion and I told them that I wholeheartedly supported the idea as a new form of musical expression. Berklee has been on the cutting edge since it first opened. The “art imitates life or life imitates art” debate comes to mind. People will make their own way with a creative idea. If an organization of higher education - especially one that leads the pack - can further hone the skills and education of a craft such as scratching, then it should go ahead and do so. It is a musical expression like any other and music makers and fans alike are always looking for something new and fresh. Scratching is both.

Stephen Webber, a client and a professor at Berklee College of Music, is leading the way in this field. His Stylus Symphony premiered at the Berklee Performance Center on Wednesday, November 28 to a full house. The symphony performance featured the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra. He is currently recording the piece for a Fall release. Stephen teaches courses in Turntable Technique and several record production courses at Berklee.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Chase Thompson, from Pasco, WA, who leads the rock band Chase and The Reach, has won the SongwriterUniverse “Best Song Of The Month” Contest for June, for his song Shipwrecked.

The band was formed by Chase in 2008 in his hometown, Pasco, where they recorded their debut album. It was released independently in May 2009. According to an article in SongwriterUniverse magazine, "The group is joining the 2009 eXtreme concert tour, which consists of 12 established indie bands. They are also headlining the popular River Of Fire Festival in Eastern Washington on July 4^th."

Mastering Studio News: Keren DeBerg Song Chosen By UEFA As Official Song

2009-06-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled that our client, Keren DeBerg's song, Get Up And Go was chosen as the official song of the Union of European Football Association's (UEFA) under 21 championship. Keren said, "I am thrilled that my song was chosen for these games which are going on now in this year's host country, Sweden. My song is being played during each game, in each stadium. I leave next week for performances in all four host cities and will end with a performance of Get Up And Go at the championship game at new Malmo stadium on June 29th. "

Keren has had a number of her songs featured on the television series Scrubs. Get Up And Go was just released in Europe by Ministry of Sound Recordings and is available on iTunes. Follow Keren on her blog through her European adventure. She will be uploading videos, clips of performances, rehearsals and more.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

In the Mastering Studio with Lynda Kay

2009-06-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Lynda Kay's new album Dream MY Darling features 12 original songs, including a duet with Billy Bob Thornton.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Dan Garcia's Console Construction

2009-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Engineeer/Producer Dan Garcia was interviewed in Tape Op magazine's May/June issue about building his own console. Dan says, "I guess I was really lucky to work at Bill Schnee studio when I first came to Los Angeles. They were just at the end of building the studio and installing Bill Schnee's custom console. Bill started me on the path of not taking anything for granted. He would listen to everything comparing one mic with another, every placement and each preamp."
[Excerpted from "Building the Li'l Monster - One Man's Adventure in Console Construction," by Dan Garcia in Tape Op. Read the full article here]

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Michael Miller's new album "I Made You Up" is due for release June 30.You can see him perform Wednesday, June 17 - with full band - at Cranes in Hollywood, 10pm, no cover charge.
Visit Michael's web site for more details.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Spinal Tap is Back

2009-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Gavin outside Lurssen Mastering with Harry Shearer and C.J. Vanston of Spinal Tap. Lookout for the release on June 16 of Spinal Tap's much anticipated, re-recorded original album, which also includes never-released material. According to an article in Mix magazine, it includes a one-hour DVD and a pop-up diorama package that unveils three 12-inch action figures of the band and a proportionally sized Stonehenge. Mastering for the new release was done at our facility, we are proud to say. Checkout the interview with Spinal Tap in the latest issue of Mix magazine.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-06-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

Dirtfoot
Summer is here and Dirtfoot is gearing up for the festival season. You can find us first at Wakarua Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain, Ozark, AR from June 4-7. We'll be playing two sets plus the annual Chompdown breakfast. Show times are:

Thursday Night - June 4 - 12:30pm - Campground StageFriday
June 5 - 1:05pm - Revival Stage
Saturday morning - June 6 - Chompdown in the Campgrounds.

The following Friday, June 12, we're excited about playing back at the ElDorado Casino in Shreveport, LA. This is a free show, and fills up quick, so get there early to enjoy the Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie goodness.Saturday night, June 13, we'll be playing the Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin TX.

Kingsize
Kingsize is appearing with Stone Temple Pilots at the St. Jude Rock N' Roll Hope Show at the House Of Blues, Sunset Blvd, July 1. Doors open and 8pm and show starts at 9pm. Book your tickets now.

Mastering Studio News: Helping Make A Difference

2009-05-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

The National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences, NARAS, The Recording Academy to industry types, or just The Academy as it is sometimes referred to by those lucky enough to be on stage graciously putting them in their thank yous while accepting the coveted Grammy Award, is an organization that I have long supported. They have programs that work to benefit not only the global community but all the way down to the individual in need of assistance. Each major city has their own chapter that gathers to set policy on how to enhance the organization and help keep the community in good shape.

My contribution to NARAS so far has been to serve on various committees helping maintain the integrity of the voting process. This year I decided to run for governor on the board of the Los Angeles chapter in an effort to help enhance the journey toward a healthy community. I was elected for the 2009-2011 term and I am deeply honored that my peers in the industry supported me with their votes.

There will be a lot of responsibilities as governor. I personally would like to see legislation change in Washington that will make it easier for artists to get compensated for their work. NARAS has made great strides in this area and I hope to enhance the effort. It will take large numbers of constituents to make a difference in this and many other areas. If you have not already done so, please consider joining NARAS.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-05-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Chris Pierce Live at The Hotel Café on iTunes
Chris Pierce will be releasing his first live album in the U.S. - Chris Pierce Live at The Hotel Café - on iTunes, Tuesday June 2, 2009.
Upcoming Shows
Be sure to check chrispierce.com for last minute additions.
Thu., June 4 at 7:30 at Anthology, San Diego, CA
Fri., June 5 at 10 at Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach, CA
Sat., June 6 at 9 at Zoey’s Cafe, Ventura, CA
Sun., June 7 at 7:30 at House Party, San Francisco, CA

You can keep up on performances from Chris Pierce shows and other fun video’s via his music page on YouTube and his random “tweetings.”

Anuhea Makes History
Anuhea is the first recording artist from Hawaii to ever be featured on iTunes "Discovery Download" of the month. "Discovery Download" is a once-a-month program on iTunes for which you have to be selected. The program only runs for one week - this one from May 19 - so please go to iTunes and download your free song from Anuhea. The aim is for the #1 slot and the goal is for one million free downloads. Please check it out and tell your friends … click on this link to get your free song, “Right Love, Wrong Time.”

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

2009-05-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Find out what your favorite musicians are doing right here. Client updates will be a regular feature on our Mastering Studio blog. We will post the latest news from our clients on their album releases, promotions, gigs and anything else of interest.

The Matt Ritvo Group
The CD is out and the website is up. Please visit. There are photos, music, and video clips from the upcoming film The Long Hall (working title).

Arrica Rose
Pretend I'm Fur is now available on iTunes and our official website store. iTunes has done a New and Noteworthy feature in the Singer/Songwriter category. It was last seen at #49 and climbing. Had a couple great reviews at Pop Rock Candy Mountain and Cover Lay Down. Please grab your copy and tell five friends. Love to have you check out the new record and spread the word. For our dear Los Angelenos please put June 11 at 10pm at Hotel Cafe on your calendars. . . it's our CD Release Party.

Gorgeous Got A Gun
We are excited to share the debut of "Gorgeous Got A Gun (GGG). The record was executively produced by JT Meskiel, at the Malibu recording studio, The Document Room. We are currently knee deep in rehearsals as we are headlining our first show on May 21st at Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach, at 9:00 pm with "West Indian Girl." If you are going to be in the Los Angeles/South Bay area we would love to have you at the show. Check out our myspace page.

Christa Borden
We are weeks away from releasing to Hot AC and Triple A radio, Christa Borden's first single, Empty Bottles from the CD, I Rhyme With Orange.

Join us on our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Mastering For Bo Diddley Release

2009-05-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Lurssen Mastering team recently worked on some classic Bo Diddley recordings from the 50's and 60's for a new release of his music.

Doing It All - A Niche Business for Stevie Blacke

2009-05-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

Our Mastering Studio sees many talented musicians - but few can claim to have the range of talent that Stevie Blacke has. While most musicians are happy to master one or two instruments, he can play any string instrument that comes along - thus creating a niche business for himself.

Stevie Blacke is a string arranger, multi-instrumentalist who plays violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, mandolin and much more. He has the ability to emulate a real orchestra, multi-tracking real instruments in a recording process that he has spent years developing. He can record anything from a quartet to a 40 piece orchestra and understands it is about "the song" and what the artist and producer wants. Earlier this month he was featured in an article in the LA Times.

Stevie has worked in many different styles with many well-known artists including Pink's hit "Sober", Rihanna's "Rehab", Madonna, Matchbox Twenty, Weezer, Beck, Snoop Dog, Alice In Chains, and Rob Thomas. He is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and has been arranging strings and playing on albums for over 10 years. To listen to samples and learn more about Stevie visit his website to see his discography.

Please also join us on our facebook page for regular bulletins from the Mastering Studio.

Links for Independent Musicians

2009-05-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Mastering Studio has put together a selection of links for independent musicians that include a CD replication service, a link for the ISRC recording code site, as well as links to online music magazines and sites that help promote your music.

Groove House Records is a source for audiophile class CD manufacturing, CD replication, CD duplication, Digipaks, alternative, recycled and eco-friendly packaging, posters, postcards, stickers, and more.

ISRC - The International Standard Recording Code, is the internationally recognized identification tool for sound and music video recordings.

Stevie Blacke - All Things Stringed - Get orchestral backing for less than the price of hiring a whole orchestra. Stevie plays all the instruments himself. He has worked on tracks for Madonna, Beck and Snoop Dogg. He was featured in an article in the Los Angeles Times recently.

Sonicbids is a Web site that helps bands get gigs, and promoters book the right bands. You can sign up for a free one month trial.

Reverbnation.com - their Widgets give artists the power to spread their music and information virtually anywhere.

Ripple9.com - A site to help bands promote themselves on mobile devices to their fans. New sign-ups are frozen while they are being purchased by Google.

youlicense.com According to a review we read, “It allows musicians to license their music and cuts all the red tape other sites have.”

gydget.com - A viral widget used by bands, teams and other organizations to connect with fans.

alonetone was started to provide a non-commercial alternative for small label, do-it-yourself and everyday musicians and bands to upload their music and freely share it on the internet.

AnyGig.com displays your profile so that entertainment buyers can find you and book you. In addition you can actively send out your AnyGig profile as a "press kit" to prospective entertainment buyers and venues.

Mix magazine is one of leading magazines for the professional recording and sound production technology industry.

Pro Sound News is the online version of the monthly pro audio trade magazine.

Music Connection is a monthly music trade publication catering to musicians, industry professionals, and support services.

While The Mastering Studio cannot take responsibility for the effectiveness of these links, we hope they may be of use to our readers. We would like to hear your comments on this posting and any additional site suggestions you may have.

Also join our facebook page for bulletins from The Mastering Studio.

Looking to The Future of Music

2009-04-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Changes in the music world have been playing out for some years now, driven largely by developments in the Internet and by access to music in the social media such as facebook, YouTube and myspace. The changes are widespread and not only in the way people look for music.

There are interesting developments in the methods some musicians are turning to in their search for new ways to finance projects. One trend being watched closely is the move by a few artists to get away from record labels entirely and to approach their fans directly for the money they need to produce a new album or help finance a tour. There seem to be advantages for fans as well as performers. The fans get the satisfaction of helping with their wallets to breathe life into the music they love. The musicians get full control over their projects, and no longer face the stranglehold of having to sell X numbers of albums to be considered successful.

Links of interest
Dave Kusek, vice-president of Berklee College of Music and co-author of the book, “The Future of Music,” says “The record industry as we know it is dying, but the music industry is exploding due to the digitization of music and the possibilities that digital media technologies afford."

An article in the Boston Globe on artists who have gone the independent financing route, including veteran singer/songwriter Ellis Paul who decided not to renew his contract with Rounder Records.

According to an article on techdirt.com, singer/songwriter Jill Sobule raised nearly $90,000 in less than two months from her fans for her new album California Years.

An interesting story on the use of viral media and how Roger McNamee’s band, Moonalice, got 3,000 downloads from a twitter-integrated concert.

Another artist testing the waters - Amy Correia is asking fans to help with her next album Majesty due out later this year.

We’d like to hear your thoughts on this post so please give us your views and comments.

Please join us on our facebook page for the latest bulletins from The Masterng Studio.

Mastering Audio: Making the Most of Dynamic Range

2009-04-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Mastering is not just about pushing the limits, although that is what it has become.

Even at its most conservative, mastering audio today requires a certain amount of pushing the limits to provide sound that fits the mainstream, visceral expectations of most average consumers of music. The “whole” of the sound requires a push to complete the picture – and, frankly, all too often this means the loss of any real dynamic range.

In my mastering projects, I find myself using more equipment in the chain and applying just a little of each, working very hard to sound like I was never there. The more I push a device, the more it presents a veil between the fan and the artist on the recording…

[Excerpted from “Mastering Audio: Making the Most of Dynamic Range,” written by Gavin for Mix Magazine. Read the full article here.]

The Mastering Studio Team

2009-04-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new blog. As our first posting we'd like to introduce you to the team at Lurssen Mastering. The team consists of lead engineer Gavin Lurssen, engineers Gabriel Wallach and Reuben Cohen, and studio manager Raquel Bongiovanni.

Gavin Lurssen celebrated his third Grammy win this year for mastering "Raising Sand," with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant - which won in the "Album of The Year" category. Also this year Reuben Cohen and Gavin mastered the soundtrack of the movie phenomenon "Slumdog Millionaire," for which two songs and the soundtrack were nominated for Academy Awards and won for best song, "Jai Ho" and for best musical score.

The Mastering Studio

Winter 2012 NAMM Show

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio: Useful Links

From The Mastering Studio: Grammy Nominatons

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

From The Mastering Studio: Client News

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

Latin Grammy Nominees

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

In The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? reissue with new tracks

A New Look - And A Service For Indie Musicians

News Links From the Mastering Studio

Leon Russell inducted into Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

Music News

Grammy Wins for Our Artists

New Music Seminar

Free NAMM Classes

Grammy Nominations Mastered at Lurssen Mastering

Education Through Music Auction

Latin Grammy Win

Elektra Records Founder on YouTube, Blogs and the Future of Music

Latin Grammy Nominations

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

2010 Audiobook of the Year - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folk Tales

Founder of CD Baby Advises Indie Artists

How Artists Can Build a Sustainable Career

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio: Client Updates

Oscar Night

Music News From Around The Web

Grammy Winners

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From the Mastering Studio: Client Updates

From The Mastering Studio

News From The Mastering Studio

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

iPhone App From Magnatune Record Label

The Song Decoders

Four Masters on Mastering - Interview

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

The Beatles: Rock Band

For Independent Musicians - Sites To Sell Your Music

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Playing For Change

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Staffer Gabriel Wallach's Interview On Restoration In The Digital Age

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Webcasters Agree To Pay Music Royalties

Having Fun With Spinal Tap

Mastering Nelson Mandela's Audio Book

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Stylus Symphony

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Keren DeBerg Song Chosen By UEFA As Official Song

In the Mastering Studio with Lynda Kay

Dan Garcia's Console Construction

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Spinal Tap is Back

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering Studio News: Helping Make A Difference

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

More Links for Independent Musicians

Mastering Studio News: Client Updates

Mastering For Bo Diddley Release

Doing It All - A Niche Business for Stevie Blacke

Links for Independent Musicians

Looking to The Future of Music

Mastering Audio: Making the Most of Dynamic Range

The Mastering Studio Team