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Close Up: Universal Mastering Studios

By Jonathan Widran

From Major Labels To Indie and International Artists: Universal Mastering Studios is a full-service professional mastering facility, serving a diverse corporate and individual clientele that includes all UMG labels affiliated with Capitol Music Group and EMI, as well as subsidiary labels Concord, Disney and Hollywood Records. Mastering for contemporary artists, TV and Film (The Hurt Locker, Star Trek—Into Darkness), the state of the art studio consists of five production rooms and three mastering suites, with Zero Reflection Acoustic designed by Hanson Hsu of DHDI. The facility is also open (at very competitive rates) to third party clientele, including independent artists from all over the world.

Toto mastering w Peter Doell

Engineer Pete Doell (seated center) mastering with band Toto.

Mastering Engineer Warren Sokol: Warren started his career as a freelance recording/mixing engineer in Phoenix, AZ; one of his regular clients was the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra featuring soloists like Yo-Yo Ma. When he started at Universal Mastering, he started as production engineer for the Phoenix Project, archiving tapes to digital files; he was hired on full-time in 2011. In addition to working on recordings by artists on The Voice, Warren has mastered for the Band Perry, the Moody Blues, Imagine Dragons and Bastille.

Mastering Engineer Peter Doell: Peter gigged as a professional musician for a decade before launching his career in 1981 as a recording engineer and mixer at Capitol Records Studios. Before joining Universal Mastering, he also worked as a staff engineer at Sunset Sound and Sony Pictures Studios. He’s worked on recordings by everyone from Miles Da- vis and Brian McKnight to Dwight Yoakam, Harry Connick, Jr. and Marilyn Manson, and recently mastered the latest album by Toto, Toto XIV.

Mastering Engineer Erick Labson: A Grammy winning engineer and multiple nominee for his work on legacy recordings by Duke Ellington, Buddy Holly and Little Walter, Erick started his career with Sonic Solutions before joining Universal Mastering. Over the last two decades, he’s mastered recordings by Sublime, Aerosmith, Boyz II Men, the Who, recent EDM mixes for Sam Smith and Katy Perry and artists from The Voice in addition to his extensive work in film/TV (House of Cards).

Contact Universal Mastering Studios, Louise Glover

universalmastering.com